Capital conditions
Weather in central London
Loading live conditions…
Area
Hackney news
56 stories from and about Hackney, mostly council & politics, crime & safety, property & planning. The most recent ran on 22 October 2026. Page 2 of 3.
Reported from Hackney
Council & Politics · HackneyHackney Council demands childcare review as nursery closes and fees rise
Hackney Council is urging the government to end the childcare postcode lottery after a private nursery closed and fee increases sparked backlash. Residents have until 11 October to submit evidence, while campaigners say the problems are already clear. The council’s 2024 attempt to close two children’s centres was blocked in court.
Hackney5 min readTrust 74 · Craft 83 · Hype 20
Local News · HackneyHackney sixth-formers secure Oxbridge places and record grades in 2026 results
Hackney sixth-formers collected A-level, T-level and BTEC results on 13 August 2026, with three Mossbourne students securing Oxbridge places. Schools including Excelsior Academy and Cardinal Pole reported provisional grades above England averages, though figures remain unverified until later this summer.
Hackney5 min readTrust 42 · Craft 55 · Hype 15
Local News · HackneyEast London NHS Trust downgraded over Hackney mental health safety risks
The Care Quality Commission has downgraded East London NHS Foundation Trust’s emergency mental health support in Hackney and the City of London after finding breaches in safety, staff supervision and patient detention times. The trust must now submit an action plan to address the failures.
Hackney5 min readTrust 74 · Craft 95 · Hype 30
Transport & TfL · HackneyTfL bus route changes threaten direct links for 149 passengers
Transport for London plans to reroute the 149 bus between London Bridge and Edmonton Green, removing direct stops in Stamford Hill. Hackney councillors and residents oppose the changes, warning of overcrowding and longer journeys. The public can respond until 20 September.
Hackney5 min readTrust 88 · Craft 83 · Hype 20
Council & Politics · HackneyHackney Council to end 58-year twinning with Haifa after review vote
Hackney Council has voted to review all twinning agreements, with Haifa set to lose its 58-year partnership. Mayor Zoë Garbett argues the link undermines anti-racist commitments, while critics call the move contradictory and accuse the council of predetermining the outcome.
Hackney5 min readTrust 74 · Craft 83 · Hype 21
Council & Politics · HackneyMossbourne Victoria Park Academy found to use shouting as routine practice
A December 2025 review of Mossbourne Victoria Park Academy in Hackney found shouting at pupils was a routine practice, not an exception. The report, led by Sir Alan Wood, described it as a cultural issue, with evidence spanning 15 years. Staff surveys and testimony revealed pressure to adopt harsh methods, including public reprimands.
Hackney5 min readTrust 74 · Craft 87 · Hype 30
Crime & Safety · HackneyPolice seek owner after dog attacks woman outside Homerton Overground Station
A woman was attacked by a grey Great Dane-type dog near Homerton Overground Station at 7 pm on 28 July. Police are searching for the owner, described as a white woman aged 30-40, and have asked for public assistance in identifying her.
Hackney4 min readTrust 58 · Craft 75 · Hype 12
Property & Planning · HackneyBoxpark Shoreditch retains licence after noise review by Hackney Council
Hackney Council’s licensing sub-committee ruled on 28 July that Boxpark in Shoreditch can continue playing live music at night, despite complaints from ten residents. The decision requires the venue to hold quarterly community meetings and operate a 24/7 noise helpline, but stops short of revoking its licence.
Hackney5 min readTrust 55 · Craft 65 · Hype 50
Crime & Safety · HackneyFire destroys Hackney Road rooftop terrace, cause still unclear
A fire on Hackney Road in Hackney destroyed a rooftop terrace and half the roof of a building on 3 August 2026. London Fire Brigade attended the scene at 7:53am, bringing the fire under control by 8:47am. No injuries were reported, but the cause remains undetermined.
Hackney4 min readTrust 42 · Craft 55 · Hype 50
Crime & Safety · HackneyFire on Hackney Road displaces residents and closes road between Shoreditch and Cremer Street
A fire at a shop with flats above on Hackney Road, Hackney, on 3 August 2026 forced evacuations and closed the road between Shoreditch High Street and Cremer Street. Forty firefighters attended, and no injuries were reported.
Hackney4 min readTrust 42 · Craft 55 · Hype 50
Crime & Safety · HackneyJason Forde charged with unlawful sexual activity at Homerton Hospital
Jason Forde, 56, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 3 August after extradition from Barbados. He is accused of unlawful sexual activity with a vulnerable patient at Homerton Hospital in Hackney during the 2000s. He was remanded in custody ahead of a Crown Court hearing on 25 August.
Hackney4 min readTrust 46 · Craft 75 · Hype 30
Lifestyle & Food · HackneyUmbrella Workshop named London’s top cocktail bar in Time Out 2026 list
Umbrella Workshop, a hidden 12-seater cocktail bar in Shoreditch, has been ranked London’s best by Time Out. The bar, known for inventive drinks like a martini with fish sauce, operates from a converted 19th-century workshop and supplies cocktails to nearby venues.
Hackney4 min readTrust 50 · Craft 77 · Hype 15
Culture & Arts · HackneyHackney comedians test new shows ahead of Edinburgh Fringe 2026
Five comedians with Hackney ties are refining their Edinburgh Fringe debuts at Work in Progress shows in London this summer. Freddie Meredith, Ele McKenzie and Harriet Richardson appear at Pleasance Courtyard venues, while Ania Magliano and Paddy Young perform at Monkey Barrel spaces.
Hackney5 min readTrust 30 · Craft 45 · Hype 55
Crime & Safety · HackneyFormer Homerton Hospital nurse charged with sexual offences against patient
A former nurse at Homerton Hospital in Hackney has been charged with unlawful sexual activity involving a woman treated for a mental disorder. Jason Forde appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 26 July 2026 after extradition from Barbados and was remanded in custody ahead of a Crown Court hearing.
Hackney5 min readTrust 42 · Craft 55 · Hype 50
Council & Politics · HackneyNewcome House lift broken for seven weeks with no repair date
Residents of Newcome House on Powell Road, Lower Clapton, have been without a working lift for over seven weeks. Hackney Council’s contractor is yet to secure a repair slot, leaving elderly and disabled residents to climb four flights of stairs daily. The council is spending £24 million to replace 120 lifts by 2027.
Hackney5 min readTrust 42 · Craft 55 · Hype 50
Council & Politics · HackneyDiane Abbott readmitted to Labour after year-long suspension
Diane Abbott has been readmitted to the Labour Party following a year-long suspension over antisemitism allegations. The Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP received a formal warning for a tweet referring to the Israel Defense Forces as the 'Jewish Defence Force'. Joani Reid, MP for East Kilbride and Strathaven, was also readmitted after her voluntary suspension.
Hackney5 min readTrust 62 · Craft 87 · Hype 15
Lifestyle & Food · HackneyHannah Carson’s Small Talks events help Londoners practise small talk
Hannah Carson created Small Talks after struggling with social anxiety post-pandemic. The events, held at the Commercial Tavern in Shoreditch, use games and guest speakers to help attendees practise conversation skills. Three sessions have taken place since April 2026.
Hackney5 min readTrust 58 · Craft 87 · Hype 28
Council & Politics · HackneyMayor Launches £1.8bn Plan to Clean London's Rivers
Sir Sadiq Khan has unveiled a £1.8 billion plan to clean up London's rivers and waterways over the next decade. The initiative, launched at Hackney's West Reservoir, aims to make 600km of water bodies swimmable and support wildlife.
Hackney3 min readTrust 90 · Craft 95 · Hype 28
Council & Politics · HackneyHackney Mayor Apologises for Haifa Twinning Deadline Error
Hackney Mayor Zoë Garbett has apologised for a 'serious mistake' after a letter to Haifa's Mayor set a consultation deadline of 7 October, the anniversary of Hamas attacks. The council voted to begin terminating the 58-year twinning arrangement.
Hackney4 min readTrust 78 · Craft 95 · Hype 35
Council & Politics · HackneyOfsted praises Hackney’s care leaver support after two-year turnaround
Hackney’s support for young people leaving care has improved substantially, Ofsted found, with warm relationships and a dedicated hub praised. However, inspectors identified inconsistencies in supervision and health summaries, while housing progress remains partial.
Hackney5 min readTrust 74 · Craft 83 · Hype 10
Also affecting Hackney
Borough-wide and national stories that name Hackney or bear directly on it.
Property & Planning · LondonCommunity sauna planned for Crystal Palace Park
Plans for a community sauna with a capacity for 50 people have been submitted to Bromley Council for a site in Crystal Palace Park. The proposal from the Crystal Palace Park Trust and Community Sauna Baths CIC includes a temporary office space.
London3 min readTrust 48 · Craft 77 · Hype 15
Council & Politics · All LondonHospitalised offenders to lose benefits
Criminals detained in hospital, including those convicted of serious offences, will no longer receive benefits under new government proposals. The change, driven by campaigning victims' families, is expected to save tens of millions of pounds annually.
All London3 min readTrust 70 · Craft 70 · Hype 40- Crime & Safety · London
Southwark records most burglaries as London figures fall
Southwark recorded the highest number of burglaries in London in September 2026, with 224 incidents. This is almost six times the 39 recorded in Kingston upon Thames. Across the capital, 3,829 burglaries were logged, a 3.9% decrease over the previous 12 months. Five boroughs shared the highest burglary rate per capita.
London2 min readTrust 62 · Craft 38 · Hype 70 
Council & Politics · LondonSeven London councils refuse to aid Home Office immigration raids
At least seven London councils have now stated they will refuse to cooperate with Home Office immigration enforcement. Newham Council passed a motion to only cooperate with immigration raids where legally obligated, following similar decisions by six other boroughs.
London3 min readTrust 60 · Craft 70 · Hype 45
Council & Politics · IslingtonIslington Council declares 'private rent crisis'
Islington Council has declared a 'private renting crisis' and voted to lobby the government for powers to introduce rent controls and an emergency rent freeze. Average rents in the borough reached £2,868 in August 2026, a 6.2 per cent annual increase.
Islington4 min readTrust 70 · Craft 75 · Hype 45
Local News · London5,500 London children join Dolly Parton's book scheme
More than 5,500 children across London have signed up for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library since the singer's death. The free book-gifting scheme is now available in seven London boroughs, aiming to provide age-appropriate books to children from birth to age five.
London3 min readTrust 60 · Craft 68 · Hype 45
Transport & TfL · LondonFour Generations of London Black Cab Drivers
Dave Goulding, 71, and his four sons are all licensed Hackney carriage drivers in London. The family tradition is set to continue with Billy’s 19-year-old son Harrison, who plans to begin studying the Knowledge.
London3 min readTrust 68 · Craft 87 · Hype 18
Business · LondonCharity shops face crisis as donations overwhelm system
Major UK charities are closing hundreds of stores due to an overwhelming volume of donated clothing, much of which is unsaleable and ends up as waste overseas. The fashion industry's environmental impact is a key factor in this growing crisis.
London4 min readTrust 74 · Craft 67 · Hype 52
Council & Politics · LondonGLA condemns Green‑led boroughs for refusing immigration raid cooperation
London Assembly members approved a motion denouncing six Green‑led boroughs for declining to help Home Office immigration raids. The councils, Lewisham, Hackney, Haringey, Lambeth, Southwark and Waltham Forest, have all adopted a non‑cooperation stance. The Home Office says arrests for illegal work rose 83% and raids grew 77% over the past year and a half.
London3 min readTrust 74 · Craft 95 · Hype 35
Crime & Safety · LondonThree men sentenced to life for Gregory Volquez murder on Tiverton Road
On 4 September 2026, three men received life sentences for the killing of Gregory Catillo Volquez on Tiverton Road, Haringey. The court set minimum terms of 22‑23 years, concluding a Metropolitan Police investigation that traced the attackers from Hackney to Spain.
London4 min readTrust 64 · Craft 87 · Hype 25
Council & Politics · LewishamLewisham Mayor Liam Shrivastava marks 100 days in office
Liam Shrivastava, Lewisham's first directly-elected Green Mayor, has passed his 100-day milestone. His administration has initiated a review into cooperation with immigration enforcement and reported clearing over 11,000 fly-tipping sites since May 2026.
Lewisham4 min readTrust 74 · Craft 95 · Hype 30
Council & Politics · LondonBarnet among London boroughs facing burial space shortage by 2040
Barnet Council is one of nine London boroughs already using cemeteries outside its boundaries due to limited space, a City Hall audit reveals. With 17 councils predicted to run out of burial capacity by 2040, residents may face longer journeys to visit graves or delays in local burials.
London5 min readTrust 86 · Craft 95 · Hype 45
Council & Politics · London£500,000 al fresco plan expands to 13 London boroughs including Brent
Thirteen London boroughs, including Brent, have received a share of £500,000 to expand al fresco dining and street events this summer. Deputy Mayor for Business Howard Dawber said demand from councils exceeded the funding, while footfall rose by up to 85% in some areas last year.
London5 min readTrust 42 · Craft 55 · Hype 58
Council & Politics · IslingtonIslington waste fires cost £1m as battery disposal rules stall in Lords
Islington’s Hornsey Street Waste Transfer Station suffered its fourth fire in 14 months on 28 July 2026, causing at least £1 million in damage. Officials say improper disposal of rechargeable batteries is driving the blazes, while the Lithium-ion Battery Safety Bill remains stuck in Parliament.
Islington5 min readTrust 55 · Craft 60 · Hype 50
Lifestyle & Food · LondonTime Out Lists Spotlight London’s Halal and Barbecue Dining Scenes
Time Out London’s latest restaurant lists name 21 halal and barbecue venues spanning 12 boroughs, revealing how local communities shape the capital’s food identity. The selections include Michelin-starred Mayfair spots alongside Walthamstow family-run eateries.
London5 min readTrust 42 · Craft 51 · Hype 35