Latest news with #RichardWilkins
Daily Mail
18 hours ago
- Daily Mail
My Notting Hill restaurant has been targeted by brazen thieves 20 times and police do nothing about it... I'm still waiting for them to show up 24 hours after the last break-in!
A top chef has lamented the decline of London policing after thieves stole produce from his restaurant by thieves for what he believes is the 20th time. Richard Wilkins, who runs 104 Restaurant in the capital's plush Notting Hill, says police are yet to visit him more than 24 hours after a pair of brazen thieves stole soft drinks and pantry supplies from a storage area in broad daylight. The Welsh chef reckons his business has been targeted by opportunist and organised thieves 20 times in the last four years. Criminals have made off with all manner of stock - including pricey Scottish langoustines and a mincer he bought for the kitchen. One even used bolt cutters to steal his £2,000 bicycle last month. Mr Wilkins, who has worked at Gordon Ramsay 's Michelin-starred Pétrus and at the three-starred Maison Pic in France, says he has reported every theft to the Metropolitan Police - only for officers to close the case in days with no arrests. And when his bike was stolen, police effectively let the thief get away after scrambling up some scaffolding. Officers decided the criminal would be put at too much risk if they tried to chase him. 'London shouldn't feel lawless but it is lawless when it comes to petty crime like theft,' Mr Wilkins told MailOnline. 'It doesn't even matter the level of the theft - it could be this, it could be a £10,000 watch. People know they can get away with it so they do it. That's why they come along at three o'clock in the afternoon and steal bikes. 'A colleague in Soho came back from a daytime meeting and the lock on her bike had been 75 per cent cut through. 'People are just doing things in broad daylight - and nobody stops them because they're worried about being stabbed. 'London has become a low trust society. You can't leave things outside anymore because someone will steal it. I don't wear anything nice out, my Apple Watch or anything, because it's becoming a matter of life or death. 'The core values of the police have been obliterated. It's a failure of organisation.' He opened the Michelin-recommended establishment, labelled London's smallest fine dining restaurant, in March 2019. Inspired by his time working in top Continental establishments, it serves offerings like Noir de Bigorre pork pâté en croûte, French guinea fowl and Kagoshima wagyu fillet. A three-course dinner runs at £60 per person - with a tasting menu coming in at £120, or £150 with A5 wagyu, the highest standard of Japanese beef available. A sample wine menu suggests bottles of 1992 La Tache Grand Cru can be served with dinner for £4,900. And he hit the headlines not long after opening after engaging in a war of words on social media with Made In Chelsea and Buying London star Rosi Mai Walden, telling her 'I've never even heard of you' after she got in touch trying to blag a free meal. Wednesday's theft saw a crook in a t-shirt, gilet and baseball cap nonchalantly make off with a stack of Coca Cola as well as packets of butter. The stock had been left in a small wicker enclosure off of the main road, around the side of the restaurant. An hour later in the CCTV, the same man returns with a pair of sunglasses on his head, what appears to be a bright yellow carrier bag from Selfridges and an accomplice, who reaches in to grab two cases of bottled water. Thief number one then helps himself to another two cases - and checks a box labelled 'wagyu beef' to see if there were any prime Japanese cuts he could pinch before leaving. The chef glibly captioned the footage: 'Another lovely member of the public stealing our produce an hour ago. Police do nothing. So nice of them to come back and take the rest. Cheers guys.' The wicker fencing had been used to store his bike - until it was stolen. Suppliers keep dropping stock off in the enclosure despite the fact he has padlocked cupboards he asks them to put their deliveries in. Mr Wilkins is often alone as he prepares the restaurant for the day - so can't keep a constant eye out for deliveries. The delivery had been dropped in a wicker enclosure despite Mr Wilkins asking suppliers to use the padlocked cupboards next door Few suppliers do as he asks - not that it would matter. Not long ago, a thief smashed his way into the cupboards looking for stock and left empty-handed. Mr Wilkins is yet to get the door fixed. He almost doesn't see the point, since he expects it to be stoved in again anyway. The chef reported the theft shortly after it happened but is yet to be visited by a police officer more than 24 hours on. 'This happens every few weeks,' he told MailOnline as he prepared for the evening's dinner service on Thursday. 'It seems to be the new normal.' Next to him, a laptop shows a constant feed of the CCTV cameras, something he wishes he didn't have to keep a constant eye on. He continued: 'If it isn't that (someone stealing stock), it's someone ripping the cupboards off their hinges and walking off. 'It's happened 20 times in the last three or four years and no-one has ever been arrested. You report it, you give them the CCTV, and they close the case. 'There was a guy who took 20 minutes to break into the cupboards and just left two cases of water in there - and it costs us so much to get the door redone.' Mr Wilkins does not suffer financially from the thefts so long as he gets a police report to submit to his suppliers - but being deprived of stock in a business that has few tables, and discerning customers, is hardly convenient. The theft of his £2,000 bike on June 11, however, was the incident that took the cake. Mr Wilkins had heard activity outside that day while preparing for service - and it was only an hour or so later that he realised his bike was gone, the lock shorn through with bolt cutters after the thief first tried to wrench a securing bracket from the wall. By chance, he saw the thief outside an hour or so later - with no bike in sight - and confronted him. Fleeing, the crook hopped over a wall towards Ladbroke Grove and vanished. A member of the public then saw him clambering up scaffolding. Emergency services then cordoned off the street and tried to coax the crook down as he threw pieces of scaffold into the street. As the clock hit midnight and the criminal refused to leave, Mr Wilkins went home, sure that he would wake up to good news. Instead, he received an email from a police constable who told him the pursuit had been called off because of the risk that the thief might fall. What are the Peelian principles? The Peelian principles are the widely accepted standards of modern British policing drawn from the General Instructions issued to the very first Metropolitan Police officers. They are named after one-time Home Secretary Sir Robert Peel, who founded the Met with an Act of Parliament in 1829, though he is not thought to have written them down in their entirety. In summary, they are: To prevent crime and disorder That policing is done with public approval and respect That the cooperation of the public to follow the law should be secured Recognising that physical force and compulsion reduces public trust Demonstrating 'absolutely impartial' service to the law Using the minimum physical force only when needed to restore order 'The police are the public and the public are the police' Allowing the judiciary to decide who is guilty and their punishment That police efficiency is the absence of crime and disorder, not the visibility of police dealing with them 'We couldn't catch him,' the officer said. There was no apology. Mr Wilkins says his situation is endemic of the general experience of crime in the capital - where phone-snatching, 'Rolex-ripping' and bike theft is rife. He deliberately uses a £140 Samsung smartphone - because the risk of having an upmarket device stolen is simply too great. 'It's the breakdown of society if it takes a member of the public to try to solve the crime themselves,' he said. 'I don't want the world to be like Mad Max.' He claims the Peelian principles - the ideals of modern British policing developed by Sir Robert Peel when he founded the Met Police - are effectively dead, and that the force is weighed down with bureaucracy. His bike theft was first passed to an officer in Hammersmith who attended - before being sent to a 'local' officer in another area of London. In order to email in, he had to register for a 'community portal' website, and hasn't heard back. Earlier this month, the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan announced a policing blitz in 20 town centres across the capital, with more uniformed officers on the streets. Mr Wilkins, however, says he barely sees an officer at all - save for the occasional community support officer (PCSO), who don't even have the power to arrest a suspected criminal. And despite being stolen from time and again, the chef says he loves London, having aspired to move to the capital since he was a child. He wants to see the city strive for better, rather than give up altogether. 'You've won the lottery being born in the UK but that doesn't mean we shouldn't want to make things better,' he said. 'It's not even about the money or having so many officers. It's the organisation. 'Restaurants can be a money pit - you can buy £10,000 chairs, hire triple the number of staff you actually need, but does that make it better? Not necessarily. 'What makes a business a good business is running it efficiently, and I think it's the same with the police. The whole organisation is discombobulated. 'The idea is that people should be worried about being caught - and they're not. 'It makes criminals think they can do whatever they like. If they aren't scared of getting caught they're just going to be emboldened. There's no detriment.' He adds: 'I love London. Ever since I was a child, I wanted to move here. 'There is stuff here worth saving, worth fighting for.'
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Work to cut traffic on major road given go-ahead
Work to improve congestion issues on parts of the A38 in Somerset have been approved. North Somerset and Somerset Council said the project would see work take place at nine locations along the A38 running between Barrow Street junction at Barrow Tanks, and the Edithmead roundabout. The Department for Transport, which funds the Major Road Network (MRN), supported proposed improvements and construction. Councillor Richard Wilkins, Somerset Council's lead member for transport and waste services, said: "It's great to get this confirmation of funding, we have lobbied hard to secure the money to improve a busy and vital stretch of the A38 in Somerset." Plans for a new rail station in Wellington have also been approved. North Somerset Council leader Mike Bell said: "The A38 MRN will improve capacity on our roads, making journeys smoother, safer and more reliable. "The scheme also includes sustainable options for getting around such as the widening of walking and cycling paths and new crossings for the Strawberry Line." Some key areas in Somerset which are set to be updated are Edithmead roundabout, which authorities said would get a "through-about" option and the creation of a staggered junction at Cross. For North Somerset, traffic signalling software has been proposed for Barrow Street Junction, and there are to be improvements at various points on the airport terminal roundabout. More news stories for Somerset Listen to the latest news for Somerset North Somerset Council Somerset Council Drivers warned over two months of gas upgrade work Plans to improve A38 at major motorway roundabout Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.
BBC News
12-07-2025
- BBC News
Work to cut traffic on A38 in Somerset major road given go-ahead
Work to improve congestion issues on parts of the A38 in Somerset have been Somerset and Somerset Council said the project would see work take place at nine locations along the A38 running between Barrow Street junction at Barrow Tanks, and the Edithmead Department for Transport, which funds the Major Road Network (MRN), supported proposed improvements and Richard Wilkins, Somerset Council's lead member for transport and waste services, said: "It's great to get this confirmation of funding, we have lobbied hard to secure the money to improve a busy and vital stretch of the A38 in Somerset." Plans for a new rail station in Wellington have also been Somerset Council leader Mike Bell said: "The A38 MRN will improve capacity on our roads, making journeys smoother, safer and more reliable."The scheme also includes sustainable options for getting around such as the widening of walking and cycling paths and new crossings for the Strawberry Line."Some key areas in Somerset which are set to be updated are Edithmead roundabout, which authorities said would get a "through-about" option and the creation of a staggered junction at North Somerset, traffic signalling software has been proposed for Barrow Street Junction, and there are to be improvements at various points on the airport terminal roundabout.
Daily Mail
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Move over, Dickie! Meet Channel Nine's rising new star anchor who could take Richard Wilkins' job - and the ladies are already swooning
It appears that Channel Nine could have a rising star on its hands. Aspiring TV presenter Chaad Hewitt caused quite a stir recently, when he made an appearance on the Today show. After wowing Karl Stefanovic with his anchor chops in a university assignment, Chaad found himself front and centre on the Today set recently. He shared a clip of his on-air experience that saw him stepping into the rather large shoes of Nine entertainment veteran Richard Wilkins. 'Today we found an aspiring entertainment journo and if you squint he looks like a young Richard Wilkins,' Karl said on air. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. A side-by-side photo was then shown on screen, highlighting the similarities between the pair. 'Somebody needs to do the math, because my mum worked at MTV in the '90s so what's going on there?' Chaad joked, referencing Richard's stint at the music television station. 'Who's your daddy?' Karl excitedly asked, which elicited quite the laugh from the rising star. Chaad was full of gratitude for his big television break. 'WHAT AN HONOUR to share my first full day of learning as an anchor with the team @thetodayshow,' he wrote on Instagram. 'I couldn't have asked for a more special experience with the amazing team and mentors. While sharing the stage in place of Dicky, this little moment caught us all off.' Despite Chaad's anchor gig only being temporary, it seems he has struck a chord with breakfast TV viewers. Karl commented on a clip of Chaad on air with: 'Loved having you, son,' to which one viewer replied: 'He needs to be a regular.' 'Today we found an aspiring entertainment journo and if you squint he looks like a young Richard Wilkins,' Karl said on air Another chimed in with: 'Never has there been a man more suited to the screen.' 'From now on, I love watching the news,' a third swooned. It looks as though Dickie might have to start looking over his shoulder, with Chaad already a triple threat. Aside from being an aspiring entertainment reporter, Chaad is also a model, after being discovered by Gold Coast agency Reel Management in 2020, and has since worked with the likes of BOSS and Polo Ralph Lauren. According to his LinkedIn profile, Chaad is also a budding actor, having hit the stage for the Queensland Drama Academy in Flood. He also nabbed a gig as actor Stacy Clausen's stand-in for the 2023 film True Spirit. Chaad recently revealed that his Today show stint all came about thanks to a university assignment. The second-year journalism student at Bond University posted an after-class exercise to social media that attracted half a million views. After seeing the video, Karl reached out with an offer for the rising star to appear on the show. 'Karl said, 'I want to bring you on the Today show'. To be honest with you, I thought he was joking… I didn't think he was being serious.' Turns out Karl was deadly serious with Chaad adding: 'Karl actually said, 'you can be the anchor!' In a matter of about two hours, they had everything sorted.' He also revealed that his Today cameo did the trick with the network, with Nine keen to stay in touch.
News.com.au
02-07-2025
- News.com.au
Sylvia Jeffreys breaks down when discussing Melbourne childcare worker charged with abuse: ‘The system has failed'
Today Extra host Sylvia Jeffreys broke down in tears on TV this morning when discussing the case about a child care worker accused of sexually abusing children at a Melbourne child care centre. The mother of two got emotional as she and fill-in co-host Richard Wilkins discussed the sickening news story in a segment on Wednesday's broadcast, one day after police charged a 26-year-old man for more than 70 counts of child abuse. 'They are all allegations at this point of course, but they have rocked every parent,' Jeffreys said on air. 'They have rocked the industry. It is deeply disturbing, but it is not an isolated incident.' 'There have been media reports for many months now of abuse and neglect in for-profit childcare centres. The system has failed these families, the system has failed these children and it has failed the many wonderful educators who work in the industry as well.' Joshua Brown from Point Cook was charged with offences including sexual activity in presence of a child under 16, sexual assault of a child under 16 and possessing child abuse material. Distressed families gathered outside a Point Cook facility at the centre of the investigation on Tuesday, trying to find answers as the allegations sent waves of fear and confusion through the community. Jeffreys feels their pain and says the federal government needs to step in to ensure this never happens in Australian child care centres again. 'Nothing could be more urgent than this issue right now because there will be parents this morning who will feel reluctant to drop their child at day-care today, and that should never be the case,' Jeffreys added before fighting back tears. 'I'm sorry. No, no, it is so hard. It is. It is so hard to even talk about it, let alone go through this. The parents who are going through this this morning, it needs to be at the top of federal, the federal government's agenda today and tomorrow and every day until we see change.' Wilkins, who was sat next to Jeffreys offering his support, told her, 'You speak for the nation. Sylvia.' A widespread investigation has now been launched, with Victoria's chief health officer saying 1200 children have been recommended to undergo infectious diseases testing. Victoria Police say Brown's charges relate to eight children who were placed at a Point Cook childcare centre between April 2022 and January 2023. The families of the eight alleged victims have been notified, and offered available support services. Police are alleging the children targeted were aged between five months and two years. Brown has been remanded in custody and will appear before Melbourne Magistrates' Court on September 15.
