Essex News & Investigations

POLICE and ambulance crews attended the area outside McDonald's in Leicester Square this morning after an injured man was found lying on the ground nearby. Police cordoned off an area in front of the fast food chain branch and neighbouring Lego store from about 7am today (October 18 2026) to investigate what is understood to be a suspected assault. The London Ambulance Service (LAS) also attended and the man is believed to have been taken to a hospital for treatment. A police

Three men have been charged following an aggravated burglary in Southwark, south London. Around 02:20am on Friday, 2 October 2026, armed officers attended an address in Rotherhithe Street, after reports the occupants of the property were threatened by suspects with a firearm and items were stolen. No-one was injured and no firearm was recovered. The suspects had fled the scene by the time police arrived, but, following enquiries, officers subsequently arrested three men on su

SELF-confessed killer Freddie Foreman appears to have evaded justice despite repeatedly admitting to two murders and the disposal of another body that was never found. Foreman died aged 94 on Saturday, October 10, 2026, after a short illness. He was living in a care home. He has been widely mourned as a "legend" of the British underworld with his death branded the "end of an era." But, Forman's nickname of "Brown Bread Fred" was based on his disturbing claims to have murdered

SELF-confessed killer Freddie Foreman is the third British "celebrity" gangland figure to die in the space of two months. Foreman (above in screen grab from ITV interview) died aged 94 on Saturday, October 10, 2026, after a short illness. He had been living in a care home. Notorious Glasgow former gangster Paul Ferris died aged 62 on Tuesday, October 6, and Eddie Richardson died aged 90 on August 14. All three had become so-called celebrity gangsters after turning their backs

The Metropolitan Police has arrested more than 700 people and seized hundreds of suspected stolen mobile phones in one month during its largest-ever crackdown on phone theft. The operation saw officers pursue suspects in high-speed chases, reunite victims with their phones, and execute more than 50 warrants, including at second-hand phone shops suspected of handling stolen devices. In one dramatic arrest, CCTV and body-worn footage captured the moment a suspected phone thief

A UK-based warehouse worker has admitted to sharing sickening videos of monkeys being tortured and killed with sadistic members of a twisted global ring. Bartosz Poklek, 30, is the latest person in the country to be prosecuted in connection with the group that police have described as 'one of the most disturbing' they have ever investigated. Poklek pleaded guilty to the publication of obscene articles for gain, which were a number of videos showing the torture and killing of

POLICE investigating a major suspected organised crime group believed to be involved in financial crime and violence arrested 17 people following dawn raids at 24 properties in London and four other counties. Met Police officers were seen in the grounds of the Essex home of wealthy businessman David Hunt, 65, on Tuesday, September 29 2026 as officers carried out a series of raids in connection with an organised crime probe across London and the Home Counties. A Met Police van

A fourth man has been charged following a Met Police operation on Tuesday morning targeting a major suspected organised crime group. Andreas Nicolas, 64 (10.11.61) of Duxford, Cambridgeshire was charged overnight with possession of a firearm (a revolver) and possession of a weapon to discharge a noxious thing, namely electricity, both contrary to Section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968. The company director was remanded in custody and will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court

THREE men have been charged with unrelated offences after 18 people were arrested yesterday during raids across London and the Home Counties targeting a suspected major organised crime group. Charles Charalambous, 56 (24.11.69) of Claremont Road, Cockfosters, will appear in court this morning following the stabbing of a police officer on Tuesday. He was charged overnight with wounding with intent to cause GBH to resist arrest. He was remanded in custody to appear at Westminst

AN attacker is at large after another man was left with life-changing injuries after a brawl in a London gardens. A group fight broke out between suspected drug users in Whitfield Gardens, near Goodge Street tube station, at about 10:40am, yesterday, Thursday, September 3 2026, ccording to sources. Police were seen by onlookers giving CPR to the victim before paramedics arrived. The area was cleared of people with the help of private security firm My Local Bobby and cordoned