A murder probe has been launched after a man died following an altercation in west London.

The alarm was raised after two men were involved in a fight on Cowley High Street in Uxbridge yesterday at about 12.27pm.

Paramedics treated a 62-year-old man at the scene, but he succumbed to his injuries.

Officers have taken a 43-year-old man into custody after arresting him on suspicion of murder.

DI Richard Kempsall, who is leading the investigation, said: ‘My team are working at pace to establish the full circumstances that led to this man’s tragic death.

‘We have arrested a man and no other suspects are being sought at this time.

‘However, we are urging anyone who may have been in the area of Cowley High Street to look at any doorbell or camera footage and share anything that may be of use with police.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Harrods has warned online customers that their data may have been compromised in an IT systems breach.

Clients have been reassured that only ‘basic personal identifiers’ have been leaked, such as names and contact details.

The department store said that no payment details or passwords had been taken.

They added that the breach relates to a third-party platform and not the Harrods website directly, Sky News reported.

The luxury store in Knightsbridge was previously the subject of a cyberattack in May.

However, this latest breach is an unrelated incident.

A spokesperson for Harrods said: ‘We have been notified by one of our third-party providers that some Harrods e-commerce customers’ personal data has been taken from one of their systems. 

‘We have informed affected customers that the impacted personal data is limited to basic personal identifiers including name and contact details but does not include account passwords or payment details.

‘The third-party has confirmed this is an isolated incident which has been contained, and we are working closely with them to ensure that all appropriate actions are being taken. We have notified all relevant authorities.

‘No Harrods system has been compromised and it is important to note that the data was taken from a third-party provider and is unconnected to attempts to gain unauthorised access to some Harrods systems earlier this year.’

It is the latest in a string of cyber-related incidents affecting retailers and other organisations.

Household high street names, including M&S, Jaguar Land Rover and Coop have all been hit with attacks.

Third-party providers and platforms have also become a subject of concern after thousands of flights were disrupted at various airports including Heathrow and Brussels after shared check-in software suffered from a cyber incident.

Experts say that such firms can be a ‘weak point’ to be exploited by hackers, as they can allow access to data across a range of organisations.

Got a story? Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. Or you can submit your videos and pictures here.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Follow Metro.co.uk on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news updates. You can now also get Metro.co.uk articles sent straight to your device. Sign up for our daily push alerts here.

As a freelancer, Moira Mulvey found her mortgage options limited – but shared ownership helped her buy her own home.

One of the best things about shared ownership is its flexibility. 

Deposits are low, the initial share ranges from 10% to 75% of a home’s value, depending on affordability, and the door is always open to buying more shares later on – via a process known as staircasing. 

For self-employed people such as Moira Mulvey, the scheme has made all the difference between owning a property or not as, with its help, she was finally able to buy in 2021 and subsequently increase her share just three years later. 

Moira, an osteopath who is in her 50s, had rented privately for years but became tired of pleasing landlords and not being able to put her own stamp on a home. 

‘I was always happy renting but you are so restricted with what you can do,’ she says. ‘Landlords often act as if they’re doing you a favour by letting out their property, and I never felt I could completely relax in a home or decorate it the way I wanted to.’ 

She starting thinking seriously about buying but soon discovered that, being self-employed, some lenders were unwilling to offer her a mortgage on open-market homes. 

‘Many lenders view it as a more unreliable way of earning a living so tend to steer clear as it’s viewed as riskier than those with PAYE salaries,’ she says. 

Realising that shared ownership would be her best option because of the low deposit and smaller amount of money she would have to borrow, Moira bought a 40% share of a two-bedroom, top-floor apartment at a development by SNG in Hounslow, west London, in March 2021. 

She paid £158,000 (the full market value of the apartment was £395,000) and took out a five-year mortgage. After receiving money from an inheritance in 2023, Moira chose to invest it in her home and buy a further 25% share – so she now owns 65%.

‘When I saw property prices were creeping up, I thought it was the right time to get the property valued and increase the share,’ she says. ‘The staircasing process was incredibly easy and I managed to navigate it myself. 

‘The only thing I would say is that the suppliers you use – such as conveyancers – can be very expensive. You just have to make sure you do your research and shop around. 

‘The original conveyancers I used quoted me double to do it the second time around, so I went with a different company. I’ve really seen a difference in my monthly outgoings since staircasing.

‘My mortgage has stayed the same as I haven’t renewed it yet, but the rent has decreased a lot, which is amazing. 

‘My mortgage is up for renewal in 2026 so I’m hoping I can staircase further to full ownership then. Thank goodness for shared ownership. It has given me the opportunity to gradually staircase to full ownership, rather than buying upfront and being rejected for a mortgage on the open market.’

‘Some might say not to go for shared ownership as you have to staircase at the current value and not the price you bought it at. But if you wanted to buy a brand new property, you would have to buy that at the current market value and not the price it was five years ago, so what’s the difference?’

‘The option for staircasing has allowed me to get out of renting and gradually own my own home, so I think it’s brilliant.’ sales.sng.org.uk.

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

A ‘sadistic’ nursery worker who abused 21 babies in her care has been jailed for eight years.

Roksana Lecka, 22, ‘badly harmed’ children while employed at the £1,900-a-month Riverside Nursery in Twickenham, south-west London, which has since closed.

She also assaulted another at the Little Munchkins Montessori Nursery in Hounslow, west London.

Jailing her, Judge Sarah Plaschkes KC said Lecka should never be allowed to work with children again.

She told her: ‘You pinched, slapped, punched, smacked and kicked them. You pulled their ears, hair and their toes. You toppled children headfirst into cots. You caused bruising and lingering red marks.

‘When you committed these acts of cruelty you would look at the other members of staff to make sure that they were not watching you.

‘Often the child would be quietly and happily minding its own business before you deliberately inflicted pain causing the child to cry, arch, try to get away or writhe around in distress.

‘Time after time you calmly watched the pain and suffering you have caused. Your criminal conduct can properly be characterised as sadistic.’

Her crimes were uncovered in June last year after she was sent home for pinching a number of children and appearing ‘flustered’ at Riverside.

Jurors were shown CCTV of Lecka pinching children and scratching them under their clothes on their arms, legs and stomachs.

Footage of one ‘writhing’ in pain drew gasps from parents watching in the public gallery at Kingston Crown Court.

In another incident she kicked a little boy in the face several times.

She was also seen to push babies head-first over cots and cover a toddler’s mouth when he started to cry.

Lecka admitted seven counts of cruelty to a person under the age of 16 and was convicted of another 14 following a trial.

Jemma Till, a lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing parents of some of the children harmed, said they were ‘deeply shocked’ and ‘traumatised’ by what their sons and daughters experienced.

Several took to the witness box to read impact statements.

One looked directly at Lecka in the dock, saying: ‘These children were so innocent and vulnerable.

‘They couldn’t speak, they couldn’t defend themselves and they couldn’t tell us as parents that something had happened to them.

‘They were totally helpless and Roksana preyed upon them.’

Another mother, referencing the CCTV footage, said: ‘This really highlighted how defenceless all the children were and how sickening Roksana’s crimes were to target such young babies.’

The court heard from a different mum that some of the CCTV showed babies ‘reach back out to Roksana after she hurt them’.

She said: ‘I think Roksana is a huge threat to society.

‘It is objectively shocking that she has been hiding in plain sight in society up until she was arrested. I think all of us can agree that only the worst kind of human would assault vulnerable babies.’

Many expressed their fears over what further abuse their children may have endured.

One father told the court that his wife ‘always says’ if Lecka had not been caught ‘she could have gone on to seriously injure or even kill’.

Parents detailed the guilt they feel about placing their children in Lecka’s care, with one mother, whose son the defendant kicked in the face, telling the court: ‘We weren’t there to protect them.’

The court heard one family has moved away from London altogether, while other sets of parents have suffered breakdowns in their relationship, after Lecka’s actions.

Others spoke of now finding it difficult to trust people to care for their children, with one mother saying she has flown her parents out from Panama to look after her daughter while she was away on a business trip.

And several told of experiencing their children pinching them, and how they wonder whether that is something they learned from Lecka.

The court has heard evidence that Lecka was not her ‘normal bubbly self’ towards the end of June.

Giving evidence, Lecka said she would ‘smoke cannabis quite regularly with my boyfriend’ until very late at night.

She said: ‘I was really addicted to vapes, I would smoke two little crystal disposables a day. I was vaping in nursery. Because if I did not smoke, I would get agitated and fed up.

‘I couldn’t keep asking to go to the toilet. Any opportunity I would take. I would be really moody and fed up.’

At one point was seen vaping a metre away from a young baby.

Of one alleged assault, in which she is said to have ‘smacked’ a young girl while vaping, she said: ‘I had two to three tokes, that would be my normal amount. I did not smack her. I put my arm around her really quickly.

‘I do not accept smacking her in the face. I think she’s distressed and tearful because she’s just woken up from a nap.’

But prosecutor Tracy Ayling KC asked jurors in her closing speech to consider whether the footage showed ‘innocuous or innocent squeezes’, like Lecka claims, or pinches and rough treatment.

‘If she was tired, grumpy and feeling put upon by others, is what we see her taking it out on children by hurting them?’ she added.

‘There are, of course, some clips where Ms Lecka – as we put it – keeps going back for more.’

Arlette Piercy, defending, told jurors in her closing address that there were times when Lecka ‘could simply not cope – she had not slept enough, she had been burning the candle at both ends, she was under too much pressure and she cracked’.

She said Lecka has expressed remorse and cited her previous good character and young age in mitigation.

The court heard Lecka wrote a letter to the court saying she has reflected on her actions, wanted to apologise to parents and that cannabis turned her into a different person.

Ms Piercy told the court that Lecka has been attacked in custody, describing her experience in prison as having been ‘extremely challenging’, and said she has spent time in the vulnerable prison wing.

Detective Inspector Sian Hutchings of Met Police’s Public Protection Command said: ‘Today’s sentencing concludes a complex and emotional investigation.

‘The victims in this case are just babies, with the youngest being just 10 months at the time of the offences.

‘Something which our officers have found shocking throughout this investigation is Roksana’s lack of accountability and her inability to explain her unjustifiable actions.’

Ms Till said: ‘We welcome today’s sentence and hope it acts as a warning that perpetrators of such abuse will be caught and punished.

 ‘However, serious questions remain as to how Lecka’s abuse was allowed to go unchecked for several months.

‘Now that the criminal case has concluded, our focus is now on securing families, who will continue to be affected by Lecka’s actions for years to come, with the further answers they deserve.’

Lecka was also found not guilty of three counts of child cruelty.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

When it comes to deposits on your first home, it’s a surprisingly long way. How does £3,250 sound? 

Even when cutting back on holidays, treats and nights out (and the now legendary avocado on toast) in order to build up your savings, accumulating enough money for a deposit can seem nigh on impossible. 

Industry body UK Finance has revealed that in 2024, for the typical first-time buyer in the south-east of England, purchasing without support from the Bank of Mum and Dad meant coughing up a deposit of nearly £72,000. In London, this figure doubled to just over £145,000. 

Shared ownership offers a lifeline to aspiring home owners as deposits are much lower: according to Share to Buy, the average down payment on a shared ownership home in the capital is just shy of £28,000. 

However, it really is possible to find a good choice of homes to buy with a deposit of £10,000 or less? These low-cost developments are all within Greater London or easy commuting distance.

SO Resi Henley-on-Thames

Henley-on-Thames, Berkshire, RG9 

Minimum deposit: £3,250

These one and two-bedroom flats are near the centre of this riverside market town and about a mile from the station. 

Parking spaces and terraces or balconies are included, and £1,500 towards moving costs is offered to first-time buyers who reserve by November 21 and complete before Christmas. 

From £32,500 for 10% of £325,000, soresi.co.uk.

Lampton Parkside 

Hounslow TW3 

Minimum deposit: £4,157 

Located next to Lampton Park and a few minutes’ walk from Hounslow Central station, these flats come with their own outside space.

The flats have carpet in the bedrooms and Amtico flooring everywhere else, a utility cupboard complete with a washer dryer, and access to a concierge. One-beds are currently available. 

From £83,125 for 25% of £332,500, nhghomes.com.

Quartoria

New Barnet, EN4

Minimum deposit £4,562.50

If the idea of living in a leafy suburb with fast transport links appeals, check out this collection of one, two and three-bedroom flats, all with a balcony or terrace. 

Trains run from nearby New Barnet station into Highbury & Islington and Moorgate, and High Barnet Tube station is a short bus ride away. 

From £91,250 for 25% of £365,000, sales.sng.org.uk.

Beaufort Park

Colindale NW9

Minimum deposit: £4,937

One and two-bedroom flats with balconies and use of communal gardens, in an up-and-coming neighbourhood that’s become a first-time buyer hotspot. 

Supermarkets, bars and restaurants are on the doorstep and Colindale’s Northern line station is in walking distance. 

From £98,750 for 25% of £395,000, placesforpeople.co.uk.

Square Roots Lewisham 

Lewisham SE13

Minimum deposit: £5,125

Ready to move into, these one, two- and three-bedroom flats are part of a new riverside quarter with landscaped gardens, play areas, a communal rooftop terrace, shops and office space. 

They’re conveniently just a seven-minute walk from Lewisham station, and all have private outside space. 

From £102,500 for 25% of £410,000, squareroots.co.uk.

Rockcliffe Square 

Woolwich SE18 

Minimum deposit: £7,319 

Some 300 homes share a site with the London South East Colleges’ (LSEC) upgraded Greenwich campus, which opens next year. 

Ranging from studios to three-bedroom flats, they’re in easy reach of the Thames and three stations – Plumstead, Woolwich Arsenal and Woolwich for the Elizabeth line. 

From £73,188 for 25% of £292,750, lqhomes.com.

Dagenham Green 

Dagenham RM9 

Minimum deposit: £8,100 

Thanks to London’s lowest house prices and great connectivity, buyers are heading east to Dagenham, where a community is being created on the former Ford car plant. 

The one, two and three-bedroom flats have outside space and will be ready for shared owners from spring 2026. Amenities include a concierge, workspace and use of a car club. 

From £81,000 for 30% of £270,000, peabodynewhomes.co.uk.

Parkside Triangle 

Waddon CR0 

Minimum deposit: £8,125 

One and two-bedroom flats, around green space and adjacent to a park. A leisure centre, station and Ofsted-rated outstanding and good schools and nurseries are within a few minutes’ walk, and you can be in Croydon town centre in 20 minutes.

Some homes have parking, and cycle storage and a three years’ car club membership are included. 

From £81,250 for 25% of £325,000, hydenewhomes.co.uk.

The Willows

Aylesham, Kent, CT3 

From £70,625 for 25% of £282,580 

These semi-detached houses are in a quiet village with a close-knit community south-west of Canterbury. They include two double bedrooms and one single, two bathrooms, a kitchen-dining room and a separate living room. 

The village centre – for shops, cafes and a primary school – is a short walk. placesforpeople.co.uk.

L&Q at Willow Grove

Wixams, Bedfordshire, MK42 

From £112,500 for 30% of £375,000 

Three-bedroom houses are among the fresh wave of homes coming this autumn. 

Part of an established new community, they feature eat-in kitchens, adjoining dining rooms and plenty of storage space. 

Supermarkets, schools and cycle trails are all close by and fast trains take only 40 minutes from Bedford station to London St Pancras. lqhomes.com.

Abbeville Park

Burgess Hill, West Sussex, RH15 

From £125,000 for 25% of £500,000 

Three-bedroom houses with generously sized rooms and gardens. Each has an open-plan kitchen, living and dining area, a ground-floor cloakroom, and en suite and family bathrooms.

London is 50 minutes by train from Burgess Hill station, which is a mile away, and several Ofsted-rated good schools are in the vicinity. placesforpeople.co.uk.

SO Resi

Cambourne, Cambridgeshire, CB23 

From £126,250 for 25% of £505,000 

A rare collection of four-bedroom shared ownership houses in a village with four good primary schools, nine miles from Cambridge. 

Semi-detached and detached houses are available in the Sheepfold phase, and applicants reserving a qualifying home before October 31 will get £2,500 towards moving costs through a move-in-for Christmas incentive. soresi.co.uk.

Seasalter Meadows

Seasalter, Kent, CT5 

From £127,500 for 30% of £425,000 

It’s surprising that Seasalter isn’t better known, given that it boasts a lovely dog-friendly beach and a Michelin-starred pub and is far quieter than neighbouring Whitstable.

The upcoming launch of this development, which includes three and four-bedroom houses, may well put it on the map. hydenewhomes.co.uk.

Hounsome Fields

Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG23 

From £166,250 for 25% of £665,000 

With two play areas, a primary school opening on-site and a nursery in the pipeline, these three and four-bedroom houses are perfect for busy families. 

And being only a mile from the M3 and 15 minutes from Basingstoke railway station, they’re well positioned for commuters. sales.sng.org.uk.

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

An afternoon swim in a world-famous Lido, a stroll around one of South London’s first indoor markets, a trip to the zoo – or perhaps even an acrobatics show.

These are just some of the unique cultural activities on offer in Wandsworth, which has just been named the most popular London borough for 2025.

Analysing more than 23,000 moves to the capital this year alone, a new study has seen Wandsworth take the top spot.

But why? It’s not exactly cheap. House prices in Wandsworth average £691,000, towering over the current national average of £270,000, (according to ONS figures).

Plus, renting here certainly costs a pretty penny, as Compare My Move’s research found that the average monthly payment comes in at £2,526.

So, just what’s all the fuss about?

Housing in Wandsworth

When it comes to explaining why it’s so popular despite the relative price tag, Damien Jefferies, founder of Jefferies London, has a few theories.

As Damien tells Metro, it ‘combines lifestyle appeal with relative affordability given its favourable location.’

He explains: ‘Families are attracted by the excellent schools, plentiful green space and riverside setting, while professionals value the fast connections into central London, particularly with the Northern line extension, as well as the up-and-coming buzz that has come from the redevelopment of the Battersea Power Station and surrounding area of Nine Elms.’

In his mind, it channels an essence of London’s ‘prestige’ without the champagne budget associated with nearby Chelsea and Fulham.

Damien adds that, over the last year, the average sold price across Wandsworth has actually fallen by 6.4%, which he says is ‘in line with the slowdown seen across the wider London market.’

However, this has actually fuelled the borough’s popularity even further, as the average number of monthly housing transactions rose by 10.1% in 2024 and 9.3% in 2023.

Things to do in Wandsworth

From quirky food markets to a vibrant clubbing scene, there’s plenty to explore down this neck of the woods. It was also named the London Borough of Culture for 2025 by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, hailed for being ‘vibrant and diverse,’ as well as teeming with creativity.

Tooting Market is worthy of a visit alone – being one of South London’s first indoor markets, opening in 1930.

For those who like to party, Exhibit in Balham and Tram and Social in Tooting are two standout clubs, offering karaoke, bottomless brunches, comedy nights and more.

And those who prefer the great outdoors can enjoy the area’s green spaces like Wandsworth Park, Battersea Park and the River Wandle. Alternatively, why not take a dip in the famous Tooting Bec Lido?

Elsewhere on the cultural scene, there’s the Royal Academy of Dance offering a range of classes, while Battersea Arts Centre has a vibrant programme of events, covering music, theatre, dance and acrobatics.

Backyard Cinema is another great option for a day out, as well as Theatre 503 – which is located on top of the Latchmere pub.

Wandsworth is an incredibly family-friendly neighbourhood, with the likes of Battersea Children’s Zoo – offering hours of entertainment for kids and adults alike – and The Pottery Café, which is the ideal activity for creative little ones.

On the financial side of things, it also benefits from the lowest council tax rates in the whole country – which is certainly welcome news for the wallet.

This piece was first published on July 12, 2024.

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

This is the first picture of a teenager fatally shot in Wembley as family described him as ‘amazing’ and ‘funny’.

Tyrece Balcha, 18, from Hillingdon, died on Thursday after being shot on Atlantic Crescent, Wembley, over the weekend.

The teenager’s family said Tyrece was on the donor list, which will allow his ‘spirit to live on’.

In a statement, his family said: ‘We are devastated that our amazing son, brother, and grandchild who was kind, loving, funny, and hardworking has been senselessly taken from us.

‘We are grieving for his life that has been cut short but through his selfless gift as a donor, his spirit will live on. He will be deeply missed.’

Tyrece’s family is being supported by Metropolitan Police officers.

Detective Chief Inspector Phil Clarke, who is leading the investigation, said: ‘Our thoughts are with the loved ones of Tyrece at this very difficult time.

‘They continue to be supported by specialist officers, and we ask you to respect their privacy.

‘My team continue to work at pace to establish the full circumstances that led to this man’s tragic death.’

Adem Altindal, 32, from Wood Green, Haringey has been charged with murder and is set to appear at Haringey Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

Another man connected to the murder named Rafael Reveane Rodriguez, 39, from Middleton Road, Morden appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Dennis Gambrah, 32 of Dressington Avenue, Lewisham appeared at Bromley Magistrates’ Court on the same day.

They were both remanded in custody and are due to appear at the Old Bailey on October 23.

Seven more people have been arrested in connection with the investigation.

Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams, who leads policing in Wembley, said: ‘We recognise the concern and alarm this incident has caused within the community – particularly as it happened at a busy event.

‘We’d like to reassure the public that their safety is of the utmost importance. We have increased patrols in the area, and you will see a continued police presence over the next few days.

‘If you have any information about this incident, however small it may seem, please get in touch and let us know.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Predators spiking vapes on party boats on the Thames during Freshers week are being hunted down using new gadgets unveiled by the Met.

The detectors can be used to find traces of substances like spice and THC in vapes after they are tampered with by suspects.

The technology described as something out of James Bond is part of a series of kit used to identify those preying on revellers enjoying a night out.

It has already been trialled in raids on clubs and bars in the capital but last night was the first time the Met’s maritime unit has been equipped with the testers, which analyse whether a vape has been spiked.

The new device will be given to the police who patrol the Thames so they can board party boats and test for spiking.

Operation Albenga was launched on Thursday to coincide with Freshers’ week, when new students party before starting their courses.

An increasing number of schoolchildren are smoking vapes filled with spice, the street name for a family of synthetic substances that mimic the effects of marijuana but can cause ‘zombie-like’ symptoms.

Sellers swap out the factory e-liquid vial with their own spice-spiked one, often flogging them as containing THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, a chemical in cannabis which makes people ‘high’.

It is part of the response to the wider issue of spoiling, which is usually associated with drinks. The officers boarded party boats leaving Westminster Pier on Thursday.

Between March 2024 and March 2025, the Met received over 2,000 allegations of spiking, around 150 every month – though the true scale of the crime is believed to be higher due to underreporting.

The crime disproportionately affects women and girls, with 66% of victims in August 2025 being female. Offenders are most active in and around busy nightlife venues, with 17% of reports linked to Westminster and the West End.

Minister for Safeguarding of Violence against Women and Girls Jess Phillips joined Met officers for the launch of the operation against spiking.

She told Metro: ‘The technology is amazing, it’s something like Q would come up with for James Bond.

‘I want women and young girls to be able to go out and have a good time without second-guessing what will happen.

Philips said that victims of vape spiking need to be taken ‘seriously, even offering her own vape to be tested to show how the technology was used.

She added: ‘When we went on the party boat, people seemed genuinely pleased to see the police. We are here to reassure people that we are working hard on this.’

No one was arrested for drugs found when the police boarded the party boats

The Met’s Marine Support Unit is leading Operation Albenga, working in collaboration with the Met’s licensing teams, drug dogs, safer transport, and the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) team.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ben Russell said: ‘Spiking is an abhorrent crime that we are tackling head-on, whether it takes place in a nightclub, a private venue, or on the Thames.

‘The ongoing trial of new vape spiking detection kits is just one example of how we are innovating to get ahead of offenders and better protect the public.

‘This is part of our wider commitment under the VAWG strategy to protect women and girls across London. We are working with partners in licensing, education and the night-time economy to disrupt offenders, raise awareness and, crucially, support victims.

‘If you think you’ve been spiked, please come forward -being spiked is never your fault – it’s always the fault of the perpetrator. The sooner we know, the more we can do to support you, collect evidence and stop dangerous offenders from targeting others.’

The Met is also testing a range of different mobile drug testing equipment, which assists rapid drug identification – including near infra-red detectors that can quickly test a wide range of powders and tablets suspected of containing controlled drugs, supported by a mobile phone app.

The Met has been speaking to colleges and businesses about the dangers of spiking and say it is unreported.

Eren Bessim from the Safer Business Network said: ‘We know spiking remains a concern for many people, particularly students and young people returning to the city this autumn.

‘By working in partnership with the MPS, local authorities, and venues, we are equipping frontline teams with the confidence and knowledge they need to prevent and respond to incidents of vulnerability — making London’s day and nightlife safer and more welcoming for everyone.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.