Category: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Police are appealing to the public for information after a man was injured in a stabbing.

At around 01:00hrs on Friday, 18 July, officers were called to North Woolwich Road, Newham, following reports of an assault involving a group of men with knives. Met officers and paramedics from the London Ambulance Service attended. A man, aged in his 20s, was treated at the scene for multiple stab wounds.

He was taken to hospital, where his injuries were assessed as non-life-threatening and non-life-changing.

Investigators are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident, or who has information, to call 101, quoting crime reference 368/18JUL.

A report can be filed anonymously via independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

We are aware of videos circulating online, and we are appealing to the public for their help in understanding what took place.

There have been no arrests.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

A man who raped and sexually assaulted a girl multiple times has been jailed for 19 years after an investigation by specialist Met detectives.

Zafar Hussain, 43 (05.02.81) of Bramble Close, SE19 was sentenced to 19 years in prison on Friday, 18 July at Harrow Crown Court, with an additional year to be served on licence. He will also be on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely, and has been made subject to a 25-year sexual harm prevention order.

He was found guilty at the same court on Wednesday 16 April of six counts of raping a child aged under 13, four counts of sexual activity with a child, one count of sexual assault of a child under 13 and one count of the attempted rape of a child under 13.

Detective Inspector Tom Palmer, from the North West Area’s Public Protection team, said: “I would like to commend the victim for her bravery in reporting Hussain to us. Her evidence was critical in bringing Hussain to justice for his heinous crimes.

“I would also like to commend the investigation team who worked tirelessly to secure justice for the victim. Sexual assault and rape cases are never simple to investigate and this case was particularly complex. This did not deter the detectives who worked tirelessly, and where determined to see Hussain get his day in court.

“I hope this case highlights that the Met is committed to tackling violence against women and girls and that we will thoroughly investigate all allegations of sexual assault, no matter the circumstance.

The court heard that in June 2022 Hussain first approached the victim, who was 11-years-old at the time, and asked for her social media account details to message her privately.

Hussain began to bombard the victim with sexual images and videos, and although she initially blocked him from contacting her, he soon persuaded her to resume contact. In January 2023, Hussain picked her up from school and drove to a nearby location where he sexually assaulted her. In March 2023, Hussain raped her twice.

Over the course of a year, he would arrange to meet the victim after school and take her to a location in his car before raping or sexually assaulting her. He would also shower her with over-the-top gifts, such as Apple Air Pods, jewellery, make-up, and money.

In 2024, the victim’s mother discovered a series of messages on her daughters’ phone from Hussain which seemed romantic in nature. Suspicious, she spoke to the victim who then said that she had been abused.

The matter was reported to police on Tuesday, 20 February 2024 and two days later Hussain was arrested.

Vital evidence, including clothing the victim had worn when last assaulted by Hussain, and her mobile phone were seized. Detectives were able to use mobile phone cell site information to identify the days in which the victim and Hussain’s phone were in the same vicinity and at the same time.

Automatic number plate recognition enquiries were also completed on Hussain’s vehicle which showed a match to the mobile phone cell site data. Work was completed on Hussain’s social media accounts. Officers were able to link the usage of the phone back to Hussain at his home address.

DNA from the victim’s clothing was forensically examined and matched samples from Hussain.

On arrest, Hussain commented to officers that he was in love with the victim. He was charged on Thursday 22 February with 12 offences. A jury found him guilty of all offences.

In a statement the victim said: “I initially didn’t see what was happening to me as abuse because Zafar had convinced me that it was okay and that he loved me. But now I know that what was happening was wrong and he took advantage of me. He made me feel more like an adult instead of a child. He said bad things about my parents to turn me against them so that I only had him. I trusted him and the things he said to me.

“Before this happened to me, I used to get really good grades at school, especially in my core subjects which are the most important. However, since what happened to me my grades have dropped quite a lot. I just find it so much harder to focus during my lessons.

“I am very different at school now, so much quieter than I used to be. Sometimes at night I find it hard to sleep and I end up thinking about it, that can make me upset. My friends don’t know about what happened to me and I can’t talk to them about it. Only my mum and dad know what happened to me, the rest of my family don’t know, and I wouldn’t want them to find out in case they judge me.

“I was really scared when I first told the police about what happened to me. Things have been hard between my mum and dad since this happened, its affected not only me but my family too. I hope that we can all forget about what happened one day.”

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

A family run organised crime group orchestrated by a 65-year-old grandmother have been sentenced for drug-dealing across London and the UK, following an extensive investigation by the Metropolitan Police Service.

Six women, a man and Deborah Mason, known as ‘Queen Bee’, were sentenced to a combined 106 years and six months’ imprisonment for their involvement in supplying nearly a tonne of cocaine over seven months at Woolwich Crown Court on Friday, 18 July.

The group of couriers collected packages of imported cocaine and drove them all over London and the UK to locations as far as Bradford, Leicester, Birmingham, Bristol and Cardiff between April and November 2023.

It is estimated each individual earned more than £1,000 a day.

Deborah Mason, 65 (28.02.1960), of Crayford Road, Tufnell Park played the leading role in the prolific criminal enterprise. She was found guilty of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs at Woolwich Crown Court on Monday, 28 April and was sentenced at the same court to 20 years’ imprisonment on Friday, 18 July.

The sentencing comes as part of the Met’s relentless efforts to target perpetrators of crimes using precision technology.

Met Detective Constable Jack Kraushaar, who led the investigation, said:

“This was a sophisticated operation which was extremely profitable for those involved.

“Following months of work by the Met Police to relentlessly pursue these perpetrators, we were able to arrest and eventually convict them, preventing more drugs flooding streets across the UK which leads to violence, antisocial behaviour and misery for communities.

“The group were sucked into criminality, selfishly attracted by the financial benefits of the drug-dealing to fund lavish lifestyles. They were unaware we were coming for them and this sentencing should act as a deterrent to those who think about committing this type of crime.”

Robert Hutchinson, Specialist Prosecutor at the Crown Prosecution Service, said:

“This was no ordinary family. Instead of nurturing and caring for her relatives, Deborah Mason recruited them to establish an extraordinarily profitable criminal enterprise that would ultimately put them all behind bars.

“The CPS worked closely with the police from the earliest opportunity to make sure we had ample evidence to prosecute them for the full extent of their actions.

“We reviewed thousands of messages and other digital evidence that not only revealed incriminating messages sent between them, but also a significant pattern of deleting messages, helping to prove that they all knew exactly what they were doing.”

The investigation

Acting on intelligence, Met officers used a wide range of investigative techniques including extensive call data and conventional surveillance to track Mason and her courier’s movements.

The data received confirmed that on 20 April 2023, a hired car driven by Mason left her house on Crayford Road, Tufnell Park at 04:30hrs and arrived at Harwich Port at around 06:20hrs.

After just 20 minutes at the port, to collect a shipment of cocaine, the car headed back.

What followed were a number of trips made by Mason, as well as all other defendants to complete various drop offs and collections throughout the seven-month period.

Met officers discovered that trips were made to Harwich Port regularly, as well as South London, Rotherham, Southend, Leicester, Walsall and various other locations across the country.

The group used encrypted messaging site Signal to communicate. Officers trawled through thousands of messages following their arrests which further proved their criminal movements.

The messages also showed that Mason was living an extravagant lifestyle with her profits, having bought a Gucci collar and lead worth £400 for her cat as well as lots of luxury outdoor garden items. The group booked various holidays and purchased luxury goods with their earnings.

A number of hire cars and hotels were expensed as part of their spending.

Sentencing

Following the investigation, all but one of the group were arrested in May 2024. Anita Slaughter was later arrested in November 2024 after being identified from the messages.

Following an 11-week trial at Woolwich Crown Court, Roseanne Mason, Chloe Hodgkin, Lillie Bright, Demi Bright and Anita Slaughter were all found guilty of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs on Monday, 28 April.

Prior to her trial, Lillie Bright pleaded guilty to a separate offence of offering to supply Class A drugs, identified following a review of her mobile device.

Tina Golding, Reggie Bright and Demi Kendall all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs at Woolwich Crown Court, prior to trial.

Demi Kendall and Reggie Bright also pleaded guilty to a separate offence of possession with Intent to supply Class A drugs and possession of criminal property following seizures of cocaine and more than £15,000 cash during a search of their home address.

On Friday, 18 July, the group were sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court.

• Roseanne Mason, 29 (19.05.1996), of Grosvenor Avenue, Canonbury was sentenced to 11 years’ imprisonment.
• Demi Bright, 30 (02.05.1995), of Samuel Peto Way, Ashford, Kent was sentenced to 11 years’ imprisonment.
• Lillie Bright, 26 (04.04.1999), of Evergreen Way, Ashford, Kent was sentenced to 13 years’ imprisonment.
• Reggie Bright, 24 (18.09.2000), of Frittenden Road, Staplehurst, Kent was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment.
• Demi Kendall, 31 (15.05.1994), of Frittenden Road, Staplehurst, Kent was sentenced to 13 years and six months’ imprisonment.
• Tina Golding, 66 (24.01.1959), of Beecholme Drive, Ashford, Kent was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment.
• Anita Slaughter, 44 (22.08.1980), of Pearmain Way, Ashford, Kent was sentenced to 13 years’ imprisonment.

Chloe Hodgkin, 23 (27.01.2002) of Abbots Walk, Wye, Kent will be sentenced at a date to be set.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

There will be an increased police presence in Westminster on Saturday when a number of protests are due to take place.

A march organised by the Palestine Coalition will go from Victoria Embankment to Whitehall via Westminster Bridge, Waterloo Bridge and the Strand. Speeches will take place in Whitehall following the march.

A static protest organised by Stop the Hate, in opposition to the Palestine Coalition march, will take place at the junction of the Strand and Waterloo Bridge.

Discussions are ongoing with the organisers of both protests and details of any conditions in place will be published on Friday.

We are also expecting further protest activity in support of Palestine Action which is a group now proscribed under the Terrorism Act. Similar protests have taken place in Parliament Square for the past two weekends, with 70 arrests made.

The location of any such protest has not yet been confirmed.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan, who is charge of the Met’s policing operation this weekend, said: “Our policing plans for the sort of protest activity we expect on Saturday are tried and tested, with officers working hard to achieve the balance of allowing people to exercise their right to peaceful protest while avoiding serious disruption to the community and ensuring incidents and offences can be swiftly dealt with.

“This Saturday’s Palestine Coalition protest is the first large scale eventof its kind since the proscription of Palestine Action and I want to make sure the implications of that change in the law are fully understood.

“Nobody will be committing an offence by simply supporting the Palestinian cause, taking part in the march or carrying flags, banners or other signs providing they don’t stray into hate speech or other offences.

“However, those who see this as an opportunity to test the limits of the law by expressing support for Palestine Action, whether at a standalone protest or as part of the Palestine Coalition protest, will likely be committing an offence and will very likely be arrested.

“I would urge those people to consider the seriousness of being arrested under the Terrorism Act and the very real long term implications – from travel, to employment, to finances – that such an arrest is likely to have for their future.

“This is also the first large scale protest on this issue since Glastonbury Festival where offensive chanting led by an artist on one of the stages prompted a police investigation. Investigations are also underway, led by Met officers, following similar uses of the same chant in London.

“Those investigations are ongoing and it would not be appropriate to prejudge the outcomes, but I can say a bit more about our approach to similar chanting at this weekend’s protest.

“We have said before that whether chants cross the line from free speech to a potential criminal offence depends on the specific circumstances.

“For example, there will be words that when chanted in the middle of the Palestine Coalition march, and not directed at individuals who might be caused harassment, alarm or distress as a result, might not lead an officer to reasonably suspect an offence has been committed.

“But directing the same words at a group of people for whom the words would very likely cause harassment, alarm or distress, could well give rise to grounds for arrest.

“At previous protests, the area between the main march and any counter protest has seen the most heated exchanges. Officers will be particularly alert to conduct, including chanting, in this area and will be working with stewards to ensure crowds keep moving past this point.

“Where they become aware of behaviour that crosses the line from protest into criminality they will intervene and take appropriate action.

“All participants are responsible for their own behaviour. Avoiding the use of threatening, abusive and insulting language, or language that is supportive of proscribed organisations, is the surest way to stay on the right side of this line.”

Further details of these protests, including any conditions in place, will be published at news.met.police.uk and on the Met’s X account.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

A man has been jailed for life for murdering 55-year-old Derek Thomas, who was stabbed outside his home in Hackney last year.

On Monday, 7 July, Kamar Williams, 34 (21.01.91) of West Ferry Road, E14 was found guilty of murder and possession of an offensive weapon following a trial at the Old Bailey.

On Friday, 18 July a judge at the same court sentenced Williams to life in prison, with a minimum term of 29 years.

The court heard how, in the early evening of Tuesday, 30 July 2024 Williams sent threatening text messages to Derek’s daughter, warning her to “watch this space.”

Hours later, CCTV captured Williams driving a grey van along Benthal Road, N16. He stopped directly outside Derek’s home. Williams was wearing a pair of reflective trainers, which made him easily identifiable throughout the CCTV footage.

Williams was seen pacing along Benthal Road, loitering near Derek’s home, before disappearing out of shot. Moments later, he returned to his van and drove away at 23:03hrs.

At 23:04hrs, police received a 999 call from a member of the public reporting that a man had been stabbed with a ‘very big knife.’ Officers and the London Ambulance Service attended, but despite their best efforts, Derek died at the scene.

Detective Inspector John Marriott, who led the investigation, said: “This was a brutal and premeditated attack on a much-loved father. Kamar Williams showed clear intent that night, driving to Derek’s home, waiting for the right moment, and carrying out this senseless act of violence.

“The swift response from our officers, combined with extensive CCTV, forensic work, and determination from our investigation team, led to his arrest and conviction.

“Our thoughts remain with Derek’s family, who have shown immense strength throughout this ordeal.”

Following the conviction, Derek’s family said:

“Derek will be greatly missed by his family and friends, he was a dedicated family man and worked hard to provide for them. He was the life and soul of the family. Derek was always on hand to provide support, knowledge, advice and was a calming influence when it was required. His passing has left a massive hole in the lives of his wife, children, grandchildren, family and all that knew him. He was greatly loved by all and will never be forgotten.”

The investigation progressed rapidly. On Thursday, 1 August 2024 police were contacted about an abandoned grey van on Langford Close, E8. Inside, officers recovered a bank card belonging to Williams from the driver’s seat, directly linking him to the vehicle.

Analysis of the Automatic Number Plate Recognition system showed that the van had travelled multiple times between the crime scene and Williams’ home address.

Enquiries at a local hospital also revealed that Williams had sought treatment for a 5cm cut to his left knee on 31 July, the day after the murder — further evidence tying him to the violent incident.

Williams repeatedly attempted to evade police. On Saturday, 3 August traffic officers tried to stop a silver BMW on Burnt Ash Hill, SE9 but the driver made off. It was later established that Williams was behind the wheel.

In a further effort to avoid arrest, Williams left London temporarily. However, following a manhunt, officers identified and arrested him within the footprint of Notting Hill Carnival on 26 August 2024. He was charged with murder the following day.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

A man has been convicted of travelling to Syria with the intention of committing acts of terrorism, following an investigation by the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command.

Isa Giga, 32 (11.02.1993), previously of Hounslow, west London, was arrested at Heathrow Airport on 23 May 2024 after he caught a flight back from Turkey.

Met counter terrorism police had been notified in 2018 that Giga had travelled to Syria, via Turkey, to fight for the Jaysh Al Fath group, which was part of an alliance of Islamist armed factions fighting in the Syrian civil war, including an Al-Qaeda affiliated group.

Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command said: “We have been clear for some time now that anyone returning to the UK suspected of being involved in any terrorist-related activity overseas will be thoroughly investigated.

We work very closely with other partners and agencies here in the UK and overseas in order to do this and help keep the public safe.

“As this case shows, we will always arrest those who return to the UK after fighting for a terrorist group, no matter how long it has been since they left the country. “

Giga was convicted on 18 July of an offence contrary to section 5 of the Terrorism Act, 2006 after a two-week trial at the Old Bailey.

The jury heard Giga flew from Heathrow to Istanbul on 7 September 2015 and then took a connecting flight to Adana in the south of Turkey. From there he crossed the border into Syria.

Evidence gathered by Met counter terrorism officers included emails and social media messages from Giga’s family, which proved he had travelled to Syria to ‘fight for Jihad’.

This was also matched with flight passenger records and transactions from his bank account.

Further evidence was gathered from messages Giga sent on a social media messaging platform to an undercover officer in June 2016. Giga explains how he “never knew about jihad until 2015” when ISIS took control of parts of Syria.

Giga said he supported ‘Nusra’, part of the Jaysh Al Fath group, and ‘wanted martyrdom very soon in the first row’ (the battlefield in Syria).

He will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on 17 October.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

The Met is appealing for anyone with information about groups or individuals intending to engage in violence at this year’s Notting Hill Carnival to come forward.

Officers are working with the independent charity Crimestoppers as part of a plan to keep Carnival free from knife crime, serious violence and violence against women and girls.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Matt Ward, the police commander for this year’s event, said: “Notting Hill Carnival is an iconic event in London’s cultural calendar which is celebrated by many from across the capital, the UK and beyond. With less than six weeks to go before this year’s event, the Met continues to work closely with organisers and partners to ensure it’s a safe and spectacular experience for those visiting.

“Regrettably, amongst the millions of carnivalists who have attended over many years there has been a tiny minority of individuals intent on causing serious harm to others, including violent crime and sexual offences.

“Their actions stand in stark contrast to the traditions and values of Carnival and I welcome those voices in the community who have stood up to condemn violence and serious criminality at the event. I fully support the organisers’ recent announcement of a new, innovative partnership with the Elba Hope Foundation to divert young people away from crime and particularly knife crime.

“Carnival’s growing popularity and size creates unique challenges. Around 7,000 officers and staff will be deployed each day over the coming August Bank Holiday weekend. Their priority is to keep people safe, including preventing serious violence, such as knife crime and violence against women and girls.”

The Met’s activity has already started with a focus on deterring or preventing those who pose the greatest threat to public safety and the security of Carnival:

• We are sharing intelligence with forces across the country to identify those violent gangs who are planning to attend Carnival.
• We are working with others, including local authorities and the courts, to seek banning orders to exclude those attending who have a history of violence or sexual offending at Carnival.
• We are carrying out pre-emptive intelligence-led arrests and searches of those believed to be in possession of weapons or involved in the supply of drugs. Last year there were 160 such arrests prior to the event for offences including possession of firearms, drugs supply, rape and other serious sexual assaults.
• During the Bank Holiday weekend we will be using live facial recognition cameras on the approach to and from Carnival, outside the boundaries of the event itself, to help officers identify and intercept those who pose a public safety risk before they get to the crowded streets of Notting Hill, and to ensure those attending are able to get home safely.
• We will be deploying screening arches at some of the busiest entry points, using stop and search powers to prevent knives and other deadly weapons being carried at Carnival.

But to keep Carnival as safe as it is spectacular we also need the public’s help.

That is why we have, once again, partnered with Crimestoppers to make it easier for anyone with information to report it anonymously.

Crimestoppers is an independent charity, not part of the police and 100 per cent anonymous. Their commitment to protect people’s identity is iron-clad – they won’t ask for a name and can’t identify any telephone numbers or IP addresses if you are reporting online.

All you need to do is call 0800 555 111 or visit www.crimestoppers-uk.org

DAC Ward added: “The best way to prevent serious crime at Carnival, including violence and sexual offending, is to intervene and target the small number of dangerous offenders before they get to the event.

“If you know anyone who may be planning to take a knife or weapon to Carnival, if you worry that they’re part of a group going with the intent to commit offences or confront rival groups, or that they are being put under pressure or being exploited, or if you have any other information that could help, then please speak up and stand up for Carnival. In doing so, you could be saving a life.”

Further information about the use of Live Facial Recognition (LFR):

So far in 2025 there have been 111 deployments of LFR, resulting in 512 arrests.

During the Bank Holiday weekend, LFR will be deployed on the approaches to Carnival, but not within the boundaries of the event.

Officers will be searching for people who are marked as being wanted on the Police National Computer, those who are shown as missing (including young people who may also be at risk of either criminal or sexual exploitation) and those subject to sexual harm prevention orders because of the risk they pose, particularly to women and girls.

LFR cameras capture live footage of people passing by and compare their faces against a bespoke watchlist of wanted offenders.

If a match is detected, the system generates an alert. An officer will then review the match and decide if they wish to speak with the individual.

Officers conduct further checks, such as reviewing court orders or other relevant information, to determine if the person is a suspect.

Importantly, an alert from the system does not automatically result in an arrest – officers make a decision about whether further action is necessary following engagement.

There are robust safeguards in place regarding LFR. if a member of the public walks past an LFR camera and is not wanted by the police, their biometrics are immediately and permanently deleted.

For more on the Met’s use of LFR, visit Live Facial Recognition | Metropolitan Police

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Officers investigating vandalism to an exhibition at Windrush Square, Brixton have released an image of a man they need to trace.

Police received a report that a display board had been vandalised at Windrush Square at 11:34hrs on Wednesday, 16 July.

After carrying out initial enquiries, they are looking to identify a man seen on CCTV and are appealing to the public for information.

The suspect was captured on CCTV entering Windrush Square at 09:53hrs. He is approximately 30 to 40 years old, of medium build and was carrying a walking aid or crutch. He was last seen walking northbound on Brixton Road past Morley’s department store.

Officers are keeping an open mind as to the motivations at this time.

They do not believe it to be linked to another incident of vandalism that happened on Thursday, 3 July.

This involved a different suspect, a 24-year-old man who was arrested and has since been bailed while enquiries continue. Investigating officers do not believe this incident to be racially motivated.

Detective Chief Superintendent Emma Bond, who leads policing in the local area, said:

“Both offences have understandably caused distress among the local community. We are liaising directly with the exhibition organisers to keep them updated on both our investigations.

“There will be an increased police presence in the area over the coming days and the public is encouraged to approach these officers directly with any concerns.

“We would also ask for help in identifying the man caught on CCTV – if you have any information please come forward.”

Please contact police on 101 quoting CAD 5870/16JUL25.

To remain anonymous, call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

There will be an increased police presence in Westminster on Saturday when a number of protests are due to take place.

A march organised by the Palestine Coalition will go from Victoria Embankment to Whitehall via Westminster Bridge, Waterloo Bridge and the Strand. Speeches will take place in Whitehall following the march.

A static protest organised by Stop the Hate, in opposition to the Palestine Coalition march, will take place at the junction of the Strand and Waterloo Bridge.

Discussions are ongoing with the organisers of both protests and details of any conditions in place will be published on Friday.

We are also expecting further protest activity in support of Palestine Action which is a group now proscribed under the Terrorism Act. Similar protests have taken place in Parliament Square for the past two weekends, with 70 arrests made.

The location of any such protest has not yet been confirmed.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan, who is charge of the Met’s policing operation this weekend, said: “Our policing plans for the sort of protest activity we expect on Saturday are tried and tested, with officers working hard to achieve the balance of allowing people to exercise their right to peaceful protest while avoiding serious disruption to the community and ensuring incidents and offences can be swiftly dealt with.

“This Saturday’s Palestine Coalition protest is the first large scale eventof its kind since the proscription of Palestine Action and I want to make sure the implications of that change in the law are fully understood.

“Nobody will be committing an offence by simply supporting the Palestinian cause, taking part in the march or carrying flags, banners or other signs providing they don’t stray into hate speech or other offences.

“However, those who see this as an opportunity to test the limits of the law by expressing support for Palestine Action, whether at a standalone protest or as part of the Palestine Coalition protest, will likely be committing an offence and will very likely be arrested.

“I would urge those people to consider the seriousness of being arrested under the Terrorism Act and the very real long term implications – from travel, to employment, to finances – that such an arrest is likely to have for their future.

“This is also the first large scale protest on this issue since Glastonbury Festival where offensive chanting led by an artist on one of the stages prompted a police investigation. Investigations are also underway, led by Met officers, following similar uses of the same chant in London.

“Those investigations are ongoing and it would not be appropriate to prejudge the outcomes, but I can say a bit more about our approach to similar chanting at this weekend’s protest.

“We have said before that whether chants cross the line from free speech to a potential criminal offence depends on the specific circumstances.

“For example, there will be words that when chanted in the middle of the Palestine Coalition march, and not directed at individuals who might be caused harassment, alarm or distress as a result, might not lead an officer to reasonably suspect an offence has been committed.

“But directing the same words at a group of people for whom the words would very likely cause harassment, alarm or distress, could well give rise to grounds for arrest.

“At previous protests, the area between the main march and any counter protest has seen the most heated exchanges. Officers will be particularly alert to conduct, including chanting, in this area and will be working with stewards to ensure crowds keep moving past this point.

“Where they become aware of behaviour that crosses the line from protest into criminality they will intervene and take appropriate action.

“All participants are responsible for their own behaviour. Avoiding the use of threatening, abusive and insulting language, or language that is supportive of proscribed organisations, is the surest way to stay on the right side of this line.”

Further details of these protests, including any conditions in place, will be published at news.met.police.uk and on the Met’s X account.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

A landmark agreement with a housing developer and a London local authority will bring frontline offices closer to communities as part of the Met’s focus on neighbourhood policing.

The opening of the Kidbrooke Village Community Police Hub provides local officers with a dedicated base to enhance their response to issues that matter most in the area.

The space was jointly funded by Berkeley Homes, the Royal Borough of Greenwich and the Met, demonstrating how businesses and other agencies can work together to improve community safety at a time when budgets are stretched.

Up to 24 officers covering six wards will be stationed at the hub which puts them closer to the areas they serve and will help the Met build on reductions in theft, burglary, robbery, anti-social behaviour and retail crime across London.

Six neighbourhood teams will now be within a 20-minute walk of their wards. A further two will be based nearer to the areas they serve. They were previously spread between bases in Mottingham, Sidcup and Woolwich – which are both at least 20 minutes away by car.

The hub was formally opened by Deputy Commissioner Matt Jukes on Tuesday, 15 July.

Deputy Commissioner Matt Jukes said:

“Across the Met we are focused on tackling the crimes that matter most to Londoners and we have made significant progress in reducing neighbourhood crime – with a 19 per cent reduction in offences since April.

“House building is important for London – but as the city grows it inevitably puts extra pressure on local policing teams at a time when we’re having to make tough choices.

“Working closely with councils and developers will be key to ensuring more officers can be based near to the areas they serve – and I’d like to thank Berkeley Homes and the Royal Borough of Greenwich for their support in ensuring our teams remain at the heart of their communities.”

Councillor Anthony Okereke, Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, said:

“We’ve invested, alongside Berkeley Homes and the police, to bring a new police base to Kidbrooke. This means more police on our streets, supporting the community and understanding the patch. They’ll be able to respond quicker and be more of a presence, which we know residents really care about. This investment is part of our wider work to make sure Greenwich is kept safe.”

Councillor Rachel Taggart-Ryan, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Enforcement, said:

“We know how much residents care about having local police in their communities, available to respond to calls and get on the scene quickly. That’s why, along with our partners, we’ve put funding into making this a reality in Kidbrooke, a growing area that more and more people are calling home. This is part of our wider work to target area specific crime like anti-social behaviour and theft, and we’re so pleased to see it open.”

Paul Pritchard, Berkeley’s Development Director, said:

“Berkeley would like to thank those involved in the opening of the new Community Policing Hub at Kidbrooke Village, from the Met Police, our local MP, the Mayor of Greenwich, councillors, officers, representatives from our local schools, and other key residents and stakeholders from the community.

“After the closure of many facilities, it is a tribute to all who have helped ensure we have been able to open this new facility. We look forward to the Met’s presence once again, helping to reinforce a safer neighbourhood for Kidbrooke and the wider area and further strengthening this already resilient and sustainable community.”

Police buildings are an important part of the fabric of London underpinning all Met activity and offering reassurance, functionality and a constant presence for communities in an ever-changing city.

Our estate also needs to adapt to the changing nature of policing. To meet the needs of Londoners, it is imperative to have good quality buildings, where there are not leaking roofs and crumbling walls, in the right locations close to communities, and ones which are as reasonably accessible for victims as possible.

The Met’s relentless focus on driving down crimes that matter most to the public in first six weeks of this financial year has seen promising reductions in a number of crime types compared to the same period last year across London: