After a review ordered by London mayor Sadiq Khan, more than 1,000 black Londoners under 25 have been removed from the Metropolitan Police gang violence matrix after they were assessed as posing little or no risk of committing violence.

The database, created by the Conservative government in 2011 as a direct result of the riots that shook the capital, is aimed at identifying subjects seen at risk of becoming a victim of, or committing gang violence.

According to the examination requested by the Mayor of London in 2018, there were already too many black people in the database, with 38% of those found as posing no risk of committing violence.

After the current review, the number of names on the list has reached the lowest figure in seven years, dropping by 40% from the peak of 3,811 reached in August 2017.

London Covid-19 cases in freefall

A decrease in coronavirus cases is being seen across parts of London, with 27 out of 32 boroughs reporting a third or more less cases than last week, according to the figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The number of positive tests in Hackney, Tower Hamlets and Greenwich has almost halved in seven days, however, with 2,765 new positive tests reported on Tuesday health experts have warned that this wave of the virus is far from over yet.

Doctors are on alert due to another mutation of the virus and according to figures, Brent has the highest rate per 100,000 at 429 followed by Ealing and Hilingdon. 

Tower Hamlets has seen the biggest fall in cases and is down by 48% on last week and Camden has the lowest rate in London at 201 per 100,000 cases.

Transport For London staff jab priority requested

It was announced today that Transport for London are aware of 69 of its staff and contractors, including 43 bus drivers, that have now died after contracting covid-19.

Whilst TFL awaits details of a further death, TFL commissioner Andy Byford has today called for transport staff to be prioritised during the next phase of the vaccine roll-out.

He expressed his sincere condolences to the families of the 69 colleagues who have passed away as a result of coronavirus and said, “their tragic loss is devastating for us all”.

In spring, TFL are due to receive a report from University College London further investigating bus driver deaths during the pandemic.

Police appeal after teenage girl raped

Police are appealing for witnesses after a 14-year-old girl was raped in Goodmayes Park, East London, on Monday 1^st of February.

The girl was jogging in the park on Monday afternoon at around 2.30pm when she was grabbed by a male, forced into the bushes and attacked.

The suspect has been described as a white male, around 6ft tall, approximately 17-20 years of age with straight blonde hair and a slight moustache, wearing blue tracksuit bottoms and a long black jacket.

Detective Constable Gemma Morris has appealed for “anyone that was in the park and saw the male described” to come forward “no matter how small or insignificant” you think this information might be.

There have been no arrests, investigations are ongoing and the victim is being supported by specially trained officers.

‘Disguised cop’ charged in fake Covid-19 fines scam

A man has been charged with blackmail and impersonating a police officer after being spotted trying to con two elderly women in a coronavirus fines scam near Stratford Centre last Friday. 

The perpetrator approached the pensioners accusing them of breaching Covid-19 regulations and ordered them to pay a £500 fine immediately. 

While the man was escorting the victims to a cash point, he was caught in the act by MET police officers who arrested him.

“Thankfully officers were on scene and quickly dealt with this incident”, said Vince Fedder, Detective Inspector from the Met’s North East Criminal Investigation Unit.

He added : “However the public needs to be aware that some people may well see the current emergency as an opportunity to exploit others.”