Latest news with #Hackney
Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Lena Dunham's sex-filled London romcom is so hip that it's just annoying
Imagine a Richard Curtis script in which the characters snort ketamine at Hackney City Farm. This is Too Much (Netflix), the new series from Girls creator Lena Dunham. As you might expect if you know Dunham's work, it is sharp, knowing and often funny. But it's also a self-consciously hip romcom with the whiniest leading man. By the end, I didn't care if they lived happily ever after or not, as long as they weren't doing it in my earshot. It starts like an edgier Emily in Paris, with American Jessica (Meg Stalter) moving to London to mend a broken heart. There is instant fish-out-of-water fun, because she has grown up on Jane Austen adaptations and is horrified when her new address on the 'Hoxton Grove Estate' turns out to be a council flat. Baffled, she asks the cab driver who has brought her from Heathrow: 'It's the Hoxton Grove Estate – you know, estate grounds, verdant gardens, archways, some real Merchant Ivory-type s---? I don't think this is it.' Jessica meets indie musician Felix (Will Sharpe) on her first night in London. Over 10 episodes, we follow their romance in all its detail – dates, sex, break-ups and make-ups, and the kind of in-depth conversations between new partners that feel exciting when you're having them yourself, but are really boring when you're listening to other people's. Too Much is a curious amalgam of Girls-style scenes in which people spit in each other's mouths as a turn-on, and Curtis-style comedy in which an upper-crust maid of honour complains: 'Georgia has completely abandoned our Cretian sandal company to organise this wedding.' The story is inspired by Dunham's move from New York to north London several years ago, and Jessica is also the most Lena Dunham character you could get without her actually being played by Lena Dunham – same energy, same build, same eccentric fashion sense. She carries around one of those weird, hairless dogs, dressed in a pioneer-style nightgown (both her and the dog). 'Am I the Meghan Markle of, like, fat white bitches?' she asks at one point. It's a riot of celebrity supporting roles: Richard E Grant as Jessica's dreadful boss, Naomi Watts as his dead-eyed wife, Emily Ratajkowski as Jessica's nemesis, Stephen Fry as an upper-middle-class type fallen on hard times. Andrew Scott is hilarious as a pretentious ad director. Rita Ora plays herself. Jennifer Saunders makes a late appearance. Dunham pops up every now and then, playing Jessica's sister. Some characters work (Felix's ennui-laden French ex is fabulous) and others don't (Jessica's shrieking gay colleague is unbearable). At her best, Jessica is dorkily loveable and open-hearted, the kind of person who has told you their life story and asked for yours within seconds of meeting. 'I love feelings. I'm American,' she explains to a stranger. At her worst, she's a neurotic mess who just won't stop talking. The real problem with this show is Felix, a manic pixie dream boy in kohl eyeliner, brooding about his miserable upbringing. After a couple of episodes he becomes so listless that he drains the energy from every scene he's in. Too Much is a love letter to British romcoms and is made by Working Title, the production company that gave us all the best ones. Episode titles include One Wedding and a Sex Pest, Enough, Actually and Notting Kill, and little nods to those films are everywhere. It's also stuffed to the gills with British references that Dunham has picked up: Dalston raves, John Lewis ads, what 'getting a bollocking' means, whether a Jaffa cake is a cake or a biscuit. The vision of London isn't Curtis-land, but it's definitely rose-tinted. A late-night walk through a park in Hoxton with no sightings of crackheads or muggers on Lime bikes? Nah.
Daily Mail
7 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Met police officers who strip-searched black schoolgirl, 15, while she was on her period are guilty of gross misconduct
Two Metropolitan Police officers who strip-searched a 15-year-old black schoolgirl while she was on her period have been found guilty of gross misconduct. The incident, which took place at a school in Hackney, east London, in 2020, saw the girl, known as Child Q, searched by officers who believed she was carrying cannabis. A misconduct panel concluded that the strip search, which involved the exposure of her intimate parts, was 'disproportionate, inappropriate and unnecessary.' No drugs were found on the child. The hearing also heard how the ordeal left the schoolgirl feeling 'humiliated' and 'degraded.' Trainee Detective Constable Kristina Linge and Police Constable Rafal Szmydynski were criticised for their handling of the situation and now could face being sacked from the force. It was concluded that they failed to ensure that an appropriate adult was present during the strip search - as is required when a minor is involved - and for not seeking senior officer authorisation beforehand. They also failed to provide the girl with a copy of the search record, in direct breach of police policy and training. The misconduct panel concluded the officers did not respect the girl's rights as a child and failed to give her the protection she was entitled to under the law. A third officer, PC Victoria Wray, was also found to have committed misconduct for not questioning whether the search was proportionate or checking whether it had been properly authorised. She too breached police standards relating to duties and responsibilities, authority, respect and courtesy, and following orders and instructions. However, the panel did not find that any of the officers had breached standards relating to equality and diversity, or honesty and integrity. Crucially, it concluded there was no evidence that race was a factor in their decisions, nor that the girl had been 'adultified.' The four-week disciplinary hearing was led by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and chaired by Met Commander Jason Prins. In 2022 the incident sparked protests on the streets where they were heard chanting 'no justice, no peace, abolish the police' and 'racist cops, out of schools'. They also held up signs reading 'no to racist police, justice for Child Q' and 'we say no to police in schools', as well as Black Lives Matter banners. They also chanted 'shame on you' at officers outside the station, footage on social media showed. A protester from Catcalls of London, an Instagram-based awareness group, wrote messages in multi-coloured chalk on the pavement, with one reading: 'Dearest Child Q, the systems designed to protect you failed you. 'We see you. We stand here for you. We are with you.' Commander Kevin Southworth said: 'The experience of Child Q should never have happened and was truly regrettable. 'We have sincerely apologised to Child Q since this incident happened. Again, I am deeply sorry to Child Q and her family for the trauma that we caused her, and the damage this incident caused to the trust and confidence black communities across London have in our officers. 'While the officers involved did not act correctly, we acknowledge there were organisational failings. Training to our officers around strip search and the type of search carried out on Child Q was inadequate, and our oversight of the power was also severely lacking. 'This left officers, often young in service or junior in rank, making difficult decisions in complex situations with little information, support or clear resources to help their decision-making. 'What happened to Child Q was a catalyst for change both for the Met and for policing nationally. 'While we should not have needed an incident such as Child Q to check our approach, it has absolutely led us to improving our processes and significantly reducing the number of these types of searches carried out. 'It's crucial we get this right to ensure the impact on young people is minimised as far as possible. 'Sadly, we know there are children in London being exploited to carry drugs and weapons for others as well as involved in criminality, so these types of searches have to remain within police powers. The work we have done since Child Q means we now have the right safeguards in place.'
The Independent
3 days ago
- The Independent
Notting Hill Carnival fugitive found guilty of bus driver's stab murder
A fugitive has been found guilty of murdering his ex-girlfriend's father after being caught at Notting Hill Carnival. Kamar Williams, 34, stabbed Derek Thomas, 55, in Hackney, north-east London, last July 30. After the 'frenzied' attack, Williams, from the Isle of Dogs, east London, went on the run. He was finally detained after crashing a hired BMW and fleeing on foot, with police in pursuit. On Monday, a jury at the Old Bailey found Williams unanimously guilty of murder and guilty of having a bladed article by a majority of 11 to one. There were cries of 'yes' from the public gallery as the jury delivered the verdicts after deliberating for 17 hours and 48 minutes. Judge Angela Rafferty KC adjourned sentencing until Friday July 18 and remanded Williams into custody. Anthony Orchard KC had told jurors the defendant had been looking for the victim's daughter Carron Thomas on the night of the murder. Earlier that evening, she had received threatening and abusive text messages from the defendant, the court was told. The jury heard that Ms Thomas had called police twice in the hours before her father was attacked. Just before 7pm, she reported to police that Williams was at her sister's address, but when police arrived he was not there. Just after 10.30pm, she called police again, while she was at her sister's house, believing she could see Williams walking through the estate. Williams went to Mr Thomas's home looking for him or his daughter, but they were not in. As he was driving away, he spotted Mr Thomas walking home on Stoke Newington Common at around 11pm. Mr Thomas had finished a late shift as a bus driver and had gone into Tesco for some food before heading home. Williams stopped the van he was driving in the middle of the road, got out and stabbed Mr Thomas five times. The contents of Mr Thomas's shopping bag were strewn over the pavement and road. Mr Orchard said: 'Mr Thomas may well have swung a punch at the defendant but if he did, you can be sure he was acting in a desperate attempt to defend himself. 'There can be no doubt that the attacker was this knife-wielding defendant. 'Mr Thomas was struck by the knife on five occasions in different places in what was, you may think, a frenzied attack. 'If you were walking home across the common minding your own business and someone ran at you with a large knife you would have been terrified – clearly so was Mr Thomas. 'Having stabbed Mr Thomas, the defendant left him for dead and went on the run, only being arrested a month later at the carnival.' Giving evidence, Williams claimed he acted in self-defence after the victim produced a knife. He claimed he had been looking to talk to the bus driver about his relationship with his daughter. He told jurors he took the knife from Mr Thomas and stabbed him with it. Following the guilty verdicts, Detective Inspector John Marriott, of Scotland Yard, said: 'This was a brutal and premeditated attack on a much-loved father. 'Kamar Williams showed clear intent that night, driving to Derek's home, waiting for the right moment, and carrying out this senseless act of violence. 'The swift response from our officers, combined with extensive CCTV, forensic work, and determination from our investigation team, led to his arrest and conviction. 'Our thoughts remain with Derek's family, who have shown immense strength throughout this ordeal.' Mr Thomas's family said in a statement: 'Derek will be greatly missed by his family and friends, he was a dedicated family man and worked hard to provide for them. He was the life and soul of the family. 'Derek was always on hand to provide support, knowledge, advice and was a calming influence when it was required. His passing has left a massive hole in the lives of his wife, children, grandchildren, family and all that knew him. He was greatly loved by all and will never be forgotten.'
Telegraph
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
The summer haircuts that feel cool
There are key times in life when going for a haircut just feels right – after a break-up, major life event or when the seasons change. In fact, the urge for a haircut mounts as the hotter summer months roll in because not only are shorter styles more heat appropriate, but they also align with a natural switch in our wardrobes. 'The change of season triggers something in all of us,' agrees John Paul Scott, founder and creative director of SALT salon in Hackney, London. 'Most of us feel like revealing a new iteration of ourselves when summer arrives, and a hair change is one of the quickest ways to do that.' Case in point: Julianne Moore, who debuted a collarbone-grazing bob while on the press tour for her hit Netflix show, Sirens, in May. Swapping her auburn lengths for a sleeker lob felt fresh and cool without being dramatically different to what came before. Zara Tindall also showcased a newly cut, choppy blonde bob at the Royal Windsor Cup Final last month; beachy and undone, she crowned the look with a season-appropriate straw boating hat and sunglasses. And Sharon Stone, who is known for her long, wavy pixie cut, has grown it out in favour of a mussed-up bob, a style she has also since paired with a hat. Simplicity is the common denominator in all of these chic summer styles. 'I always think hair should be easy, effortless and as least faff as possible in the summer,' says hairstylist George Northwood, whose clients include Lily Collins (who also recently went shorter) and Alicia Vikander. 'When it's hot, who wants to spend time under a hair dryer or battling with a hot pair of tongs? It looks modern to have loose, effortless-looking hair.' He references a simple jaw-length bob (what he calls the 'Perriand' in salon, inspired by the French architect Charlotte Perriand) for its timeless, soft and unfussy finish. Tempted? Here are the simple things you can do to update your hair for summer. Long hair and layers If you've got long hair, and would like to keep it that way, then adding a few layers around the front may be worth considering. See Jodie Comer, whose feathered look at the London premiere of 28 Years Later took its cues from Jennifer Aniston's famous Nineties Friends hairstyle. Modern and polished, it's an easy way to add detail to an otherwise simple silhouette: 'A glossy blow dry with lived-in razored ends works really well,' says Scott. 'It's easy, breezy and carefree, but lends an edge to the look.' For optimal polish, make sure hair is hydrated and healthy with the help of a weekly conditioning mask. 98 Beauty's Hydra Bond Hydrating Masque, £35, is packed with nourishing oils and glycerin to restore hair elasticity and swish after a little as ten minutes. Choppy bob 'This summer's bob is all one length and has no shape at the front,' says Northwood. 'It's a bit choppy but still chunky, and should look free and easy – nothing too studied.' If you already have a bob in situ, it may be time to experiment with a shorter look – it's a great way to provide ventilation to the neck area on sweltering days, plus it looks good too. Alternatively, ask your hairdresser to chop into your ends – especially if your hair is really thick – to create a lighter texture, then aim for undone styling. Hershesons Air Dry Spray, £18, Hershesons; ghd Wave Triple Barrer tool, £159, Boots A tousled finish is incredibly easy to achieve with the help of Hershesons Air Dry Spray, £18, which now contains UV protection to fend off damage. Simply mist it into the hair, then twist, scrunch and leave to dry. For more overt waves, look no further than the ghd Wave Triple Barrer tool, £159, which delivers a mermaid look in no time. Grown-out fringe While some experts understandably warn against getting a fringe in the summer months – they can be high maintenance as temperatures rise and foreheads become oilier – Northwood says they're not something to shy away from. 'They're a great way to inject interest into long hair,' he explains, adding that he recently cut a set of curtain bangs for Vikander. Typebea's 3-in-1 Dry Shampoo, £26, Boots Great for opening up the face and accentuating the cheekbones, his advice is to opt for a style that 'blends seamlessly with the rest of your hair so that it looks more like a grown out fringe, rather than anything too graphic' that will inevitably require more maintenance. Typebea's 3-in-1 Dry Shampoo, £26, is a multitasking essential for summer fringes – as well as injecting volume into roots and absorbing excess oil, it's great for scalp health too. A modern shag The modern shag – a style that works especially well on those with curls – is also having a moment, with Google searches for 'layered shag haircut' up by 250 per cent in the last month alone. Selena Gomez recently had her own cut in by hairstylist Orlando Pita, who snipped in plenty of layers and mussed-up bangs for the singer. Hair by Sam McKnight's Cool Girl Barely There Texture Mist, £28, Hair by Sam McKnight The more texture involved in this cut, the better – which is why it works especially well on holiday, when salty hair is par for the course – but you can fake it with the help of Hair by Sam McKnight's Cool Girl Barely There Texture Mist, £28. The hat trick Since hats are an excellent idea to fend off the sun's UV rays, how to wear one and not succumb to dreaded hat hair? The key is to keep the hair looking lived-in to begin with so that any extra kinks aren't unsightly, but part of the look – as Phillips proves. Hats aren't the only summer accessory to get on board with, either. Katya x Mousse crystal rose clip, £34, Katya; Joan clip, £28, Scott is also a fan of claw clips to twist longer hair up on hot evenings – try Katya and Tort for great options.
Telegraph
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Once again, Diane Abbott has given us a glimpse into Labour's dark soul
For years, Diane Abbott has been the unlucky teddy-bear strapped to the grille of the Corbynite lorry. After coming to prominence in the Eighties as the first black woman in Parliament, her slow slump into ineptitude meant she came to be seen as little more than a mascot as magic grandpa drove Labour to its worst electoral defeat since 1935. Even under Starmerite rule, however, she's still clinging to that red bonnet, keffiyeh fluttering. Thank God for that. From wearing two left shoes on the campaign trail to brain-freezing spectacularly in interviews, Abbott has long provided the nation with a great deal of mirth (tempered, it should be added, with much compassion for her medical complaints). But her value is greater than that. When the veteran socialist took to X this week to lambast the hated Israel Defence Forces based on highly dubious reports that it had apparently opened fire on civilians for the fun of it – how else do Jews spend their time, amirite? – she did the nation a service by showing us Labour's true colours. 'Beyond horrific that the Jewish Defence Force is gunning down Palestinians as they queue for food #Gaza Genocide,' she wrote. The Jewish Defence Force? Oops! When it comes to slips of the mask, the Hackney MP does it more ham-fistedly and more frequently than anybody else. If she was half as slick as her colleagues, she'd be selling us snake-oil with the best of them. Instead, she can't help but show us what's in the bottle. (Though she has since deleted her tweet). Think, for example, of when she wrote to the Observer a few months before October 7 to assert that Jews were unable to suffer racism, only 'prejudice, like redheads'. (She later apologised for and retracted her comments). Now, I don't know if any kibbutzim of gingers exist anywhere in the world, but if they did, I'd be fairly certain they'd be safe from the marauding butchery of Hamas. After being suspended from the party, she vehemently denied a report that she refused to go on an anti-Semitism awareness course to have the ban lifted. In any event, it would have been fatuous to sit through a lecture on the topic and be awarded a clean bill of health when your passions run that deep. Yes, the best kind of bigot is one who lacks self-awareness. When the whip was finally restored to the member for Hackney North, there was no mistaking the hollowness of her leader's pledges of zero tolerance on the subject of anti-Semitism. And now we have her tweet this week. The fundamental truth is that like Leftist movements all over the world, Labour has a problem with Jews. The moderates do their best, equivocating, browbeating, overthinking and smarming, but when the chips are down they can't restrain their instinctive repulsion for Israel. Did anybody believe that Keir Starmer, who campaigned hard to put Corbyn in Number Ten, would have any scruples whatsoever when it came to selling Britain's Jews down the river? Sadly, many people did. Great numbers of Jewish voters of the Left who had abandoned their natural home during the Corbyn years were only too willing to give Sir Keir the benefit of the doubt. I know. I couldn't work it out, either, at the time. One year on and where do we find ourselves? With a Government that singles out Israel for repeated condemnation while downplaying the depravity of Hamas and failing even to stand firm against the Islamic Republic of Iran, whether overseas or on our own shores. Which brings me back to Abbott. Here she is on Iran: 'Trump knows that Iran is not close to building a bomb. But he is directing the attacks on Iran anyway… Netanyahu is aiming for regime destruction.' She also argued a military campaign would be 'catastrophic'. Here she is on banning Palestine Action: 'It really is wrong… What Israel is doing is terrorism. What Palestine Action is doing is protesting it.' In fact, she would rather proscribe Israeli politicians than the thugs who sabotaged an RAF aircraft. 'The entire Israeli government should be sanctioned,' she ranted. It doesn't end there. Here, for good measure, are Abbott's thoughts on the child rape gangs: 'There is a lot of nonsense and deliberate misinformation about child sexual grooming. Some media only 'care' about certain predators, some politicians talk as if they are the only perpetrators.' Abbott is the gift that keeps giving. She is the true, unfiltered voice of the Left who insists on saying the quiet part out loud. From Starmer's point of view, he should have dumped her ages ago. For the country, however, the longer she remains pinned to the lorry the better.
