Officers from the Met donned their superhero costumes for some unusual new tactics to tackle an influx of illegal gambling on Westminster Bridge.

Illegal gambling gangs target tourists with games known as the ‘three cups challenge’ or ‘shell game’. Because the local Met officers have become so well known to these individuals, officers have had to come up with creative plans to deliver ‘vengeance’.

On February 15, inspector Darren Watson and police constable Abdi Osman donned their alter ego Batman and Robin costumes and launched their superhero mission.

Inspector Darren Watson, said: “We know that two repeat offenders have been operating on Westminster Bridge and have come to recognise me and my team from our patrols.

“I knew that if we were going to catch them we would have the think outside the box, and then I remembered that I had Batman and Robin costumes to hand which could come in use.

“Although dressing up may not be the most conventional policing method, we were thrilled to see that in this case it worked perfectly and the team were able to get some great results, taking these people off the street and protecting tourists and Londoners from being fleeced.”

Eugen Stocia (32) of no fixed address and Constica-Gherorghe Barbu (53) of Herbert Road, Greenwich were arrested on February 15 for providing the facilities to gamble.

Barbu was convicted at Croydon Magistrates’ Court on February 17 after being remanded by police and fined £925.

Stocia was convicted in absence at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on April 10 after failing to appear in court. A warrant is out for his arrest.

Whether you’re shopping for a chocolate-munching monster or someone who prefers a glass of vino, we’ve got you covered with our suggestions for Easter gifts this year.

Award-winning white wine

Sea Change is an award-winning vegan and eco-conscious wine brand – perfect for the first toast of Easter or a thoughtful meal. With no plastic packaging and a commitment to marine conservation, Sea Change makes sustainable sipping effortless. Its Pinot Grigio is absolutely sensational. Light, citrussy and refreshing. A winner for any Easter table.

Available: £13.49, Sea Change

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Divine x TrueStart bundle

For the ultimate Easter pairing, how about this moreish collaboration?

The fabulous mid-afternoon pick me up or an elegant after-dinner indulgence features TrueStart’s Super Blend Coffee (Its range is packed with antioxidants and available pre-ground or as wholebean for you to grind at home) and one of Divine’s decadent Dessert Bars – choose from White Chocolate Lemon Cheesecake Milk Chocolate Tiramisu or Dark Chocolate Cherry Bakewell.

Available:£9.99,  Divine Chocolate

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Family feasts

With Easter bringing family feasts and roast dinners, having sharp knives is essential. A well-sharpened knife ensures precision when carving roasts, slicing fresh bread and cakes, or prepping vegetables, making cooking smoother, safer, and more enjoyable.

The NEW Limited Edition Tormek T-1 Florentine Vibrant is the result of an exciting collaboration between Tormek and Florentine Kitchen Knives. Featuring a playfully colourful handle designed by Tomer Botner, founder of the Barcelona-based knife-making studio, this edition brings a striking contrast to the sharp, industrial aesthetic of the Tormek T-1 – making it a standout feature in any kitchen.  Each handle is randomly assembled from a shared colour palette, meaning no two machines are identical – each one has its own unique “fingerprint.”

Available: £370, shop.tormek.co.uk

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Crackin’ cakes

BigDayCakes’ Easter photo cake designs are fun, quick and easy to personalise and print onto ready made cakes in ASDA stores across the UK and Ireland – a cracking Easter activity to brighten up the weekly shop! Or, design a topper to arrive by post to add to homemade Easter bakes – the toppers are vegan and gluten free! A great way to entertain the kids this Easter holiday!

Big Day Cakes has hundreds of seasonal frames and designs to personalise for all occasions, as well as official licenses for kid’s characters such as Bing and CoComelon and Premier League football teams. More licenses are added every month.

Available: From £7.50, BigDayCakes

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Eggcellent treats

Packed in a stylish little box, Raphia presents a bright, colourful selection of deliciously smooth mini Easter eggs – a treat for the tastebuds. Both alcohol free and vegetarian, they make the perfect present this Easter.

Available: £35, Raphia 

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Perfect port

Something a little stronger for the Bank Holiday? Using sustainable and minimal-intervention methods wherever possible, Graham’s commitment to sustainability in the Douro Valley adds an extra layer of appeal to this exceptional port.

Aged for a decade in seasoned oak casks, Graham’s 10YO Tawny Port offers nutty aromas with hints of honey and figs, leading to rich, mature fruit flavours and a lingering finish. It’s a dream pairing for Easter eggs and chocolate desserts. For a savoury pairing, consider serving it with nutty cheeses.

Available: £22, Tesco | @grahams_port

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Easter Bunny billie mug

Start your mornings with a touch of Easter cheer with the Easter Bunny Billie Mug from Cath Kidston. Featuring a classic Easter colour palette and a charming contrasting handle, this mug brings a playful yet elegant design to your everyday moments.

Perfectly sized for your favourite tea or coffee, it’s both dishwasher and microwave safe, making it as practical as it is stylish. Whether you’re enjoying a peaceful morning or hosting an Easter gathering, this mug adds a delightful seasonal flair to your tableware collection.

Available: £12, Freemans

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Wonderful wine

Working wonderfully well with chocolate is 2021 Cotes de Roussilon Villages ‘Infusion’ Chateau des Jaume aromatic wine with raspberry and cocoa notes and an intense fruity sensation on the palate. Rich and pleasant, it offers roundness, making a silky and easy-to-drink wine.

This lovely red is a blend of three grape varieties (Syrah, Grenache and Carignan) and is made without the addition of sulphites.

Available: £13.99, Baythorne Wines

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Mocha gift pack

Voyager Coffee has launched a limited edition Mocha Gift Pack just in time for Easter, in collaboration with Barbers Bean to Bar. Perfect for coffee lovers and chocolate lovers alike, this indulgent egg is rich and smooth, perfectly balanced with subtle coffee notes that enhance the chocolate’s deep, natural sweetness.

To make the Mocha Chocolate 40% Easter Egg, Barbers first source cocoa beans from the Peruvian Amazon, before pairing them with Peruvian coffee beans, sourced by Voyager. Voyager roasts the coffee beans to highlight their natural chocolate notes, adding depth and character to Barbers’ mocha chocolate.

Available:  £32.50, voyagercoffee.co.uk

A woman has been sentenced to life for murdering her two young sons in their Dagenham home.

Kara Alexander (47), of Cornwallis Road, was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 24 years in prison at Kingston Crown Court today for drowning her children.

Detective chief inspector Paul Waller of the Metropolitan Police, who led the investigation, said: “This is an incredibly tragic case, which has left a father without his two beloved boys and a family without two young brothers.

“Kara Alexander will spend the next two decades behind bars, where the memory of what she has done will haunt her forever.

“To the family and friends of Elijah and Marley, while no amount of time will erase the pain of such a loss, I hope this sentence serves to bring some semblance of justice.

“I hope you can now move on with your life, remembering the boys as you knew them, and treasuring the happy times you spent with them.”

Emergency services were called at around 2pm on December 16, 2022, after the bodies of two young children were found by their father in their shared bunkbed inside their house in Dagenham.

Two-year-old Elijah Thomas and five-year-old Marley Thomas were both pronounced dead at the scene.

Following the discovery, their mother Kara Alexander ran from the house, but was arrested nearby a short time later.

Post-mortem examinations identified drowning as the cause of death for both boys.

Detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command launched an investigation, reviewing footage from local CCTV cameras and doorbells and forensically analysing Alexander’s phone.

Alexander was charged in December 2022 with two counts of murder and was convicted at Kingston Crown Court on February 21 following a three-week trial.

Verge Motorcycles has broken the Guinness World Record for the longest journey by an electric motorbike on a single charge.

The record-breaking journey was almost 311 kilometres in length and was accomplished with the serially manufactured Verge TS Pro electric motorbike in London.

Verge Motorcycles CMO Lauri Laukkanen, said: “This world record is an amazingly proud moment for the entire Verge team. We have been developing the efficiency, driveability, and features of our motorbikes for years, and we wanted to show the world that anything is possible.

“This record is a concrete demonstration of what our unique technology and proprietary architecture are actually capable of. For us, this is first and foremost a symbol of setting bold goals, reinforcing trust, and being able to show the reliability and performance capabilities of our solutions in a concrete way. It is good to shift into even higher gear from here and head towards new opportunities for putting our bikes to the test.”

A top team of experienced electric vehicle specialists was assembled for the attempt to set the new Guinness World Record.

The drivers were Sam Clarke and Sara Sloman, both well-known and experienced influencers in the industry. 

Their record-breaking trip lasted for just over 16 hours and took them through suburban areas inside the London M25 ring road, passing through various districts of the city. The traffic conditions during the record-setting effort were typical of a big city, meaning occasional congestion, traffic lights, and pedestrian crossings.

The journey of the motorbike was tracked with a professionally precise tracking system, and its battery was not charged at any point during the trip.

Vehicle management specialists Webfleet collected data for the record-breaking performance, and the whole project was captured by the content production company Generate Media. 

AA (The Automobile Association) was on hand to ensure that the bike was operable throughout the drive. 

“It is noteworthy that, even after setting a new world record, the motorbike battery still had about seven percent of charge remaining. That means that the bike could have gone on even further, but the team decided to stop to ensure the reliability of the data after driving for 16 hours and breaking the record, “ Laukkanen added.

The record-breaking drive can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abgWY7Ojt5Y 

Image courtesy of Generate Media

Research from private plate supplier Regtransfers reveals an alarming number of Brits unaware of plans to digitise driving licenses this year.

At the start of 2025, The British Government announced the launch of a Gov.uk virtual wallet and app for services and documents – including a digital driving licence – due to arrive later this year.

However, a recent study from private plate supplier Regtransfers revealed that over half (57%) of British Road users may be unaware of this shift to digital documentation.

In a study of 1,000 participants – all of whom carried a full or provisional driving licence – only 43% said they were aware of the upcoming changes, which will allow Brits to access and use a digital version of their driver’s licence from their phone. This shift will see mobile phones being able to be used as a means of proving age when buying age restricted items online and in person, as well as proving one’s right to drive.

The technology will make use of security features already built into modern smart phones, but despite this, many expressed concerns around the security of a digitised form of identification.

The risk of identity theft or data breaches stands as one of their primary concerns around digitised driving licenses, with worries about digital surveillance and data misuse being another. In fact, when asked, 41% of study participants said that they had “little to no trust” in the government to manage and protect their personal data.

Regtransfers CEO, Mark Trimbee, said: “There’s no escaping the fact that our lives are being lived in an increasingly digitised space. Putting our driving licences on our phones feels like a natural next step, especially when so many of us already rely on mobiles for everything from banking to boarding passes. That said, a driving licence isn’t just another app – it’s a key part of our identity.

“Our data shows that a lot of people still don’t know much about the government’s proposed changes. That kind of gap in awareness can naturally lead to concerns, or reluctance to adopt. It’s important the government takes the time to explain how it all works, what the benefits are, and – perhaps most importantly – how people’s data will be kept safe. The more informed people are, the more confident they’ll feel about using these new tools.”

When asked if he felt digital licenses should replace card licenses outright, Trimbee added: “I think people should be free to choose whatever they feel most comfortable with. While a digital driving license certainly would be convenient in many cases, a card license doesn’t run the risk of being completely inaccessible if my phone breaks or runs out of battery.”

In the Gov.uk press release, science secretary Peter Kyle said: “Along with CDs, the Walkman and flip phones, the overflowing drawer rammed with letters from the government and hours spent on hold to get a basic appointment will soon be consigned to history. GOV.UK Wallet will mean that every letter or identity document you receive from the government could be issued to you virtually.

“For people who choose to use GOV.UK Wallet, they will find it easier to prove they’re entitled to benefits or check their age when buying alcohol or DIY equipment, with more security and trust than ever before. Crucially, it also opens huge opportunities to make interacting with public services much easier by putting people in control of their own data.

“We will be overhauling how the public sector uses technology which is essential to delivering our Plan for Change, and in combination with this new tech for people to use themselves, we are going to slash the time people waste dealing with annoying processes so they can focus on what matters to them.”

At this time, digital versions are being introduced as an “optional” measure – meaning traditional card licenses will remain valid for the foreseeable future.

A group of drug dealers involved in the supply of nearly half a ton of cocaine worth up to £17 million have been convicted, following a detailed investigation by specialist detectives.

The four, who brought in cocaine from the Netherlands to distribute throughout London, were caught in the act by officers who had launched a proactive operation.

Bert De Jong (59) of the Netherlands, Hussain Sakhi (22) of Laughton Road, Northolt and Zaibaa Zahur (21) of Harlington Road, Uxbridge were convicted on Monday of conspiracy to evade the prohibition on the importation of cocaine and conspiracy to supply cocaine, following a four-week trial at Kingston Crown Court.

Sakhi and Zahur were also found guilty of conspiracy to supply cocaine.

A fourth drug dealer, Justyn Morris (23) of Upper Lees Road, Slough, pleaded guilty on March 11 to conspiracy to evade the prohibition on the importation of cocaine and conspiracy to supply cocaine.

The court heard that millions of pounds of cocaine were distributed by lorries across London.

Lorries would stop outside the capital, and the drugs would be collected and then be sent to ‘retail suppliers’ on a weekly basis.

On July 16, 2024, a holiday let was booked in Marsham, near Norwich. The following day a van was seen outside the address.

The van, driven by Morris, then drove to an industrial estate in Norwich, where he met De Jong in a lorry. De Jong gave Morris, who then drove back to the holiday let, three cardboard boxes.

Morris was then intercepted by officers who had seen a suspected handover.

Met officers then searched the van and the three boxes were found hidden behind black cladding.

A total of 70kg worth of cocaine was found – worth between £1.75million and £2.45million.

Sakhi and Zahur went to the holiday let later that day, to ‘view’ it. Raising suspicion, officers arrived and searched the pair.

A phone showed messages between Sakhi and an unidentified contact, who Morris had also been in contact with.

All three were arrested by the Met that day and charged on July 18.

What followed was an extensive investigation, which proved the defendants had all been involved in the supply of millions of pounds worth of cocaine.

Drug ledgers they kept as a record of the movement and distribution of the cocaine were examined during the trial and established the group had moved nearly 500kg.

De Jong would bring the drugs into the country from the Netherlands and Morris would pick them up and pass them to Sakhi and Zahur, who would then distribute them.

On July 23, De Jong, when entering the country again, was arrested. He claimed he had no knowledge of what he was bringing into the country, but evidence suggested on his phone that he would send ‘tokens’ to his counterparts, implying the drugs had been delivered.

Detective constable Leon Ure, of the Met’s Specialist Crime South team who led the investigation, said: “This has been a complex and lengthy investigation to dismantle a group supplying drugs across London. It has been part of a wider, proactive drug operation led by the Specialist Crime South team.

“This investigation shows the breadth of work the specialist crime unit deals with and I’d like to thank every officer who was involved in the case.

“Drug dealing has a huge impact on Londoners. It fuels further crime and impacts the heart of our communities. This group is an example of how we will investigate and hold offenders to account.”

They are due to be sentenced tomorrow at Kingston Crown Court.