A 15-year-old boy was stabbed in South London yesterday (December 6). Members of the London Ambulance Service found the teen before alerting the police.
Police were alerted to the boy, who was found in Fleming Mead in Mitcham, at 7.22pm on Friday, December 6. Paramedics attended to the 15-year-old's wounds before he was taken to the hospital.
His injuries were assessed at the hospital, and were said to be non-life changing. The police are still investigating the incident, and no one has been arrested yet.
No arrests have been made so far (Image: Getty Images)
A police spokesperson said: "At 19:22hrs on Friday, 6 December, we were alerted by the London Ambulance Service to a stabbing in Fleming Mead, Mitcham. Officers attended with paramedics and found a 15-year-old boy with stab wounds.
"He was taken to hospital where his injuries were assessed as non-life changing. At this early stage of the investigation there have been no arrests. An investigation is ongoing.
"Anyone with information should call police on 101, providing the reference 6573/06DEC. Information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111."
London's best state secondary school with top GCSE grades has been named. The Sunday Times' Parent Power Guide 2025 has been published, which sees thousands of schools across England, Wales and Northern Ireland ranked.
The guide ranks schools by performance at A-level and GCSE, this year analysing the results from the summer of 2024. The Parent Power Guide is one of the top resources for parents looking at schools for their children, and includes a fully searchable national database of over 2,000 schools.
As well as being an assessment of all academic results on a school-by-school basis, the guide gives parents the ability to compare the performance of schools in the same town, local authority or even nationally.
The top school has been named
And the best state secondary school in London for 2025 has been named in the guide as Newstead Wood School in Orpington. This girls-only school offers places for Years 7 to 11, and also offers a co-educational sixth form.
On their website, the school has said: "We are delighted to have been named as London State Secondary School of the Year 2025 in this year's Sunday Times Parent Power schools guide! Congratulations to all members of the Newstead Wood School community!"
A second category, for the best state secondary for academic excellence in London has also been awarded, and this year goes to Henrietta Barnett School. Henrietta Barnett is located in Hampstead and is open to girls aged between 11 and 18.
The school has also been named the state secondary school of the year for GCSEs, and joint state secondary school of the year for A-levels.
They've said: "The Henrietta Barnett School is delighted that the energies and commitment of our students, and the dedication of our staff have been nationally recognised and celebrated through the Sunday Times Parent Power Guide 2025 with awards for State Secondary School of the Year for Academic Excellence 2025 and three other awards. We are incredibly proud of our students’ achievements, which is just one part of what makes our school such a special place."
Girls' school Newstead Wood School in Orpington has been named the best state secondary school in London (file photo)
Also named in the 2025 guide for London is West London Free School, which has been awarded best comprehensive school of the year in London, Lady Eleanor Holles School for independent secondary school of the year in London, St Paul’s Girls’ School as best independent secondary school of the year for academic excellence in London and St Stephen's Primary School, East Ham for primary school of the year in London.
Helen Davies, Editor of Parent Power, said: "The educational landscape is challenging – teacher shortages, rising student mental health issues and special educational needs and the Vat rise – but there is also so much to celebrate from the hard work of passionate and committed teachers who are finding ever more innovative and impactful ways to boost their students and give them the very best start in life.
“As well as celebrating the academic excellence of the top schools it is fantastic to see how they are shaping their students to be ready for the 21st century.”
Speed bumps and 20mph signs have been added to a Greenwich road 'blighted' by rat runners after every resident on the street called on the council to resolve the issue. Greenwich Council has said that it will investigate further improvements to Cedarhurst Drive, west of Eltham, following claims that the street is an 'accident waiting to happen'.
Miriam Crozier, who started the petition, previously told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): "We've been saying for a long time that because we get this channel of cars parked on either side of that stretch of the road and you've got people charging through here, it’s waiting for an enormous accident to happen."
Labour Councillor Rachel Taggart-Ryan, who represents the Middle Park and Horn Park ward, said at a meeting in July that all 47 households on the street had signed the petition. The ward councillor claimed that the road was ‘blighted’ by excessive speed and parking, with drivers passing through the street at speeds of over 40 miles per hour.
The authority’s Cabinet Member for Transport, Labour Councillor Averil Lekau, said in a written response to the petition that road humps and signs to enforce the 20mph speed limit were added to Cedarhurst Drive in September. She added that the council was in the process of rolling out its Sustainable Streets Programme, which would include improved road safety measures such as crossing points and revised designs of junctions.
Cedarhurst Drive sits in the Middle Park and Horn Park ward of Greenwich borough (Image: Joe Coughlan)
Cllr Lekau said that the Horn Park area would not be included in the first phase of the scheme but would be considered for inclusion during next year’s works. She said residents in the area would be consulted for feedback to develop measures appropriate for the area.
Andrew Crozier, speaking on behalf of the lead petitioner, said at a Greenwich Council meeting on December 4 that residents were thankful for the speed bumps and signs being installed on the road. He added that locals would like to see an extra bump on the street to deter rat runners. He said parking congestion was still prevalent and asked for double yellow lines to be added and for parking to be prohibited in front of the driveways of homes.
The cabinet member said in response: "I am not a traffic engineer. You have come with a shopping list of things that you would want to see put in place. I am not in a position to respond to those as we sit here tonight."
She added: "We would need to re-evaluate what the situation is there in light of the comments you are making."
The government has announced plans to tackle childhood obesity with a pre-watershed ban on junk food advertising, as figures reveal that over one in four 10-and-11 year olds in London are obese. The ban will see ads for food items such as crisps, fizzy drinks, sugary cereals and surprisingly, porridge, banned from screens until after 9pm.
The government believes the ban will prevent an estimated 20,000 cases of childhood obesity across the UK. In England, more than a fifth (22.1 per cent) of Year 6 children - those aged 10 and 11 years old - were obese in the 2023/24 academic year. This is an increase from 18.7 per cent in 2009/10.
London has higher rates of childhood obesity than the country as a whole. Almost a quarter (24.0 per cent) of 10 and 11 year olds attending school in the capital were obese in the 2023/24 academic year. Reception aged children in London - four and five year olds - had an obesity rate of 9.8 per cent, compared to a national average of 9.6 per cent.
The prevalence of childhood obesity varies depending on the areas where children attend school. Year 6 pupils in Barking and Dagenham had one of the highest obesity rates in the country - three out of every 10 (29.5 per cent) children there were obese. Only three other council areas in the country had higher rates of obesity.
Newham wasn’t far behind with an obesity prevalence of 28.3 per cent. That’s followed by Enfield with 27.6 per cent, Greenwich with 27.3 per cent and Southwark with 27.3 per cent.
Childhood obesity (10 and 11-year-olds) by borough
Barking and Dagenham: 29.5%
Newham: 28.3%
Enfield: 27.6%
Greenwich: 27.3%
Southwark: 27.3%
Lambeth: 27.1%
Tower Hamlets: 27%
Hackney: 26.4%
Brent: 25.4%
Croydon: 25.3%
Hounslow: 25.1%
Waltham Forest: 25%
Lewisham: 24.6%
Haringey: 24.6%
Redbridge: 24.6%
Hillingdon: 24.4%
Havering: 24.3%
London: 24.0%
Westminster: 23.9%
Ealing: 23.7%
Harrow: 23.5%
Islington: 22.9%
Camden: 22.9%
Bexley: 22.8%
Hammersmith and Fulham: 22.8%
Kensington and Chelsea: 21.3%
Barnet: 20.9%
Wandsworth: 20.4%
Merton: 19.1%
Sutton: 18.7%
Bromley: 17.4%
Kingston upon Thames: 15.3%
Richmond upon Thames: 13.8%
Announcing the ban, Wes Streeting, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, said: "Obesity robs our kids of the best possible start in life, sets them up for a lifetime of health problems, and costs the NHS billions. This government is taking action now to end the targeting of junk food ads at kids, across both TV and online. Obesity robs our kids of the best possible start in life, sets them up for a lifetime of health problems, and costs the NHS billions."
He continued: "This is the first step to deliver a major shift in the focus of healthcare from sickness to prevention, and towards meeting our government’s ambition to give every child a healthy, happy start to life."
Sandwell in the West Midlands (the home of the football club West Bromwich Albion) had the highest rates of obesity amongst 10-and-11 year olds in the country. Some 31.0 per cent of Year 6 pupils attending school in Sandwell were obese.
In Knowsley, Merseyside, 30.7 per cent of 10-and-11 year olds were obese. Wolverhampton has the next highest levels of obesity (30.2 per cent), followed by Barking and Dagenham (29.5 per cent) and Nottingham (28.4 per cent). Hartlepool and Middlesbrough have the joint highest levels of obesity amongst Reception-aged children.
Some 14.1 per cent of four-and-five year olds in the two towns were obese in 2023/24. That rises to 24.7 per cent for Middlesbrough when including overweight children and 22.1 per cent for Hartlepool. In Sandwell 13.5 per cent of Reception children were obese, in Blackpool it was 13.4 per cent, and in Knowsley it was also 13.4 per cent.
Finding a bag for your next flight abroad can be a tricky feat, not only making sure it fits all of your clothes and appliances but ensuring you can ditch the baggage costs at check in too. As the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales come to an end we've found a last minute Antler backpack deal that'll help you fly from Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, City and Luton with ease.
Currently reduced to £98 for a limited time, the Discovery Backpack may be the perfect size to bundle a few long-weekend outfits, toiletries, and keep tech items save as it's branded as a "tech-friendly" bag. For those wanting to travel with a laptop, tablet, or Kindle this bag has separate sleeve...so you don't need to lug another bag with you.
"Designed for versatility, the spacious front pocket allows ample space for organised packing, while the dedicated rear compartment offers a protective pocket for laptops up to 16.5 inches", as Antler points out. Now with £42 cut off the usual price the Discovery can be taken onboard the likes of Ryanair and easyJet with the price of your seat ticket too, as recent shoppers share how.
"Recently used this on a weekend trip to Sevilla, Spain and I was not disappointed! It allowed me to pack everything I needed, including a full suit and formal shoes, and still have room for extras and souvenirs to bring home", said one shopper, who went on to say how they thought it was 'well-built and sturdy'.
Plus they said:"Has plenty of storage solutions, pockets, zips, and useful areas to put your things for your trip. Very comfortable to wear even when full, and nicely fit under my seat on a RyanAir flight." While another shopper said how they've used it on airlines too: "This is the perfect bag under the seat bag.
"Used on Ryanair, easyJet - perfect and saving me carry on fees." The Discovery Backpack can hold a large 16.5-inch laptop or two smaller pieces of tech in its internal padded sleeve - so ideal for those ferrying a kids tablet, iPad, Kindle or even portable charger on board with them.
Antler is one brand that's keeping it's Black Friday deals around a little longer
"Stylish backpack which I'm using for overnight trips to London when I'm there for work. It doesn't look like an overnight bag and I can fit in my laptop plus a reasonable amount of clothes and extra pair of shoes", as another shopper said. Some users even say they found it safe for photographt equipment too: "It will take my camera and laptop whilst leaving room for a few clothes and odds and ends."
The bag has a distinct rope design on the front, which can help boost the amount of space and while it's a design not used (or loved by all) this could be handing for slotting a pair of trainers or flipflops in the front of. Although some shoppers did point out they weren't fans of it: "The netting is fiddly, adds nothing to the design, seems un-necassary as I've not used in our 3 week travel around different accomodation in Madagascar, otherwise very pleased with multiple compartments for different items including IT and money."
While another gripe we spotted in the review section of the Antler site said: "Nice backpack, they should make the interior bright so it's easier to see what's inside." Although aving covered previous travel-friendly Antler bags before the £80.50 Essential Backpack may be a better fit.
That being said, while Antler has become a British-loved brand raved about for its quality this does come with a higher price which could be off-putting for some shoppers. If so, Amazon has other options for under-seat-bag shoppers - like this £24.95 bag. Cabin Max is another brand which offers similar designs, plus it's still offering a Black Friday sale with 30% off mini cabin bags nd 20% off backpacks.
A West London nightclub where a shooting allegedly took place has lost its licence. Kensington and Chelsea Council said it was “appropriate and proportionate” to revoke Ricco Lounge and Club’s operating licence after a gun battle erupted outside the Kensington venue in October.
Ricco’s said it “fundamentally disagrees” with the decision and will be lodging an appeal. It comes weeks after Kensington and Chelsea Council ordered the venue to temporarily shut while it considered an application to revoke its licence by the Metropolitan Police.
In a redacted version of the decision letter shared with the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), the council’s licensing committee said no reduction in hours or change to conditions would be sufficient to address their fundamental concerns about the club. The letter read: “The Committee agreed with the Police and Responsible Authorities that the public safety and the prevention of crime and disorder licensing objectives are paramount and the Committee concluded that if the Premises were allowed to reopen then this would undermine the licensing objectives.”
Police said an investigation into the incident is on-going (Image: Getty)
Councillors met behind closed doors earlier this week to discuss the review. They found the new sole director of the company running Ricco’s had no experience managing full-time nightclubs and could be “easily replaced” by the majority shareholder, who happens to be the current licence holder.
The letter read: “The management failed to scan all customers; failed to search all customers adequately; failed to use sufficient metal detecting wands and Body Worn Video cameras; the inadequate counting of guests attending the Premises, not adhering to their own dress code, etc; they failed to obtain a guest list of the party attendees and there was no evidence that the birthday party taking place on the night in question had been properly risk assessed as a competent management team would be expected to do.”
Councillors were also very concerned that no-one from Ricco’s had alerted the police about the alleged presence of a firearm until four days after the incident, despite receiving a tip-off hours before the incident happened. They said had the Met been aware when Ricco’s staff were “it is highly unlikely that the incident would have occurred”.
'No reduction in hours...would be sufficient to address concerns'
The committee wrote: “The trigger incident was a serious crime and the management failings and breaches of conditions were so serious that it is appropriate and proportionate to promote the licensing objectives, in particular public safety, the prevention of crime and disorder objective and the prevention of public nuisance, to revoke the licence.
“If the Premises were allowed to reopen then this would undermine the licensing objectives, and no reduction in hours or change to conditions would be sufficient to address the committee’s fundamental concerns.”
Councillors said it was “more by luck than judgement” that no one had been killed or seriously injured when the alleged shooting took place outside Ricco’s in the early hours of October 13. According to the letter, up to four firearms may have been used in the incident.
The committee said all the suspects had been inside the premises before the incident. One has been charged while the others are still at large. Because a police investigation is still on-going, councillors were not given CCTV footage of the incident to review.
A spokesperson for the Kensington and Chelsea Council’s licensing committee, said: “Kensington and Chelsea Council supports the hospitality industry, but this must be balanced with promoting the licensing objectives which includes keeping the public safe. This was a serious police review involving the discharge of at least one and up to four firearms and public safety was a key concern along with crime and disorder and public nuisance.
“Management failures and breaches of conditions were also unacceptable and the Committee concluded it was necessary and proportionate to retain the interim suspension imposed and appropriate and proportionate to revoke the licence at the full review.”
Ricco’s had proposed keeping the venue shut for three months to allow for a new management team and a new security team to be identified and trained. They also proposed to reduce opening hours from 2am to 1am most nights.
Passengers in London took more bus journeys last year, though the total number remains below pre-pandemic levels, new figures show. Across England, 3.6 billion journeys were taken last year, just a 7 per cent rise on the year before but well below the 4.1 billion taken before the pandemic.
The Campaign for Better Transport said service provision and frequency must be improved to see more people using the bus. New figures from the Department for Transport show passengers in London took 1.8 billion bus journeys in the year to March a slight rise from the year before, but still below pre-pandemic levels of 2 billion.
Silviya Barrett from Campaign for Better Transport said: "It’s encouraging that once again we’re seeing more people take the bus, helped by the £2 bus fare cap making bus travel more affordable in the past year. But to truly see more people using buses more frequently, we need to see a boost to service provision and frequency too."
The bus fare cap is increasing to £3 in January (Image: Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
She continued: "We urge the Government to introduce a bus service guarantee in the forthcoming Better Buses Bill, to define a minimum level of bus services in every community and ensure that local authorities have the necessary long-term funding to deliver them."
The figures also showed the number of bus journeys in London has fallen by 16 per cent from five years ago, while the last decade has seen the number drop by 22 per cent. Nationally, the number of journeys taken has dropped by 16 per cent since 2018-19, which saw 4.3 billion trips taken.
Meanwhile, separate figures from the Office for National Statistics show bus and coach fares in the first three months of 2024 were six times higher than the same period in 1987, compared with a five-fold increase in train fares and motoring costs rising by around three-and-a-half times. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced in October that the cap on single bus fares in England will rise from £2 to £3 from January 1.
