Author: Blake Foster

After receiving a date to participate with the ridealong scheme, I arrived at Barkingside Police Station ready for the day ahead. But nothing could prepare me for what I was about to witness – including a car pursuit, being at an arrest scene with armed police and watching a man be held on suspicion of raping a child. I was shadowing officers from the East Area Command, an intelligence-led team which tackles crime across Barking & Dagenham, Havering, and Redbridge.   The shift started at 1pm, and I was met by Sgt Jo Peters who showed me into the office room.  I was immediately taken…

Amader Bazaar, in Green Lane, has shut after rodents were discovered at the shop by Barking and Dagenham Council’s food safety team at the beginning of August. The visit was prompted by a pest complaint submitted by a member of the public, which included a photo of rat droppings found within plastic packaging. A spokesperson for the council confirmed that Amader Bazaar has been told to carry out “a number of pest control treatments and cleaning actions” to remove the infestation.  READ MORE: Barking GP who tried to frame patient for assault allowed back to work It is not clear when the store…

Burger King, in South Street, has shut with the reason behind the closure left unclear.  It has been marked as “temporarily closed” on Google since Friday (August 8), but Burger King has not confirmed whether the premises will shut permanently. READ MORE: Hornchurch pub’s asking price falls two years after closure A spokesperson for the chain said: “Burger King UK can confirm that our Romford restaurant has closed. “Customers can still enjoy Burger King at nearby Burger King Hornchurch restaurant in 270 Hornchurch Rd, Romford, Hornchurch RM11 1PZ or Burger King Eastern Avenue Retail Park restaurant in Eastern Avenue Retail Park, Romford RM7…

According to the listing, the property is arranged over three floors and provides over 3,300 square feet of accommodation. The house is described as offering “luxurious living space” and is located in the Chigwell Grange development. Rear reception room with direct access to the landscaped garden (Image: Madison Fox) Entry is via a double-fronted exterior into an entrance hall. The ground floor includes an open-plan kitchen, dining, and family area, which the listing says is the “heart of the home”. This space features a kitchen with a central island, integrated appliances, and areas for dining and seating. Open-plan space with…

The condition, also known as sudden arrhythmic death syndrome, refers to a sudden and unexplained cardiac arrest, where the heart stops pumping.  Mr Prince, 37, was found unresponsive at his home on May 4.  An inquest into his death was opened at East London Coroner’s Court, Walthamstow, on Monday, August 11.  “Sudden arrhythmic death syndrome, although it sounds quite scientific and medical, is essentially an admission that we don’t know what caused his death,” senior coroner Graeme Irvine said.  “Ryan’s heart stopped and we don’t know why.”  Mr Prince, born in Newham, was a DJ by profession.  No drugs, alcohol…

Charlie and Kearne, both 16, were found with stab injuries one mile apart in Abbey Wood and Thamesmead on November 26, 2022.   Charlie was repeatedly stabbed as he lay defenceless on the ground after his moped was rammed by a car full of T-Block (Thamesmead) gang members.   Kearne, who was one of Charlie’s attackers, was accidentally knifed by “one of his own team” during the chaos.   Charlie died at the scene of the attack on Sewell Road, while Kearne was driven to Titmuss Avenue where he died.  They rejected Debonsu’s argument that “confessions” made in phone calls with his girlfriend and friends were bravado…

An annual report by UK food hygiene course provider High Speed Training has taken a look at food hygiene data, calculating an average hygiene score for each region, town and city.  From 36,383 inspections conducted at restaurants and eateries in the capital, London was given an average hygiene rating of 4.38, the lowest of all UK regions.  Food hygiene ratings range from 0, indicating that urgent improvement is necessary, to 5, indicating that hygiene standards are very good. READ MORE: New food hygiene ratings for Waltham Forest shops and cafes Within London, Waltham Forest restaurants were given the lowest average rating of…

The Rising Sun, in High Street, is listed by estate agent Savills at a reduced rent price of £75,000 per year.  A spokesperson for Savills confirmed that the guide price had been lowered, but did not comment further. The pub shut for good in June 2023 – but was spotted on Rightmove almost 18 months later in October 2024. At this point, the boozer was up for sale at £975,000 or for a guide rent of £80,000 per year. Its current listing states that The Rising Sun is available either to let or for sale, but does not mention a sale price. Graffiti…

Applicant Jonathan Shemma, under the company name Wynn Weinzweig UK JV Co Ltd, has submitted plans to build 37 homes across four blocks up to four storeys on a site immediately adjacent to the East Coast Main Line and just 300m from Alexandra Palace Station. A former industrial site, comprising a mix of vacant two storey and single storey units, the proposed area is accessed via an alleyway on Crescent Road. None of the buildings on the site are locally or statutorily listed, nor is the site located within a conservation area. A CGI of the planned homes. (Image:  SCAPOLAN…

An inquest into his death was opened at East London Coroner’s Court, Walthamstow, on Monday, August 11.  Three days days prior to his body being found, the 25-year-old had absconded from Newham Centre for Mental Health where he had been detained under the Mental Health Act, senior coroner Graeme Irvine said.  The fact he had absconded was reported to police and he was assessed as a high risk missing person.  Mr Irvine said a post-mortem gave a cause of death which incorporated immersion in water.  “It is likely this will have to be an inquest which will be heard in front…