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Wandsworth faces record 94% council tax rise for Band D properties

Wandsworth Council proposes a record 94% council tax increase for Band D properties, rising from £1,020 to nearly £1,978, citing £84 million in government funding cuts. The decision will be made in early 2027.

5 min read

A street in Wandsworth with terraced houses on either side and cars parked on both sides of the road. There is a church in the background.

Nandy condemns X as 'disgrace' and pledges crackdown on social media doxxing

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has condemned X as an "absolute disgrace" for failing to attend a meeting on tackling online doxxing and harassment. She pledged to tighten laws to prevent the sharing of private information and scheduled a roundtable with social media firms for Tuesday.

4 min read

Five moon bears from South Korea arrive at Suffolk wildlife park

Five Asiatic black bears rescued from South Korean bile farms have arrived at Jimmy's Farm & Wildlife Park in Suffolk. The animals, which spent decades in cages, now have a dedicated reserve with natural enrichment. The rescue marks the first time such bears have been rehomed in the UK.

4 min read

A moon bear within an enclosure. It has black fur with a light patch on its chest. There is a metal fence in the background, along with trees and logs.

Inside magistrates' court: how shoplifters face justice

A day at Colchester Magistrates' Court reveals how the justice system processes shoplifting cases, from conditional discharges to suspended sentences, while police emphasise rehabilitation and the human impact on shop workers.

6 min read

A dark orange wall at the entrance of Colchester Magistrates' Court. Large silver letters spell the words "MAGISTRATES COURTS" on the building.

270 Suspects Linked to 28,415 Shoplifting Offences Across England

An investigation reveals 270 prolific shoplifters were linked to 28,415 offences across England between 2020-21 and 2025-26. The government is introducing tougher laws, extra police officers and technology platforms to tackle the epidemic affecting retail workers and businesses.

8 min read

CCTV screenshot of a shoplifter in the act in a store aisle. The shoplifter is wearing a black hoodie and is in the process of filling a large transparent bag with goods, while a shopkeeper in high vis stands by.

Mother fights to block sex offender ex's access to child, calls for law change

A Northern Ireland mother is fighting her sex offender ex-husband's bid for supervised contact with their child and calling for law changes to automatically strip parental responsibility from those convicted of child sexual offences.

7 min read

A stock image of a woman sitting on a sofa with her hands covering her face. She is wearing an orange top and green trousers. Her brown wavy hair comes down to her chin. Her body language shows she is very upset. Behind her is a large window letting in daylight.

Eday's Housing Gamble: Can Two Homes Save a Tiny Scottish Island?

Eday, a Scottish island with 120 residents, has attracted millions of social media views after advertising two affordable homes at £550 monthly rent. The island urgently needs carers, firefighters and families to sustain its community.

5 min read

a single storey cottage next to a small outhouse in a field

Thirteenth Met Police officer dismissed following Charing Cross undercover investigation

A thirteenth Metropolitan Police officer has been dismissed following an undercover investigation into Charing Cross station. PC Mason O'Connor was sacked for breaching professional standards. The investigation remains one of the largest ever undertaken by the police watchdog.

4 min read

Outside Charing Cross police station with a car parked in front

Ethnic minorities in UK report worsening racial equality, major study finds

A British Future study of over 5,000 respondents finds that nearly half of ethnic minorities experienced prejudice in the past year, with widespread concern that racial equality progress has reversed. Divisions between communities on fairness and treatment remain stark.

5 min read

Three-year-old boy missing after running from Suffolk playground

Emergency services are searching for three-year-old Noah, who went missing from a playground in Brantham, Suffolk on Tuesday afternoon. More than 100 volunteers have joined the search, with a helicopter deployed over fields and wooded areas.

2 min read

A boy with curly ginger hair, sitting on a wooden bench, wearing a cream-coloured hoodie, and blue denim jeans. He appears to be holding an iced lolly, and is looking to the right of the frame.

Man accused of murdering partner allegedly attacked her hours before death, court hears

Alexander Brennan, 54, denies murdering Brodie MacGregor, 23, at her Glasgow flat on 26 August 2024. A trial heard that MacGregor said "You attacked me" during a 999 call hours before she was found dead, though she later told police she felt safe with Brennan.

4 min read

Brodie MacGregor, a young woman with blonde hair, black eyeliner and purple eye shadow, taking a selfie

Piddington Votes to Leave UK in Symbolic Protest Over Asylum Plans

Residents of Piddington, Oxfordshire, voted overwhelmingly in a symbolic referendum to leave the UK in protest at plans to house 1,256 asylum seekers at a nearby former military base. Of 312 votes cast, 285 backed independence.

5 min read

A man in a green t-shirt puts his ballot paper into a black ballot box.