Latest news with #NorthWestLondon
Daily Mail
01-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Moment knife-wielding attacker pulls out HUGE blade and lunges at party-goer in lawless London park
This is the horrifying moment a knife-wielding attacker threatens a young girl in a London park, as dozens scream in terror. The hooded perpetrator ran up to a girl and brazenly lunged the huge kitchen knife just inches away from her face. The victim put her hands up and tried to back away as the attacker came lunging at her with the weapon. When she manages to get away, the attacker continued to square up to other people before settling with the knife by their side. The incident took place at what appears to be a party in Gladstone park in north-west London. Dozens can be seen screaming in fear and trying to flee the scene. A man filming the shocking moment noted in disbelief when the knife was pulled out: 'She backed out a shank, are you mad?' Police may have been present at the scene as a voice can be heard over a a speaker that they are 'at the back gate'. Knife crime has become rampant among young people in the capital, which has seen a total of 11 teenage homicides over the last year. There was a 20 per cent rise in knife offences in the year ending December 2023 compared to the previous year, with 14,577 knife-related crimes in total. Labour has vowed to get 13,000 police officers back on the streets and previously announced a five-step plan to tackle the issue, including guaranteed sanctions for young people carrying knives.
BBC News
26-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
How much of the £39bn in affordable homes will be shared ownership?
"It's vital that we don't see the next generation of homeowners caught up in these issues," says the chair of the Commons Housing Committee in response to a BBC investigation into shared ownership which revealed complaints over costs, transparency and Eshalomi MP says the committee wants to know how much of the recently announced £39bn government investment in social and affordable housing will be spent on different tenures including the part-buy, part-rent shared owners have got in touch with the BBC to express their concerns, including Lee, who says the scheme is a "gimmick".The government told BBC London: "Shared ownership has a role to play in supporting households into home ownership, but we are aware of the challenges faced by some who have entered the scheme."Since the BBC investigation was published, more people have got in touch to talk about their issues with shared ownership, including difficulties in emailed in because he wanted "people to know about the problems before they consider buying one". He bought 40% of a shared ownership one-bedroom flat in north-west London in 2012. Its value was £174,000 and his share cost £70,000. "It seemed like the cheapest option so I decided to give it a try."But 13 years on, he says he believes the scheme is "a gimmick". He adds: "They make it look affordable but there are a lot of snags that come with it."They glamorise it but in the process of buying they don't tell you the service charge could triple, Section 20 notices."He has been issued with a number of bills totalling about £5,000 through Section 20 notices - formal notifications that a landlord intends to carry out major works - including for one bit of work that involved the painting of a wall in the colours of a housing association's logo. Lee believes that leasehold issues "are intertwined" with shared ownership, which hasn't been a "transparent" option. "Even though you don't own the whole flat, you still get all the obligations as if you own the whole thing. 'The joy has gone' Lee put his house on the market in July 2024 for £250,000 but after a lack of interest, it was reduced to £215,000 in ownership sales are normally subject to a nomination period during which the housing association or landlord has the exclusive right to find a buyer for the home, but Lee managed to have that process waived."I decided the best thing to do is come out. The last six months I've been with a high street agent but I've had no joy. I've had one viewing. Now the only option is to go through quick sell which means I get a lot less money."Lee wants to go back to private renting because "at least you know where you stand".He says it's had a huge impact on his mental health, and "the joy out of living has gone". Responding to the BBC investigation, Eshalomi said: "It is quite worrying when you see the amount of complaints going to the ombudsman - and 44% for London"I think it is around working with the sector about what steps they are putting in to improve this, and engaging with residents and the transparency of the charges."When you've got people feeling like they're trapped, like they've got nowhere to go to. We need to look at the financial impact this is having on so many people."It's really important that we look at how this has happened and what we can do to help." As part of the current five-year affordable homes programme due to be completed in 2026, the government is aiming to build up to 180,000 homes for people whose needs are not met by the private market. Some 44,000 to 56,000 of these will be affordable homes for ownership - most of these will be shared June, the government announced £39bn of investment for affordable homes over 10 years to deliver on the government's goal of building 1.5 million new the government has yet to give details, it has confirmed it will "prioritise social rent homes" and "fund other kinds of homes including shared ownership and affordable rent". Further details will be published shortly on the tenures of homes and the schemes the investment will fund, as well as the timeline for opening Phillips from Shared Ownership Resources, a project championing the interests of shared owners, says the homes on the scheme "come in a variety of forms, with different levels of risk and benefit".She adds a "lack of national data and robust, independent research on long-term outcomes for different demographics" makes it "more challenging to identify precisely what role shared ownership should play in the new £39bn Affordable Homes Programme". 'Concrete steps' Jo Short from the Shared Ownership Campaign, which educates and informs potential buyers, says the scheme "won't be for everyone, but it provides a way to take a step on to the property ladder for those locked out of the open market. It is an option to consider when the only alternative is renting privately."The introduction of Key Information Documents for every shared owner, along with two-factor affordability assessments and greater flexibility all ensure that shared ownership will continue to evolve." A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: "Shared ownership has a role to play in supporting households into home ownership, but we are aware of the challenges faced by some who have entered the scheme."We are considering what more can be done to improve the experience of shared owners, alongside consulting this year on implementing measures to drive up transparency of service charges."Tom Copley, the deputy mayor of London for housing and residential development, said: "The mayor has taken concrete steps to support the affordability of shared ownership homes for Londoners, including using planning powers to determine that housing costs for shared ownership should not exceed 40% of a household's net income and setting best practice for housing providers in managing service charges."We will continue to work with the government to ensure there are greater protections for Londoners who have bought their homes through shared ownership and that London has the share of funding it needs to deliver more new social and affordable homes."
The Guardian
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Dua Lipa review – dance-pop icon keeps the energy hotter than hell
Call it temperature-induced delirium, but when Dua Lipa kicks off her first stadium headline show the crowd is strangely mute. As slow-motion images of crashing waves appear on the screens, augmented by a sound bath-esque drone, the effect it has on the sweltering cauldron in north-west London is close to trance-like. When Lipa finally pops up, standing statuesque at the top of an infinity symbol-shaped stage and resplendent in a white crystal leotard, everyone quickly surrenders to the heat. It's a white-hot start, too. Despite relatively lacklustre sales of her third album, last year's Radical Optimism, its second single, Training Season, whips up an early frenzy as 12 dancers spread themselves across the stage, a stomping Lipa inspecting them like a drill sergeant. By the time her house-y Calvin Harris collaboration, One Kiss, arrives, there's a danger of peaking too soon. The mood momentarily flatlines, however, when Lipa ventures off stage to talk to people in the front row. Giving off strong kids' TV presenter vibes she asks each hysterical fan the same question – 'What's your name and are you having a nice time?' – before signing various copies of her album as 70,000 people check their phones. Things are forgiven quickly with the help of an elegant These Walls, performed at the end of a jutting-out runway encircled by her band, before a rare outing is given to early single, the appropriately titled Hotter Than Hell. After she teases a special guest – a hero, a British legend, a 'one of one' – confused faces greet Jay Kay from Jamiroquai as he glides onstage in a puce hat and matching strides. But as the pair rattle through Virtual Insanity the connection makes sense; Cosmic Girl and Canned Heat would have made excellent Lipa singles. From there it's a gallop through some of recent pop's hardiest bangers – Electricity, Be the One, a delirious Physical complete with mock exercise video intro – all performed with Dua's unique rasp and occasionally rigid but refreshingly old-school superstar steeliness. By the encore, complete with a pummelling remix of New Rules that briefly crashes into the electronic duo Bicep's breakbeat heater Glue, and Don't Start Now's glorious kiss-off, Lipa's a sweaty mess like the rest of us. As confetti cannons, streamers and fireworks erupt, Lipa looks ready to plummet into those crashing waves herself.
BBC News
16-06-2025
- BBC News
Police appeal after attempted rape at Finchley Road cinema
Detectives have released CCTV footage of a man they wish to speak to following an attempted rape at a cinema in north-west London, on Wednesday afternoon.A woman in her 30s reported that a man seriously sexually assaulted her at a cinema on Finchley Road on 11 June at about 15:45 BST, the Metropolitan Police Ch Insp Paul Ridley said: "This horrific attack happened in the middle of the day in a busy establishment - highlighting the brazen and opportunistic nature of the offender."It is really important we find this man as soon as possible." In the footage, a man is seen leaving the venue after the incident and walking south down Finchley Road towards Swiss is described as in his 50s, approximately 5ft 6in, with a slim build and has dark hair on the sides of his is wearing a black North Face coat and glasses in the CCTV Ch Insp Ridley said: "We are steadfast in our commitment to take those who pose the biggest threat off our streets, so women and girls in London can feel safe going about their daily lives."He urged anyone who may have any information, particularly if they were on Finchley Road on Wednesday afternoon, to contact police.
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Yahoo
Police seek man after 'deliberate fire' that caused significant damage to City of London building
Police are searching for a man after a suspected arson attack caused significant damage to a building in the City of London. Detectives would like to question Simon Dantes Calancea regarding the incident. City of London Police stated that the offence was a deliberate fire to a building in the City which caused serious damage. Calancea is a familiar face in the Square Mile and has also has links to several areas of north west London. A spokesperson for the City of London Police said: 'We're looking for Simon Dantes Calancea, who we'd like to speak to in relation to a serious offence in the City. 'He is known to frequent the Square Mile and North West London. 'If seen, please do not approach, but call 999 immediately, quoting 25*339905. 'A deliberate fire that caused serious damage to a building in the City.' Police advise the public not approach him if they see him, but instead call 999 immediately, quoting reference 25*339905.
