Category: LONDON DIGEST

London Placed On High COVID-19 Alert

London has been moved from the medium and placed on an Tier 2, high COVID 19 alert following the sharp rise in the number of cases in the capital.

According to the Department of Health and Social Care, following close discussions with local leaders, the following areas will move from local COVID alert level: medium to local COVID alert level: high

  • London (all 32 boroughs and the City of London)

  • Elmbridge

  • Essex (area covered by Essex County Council only)

  • Barrow-in-Furness

  • York

  • North East Derbyshire

  • Erewash

  • Chesterfield

The alert will take effect from Saturday 17 October at 00:01am

This means that for these areas, strictly restrictions including the following measures will be in place:

  • people must not meet with anybody outside their household or support bubble in any indoor setting, whether at home or in a public place

  • people must not meet in a group of more than 6 outside, including in a garden or other space

  • people should aim to reduce the number of journeys they make where possible. If they need to travel, they should walk or cycle where possible, or plan ahead and avoid busy times and routes on public transport

These measures will be reviewed every 14 days to consider whether they are still appropriate.



The rate of COVID-19 infections is rising rapidly across the UK. The ONS estimate that one in every 240 people in England had the virus in the week from 25 September to 1 October and that the numbers infected are doubling every seven to 12 days. Cases are not evenly spread, with infection rates rising more rapidly in some areas than others.

In London, infection rates are on a steep upward path, with the number of cases detected through NHS Test and Trace doubling over the last ten days. The 7-day average case rate today stands at 97 per 100,000 people, rising sharply. In 13 boroughs the rate is now above 100 per 100,000 people, with Hackney at 134, Richmond upon Thames at 138 and Ealing at 144.

The first peak demonstrated that the infection can spread fast and put huge pressure on the NHS. So having discussed with local leaders the government has taken the decision to act now to bring infection down.

All available data for the areas that will move to local COVID alert level: high on Saturday has been assessed by the government, including the Health and Social Care Secretary, NHS Test and Trace, the Joint Biosecurity Centre (JBC), Public Health England (PHE), the Chief Medical Officer and the Cabinet Office. Data assessed includes incidence, test positivity and the growth rate of the virus.

It is essential that these outbreaks are contained to protect lives and our NHS, and prevent greater economic damage in the future. We face a new challenge as we head into the winter, and we know that even mild cases of COVID-19 can have devastating consequences for people in all age groups, along with the risk of long COVID.

 

 

2 Black Nurses Filmed Fighting In London Hospital Canteen

This is the shocking moment two hospital workers violently brawled on the floor of a canteen.

The fight finally comes to an end with the women lying on the ground stuck in an awkward grip, unwilling to let each other go.

It is believed the brawl was filmed at a Greater London hospital, although this has not been confirmed.

The footage was shared on social media, where it has already been viewed by thousands of people. One person commented: ‘Lucky they’re in hospital already.’

Another added: ‘Please. All of us are here trying to stop others from catching covid but these two nurses be fighting on the hospital floor not giving a s**t.’

One consolation, they are not Nigerian…



Josh Babarinde OBE: Still My Young Hero

On the 7th of July 2015, I wrote:

MEET YOUNG HERO JOSH BABARINDE
Josh came to the rescue of a 75 year old woman who had been knocked over by a drunken lout and left badly hurt with a bleeding head wound in East London last January.
Josh stemmed her bleeding using kitchen roll and stayed with her till the ambulance arrived and took her to hospital.
A few days later, the lady who was later to be known as Maureen, sent a card to Josh. Inside the card was a cheque for a large sum of money.
Josh, a youth worker is now searching for Maureen to let her know what he is doing with the money. He is using the cash to set up a youth project teaching youngsters how to repair iphone screens, aimed at preventing them joining street gangs.
!I wasnt expecting anything”, he said “But I want to show Maureen what I’ve done with her kind gift and how it’s helping youngsters in the East End.”
“All I know is her first name, that she had been out shopping with her sister in Poplar,”
What do you bet that other youngsters would have spent the money on a new car or on a holiday….
WE ARE PROUD OF YOU, SON

Today, I just read that Josh has been awarded an OBE in the Queens Birthday list.

The Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2020 is also the first honours list to have 11 per cent of recipients under 30 and no one represents this demography better than Josh.

Since setting up his iPhone repairs project, he has been named a Forbes 30 Under 30 Entrepreneur. Today, he is one of the UK’s leading social entrepreneurs who has helped rebuild the lives of hundreds of young ex-offenders from a life of crime to employment.

2018 was a phenomenal year for the young man. He was the Winner of the UK’s Social Enterprise of the Year Award. He also had a private audience with Woody Johnson the U.S Ambassador to the UK.

He was invited with a select few to Clarence House (the official residence of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall) to meet Prince Charles and Prince Harry to discuss Topical issues facing the UK.

In 2019 Josh stepped forward to run for a parliamentary seat to represent Bethnal Green and Bow under the liberal Democrats in the general elections.

And although he did not win his seat last year, I expect to see Josh in parliament soon….

Congratulations.


John Boyega In New Movie

John Boyega, star of Hollywood’s blockbuster franchise Star Wars, stars in Steve McQueen’s new film Red, White And Blue as former Deputy Hackney Borough Commander Leroy Logan who, in the early 1980s, was the poster boy for people of colour joining the Metropolitan Police.

The movie will be seen on BBC1 and Amazon Prime video in November


 
 
 
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Two 16 Year-Olds Arrested Over knives Possession In Shooters Hill

Detectives in Greenwich have charged two teenage boys with possession of a knife as they appeal for witnesses and anyone with mobile phone footage to come forward. 

Police were called at 12:54hrs on Monday, 5 October to reports of two males with a knife in the street at Red Lion Lane, SE18.

Officers attended and two 16-year-old boys were arrested on suspicion of affray. 

They were charged on Wednesday, 7 October with being in possession of a knife/bladed article and affray. Both were remanded in custody to appear the same day at Bromley Magistrates’ Court. 

There were no reported injuries. 

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information or moving footage is asked to contact police on 101 or email via p239391@met.police.uk quoting reference Cad 3108/05Oct. 

The public play a huge role in helping to both prevent and detect crime. We need their help to identify those willing to commit terrible acts and carry weapons. We need to hear from anyone who has information about a crime, or about someone they suspect to be carrying a weapon or involved in organised crime. 

If you don’t want to speak to the police, contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. They are a totally independent charity and you remain 100 per cent anonymous, they never ask your name and they cannot trace your call, your IP address or device you use.  

Advice and support is also available through organisations including Knife Free and via the Met’s website

+ If you are a young person and you don’t want to speak directly to the police, contact Fearless. They are a totally independent charity and remain 100 per cent anonymous, they never ask your name and they cannot trace your call IP address or device you use. 

16 Year Old Charged With Anthony Adekola’s Murder

A teenager has been charged with the murder of Anthony Adekola in Colindale.

The 16 year old who cannot be named for legal reasons was arrested on Tuesday, 6 October and charged on 7 October with murder.

He has been remanded to appear in custody at Bromley Youth Court today.

This follows an investigation after police were called by the London Ambulance Service (LAS) at approximately 23:05hrs on Saturday, 5 September to reports of a stabbing on Debden Close, NW2.

Anthony Adekola, 22, was found in nearby Martlesham Walk, suffering stab injuries. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Enquiries continue by homicide detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime.

Three other males have been charged with Anthony’s murder.

Christian Medina, 19 of New Brent Street, NW4; a 16-year-old male from Hendon and Tajuan Subaran, 18 of New Brent Street, NW4 appeared in custody at Hendon Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 14 September charged with murder.

They appeared at the Old Bailey on Wednesday, 16 September and were remanded in custody to appear at the same court on Friday, 4 December.

Six other males aged between 15 and 19 have also been arrested and bailed pending further enquiries.

MetPolice Newsdesk


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16 Year Old Teenager Jailed For Life Over Fatal Newham Stabbing

A teenager convicted of the murder of schoolboy Baptista Adjei in Newham has been jailed.

On Friday, 25 September, 16-year-old Marvin Dyer, who can now be named following the lifting of reporting restrictions by the court, appeared at the Old Bailey where he was jailed for life, to serve a minimum of 16 years before being eligible to apply for parole.

Dyer and a second 16-year-old boy had previously appeared at the same court on Tuesday, 11 August where, following trial, Dyer was convicted of murder and wounding but the second boy was found not guilty on all counts and was released.

Two to three weeks before the murder, the victims, Baptista Adjei, aged 15, and his 15-year-old friend, had become involved in an online disagreement in a Snapchat group chat with the defendants, who were only vaguely known to them outside of the online forum having seen the boys around the Stratford area.

The interaction began as mutual banter, but eventually turned ugly.

The boys had begun by taunting each other, culminating in a brief online exchange; Dyer messaged Baptista saying “If you’ve got no bodies on your blade, leave the group chat.” Baptista had replied, “Shut up. You’ll be the first.”

This exchange continued between both victims and both defendants, ending with Dyer threatening to be outside the victim’s school waiting for them at 15:25hrs the following day.

He was not waiting for them when they finished school. Weeks later, on the day of murder, 10 October 2019, Baptista and his 15-year-old friend took the bus towards Stratford.

Officers investigating the murder reviewed CCTV footage captured aboard the bus and saw Dyer, then aged 15, board the bus at Stratford Broadway and calmly pull a balaclava over his face while wearing a blue latex glove.

As Baptista and his friend made their way down the stairs of the bus, they were caught completely unaware. He stabbed them both with a 10” combat knife.

Dyer was seen to hold on to the handrail and in an attack that lasts just nine seconds, inflicted two fatal wounds on Baptista before turning his attention to Baptista’s friend inflicting further wounds

Baptista was stabbed twice in the chest. The blade punctured his lung and his heart. Not realising the severity of his injuries, he ran off, making it as far as Stratford Centre before collapsing.

Despite the efforts of medics, Baptista died from his injuries at the scene at 15:49hrs.

Baptista’s friend was stabbed once in the arm and once in the leg, he was taken to an east London hospital by the London Ambulance Service where he remained for almost a week following the incident. He has since made a full recovery.

A murder investigation was launched led by Detective Inspector Chris Soole of the Met’s Specialist Crime Command.

Word of the murder spread quickly on social media and throughout the community.


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On 11 October 2019, members of Marvin Dyer’s family, who had themselves heard the rumours, confronted him. He admitted the attack on both victims and was subsequently presented to police at Forest Gate police station by his mother.

On 12 October 2019, he was charged with Baptista’s murder, grievous bodily harm with intent in relation to the second 15-year-old victim and two counts of possession of an offensive weapon. He was remanded in custody to await trial and subsequently, sentencing.

Detective Sergeant Suzanne Soren said: “It is sad and concerning that such extreme violence was used to resolve such minor conflict – nothing more than name calling.

“The sentence handed down today will not bring back Baptista. His loved ones will not be healed by the knowledge that justice has been served. They will remember and miss him every day in the years to come.

“Similarly, Marvin Dyer’s family’s lives have been changed forever, their only comfort being that they did the right thing in holding him to account and presenting him to police.

“My thoughts are with everyone touched by this most tragic and needless of incidents and I hope that anyone involved in knife crime and violence takes something from this outcome – nothing is worth the price that will be paid for murder and ultimately, that price is paid not only by the perpetrator and the victim, but also their families.”

In a victim impact statement Baptista’s Mother said: “We can never get over Baptista’s death but we hope, and I pray, that with time the constant pain that we feel subsides.

“Ours and Baptista’s plans were always that he would finish school and move on to higher education, get married and if he was blessed, to have children and make me a grandmother.

“His dreams, together with mine, will never happen because he was taken from us in such a cruel way.”


Police Officer Shot Dead By Detainee At Croydon Police Station

At approximately 02:15hrs on Friday, 25 September a police officer was shot by a man who was being detained at Croydon Custody Centre in Windmill Lane.

Officers and paramedics treated him at the scene and he was taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service. Very tragically he subsequently died at hospital.

New Scotland Yard says “We are in the process of informing all of the officer’s family and are supporting them with specialist officers”

A 23-year-old man was detained by officers at the scene. He was also taken to hospital with a gunshot wound and remains in a critical condition.

No police firearms were discharged during the incident.

A murder investigation has been launched following the shooting.

Commissioner Cressida Dick said: “This is a truly shocking incident in which one of our colleagues has lost his life in the most tragic circumstances. My heart goes out to his family, direct colleagues and friends.

“We are currently supporting his family and also have a dedicated team providing support to the officers and those in the custody centre who witnessed the shooting.

“When a colleague dies in the line of duty the shockwaves and sadness reverberates throughout the Met and our communities. Policing is a family, within London and nationally, and we will all deeply mourn our colleague.

“We are in the early stages of the investigation and are still working to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and we will provide further updates when we have them.”

We have referred the incident to the Independent Office for Police Conduct who will lead an independent investigation. The MPS retain primacy of the murder investigation.