Category Archives: London-wide issues
Police appeal for witnesses to find ‘dangerous’ knife attacker
Officers investigating last night’s murder of a 17-year-old boy near Sutton railway station have appealed for witnesses to come forward as they seek to find and arrest his “dangerous” attacker. The stabbing happened just after 7pm last night. The victim … Continue reading
Police launch murder hunt after teen killed at Sutton Station
Sutton railway station and Sutton High Street remain closed this morning as the Metropolitan Police conducts “an urgent investigation” following the murder of a 17-year-old boy last night. The victim has not yet been named and no arrests have been … Continue reading
Supreme Court orders Croydon Council: fulfil your legal duties
By STEVEN DOWNES The Supreme Court yesterday threw out Croydon Council’s defence, after a case brought by a homeless disabled woman finally reached the conclusion that the local authority really does have to deliver on its statutory responsibilities, however badly … Continue reading
Man hospitalised after fire rips through West Norwood flat
A man was rushed to hospital by ambulance and 30 people evacuated when a blaze took hold of a two-roomed flat on York Hill, West Norwood, this morning. Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters were called out from Norbury, … Continue reading
Investigation call over property deals for £220m flats scheme
Residents in Addiscombe are angry that the council has ignored hundreds of objections and granted planning permission for 36- and 33-storey towers – and demand a thorough police investigation into the tax-payers’ millions lost on successive Croydon Park Hotel property … Continue reading
Backlash against Hunt as Tory-run councils feel the squeeze
Malign neglect of local government after 13 years of savage spending cuts has created an ‘existential threat’ to council services. ‘Things are starting to fall apart at the seams,’ warns a Tory source “Flagship” Conservative-run county councils could suffer financial … Continue reading
Police pledge to arrest protestors gathered outside MPs’ homes
In a confidential Metropolitan Police letter, a senior officer lays out plans to arrest anyone who protests outside their MP’s home and also make it more difficult for constituents to lobby at their elected representatives’ offices. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES … Continue reading
Philp gets caught flat out by Chancellor’s development plan
By JOHNNY DOBBYN, housing writer The campaign against flat developments in the south of the borough that has been led by Tories Chris Philp and Jason Perry has been dealt a severe blow by… the Conservative Chancellor’s Autumn Statement. Buried … Continue reading
Labour Party forced to halt second Croydon selection process
VOTING FRAUD SCANDAL: Plans for nominations of candidates and announcements ahead of next May’s London Assembly elections could be thrown into disarray as party officials step in again. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Officials at the Labour Party’s London regional HQ … Continue reading
Crime scene in Park Hill Rec after teenager’s report of rape
Park Hill Recreation Ground, next to busy Barclay Road, was being treated as a crime scene this morning, closed to the public while the Met conducted an investigation after a teenaged girl reported she had been raped last night. The … Continue reading
Corbyn London candidacy wouldn’t stop Mayor Khan, says poll
According to polling by a Conservative Party donor, the Tory candidate for London Mayor is Susan Who? Then again, some voters think the City Hall chief is George Clooney… By our Political Editor, WALTER CRONXITE Jeremy Corbyn could stand as … Continue reading
Newman Numpty Henson allowed to run for Assembly selection
WALTER CRONXITE, political editor, on the deeply underwhelming line-up being presented belatedly for Labour members in Croydon and Sutton from which to choose their candidate in next May’s London elections The Blairite apparatchiks in charge of the Labour Party in … Continue reading
Strike-off scare for company linked to £100m Purley Pool deal
Our business correspondent, ROBERT PESTER, reports on some troubling developments at Companies House The fragile nature of Mayor Jason Perry’s dealings with the company that is supposed to deliver a 240-home development in the centre of Purley, and provide – … Continue reading
‘Shoddy and inadequate’ police search led to Ratana’s death
The partner of Sergeant Matt Ratana, the officer who was shot dead by a prisoner carrying a gun inside Croydon Custody Centre in September 2020, said he had been let down by the “shoddy and inadequate” performance of his Metropolitan … Continue reading
Exasperated MP Scully sorely wounded by the ‘Spanish archer’
MP Paul Scully won’t be writing a political memoir. He says he’s already recounted all of his ministerial career in 13 tweets, posted just after 8.30 last night, when he revealed he’d been sacked (“got the Spanish archer”, as he … Continue reading
Council planners opt to block Wimbledon’s ‘corporate ecocide’
News from the far end of the tram network shows that council planning departments really can say “No” to big-money interests, after planners rejected proposals from the All England Club to build a massive stadium and dozens of tennis courts … Continue reading
Tory Perry launches ‘Urban Room’ where nothing’s happening
Our retailing correspondent, MT WALLETTE, reports on the latest half-cock initiative from the council to ‘revive’ the ailing town centre: an insta account and a desperate plea for ideas from the public Mayor Jason Perry’s latest feeble effort to somehow … Continue reading
Council to use Home Office grant for BID’s privatised policing
The council has announced that it has secured £165,000 through the government’s Safer Streets Fund to tackle crime in the town centre. The grant comes from the Home Office where, at least until this morning, Tory MP for Croydon South, … Continue reading
60 people evacuated as fire breaks out in London Road block
Around 60 people had to be evacuated from their homes on London Road last night when one of their neighbouring flats in the block had a serious fire. Eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters were called to the incident … Continue reading
MP Philp: I have no idea who is behind Purley development
The Tory MP for Croydon South insists he has no business interest in the £100m scheme to build 245 flats in the heart of his constituency. But he also admits he hasn’t got a clue who does. By STEVEN DOWNES … Continue reading
Mayor Perry: we’ve reported no one for bankrupting borough
Tory Mayor now blames police for slow investigation – after having submitted complaint over former council leaders more than two years after the council received recommendations that it should do so. By KEN LEE, Town Hall reporter In an extraordinary … Continue reading
Council backs Purley Pool tax dodge by off-shore company
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Mayor Perry and MP Philp give their backing for a scheme to build £100m-worth of flats by a shadowy company registered in the British Virgin Islands. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Croydon’s Tory Mayor, Jason Perry, and Chris … Continue reading
Met’s community police officers down by two-thirds since 2015
While the Home Office ramps up the demands on the police service in the capital and maintains its pretence that there are “more police officers in England and Wales than ever before”, official figures show that there are 64% fewer … Continue reading
Tory Mayor Perry admits: ‘Essentially, we’re insolvent’. Again
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Without significant help from Government, the council is unable to find a solution to its debt crisis. By STEVEN DOWNES Croydon Council’s intractable financial problems will never be resolved until the Government agrees to write off hundreds … Continue reading
