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Southwark news
45 stories from and about Southwark, mostly crime & safety, council & politics, local news. The most recent ran on 6 September 2026. Page 1 of 3.
Reported from Southwark
Property & Planning · SouthwarkPeckham pub could become bingo hall
A planning application has been submitted to Southwark Council to transform The Kentish Drovers pub in Peckham into a bingo hall. The pub has been on the market since July last year, with its asking price reduced multiple times.
Southwark2 min readTrust 70 · Craft 70 · Hype 40
Crime & Safety · SouthwarkDesigner's £137k watch cut from wrist in Mayfair, court told
A Romanian fashion designer had a diamond-encrusted Richard Mille watch, valued at over £137,000, cut from his wrist outside a Mayfair restaurant. Two men are on trial at Southwark Crown Court accused of the robbery, while a third has pleaded guilty.
Southwark3 min readTrust 78 · Craft 85 · Hype 25
Council & Politics · SouthwarkSouthwark Council toughens landlord enforcement policy
Southwark Council has updated its Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy to introduce stricter sanctions for landlords failing to meet housing standards. The move, driven by the Renters Rights Act 2025, aims to protect the borough's 86,500 private renters.
Southwark3 min readTrust 80 · Craft 80 · Hype 50
Local News · SouthwarkBermondsey waste fire sends smoke across Southwark, 100 firefighters tackle blaze
A fire at a waste facility on Landmann Way in Bermondsey prompted a major response from the London Fire Brigade on 18 August 2026. About 100 firefighters and 15 fire engines attended the scene, where 50 tonnes of household waste burned, producing thick smoke across the area.
Southwark4 min readTrust 58 · Craft 95 · Hype 15
Lifestyle & Food · Southwark£11 sandwich van in Ruskin Park draws queues in 35°C heat
A sandwich van in Ruskin Park, Camberwell, is selling £11 vegetarian sandwiches made with focaccia from Blackbird bakery. The Half Deaf Chef, founded by Aidan Marsh, operates Thursday to Sunday and has attracted attention for its fresh ingredients and artisanal preparation.
Southwark5 min readTrust 48 · Craft 69 · Hype 30
Local News · SouthwarkFree creative workshops for all ages at Camberwell Market Day on 26 August
Southwark Council will run four free creative workshops at Camberwell Space on 26 August 2026, open to all ages. The event, part of the Building Connections Market Day, includes painting, poetry and craft activities from 11:00 to 16:00, with refreshments provided.
Southwark4 min readTrust 44 · Craft 52 · Hype 15
Crime & Safety · SouthwarkFour hospitalised after Camberwell Green car fire on 3 August
Four people were taken to hospital after a car caught fire at the junction of Camberwell Green, Camberwell New Road and Denmark Hill on 3 August 2026. The incident caused a northbound road closure and disrupted bus services for over two hours.
Southwark4 min readTrust 55 · Craft 55 · Hype 15
Council & Politics · SouthwarkSouthwark Council to shut off heating and hot water on North Peckham Estate for 8 hours
Southwark Council has announced an 8-hour shutdown of heating and hot water services on the North Peckham Estate on 18 August 2026. The outage, starting at 9 am, affects 22 residential blocks while essential maintenance work is carried out.
Southwark4 min readTrust 42 · Craft 55 · Hype 15
Council & Politics · SouthwarkSouthwark’s new Green leader plans to make driving harder in the borough
Southwark Council’s new Green leader, James McAsh, has announced plans to make driving more difficult in the borough. The measures include blocking rat runs and expanding low-traffic neighbourhoods to improve air quality and road safety for children.
Southwark5 min readTrust 64 · Craft 87 · Hype 30
Council & Politics · SouthwarkSouthwark coalition faces £102m gap and cancelled meetings after Labour loss
Southwark Council’s new Green-Lib Dem coalition says it is addressing a £102m funding gap inherited from Labour, while critics accuse it of cancelling meetings and reversing service cuts. The next elections are in 2030.
Southwark6 min readTrust 50 · Craft 65 · Hype 25
Crime & Safety · SouthwarkTate Modern attack survivor leaves hospital after seven-year recovery
The boy injured in the 2019 Tate Modern attack has left hospital after seven years of treatment. His family confirmed his return to school and ongoing rehabilitation, funded by over £500,000 raised via GoFundMe. Attacker Jonty Bravery remains jailed.
Southwark5 min readTrust 48 · Craft 62 · Hype 35
Culture & Arts · SouthwarkBrian Case, jazz writer and critic from Deptford, dies at 88
Brian Case, a Deptford-born jazz and music writer known for his vivid prose and cultural depth, has died aged 88. He worked at NME, Melody Maker and Time Out, leaving a legacy in music criticism and a 2015 collection, *On the Snap*.
Southwark5 min readTrust 30 · Craft 45 · Hype 10
Culture & Arts · SouthwarkMillwall sign defender Danny Batth on one-year contract
Millwall have signed experienced defender Danny Batth on a one-year deal. The 35-year-old, who helped Sunderland win League One promotion in 2022, will add competition at centre-back and leadership to the squad ahead of their EFL Cup opener against QPR on 6 August.
Southwark4 min readTrust 42 · Craft 70 · Hype 15
Lifestyle & Food · SouthwarkNunhead pub The Old Nun’s Head ranked 14th best in UK by Time Out
The Old Nun’s Head in Nunhead has been named the 14th best pub in the UK by Time Out. The ranking highlights its queer-friendly events, food, and atmosphere, with high ratings from over 1,300 Google and TripAdvisor reviews.
Southwark4 min readTrust 46 · Craft 44 · Hype 30
Local News · SouthwarkKing's College Hospital surgery rated 'Good' after six-year wait
King’s College Hospital’s surgery services have been upgraded to 'Good' by the Care Quality Commission, following a 2025 inspection that praised staff kindness and leadership improvements. The service had been rated 'Requires Improvement' since 2019.
Southwark5 min readTrust 74 · Craft 87 · Hype 28
Culture & Arts · SouthwarkAna Mendieta exhibition opens at Tate Modern
Tate Modern has launched a major exhibition dedicated to Ana Mendieta, marking the artist's largest retrospective in the UK. The collection explores her use of the body, natural materials, and ritual to address themes of displacement and death.
Southwark3 min readTrust 30 · Craft 69 · Hype 30
Local News · SouthwarkBlack Equity Organisation to run free money workshops in Walworth from 10 September
The Black Equity Organisation will hold free financial wellbeing workshops at Walworth Town Hall from 10 September 2026. Sessions include coaching, practical tools and Afro-Caribbean food, with a graduation event on 14 October. Residents aged 18+ can sign up now.
Southwark4 min readTrust 44 · Craft 62 · Hype 30
Transport & TfL · SouthwarkPeckham Rye station arcade demolition reaches ground level
Demolition of the shopping arcade at Peckham Rye station began in March 2026 and has now reached ground level. The work, carried out by BAM Nuttall, will create an open plaza, with the full project set to finish in autumn 2027.
Southwark4 min readTrust 44 · Craft 62 · Hype 15
Culture & Arts · SouthwarkGlobe stages Love’s Labour’s Lost as Shakespeare with Flamenco
The Globe’s summer production of Love’s Labour’s Lost blends Shakespeare with flamenco, featuring Spanish accents, castanets and dance. Director Indiana Lown-Collins reworks the play’s wordplay into Spanish quips, while Norah Lopez Holden stars as the Princess in a performance praised for its energy and creativity.
Southwark5 min readTrust 30 · Craft 51 · Hype 30
Also affecting Southwark
Borough-wide and national stories that name Southwark or bear directly on it.
Transport & TfL · LondonSeven London councils block Heathrow third‑runway plan over noise
Seven London boroughs have written to Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander to oppose the draft Heathrow expansion policy. They argue the proposed 3,500‑metre runway would increase noise, pollution and traffic, and a decision on the scheme is not expected until 2029.
London4 min readTrust 74 · Craft 95 · Hype 35- Crime & Safety · London
Three 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 
Business · LondonWhitbread closes seven Bar + Block restaurants in London on 3 September
Whitbread will shut seven Bar + Block outlets in Aldgate, Hammersmith, King’s Cross, Paddington, Southwark, Sutton and Wimbledon on 3 September. The move begins a five‑year plan to close 261 restaurants, save £250 million and reshape the group into a hotel‑focused business.
London3 min readTrust 64 · Craft 80 · Hype 28
Council & Politics · CroydonCroydon Council faces questions over unminuted Gaskell appointment
Croydon Council appointed Stephen Gaskell as interim assistant chief executive in July 2026. However, the decision is absent from the council’s appointments committee minutes for the period January to September 2026. This follows warnings from government commissioners about the impact of interim managers on council continuity.
Croydon3 min readTrust 66 · Craft 77 · Hype 65
Crime & Safety · City of LondonInfluencer denies City of London watch robbery, claims threats
Influencer Abdel El Habchi, 30, denies robbing entrepreneur Catalin Botezatu of a designer watch worth over £137,000. He claims a co-defendant threatened to harm his children if he reported the incident to police. A third man has pleaded guilty to the robbery.
City of London3 min readTrust 44 · Craft 67 · Hype 41
Crime & Safety · LondonThree men accused in £137k watch robbery trial
Three men are on trial at Southwark Crown Court in connection with the robbery of a diamond-encrusted Richard Mille watch, valued at over £137,000. The incident occurred on 28 January in Mayfair, where the watch was cut from the victim's wrist on a restaurant terrace.
London3 min readTrust 56 · Craft 85 · Hype 30
Council & Politics · WestminsterWestminster tenant ordered to repay £494,415 for housing fraud
A Westminster City Council tenant has been ordered to repay more than £494,000 after fraudulently obtaining a flat and illegally subletting it. Saeed Yasin Hosseini also received a £100,000 discount when buying the property under the Right to Buy scheme.
Westminster3 min readTrust 78 · Craft 80 · Hype 45
Council & Politics · WestminsterFormer tenant ordered to pay £494k for council flat fraud
Westminster City Council has secured a Confiscation Order of £494,415.52 against former tenant Saeed Yasin Hosseini. He was found to have fraudulently obtained a council property in Pimlico and illegally sublet it before purchasing it under the Right to Buy scheme.
Westminster3 min readTrust 70 · Craft 75 · Hype 45
Crime & Safety · LondonMet Police inspector cleared of sexual assault charges in Soho case
Dave Newman, a 39-year-old Metropolitan Police inspector, was found not guilty of three counts of sexual assault at Southwark Crown Court. Judge Philip Bartle KC expressed concerns about the investigation and the nature of the event where the alleged offences occurred.
London4 min readTrust 66 · Craft 67 · Hype 32
Crime & Safety · Lewisham70 Volkswagen badges stolen in four-day south-east London theft spree
Around 70 Volkswagen vehicle badges and radar sensors were stolen in Catford, Forest Hill, Ladywell, Honor Oak, East Dulwich and Lewisham between 15 and 19 July 2026. Police confirmed investigations are ongoing and called for further reports from affected owners.
Lewisham4 min readTrust 74 · Craft 85 · Hype 35
Transport & TfL · LondonPeckham Hill Street remains closed after fire damages building
Peckham Hill Street in Southwark remains closed following a fire on 7 August. London Fire Brigade attended the scene, and structural assessments are ongoing. Residents and businesses face disruptions, with no confirmed reopening date yet.
London4 min readTrust 30 · Craft 22 · Hype 15
Crime & Safety · LondonAshley Wallace convicted of murdering Tyrece Balcha near Wembley Stadium
Ashley Wallace has been convicted of murdering Tyrece Balcha, 18, after an altercation near Wembley Stadium in September 2025. Wallace fled the scene but was later traced to South East London, where police found a revolver linked to the killing. He will be sentenced at a later date.
London5 min readTrust 74 · Craft 83 · Hype 21
Crime & Safety · LondonSimon Levy jailed for life after murders of two women in Barnet and Southwark
Simon Levy, 40, was found guilty of murdering Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo, 53, in Southwark and Sheryl Wilkins, 39, in Tottenham. Police and prosecutors admitted systemic failures allowed him to remain free despite multiple sex attacks and a prior conviction.
London6 min readTrust 74 · Craft 83 · Hype 21
Crime & Safety · LondonSimon Levy convicted of two murders and rape after police and court failures
Simon Levy, 40, was found guilty at the Old Bailey of murdering Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo and Sheryl Wilkins in 2025. Authorities admitted systemic failures, including bail decisions that allowed him to commit further attacks. Two officers are under investigation by the IOPC.
London5 min readTrust 88 · Craft 83 · Hype 20
Crime & Safety · EalingAlvin Gitahi convicted of murdering ex-partner Vivienne Baraka in Ealing
Alvin Gitahi, 44, has been found guilty of murdering his ex-partner Vivienne Baraka, 35, at her Ealing flat after years of violent abuse. Baraka texted her mother for help minutes before her death, fearing Gitahi would kill her if she left. Sentencing is due in October.
Ealing4 min readTrust 74 · Craft 71 · Hype 41
Crime & Safety · LondonBarnet retailers gain direct police link for shoplifting evidence
Retailers in Barnet can now submit CCTV footage and witness statements directly to police within hours of a shoplifting incident. The platform, already used in six London boroughs, has increased case resolutions from 7.3% to 29.4%. Smaller shops say cost remains a barrier.
London5 min readTrust 68 · Craft 73 · Hype 20- Crime & Safety · Lambeth
Met Police charge 238 after week-long crackdown in Lambeth and Southwark
Metropolitan Police arrested 297 people and charged 238 during a week-long operation targeting gang violence in Lambeth and Southwark. Officers seized 38 weapons, including knives and firearms, as knife crime fell by 18% in the area.
Lambeth5 min readTrust 56 · Craft 72 · Hype 30 
Crime & Safety · LondonBarnet excluded as London retailers trial instant CCTV sharing with police
Tesco, Boots, Marks & Spencer and Greggs are trialling a system that shares CCTV and witness statements with the Metropolitan Police instantly. The scheme, active in eleven London boroughs, has raised the caution or charge rate from 7.3% to 29.4% and contributed to a 4% drop in shoplifting across the capital.
London4 min readTrust 50 · Craft 72 · Hype 30
Crime & Safety · LondonMet Inspector Dave Newman denies sexually assaulting three officers in Soho
A Metropolitan Police inspector is on trial at Southwark Crown Court accused of sexually assaulting three female officers during a night out in Soho. Dave Newman denies three counts of sexual assault, with one complainant saying she felt 'like a piece of meat' after the alleged incident.
London5 min readTrust 42 · Craft 55 · Hype 35
Crime & Safety · LondonMet Police expands shoplifting evidence tool to eight more London boroughs
The Metropolitan Police will extend a digital evidence-sharing system to eight additional boroughs on Tuesday, after a pilot in six areas increased the rate of cautions and charges for shoplifting from 7.3% to 29.4%. Retailers including Boots and Greggs already use the platform.
London5 min readTrust 74 · Craft 95 · Hype 30