M&S boss: Sadiq Khan is soft on crime Retail Marks and Spencer has hit out at the Mayor of London for being soft on crime, after crowds of young people have targeted London shops in the past week. Thinus Keeve, the supermarket’s retail director, has called on Sadiq Khan to crack down on violent disorder against retailers, after a Marks and Spencer (M&S) shop [...]
Oxford Street regeneration a complex undertaking for City Hall Retail The centrepiece of shopping in the capital is set for a major makeover, after London mayor Sadiq Khan set out his long-mooted plans to pedestrianise Oxford Street on Wednesday. The plan will transform the makeup of central London and bring huge opportunities for retailers, but the proposal – particularly its computer-generated elements – leave plenty [...]
Lord Mandelson arrested: What led to police action? Legal Peter Mandelson was arrested on Monday on suspicion of misconduct in public office, but how did we get here? The Metropolitan Police said in a statement on Monday evening that they had arrested a 72-year-old man in Camden. Mandelson was photographed being taken out of his house at 4:30 pm by detectives from the Met’s [...]
Facial recognition trial at London Bridge sparks backlash from campaigners February 19, 2026 The British Transport Police’s new live facial recognition trial has barely begun at London Bridge, but activists are already expressing concerns over AI monitoring systems. Cameras went live at the station on 11 February as part of a six-month pilot set to identify people wanted for serious offences as they pass through major stations. The [...]
Shabana Mahmood should seize control of the Met police from failing Khan December 11, 2025 The Metropolitan Police’s inability to effectively fight crime is down to dysfunctional accountability system under the Mayor of London. The Home Secretary should step in to get the force back to fighting crime and keeping Londoners safe, says David Spencer “In London, the Met rules the streets”. That’s what I was told over 20 years [...]
Uplift in patrols: West End businesses fund major Christmas crime crackdown November 19, 2025 The largest single private-sector investment in enhanced security and policing in London’s West End was launched, involving over 600 businesses in the busy section of the capital. Operation West End, an initiative from the New West End Company, which represents over 600 West End businesses, including on Oxford Street, Regent Street and Bond Street, works [...]
Rolex is London’s most stolen luxury watch, but few recovered by Met Police October 21, 2025 Over 5,000 luxury watches have been stolen in London over the last three years, but barely one in 88 of these watches has been recovered by the Metropolitan Police. According to a Freedom of Information request seen by City AM, there have been 5,180 high-value watches, worth £3,000 or more, stolen between January 2022 and [...]
Football and Robinson march force Met to call in 500 extra police September 13, 2025 Today’s football fixtures in London have contributed to 500 police officers from outside the capital beefing up the Metropolitan Police presence. Nine fixtures across the capital will take place today, including matches involving all seven Premier League teams. Over 1,500 offers in total will police the football matches, as well as a number of demonstrations [...]
Facial recognition vans rolled out across England in crime crackdown August 13, 2025 An additional seven police forces in England will be using ten new live facial recognition (LFR) vans to track suspects wanted for serious crimes, including sexual offences, violent assaults, and homicides. The rollout, announced by the Home Office, will see Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, Bedfordshire, Surrey, Sussex, Thames Valley and Hampshire police share the vehicles. [...]
Notting Hill Carnival: The Met is writing its own rules for live facial recognition August 13, 2025 With the Met primed to use live facial recognition tech at the upcoming Notting Hill Carnival, primary legislation is needed urgently.