James W Kelly

A fire involving about 50 tonnes of household waste severely damaged a recycling facility on Landmann Way in South Bermondsey. Fifteen fire engines attended, and the blaze was brought under control about six hours after it began, although firefighters remained to extinguish pockets of fire. Windrush line services between Surrey Quays and New Cross were suspended because of an unsafe structure beside the railway, while services toward London Bridge and other destinations faced cancellations and delays of up to 100 minutes. The cause of the fire was not yet known, and the same facility had experienced another fire in June.

British Transport Police has voluntarily referred two detectives to the Independent Office for Police Conduct over their handling of sexual-assault allegations against Simon Levy. Levy was arrested in November 2024 but remained on bail until May 2025, during which time he committed further sexual assaults, rape and two murders. The Met Police and Crown Prosecution Service have also acknowledged significant shortcomings, while two Metropolitan Police officers are separately being investigated.

A stag in Richmond Park was put down by a Royal Parks wildlife officer after attacking a man in his 60s who was with a picnic group. The man suffered chest injuries and was treated in hospital, but his injuries were neither life-threatening nor life-changing. Royal Parks said the deer had approached visitors seeking food and warned that feeding or approaching wild deer can make them lose their natural wariness and become dangerous. Visitors to Richmond and Bushy parks have been urged to stay at least 50 metres away, avoid feeding or touching deer, and move away slowly if approached.

A fire involving about 50 tonnes of household waste severely damaged a recycling facility on Landmann Way in South Bermondsey. London Fire Brigade sent 15 fire engines and brought the blaze under control after six hours, although crews remained to extinguish pockets of fire. Windrush line services between Surrey Quays and New Cross were suspended because of an unsafe structure beside the railway, while other London Overground and National Rail services faced severe delays and cancellations. The cause of the fire was not known, and the facility had also been affected by a fire in June.

Sainsbury's paused live facial-recognition cameras at its East Dulwich store after customer Matt Arnold was wrongly challenged and removed while shopping. Sainsbury's and Facewatch attributed the incident to staff mishandling a correct alert rather than a software failure, citing the system's claimed 99.98% accuracy and reductions in theft and antisocial behaviour during trials. Arnold, civil-liberties group Big Brother Watch and other critics argue that the technology humiliates innocent customers and encourages staff to rely on automated alerts. The pause will remain during an investigation and additional staff training, while the wider rollout continues.

A man in his 60s suffered non-life-threatening chest injuries after a stag approached his picnic group and attacked him in Richmond Park. Royal Parks said the stag was subsequently shot by a wildlife officer because it posed a danger to visitors. The charity warned people not to feed, approach or touch deer and to remain at least 50 metres away, following an increase in social media posts showing visitors feeding wildlife. Park manager Paul Richards said the deer had sufficient natural food and that feeding had changed the animal's behaviour.

Bumble is removing its long-standing rule that women must send the first message in heterosexual matches, allowing men to initiate conversations as well. The change follows user testing that indicated greater engagement and a survey showing that 66% of women preferred men to make the first move. It has divided users, with some fearing Bumble will lose its distinctive identity while others welcome the flexibility after experiencing low response rates. The app will also extend the time allowed to start a conversation from 24 hours to three days. The move comes amid declining UK user numbers across major dating apps, layoffs at Bumble Inc and growing frustration with the lack of meaningful real-world connections generated by online dating.

Simon Levy, a serial sex offender, has been sentenced to a whole life order after being convicted of murdering Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo and Sheryl Wilkins and raping another woman. The attacks occurred while he was on bail and being monitored by police, despite earlier convictions and warnings about his danger to women. The judge described Levy as someone with a morbid fascination with sex, rape and crime, while families of the victims delivered statements condemning him. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan acknowledged serious failures across the police, CPS, courts and wider criminal justice system. An official review is examining how Levy was managed over four years.

Londoner Lee Robinson completed a 64-day solo circumnavigation of mainland Great Britain on a stand-up jet ski, finishing at Tower Bridge on 25 July. He says the journey makes him the first person to achieve the feat alone. Supported by his wife, son and a family friend on land, Robinson navigated changing tides and difficult sea conditions while raising funds and awareness for the MS Society and Alzheimer's Society. The challenge was inspired by his friend John Duncan, who has multiple sclerosis, and by Robinson's parents' deaths from Alzheimer's-related circumstances.

Plans to restore Hammersmith Bridge for motor traffic have been abandoned after a council report concluded the extensive repairs required would amount to building a new bridge, pushing costs to around £300m. Hammersmith and Fulham Council, Transport for London and the Department for Transport remain in dispute over cost‑sharing, with the council claiming it is still owed £22.9m. A phased repair bid focusing on pedestrian, cycling and river traffic has been submitted to the government’s Structures Fund for £128m, as full restoration is ruled out due to funding deadlines. Concerns persist that without significant investment the bridge may need to close again on safety grounds, while local MP Fleur Anderson criticised the decision, citing increased congestion caused by multiple bridge closures in west London.