Latest news with #Clapham
Japan Times
23-07-2025
- Japan Times
What turning a blind eye to deviant behavior is doing to London
Every day London becomes a bit more disorderly. The police report that shoplifting increased by more than 50% last year, a far sharper increase than in other regions, and thefts such as pickpocketing increased by 41%, with mobile phones plucked like low-hanging fruit. Transport for London (TfL) calculates that fare dodging costs the transit system £400 million ($540 million) a year, but the real figure may be much higher. But these crime figures only capture a small proportion of the disorder. Delivery drivers cycle at high speed, often on the pavement, frequently scattering pedestrians in their path. The bikes have electric motors and thick tires; the drivers usually wear masks or balaclavas to conceal their faces, regardless of the heat. The sickly sweet smell of marijuana is ubiquitous in large parts of London (and certainly in Clapham where I live). Why is life in London deteriorating at such a pell-mell speed? And what can be done to improve it? The best answer to both questions can be found in a surprising place — an essay published 30 years ago in an obscure educational periodical by Daniel Patrick Moynihan, then the senior U.S. senator from New York, entitled "Defining Deviancy Down.' Moynihan argued that the supply of "deviant' behavior in the U.S. was increasing far more rapidly than our ability to cope with it. (By deviant he meant lawbreaking and public disorder rather than unconventional sexual behavior). Urban Americans, and particularly New Yorkers, were being subjected to such a level of lawlessness — littering, turnstile-jumping, drug taking, shoplifting and, later, mobile phone theft — that both the authorities and regular citizens were giving up trying to control the supply of disorder and were instead rationalizing it. Welcome to contemporary London! The blame for the growing disorder is widely spread. Londoners are too lazy to walk to the restaurant to get our take-away meals, so they tap their orders into an app. (And yes, dear reader, that includes me.) Supermarkets and food-delivery companies are too focused on serving their customers to monitor their "supply chains.' The police are too focused on serious crimes to bother about marijuana smoking. And London transport workers are too frightened of being assaulted to tackle the turnstile jumpers. Everybody has a good excuse for turning a blind eye. The most common excuse is that we are dealing either with victimless crimes or with the sort of social disorder that goes along with urban life. This is a convenient illusion. The cost of fare evasion or shoplifting isn't "eaten' by anonymous organizations but passed on to law-abiding citizens in terms of higher prices. Low-level crime also has knock on effects: Litter attracts yet more litter, broken windows produce yet more broken windows and petty criminals graduate to worse crimes. Look carefully at both the marijuana industry (for that is what it is) and the food-delivery ecosystem and you'll discover that turning a blind eye is in fact entrenching serious crime. Marijuana is no longer the innocent drug that today's policymakers remember from their inhaling youths. A review of 18 studies worldwide found that "average' marijuana smokers are twice as likely as nonusers to develop schizophrenia or other severe mental illnesses and the heaviest users are four times as likely. Pot dealers are eager to foist even stronger drugs on their hapless victims. The food-delivery industry rests on an infrastructure of crime and illegal immigration. Visit any flea-pit hotel that houses undocumented migrants and you will encounter youths hanging around in the street and shady figures recruiting them for jobs delivering fast food or groceries for supposedly respectable companies. The going rate for delivery drivers is so low that they have no choice but to ride at terrifying speeds — hence the number of accidents and hence the fact that the cyclists wear face masks. Spot checks in April 2023 discovered that 42% of delivery drivers were working unlawfully. The market in false identities, whereby legal workers with accounts on delivery apps register for jobs and then sublet them to "substitutes' who are frequently undocumented immigrants, is estimated to include at least 100,000 people. People traffickers have taken to advertising jobs as delivery drivers as part of a smuggling package. Once they've braved the Channel crossing, these migrants become modern slaves as they rush around London in a futile attempt to pay off the money they have borrowed. The Moynihan essay was unusual in that it contained a solution as well as an analysis: Take vigorous action against urban disorder. It was even more unusual in that it reinforced the case for 'broken windows policing,' a case that had first been made by political scientist James Q. Wilson and criminologist George Kelling in 1982. A generation of mayors led by Rudolph Giuliani in New York cracked down on minor disorders. The result was an urban revival in the 1990s and early 2000s which saw serious crime fall, along with general disorder, and middle-class people returning to the cities. Sadiq Khan, who has made it clear that he doesn't plan to stand for a fourth term, shows every sign that he wants to spend the rest of his time in office coasting toward retirement and enjoying his recent knighthood: His last contribution to crime policy was to suggest that the possession of small quantities of marijuana should be decriminalized. Yet this is politically risky as well as completely irresponsible. Londoners are losing patience with the do-nothing attitude of the authorities. Britain's shadow justice secretary, Robert Jenrick, won applause when he posted a video of himself confronting fare dodgers while TfL staff stood by doing nothing. And criminal gangs are sinking their tentacles into the food-delivery industry as well as reaping super profits from illegal drugs. Surely Sir Sadiq wants a better legacy than this? Adrian Wooldridge is the global business columnist for Bloomberg Opinion. He is author of "The Aristocracy of Talent: How Meritocracy Made the Modern World.'
Daily Mail
15-07-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Massive sinkhole opens up in busy UK street after burst pipe causes major flooding
A massive sinkhole has opened up in a busy south London street with a burst pipe leading to major flooding and road closure chaos. Fire crews and water specialists were deployed to Kings Avenue, near Clapham Common, in the early hours of Sunday morning after the deluge was reported to them. While the water flow is now under control after Thames Water stationed 'specialists' in the area, it may take up to 'two weeks' to fix the roads which appear to have crumbled as a result of the flooding. Labour's Brixton Acre Lane team posted on X today to say Kings Avenue was 'now fully closed to cars, cyclists and pedestrians' and that the nearby Clarence Avenue would be 'added shortly' as a new diversion route. They predicted that, should a hole on Bedford Road be filled today, that junction will reopen tomorrow. However, they added that the total time for the overall works could take two weeks, adding that Thames Water have been granted overnight permission to complete them. Bell Ribeiro-Addy, the MP for Clapham and Brixton, said she would continue to 'press' Thames Water after saying locals should expect 'further delays', particularly to public transport. Popular buses such as the 137 and N137 from Streatham to Marble Arch, the 355 from Mitcham to Brixton, and the 417 from Crystal Palace to Clapham have been affected as a result of the sinkhole. Transport for London (TfL) has been approached for comment on the diversions. In their latest update today, a Thames Water spokesperson apologised for the inconvenience caused by the hole. They said: 'We're currently dealing with a burst pipe which caused a large amount of flooding to the area, as shown in the picture below. 'To keep the public and our team safe, we've set up traffic lights while we work in the road. Sorry for the impact this may have on traffic in the area, and any delays to your journey 'Due to the size of the pipe and it's location this is going to be a difficult repair. We've now controlled the flow of water from the burst pipe, and a specialist team have carried out investigations to confirm the road surface is safe for us to continue with the repair. 'As soon as we confirm this we'll then dig down to the damaged section of pipe and decide how best to fix it.' Ms Ribeiro-Addy said yesterday that water supplies in the area should be 'restored' to locals. MailOnline has also approached Lambeth Council and the London Fire Brigade for further information.
The Sun
14-07-2025
- The Sun
Who were Brian Price and Susan Tetrault? Couple axed to death in their bed
THE murders of Brian Price and Susan Tetrault in the summer of 1986 remain one of London's most haunting unsolved crimes. Here we get to know the victims and their grisly fate, which is featured in a new episode of In the Footsteps of Killers. Who were Brian Price and Susan Tetrault? Brian Price and Susan Tetrault lived together in a first-floor flat in Clapham, London. Originally from Birmingham, Brian had a criminal background that included a high-profile escape from a South African jail after being caught with 6,000 tabs of LSD. He was later imprisoned in the UK for smuggling eighty kilograms of cannabis from Morocco to Cornwall — a conviction that also led to Susan's imprisonment. On a the evening of Sunday, July 13, 1986, Brian, 43, and Susan, 36, were found dead in their flat. The couple were understood to have been involved in drug smuggling in the years leading up to their killings. Although it was never recovered, the murder weapon was believed to be an axe Susan kept in the flat for chopping wood. The brutality of the murders led police to suspect a gangland-style execution. The investigation was extensive, but ultimately unsuccessful. A man named Dean Alexander was tried for the murders but acquitted after a two-week trial. Alexander was a professional thief Brian met in jail, who admitted been in the flat on the night of the killings. He said he left to visit his girlfriend, but winded up walking the streets alone all night. Alexander was later found with Brian's ring, contacts book and £1,000 of his cash. The case was closed by police, but Brian's adopted son Ray has continued to campaign for it to be reopened, convinced that dangerous criminals were behind the killings. In 2024, he pleaded: "Brian and Susan deserve justice. If you knew Brian, or have information, please get in touch." Scotland Yard said: 'A suspect was arrested but acquitted in 1987... 'We welcome any new information that may further enquiries. All acquitted cases are periodically reviewed.' Despite the passage of nearly four decades, the murders of Brian Price and Susan Tetrault remain unsolved. In the Footsteps of Killers: The Murders of Brian Price and Susan Tetrault The murders of Brian Price and Susan Tetrault are the focus of an episode of the true crime documentary series In the Footsteps of Killers. Presented by Emilia Fox and criminologist Professor David Wilson, the show re-examines unsolved British murder cases using modern forensic science and investigative techniques. In the Footsteps of Killers: The Murders of Brian Price and Susan Tetrault airs on Channel 4 at 10pm on Tuesday, 15 July.
Daily Mail
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Tulisa pulls out of Pride event after her famous father Steve Contostavlos dies
Tulisa has pulled out of a Pride event after her father and renowned musician Steve Contostavlos passed away earlier this week. Known as Plato, the keyboard player, played for the band Mungo Jerry and was thought to be around 65 years old. And now Tulisa has revealed she will be stepping back from work commitments as she comes to terms with the loss. The N-Dubz star was due to perform at The Clapham Grand on Saturday night, however on Wednesday the venue took to Instagram as they confirmed she will no longer be part of the lineup. They penned: 'PRIDE UPDATE... We are sorry to announce that due to a family bereavement, Tulisa will understandably no longer be joining us for our Pride After Party on Saturday. 'We are sending Tulisa and her family all of our love. ❤️ We will be announce a new special guest later today and look forward to welcoming you all to our Pride Parties this Saturday.' Tulisa marked his passing on Tuesday as she posted a childhood image showing her snuggling with her dad and the words: 'Love you pops, rest in peace. Forever my father's daughter' On Tuesday Tulia took to Instagram on Tuesday to share an emotional tribute for her late dad as she posted a childhood image of the pair snuggled up together. She penned: 'Love you pops, rest in peace. Forever my father's daughter.' The singer's heartfelt post was met with a plethora of sympathetic messages from her showbiz pals and followers. Heartbroken Dappy, 38, also previously shared the sad news as he posted a video of himself with his uncle, alongside a white dove. Tulisa commented on the post with a broken heart emoji and Dappy, real name Costadinos Contostavlos, wrote: 'I'm so sorry T.' It is not known how Plato passed away. In 2024, Tulisa opened up about her unconventional relationship with her father. She told Paul C Brunson on his We Need To Talk podcast: 'Me and my dad's relationship has not been a conventional one. Heartbroken Dappy [L], also previously shared the sad news as he posted a video of himself with his uncle, alongside a white dove [the pair pictured with N-Dubz bandmate Fazer in 2023] Tulisa's heartfelt post was met with a plethora of sympathetic messages from her showbiz pals and followers 'I would say me and my dad now we're just more friends that kind of have an understanding of one another.' Meanwhile, she spoke of her dad's influence on her musical career during a chat on Ferne Cotton's Happy Place podcast. She shared: 'My dad had a little studio in Dollis Hill and he used to bring me there sometimes when he was working. He put me on the mic at the age of five. I was singing Little Mermaid. 'I just knew there was nothing else I felt passionate about.' That same year, I'm A Celebrity fans were stunned to discover her father was also famous. They were surprised to discover her dad was a keyboard player from the band Mungo Jerry. The rock group was formed by Ray Dorset in 1970 and they were famed for their hit In The Summertime. Tulisa's uncle - her bandmate Dappy 's father - Byron was the bassist for the band and later became the manager of N-Dubz. Commenting on her musical heritage, fans wrote: 'Did you know that Tulisa and Dappy's uncle was in Mungo Jerry of In The Summertime fame?' 'I did not know that Tulisa Contostavlos' dad was the keyboard player in Mungo Jerry.' 'Little piece of trivia. Tulisa's father and uncle were in the band Mungo Jerry.' The Contostavlos family left Africa in the Seventies and moved to London where they lived in a six-bedroom house in leafy Brondesbury, with Tulisa's grandfather a senior diplomat with the United Nations. After touring the world with Mungo Jerry, Plato returned to London. He got together with Tulisa's mother, Ann Byrne, in 1984, and Tulisa was born four years later. A talented singer and impressionist, Ann enjoyed fleeting success with her sisters Louisa, Paula and Moira in 1980s swing band Jeep. There was also an appearance on short-lived talent show Go For It, in which she performed as Hollywood screen icon Marilyn Monroe. Unbeknown to Plato, however, Ann had suffered a mental breakdown two years before they met. Later diagnosed as a schizoaffective disorder, the condition was triggered again when Tulisa was two and Ann began suffering from hallucinations. Ann's condition continued to deteriorate, meaning she spent regular periods in the psychiatric unit at the nearby Royal Free Hospital. It was a devastating time for the family, with Plato looking after Tulisa on his own and his daughter unable at first to understand why her mother was not at home. The couple split up when Tulisa was 10. After the break-up, Plato moved in with his parents at their £1.2 million five-bedroom house in West Hampstead, while Tulisa stayed with her mother. The singer was thrust into the role of primary carer for her mum who battled a combination of bipolar and schizophrenia. Back in 2012, Plato told how he taught Tulisa to stand up for herself after she faced relentless bullying in school over her mother's mental illness. He told the Sunday Mirror: 'My daughter was horribly bullied. It was awful. Children would scream, "Your mum's a loony". Tulisa was about five years old when it first started. She would come home crying all the time. 'In the end I had to tell her, 'I can't go and sort this problem out for you. This is the kind of thing you are going to face in life and you have to stand up for yourself'. 'Then one day when she was about seven, after I had trained her for about six months, she came back from school and said, "Dad I knocked one of them out. You were right Dad, I did it". It had to be done, the misery that child went through at school was unbelievable. Every time she went in she was terrified.'
The Sun
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Devastated Tulisa pulls out of Pride event after famous dad's tragic death
HEARTBROKEN star Tulisa has pulled out of a Pride event after her famous dad's tragic death. Yesterday pop star Tulisa shared the sad news that her father Plato Kontostavlos, a keyboard player, who was known as Steve, had passed away. 3 He was well loved within the music scene during the 1970s, as part of the blues band Mungo Jerry. And today it has been announced that Tulisa will be taking a step back from her work commitments to grieve the huge loss. The singer was set to perform at The Grand Clapham to celebrate Pride on Saturday - but understandably won't be taking part now. The venue told fans on their official X account, writing: "Pride update. We are sorry to announce that due to a family bereavement, Tulisa will understandably no longer be joining us for our Pride After Party on Saturday." On Tuesday, Tulisa took to her Instagram page to post an emotional tribute. She shared a childhood image showing her snuggling with her dad and the words: "Love you pops, rest in peace. "Forever my father's daughter." Heartbroken rapper Dappy, who was in N-Dubz with his cousin Tulisa, also shared the sad news as he posted a video of himself with his uncle, alongside a white dove. I'm A Celeb star Tulisa commented on the post with a broken heart emoji and Dappy replied: 'I'm so sorry T.' N-Dubz star Dappy posts video with Tulisa's dad - his uncle Plato Speaking last year about her father, she said on Paul Brunson's podcast We Need To Talk: 'Me and my dad's relationship has not been a conventional one. "I would say me and my dad now we're just more friends that kind of have an understanding of one another." Plato's band Mungo Jerry gained massive success after landing the Number 1 hit In The Summertime in 1970. Other hits from the band include Lady Rose and Alright, Alright, Alright. Plato played the keyboard alongside his brother Byron - who is Tulisa's uncle and Dappy's father - who was on bass guitar. Tragically Byron died in the early days of N-Dubz in 2007. The pair were reportedly in the band during its early days. Speaking about her dad's influence on her career, Tulisa said: "My dad had a little studio in Dollis Hill and he used to bring me there sometimes when he was working. "He put me on the mic at the age of five. I was singing Little Mermaid. "I just knew there was nothing else I felt passionate about." The star has told in the past how her dad left her mum, Anne Byrne, when she was nine years old. Tulisa became her mum's primary carer at the tender age of 11.
