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34 stories from and about Tower Hamlets, mostly crime & safety, council & politics, property & planning. The most recent ran on 21 October 2026. Page 2 of 2.
Borough-wide and national stories that name Tower Hamlets or bear directly on it.
Hackney Council ended its £250‑a‑week adult social care cap on 7 September 2026. The change is expected to recover £150,000 annually for the authority, yet a self‑funding disabled resident says his monthly bill could rise from £1,000 to around £3,000. The council argues the move aligns with national rules.
Hackney recorded the highest rate of permanent school exclusions in London for the 2024/25 academic year, with 50 pupils excluded. This rate is 2.7 times the London average and contrasts with a city-wide fall in exclusions.
Newham recorded the highest number of knife crime offences in London between September 2025 and August 2026, with 824 incidents. Overall, the Metropolitan Police recorded 13,649 knife-related offences across the capital during the same period.
Four London boroughs are identified as having the lowest household solar panel uptake in Britain between 2019 and 2025. Analysis by Glow Green highlights challenges such as property suitability and permissions in densely populated areas.
BBC London reports that a 39% cut to trading‑standards funding and a 23% drop in regulatory services have weakened enforcement of the Tobacco and Vapes Act’s licensing scheme. Illegal vape sales were found in 33% of 422 test purchases by young people, raising concerns for residents.
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.
New figures from the Office for National Statistics show a 15-year difference in average life expectancy between London's neighbourhoods. The City of London has the highest borough average, while East Village in Stratford has the lowest neighbourhood average.
Dozens of Lime e-hire bikes have been repeatedly dumped in the Greenwich foot tunnel, blocking access and prompting concerns from residents. Greenwich Council is working with neighbouring boroughs to address the ongoing issue.
Barnet Council’s December 2025 rejection of 283 flats at High Barnet Underground Station may now be harder to defend under new planning rules. Housing Secretary Angela Rayner’s policy requires councils to approve developments within a 10-minute walk of transport hubs unless strong evidence justifies refusal. The scheme was later approved by City Hall after a mayoral call-in.
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.
Satellite images reveal London’s parks have turned brown after record-breaking heatwaves, with Barnet’s green spaces at risk of wildfires. The Mayor of London has urged residents to create fire breaks in gardens, while the London Fire Brigade warns dry grass can spread flames to nearby homes within minutes.
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.
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.
Residents in Barnet and across London face longer waits for social housing after Clarion Housing Group revealed planning approvals take over two years in the capital, compared with 11 months in Manchester. The delays risk making projects unviable, the group’s CEO said.
Newham had the highest number of reported crimes in east London between January and June 2026, with 20,924 cases. Theft accounted for nearly a third of all offences. Tower Hamlets followed with 18,650 reports, while Waltham Forest saw a decline compared to 2025.

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.
Walthamstow, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Wandsworth, Hackney and Kensington & Chelsea offer free events this weekend, including Aperol Spritz giveaways, Pokémon GO celebrations and a Latin American dance party at Tate Modern.
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