Local news

    Cllr Abu Talha Chowdhury, Cabinet Member for Public Protection and Integrated Enforcement, visits locations with upgraded and newly installed CCTV cameras Anti-social behaviour is one of the top concerns for Tower Hamlets residents, as highlighted in the latest resident survey. In response, the council is investing £3.7 million to upgrade CCTV infrastructure across 26 estate blocks in Tower ...

A new grass cricket pitch has been completed and unveiled at Victoria Park, marking a new chapter in creating a safe, inclusive, and community-friendly environment for cricket in Tower Hamlets. England international cricketer Maia Bouchier, played as part of a six over match to celebrate the launch which also featured major announcements on the vision for developing the outfield and ...

A Windrush exhibition featuring portraits of people who arrived in the UK from the Caribbean, which was defaced while on display in south London, is now being shown at the Home Office. The public art display in Brixton’s Windrush Square was defaced on 3 July, with the vandalism described as “distressing” by a community group. The works aim to honour ...

A new report has highlighted the unhealthiest high streets in London, including one “where fast food outlets outnumber gyms 20-1”. Communities such as these face higher risks of obesity, diabetes and heart disease, experts say. The study ranked areas on their concentration of takeaways, pubs, sweet shops, vape stores and gyms, alongside air quality data. London Road in Croydon is ...

A man who stabbed an 11-year-old girl in a random knife attack in the West End will not face trial for her attempted murder, a court has heard. Ioan Pintaru, 33, of no fixed address, had previously pleaded guilty to wounding the girl with intent to do grievous bodily harm, and possession of a knife after the attack in Leicester ...

A group of masked Muslim protesters took to the streets of east London today, vowing to “stand firm” and remain “ready to defend our community” in response to a planned United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) protest. Dozens of young men dressed in black and wearing balaclavas marched through Whitehall as part of a counter-demonstration. Palestinian and Bangladeshi flags were waved, ...

A migrant sex offender who was mistakenly released from prison on Friday was “last seen in London”, police have said, with officers scouring CCTV in an effort to locate him. Hadush Kebatu was set free in error weeks after being jailed for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman in Epping, Essex, while staying in an asylum hotel. The ...

Emergency measures announced for the Mayor of London yesterday have stoked concerns that tackling the city’s housebuilding crisis will come at the cost of affordable housing New emergency powers announced for the Mayor of London must not become a ‘new normal’ that leads to the watering down of affordable housing provision, industry figures have warned. Yesterday, the Ministry of Housing, ...

The government and the mayor of London have agreed to change the quota for the amount of affordable housing for new developments in London from 35% to 20%. City Hall said the measures were introduced to help speed up planning decisions, incentivise developers and build more houses. Developers are promised a fast-tracked application if they agree to build 20% of ...

Brick Lane lies at the heart of the east end of London and has gained iconic status thanks to its history of immigrant communities who have made it their home over the years, bringing with them a rich tapestry of culture and craftsmanship still evident today. Food writer and author Dina Begum shows us takes us on a tour of ...