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Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Investigations launched as rooms in sold off London police stations 'illegally rented out'
Investigations have been launched after rooms in former London police stations sold off by the Met appeared to be listed illegally for rent. The Isle of Dogs police station building, near Canary Wharf, reportedly has over a dozen people paying to live in it after being advertised on online sites, such as Pictures of one 'flat share' listing show a double mattress in a small room with a mini fridge and a wardrobe for £800 a month. Another shows a mattress in the same room as a shower cubicle and a sink, both by the front door, for £900 a month. One perspective tenant who viewed the accommodation said 40 rooms were available to rent in the building and some listed as 'studios', despite not having a kitchen, were £1,100 to £1,300 a month. A Tower Hamlets council spokesman said: 'We're aware that the former police station building is currently being used as residential or guest accommodation without the necessary planning permission. 'We have launched an investigation and undertaken site visits to assess the situation and initial warning letters have been issued, requesting that the unauthorised use of the building cease. 'If they do not cease the unauthorised use of the building as short term let/guest house, the council has a range of enforcement powers which can be used for remedying unauthorised uses.' The east London station was sold by the Met to DN Private Equity Canary Wharf Limited, owned by David Nourani, for £2.8million in early 2022. Later that year a large cannabis factory was discovered in the former precinct. Requests by Milegate Limited - a frozen food company owned by Mr Nourani - to convert the building into housing were rejected by Tower Hamlets Council and the Planning Inspectorate in 2024. Town hall officers visited the building in late July and discovered it was being used for 'residential purposes' and launched an investigation. Milegate Limited was contacted for comment. It comes after Enfield Council earlier this year served a formal notice to a 'rogue landlord' who was unlawfully operating the former Southgate police station on Chase Side as a hostel. The front counter closed in 2013, and the building was later sold by the Met for £4.1million. Plans to turn it into a 65-bed hostel were rejected last year after complaints from residents, councillors and the Metropolitan Police, with officers raising fears about 'crime prevention, safety, security' as well as 'the safety of lone women and young girls'. An appeal is ongoing. The building was found to be being used as accommodation unlawfully in January. A town hall investigation revealed that rooms in the building were not only illegally advertised for rent, but homeless people were also being placed there by other London boroughs. Councillor Susan Erbil, Enfield Council's Cabinet Member for Planning and Regulatory Services, said at the time: 'The council is committed to taking all necessary steps to tackle rogue landlords who flout regulations and provide substandard accommodation. 'Such practices are unacceptable, and we will always take justified and defensible enforcement action.' A House of House of Multiple Occupation (HMO) licence application was submitted to the council for the building in June after the permitted number of occupants was reduced to 40, down from 99, and the kitchens and bathrooms were reconfigured. In 2008, London had 160 open police station counters. It now has around 36, meaning more than 75% have closed. This week the Metropolitan Police revealed plans to close half its remaining front desks to save money. Scotland Yard confirmed it will break its pledge to have one accessible 24 hours a day in each of the capital's 32 boroughs. A Met spokesman said: 'The decision to reduce and close some front counters will save £7million and 3,752 hours of police officer time per month allowing us to focus resources relentlessly on tackling crime and putting more officers into neighbourhoods across London.'
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Yahoo
Exploring the Peruvian tall ship on the Thames
It seems every time an interesting ship or boat arrives in the capital, I am dispatched to investigate. In recent months, I have boarded the Nao Santa Maria - a faithful replica of the vessel Christopher Columbus sailed upon when he first explored the Americas. I filmed the Royal Navy warship, HMS Sutherland as it powered under Tower Bridge. Around the 80th anniversary of VE Day, I got to know HMS Belfast very well. And at the more modest end of the scale, there was a very wet paddle along the Limehouse Cut Canal with the jovial attendees of an all-women boat club. This time, I explored the BAP Unión from Perú, moored for a week at West India Dock on the Isle of Dogs. The charismatic captain, Juan Jose Roncagliolo Gomez suggests a pidgin language for us to communicate in: "Spanglish?" I agree. Time to see if my 600-day streak on a popular language-learning app translates to the real world. Capt Gomez explained the BAP Unión, built in a Peruvian shipyard between 2012 and 2015, is the largest of its kind in Latin America. This, however, does not give the ship enough respect, he feels. "It is the biggest, the prettiest and the most modern." The BAP Unión has two roles. It is a training ship for the Peruvian Navy, 227 of whom are on board when I visit. Many are high in the rigging, folding away the sails. The other purpose of this vessel, is to act as an ambassador for its home country. Capt Gomez said he wanted to know about our culture and our "impressive history". He said he is especially pleased his midshipmen, who are also his friends have the opportunity to "increase their cultural diversity in this beautiful city". Cadets spend six months working on board. Midshipman Juan Baca, 21, said crossing the Atlantic had been "challenging", but after three days, he was used to the motion. "It is very fun - you get to see a lot of sea animals - got a chance to see whales, dolphins. "And I mean, so far so good - I'm having the time of my life here." He hopes to visit, the Tower of London and Houses of Parliament. His crewmate, Matías Reyes, also 21, adds Big Ben and Buckingham Palace to their tourist wish list - and some football stadiums. He said he missed his mother and brothers but his colleagues have become "like family". "I see them all day - for the breakfast, for the lunch, for the dinner. "We make exercise together. We do everything together. I feel them like my brothers." A tour of the ship revealed corridor walls covered with plaques received as gifts, framed maps of round-the-world navigations and the many global ports the BAP Unión has visited since first setting sail in 2016. The midshipman mess room doubles as a classroom during the day and there are VIP state rooms for special guests - including an elegant salon to host diplomatic bigwigs. I am less keen on the dentist's cabin, imagining tooth-pulling on a choppy sea. And the doctor's cabin can be adapted into an operating theatre. The Peruvian coat of arms glows in a stained glass window, other circular panels covering portholes trace the naval history of the country. Central in the room, is a bust of Miguel Grau, the Peruvian naval hero, known as the Gentleman of the Sea. Capt Gomez said that he flauts one of the oldest traditions - that a commander should eat alone as they make better decisions in combat. He quipped: "Nowadays I die if I'm alone here". By now, the BBC London camera operator, Cristian, is buckling after the continuous 27-minute shot filmed on a gimbal, so I suggest we call it a wrap. We were brought dainty glasses of Pisco. The third sip of the strong grape brandy made me cough, which the naval officers found hilarious. We were then accompanied, as if old friends, back to dry land. Here in the capital, she's drawn crowds, which helps the tourist industry - according to a Port of London report, the River Thames generates more than £2bn for the economy in tourism and leisure activities. Has this latest embarkment improved my nautical knowledge or raised my comfort levels? Well, not really. I am perpetually confused as to whether the stern is the back or the front. And frankly, should my editor suggest a report from a moving ship, there would be mutiny. But with so many visiting vessels on the River Thames, perhaps one day I will overcome my wobbly sea legs to earn my stripes. The BAP Unión continues her tour of the UK, next berthing in Aberdeen.
BBC News
13-07-2025
- BBC News
Tall ship on the Thames: Aboard the Peruvian navy's pride and joy
It seems every time an interesting ship or boat arrives in the capital, I am dispatched to recent months, I have boarded the Nao Santa Maria - a faithful replica of the vessel Christopher Columbus sailed upon when he first explored the Americas. I filmed the Royal Navy warship, HMS Sutherland as it powered under Tower Bridge. Around the 80th anniversary of VE Day, I got to know HMS Belfast very well. And at the more modest end of the scale, there was a very wet paddle along the Limehouse Cut Canal with the jovial attendees of an all-women boat club. This time, I explored the BAP Unión from Perú, moored for a week at West India Dock on the Isle of charismatic captain, Juan Jose Roncagliolo Gomez suggests a pidgin language for us to communicate in: "Spanglish?"I agree. Time to see if my 600-day streak on a popular language-learning app translates to the real world. Capt Gomez explained the BAP Unión, built in a Peruvian shipyard between 2012 and 2015, is the largest of its kind in Latin however, does not give the ship enough respect, he feels."It is the biggest, the prettiest and the most modern." The BAP Unión has two is a training ship for the Peruvian Navy, 227 of whom are on board when I are high in the rigging, folding away the other purpose of this vessel, is to act as an ambassador for its home Gomez said he wanted to know about our culture and our "impressive history".He said he is especially pleased his midshipmen, who are also his friends have the opportunity to "increase their cultural diversity in this beautiful city". Cadets spend six months working on board. Midshipman Juan Baca, 21, said crossing the Atlantic had been "challenging", but after three days, he was used to the motion."It is very fun - you get to see a lot of sea animals - got a chance to see whales, dolphins. "And I mean, so far so good - I'm having the time of my life here."He hopes to visit, the Tower of London and Houses of Parliament. His crewmate, Matías Reyes, also 21, adds Big Ben and Buckingham Palace to their tourist wish list - and some football said he missed his mother and brothers but his colleagues have become "like family"."I see them all day - for the breakfast, for the lunch, for the dinner. "We make exercise together. We do everything together. I feel them like my brothers." Salons and stained glass A tour of the ship revealed corridor walls covered with plaques received as gifts, framed maps of round-the-world navigations and the many global ports the BAP Unión has visited since first setting sail in midshipman mess room doubles as a classroom during the day and there are VIP state rooms for special guests - including an elegant salon to host diplomatic bigwigs.I am less keen on the dentist's cabin, imagining tooth-pulling on a choppy sea. And the doctor's cabin can be adapted into an operating Peruvian coat of arms glows in a stained glass window, other circular panels covering portholes trace the naval history of the country. Central in the room, is a bust of Miguel Grau, the Peruvian naval hero, known as the Gentleman of the Sea. Capt Gomez said that he flauts one of the oldest traditions - that a commander should eat alone as they make better decisions in quipped: "Nowadays I die if I'm alone here".By now, the BBC London camera operator, Cristian, is buckling after the continuous 27-minute shot filmed on a gimbal, so I suggest we call it a wrap. We were brought dainty glasses of Pisco. The third sip of the strong grape brandy made me cough, which the naval officers found were then accompanied, as if old friends, back to dry land. Here in the capital, she's drawn crowds, which helps the tourist industry - according to a Port of London report, the River Thames generates more than £2bn for the economy in tourism and leisure this latest embarkment improved my nautical knowledge or raised my comfort levels? Well, not really. I am perpetually confused as to whether the stern is the back or the front. And frankly, should my editor suggest a report from a moving ship, there would be mutiny. But with so many visiting vessels on the River Thames, perhaps one day I will overcome my wobbly sea legs to earn my stripes. The BAP Unión continues her tour of the UK, next berthing in Aberdeen.
The Independent
04-07-2025
- The Independent
Huge county lines operation sees police arrest 2,000 people and seize hundreds of weapons
Almost 2,000 people have been arrested and hundreds of county lines drug networks dismantled in a significant week-long police crackdown across the UK, the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) has announced. The nationwide operation, conducted between 23 and 29 June, resulted in 1,965 arrests and the closure of 241 drug lines. Officers also seized 501 weapons, approximately 178kg of Class A drugs, and around £2.4 million in cash. In London, the Metropolitan Police accounted for 301 of these arrests, with 111 individuals subsequently charged. One suspect was arrested at an address in the Isle of Dogs, east London, where he was found in possession of sports cars, designer watches, drugs and more than £5,000 in cash. The London force also shut down more than 100 drug lines and seized a dozen firearms, 78 weapons – including samurai swords and Zombie knives, nearly 70kg of class A drugs and more than £600,000 of cash. County lines networks are typically urban-based, drug-dealing gangs that use phone lines to sell drugs, mainly crack cocaine and heroin, to customers in other counties. Its 'most insidious element' involves the exploitation of vulnerable people, including children and those with mental health or addiction issues, by recruiting them to distribute drugs or by using their homes as a base for dealing, the Met said. In the latest crackdown, 260 'vulnerable or young people' in London were safeguarded with the aim of preventing them from getting involved again in organised crime. According to the NPCC, forces across the country safeguarded 1,179 people in total. Detective Superintendent Dan Mitchell, from the Met Police and National County Lines Co-ordination Centre, said: 'The Commissioner recently spoke about the indisputable link between county lines and violence. 'Disrupting county lines is not only vital in keeping society's most vulnerable safe, but also as a key part of our mission in tackling violence. 'The criminals behind these networks are dangerous individuals, capable of manipulating and exploiting anyone to achieve their aims. 'Dedicated Met officers continue to work closely with other police forces around the UK to ensure dangerous offenders are stopped.'
BBC News
12-06-2025
- BBC News
Two found guilty of killing Abdul Jalloh as he sat in car
Two teenage drug dealers have been found guilty of fatally attacking a man "in cold blood" while he was sitting in a car in east Jalloh, 23, was stabbed in the neck in a car park on the Isle of Dogs on 5 August last the Old Bailey, Shamiah McKenzie, 18, was found guilty of murder while Codee Godfrey, 19, was convicted of the manslaughter having been acquitted of court heard that after the attack, the pair changed their clothes and then mingled with the police officers who were searching for the killers. McKenzie and Godfrey had been circling the area on their bicycles for more than an hour and were both armed, the trial were disguised in dark clothing and their faces were covered by balaclavas, said prosecutor Caroline Carberry seconds of approaching Mr Jalloh, he was attacked."Abdul Jalloh did not stand a chance. He could offer no resistance. He was outnumbered, unarmed and vulnerable behind the wheel of his car," said Ms Carberry. The defendants rapidly cycled away, throwing a knife and its sheath along with McKenzie's bicycle into the River Thames at Caledonia Wharf and made their way to Godfrey's the pair packed their clothing - some of it bloodstained - into bags and changed into shorts and t-shirts, before disposing of the bags in nearby bushes."Such was their confidence in their changed appearance that they mingled along the Thames Path with police officers who were searching for Abdul's killers," said Ms killers finally handed themselves into police three days later, the court defendants were two young men who had "no qualms about settling a score with the blade of a knife", said Ms Carberry. McKenzie and Godfrey were a drug-dealing team who used Godfrey's home on the Isle of Dogs as a base, the trial the bags found discarded in bushes, police found £3,000 worth of cannabis bagged up and ready for sale and £2,000 in found in the bushes was McKenzie's phone which showed in the two-month period leading up to Mr Jalloh's death, 570 images of knives were saved on the phone, mostly taken during internet browsing. Four days before the killing, a photograph of a row of four Rambo knives and machetes in sheaths was on his phone.A picture of a knife in a sheath with the text "someone's going to get battered today" was uploaded on to the phone two days before the the start of the trial, McKenzie pleaded guilty to possessing a knife and both defendants admitted possessing cannabis with intent to evidence in his defence, McKenzie admitted stabbing Mr Jalloh, but claimed he had been acting in self-defence. Godfrey did not give jury deliberated its verdicts for more than 44 men will be sentenced on 20 June.
