#Croydon West

[insidecroydon]

Four Croydon's MPs vote for controversial Assisted Dying Bill

Film star Adam Pearson says he is ‘heartbroken’ by Commons vote: ‘We have a government who are willing to help disabled people die whilst doing nothing to help them live’ Concerns remain: Labour’s Sarah Jones says she has reservations about the Assisted Dying Bill, but still voted in favour All four of Croydon’s MPs – three Labour, one Conservative – voted in favour of the Terminally Ill Adults…

[dopescissorscashwagon]

Princess Beatrice reads to pupils at West Thornton Primary School in Croydon as part of Oscar's Book Club in association with Amazon Reading Volunteers.

[cleancarpets1]

UPHOLSTERY CLEANERS IN CHISWICK - CLEAN CARPETS

What do professionals use to clean upholstery?

Professionals typically use a variety of cleaning methods and products to clean upholstery, depending on the type of fabric and the nature of the stains. Here are some common tools and products used by professionals to clean upholstery:

Vacuum Cleaner: Before starting any cleaning process, professionals often use a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment to remove loose dirt, dust, and debris from the upholstery.

Steam Cleaners: Steam cleaning is a popular method for removing stains and dirt from upholstery. Professionals use steam cleaning machines that apply hot water and detergent to the fabric, and then extract the solution along with the dirt.

Upholstery Cleaning Machines: These machines are specifically designed for cleaning upholstery. They may use a combination of water, cleaning solutions, and powerful suction to lift dirt and stains from the fabric.

Cleaning Solutions: Professionals use specialized upholstery cleaning solutions that are appropriate for the type of fabric they are working with. These solutions are often pH-balanced to avoid damage to the fabric.

Spot Treatments: For tough stains, professionals may use spot treatments or stain removers designed for upholstery. It's essential to test these products in an inconspicuous area first to ensure they won't cause any damage.

Soft Brushes: Soft brushes are used to agitate the cleaning solution and loosen dirt from the upholstery without causing damage to the fabric.

Microfiber Cloths: Professionals may use microfiber cloths for gentle wiping and drying after the cleaning process.

Professional Cleaning Services: In some cases, individuals may hire professional upholstery cleaning services. These companies often have access to advanced equipment and cleaning solutions, providing a thorough and effective cleaning.

It's important to note that the choice of cleaning method and products depends on the specific type of upholstery fabric. Always check manufacturer recommendations and care labels before attempting to clean upholstery yourself, and consider consulting with professionals if you are unsure or dealing with delicate fabrics.

[royalcarscroydon2]

Stay tuned for upcoming features and enhancements that will elevate your experience with our taxi service. We're constantly evolving to meet the ever-changing needs of our passengers.

Our services for some key area's:

Croydon Taxi Gatwick and Heathrow

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[ukrfeminism]

Knife crime against women and girls has more than doubled in five years and campaigners are warning that not enough is being done to keep them safe.

New figures obtained by The Independent show the number of women who were killed, injured or threatened by a knife soared from 6,000 in 2018 to more than 13,700 in 2022 – laying bare the scale of the crisis. The offences include ones relating to robbery, rape, homicide, public order and theft.

Elianne Andam, 15, is among the victims of knife crime, having been killed on her way to school in Croydon last September. Mehak Sharma, 19, was stabbed to death in the same borough last November having just moved to the UK from India.

Campaigners say the statistics, which cover the last available full year of 2022, show the country needs to tackle the crisis, particularly when it relates to domestic violence, with Labour MP Jess Phillips warning: “Things are getting progressively worse.”

Nick Gazzard, whose 20-year-old daughter Hollie died after being stabbed 14 times by her violent ex-boyfriend in 2014, said: “If this was terrorism, there would be a national outcry.”

The figures for 2022 reveal that:

The number of female knife crime victims surged by 43 per cent in the West Midlands, from 1,010 in 2018 to 1,448 in 2022, according to the UK’s second-largest force

In Essex, the number of victims more than quadrupled in the same time frame – from 435 to 1,879 

And Avon and Somerset recorded the number of victims as rising 46 per cent over five years, from 593 to 868 

After a Freedom of Information request made by this publication, 26 of the UK’s 43 police forces provided data on knife crime where the victim was either a girl or a woman. The Metropolitan Police, Britain’s largest force, did not respond. 

The latest full-year countrywide figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), also for 2022, show that 282 homicides – or four out of 10 – were committed using a knife or sharp instrument. This represented a 19 per cent increase over the previous year.

Police said the way knife crimes are recorded had changed in 2019 but they could not attribute the rise in figures to those changes.

Knives and sharp instruments are the most common weapons used to kill women in this country. ONS data shows that, in the year ending March 2022, one in three female homicide victims was killed by a partner or ex (33 per cent), while more than one in 10 died at the hands of a relative (13 per cent). Some 40 per cent of the deaths occurred in or around the home, compared to 7 per cent in the street or other public spaces.

Ms Phillips has long championed the fight against domestic violence but says the government’s Domestic Abuse Bill does not do enough to protect women. The MP for Birmingham Yardley blames a reduction in youth services and workers, local council cuts, and a lack of police and judicial resources for fuelling the crisis.

The MP, who every year in parliament reads out the names of women killed by men, said: “Things are getting progressively worse, knife crime against women is classic domestic abuse but that’s not ever included in knife crime strategy.

“If only they [the government] cared as much about sexual and domestic abuse as they care about Rwanda.”

The law currently states killers who bring a weapon to the scene face a minimum 25-year sentence, while sentences for those who do not start at 15 years. As domestic killers are more likely to use a weapon lying around the house, like a kitchen knife, they can end up with more lenient jail terms.

Carole Gould has campaigned to close the legal loophole ever since her 17-year-old daughter Ellie was killed by her boyfriend of three months when she ended the relationship.

Thomas Griffiths was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 12-and-a-half years in 2019 after he walked into Ellie’s family home, strangled her and then stabbed her 13 times, attempting to frame the attack as a suicide by inserting the knife in the side of her neck.

“She’d only been going out with him for a few months,” her mother said. “The ending of a relationship is the most dangerous time in a woman’s life.”

Campaigner Ngozi Fulani told The Independent that the cost of living crisis may also have had an impact on the rise in crimes against women.

Ms Fulani set up the charity Sistah Space to advocate for Black female victims of domestic abuse in the wake of the deaths of Valerie Forde and her 22-month-old daughter Jahzara. They were both stabbed to death in 2014 by Ms Forde’s ex Roland McKoy, who was jailed for 35 years.

“We have seen a significant rise in reporting to us of knife or sharp instrument attacks,” Ms Fulani said. “We are in a time of economic depression right now and we find perpetrators in unstable economic situations will often become violent.”

Sistah Space has campaigned for Valerie’s Law, legislation that would make specialist training mandatory for all police and other government agencies that support black women and girls affected by domestic abuse.

“We want people to understand one thing – domestic abuse is not a woman’s problem,” she said. “It’s an everybody problem.”

For Deniz Ugur, deputy director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition, violence by men against women is part of a cultural problem that needs to be tackled.

“Women and girls face the constant threat of male violence, whether that’s in public spaces, the workplace, online or in our own homes, where the majority of this violence takes place,” he said.

“If we are to change this then it is critical that the government prioritises and invests in quality relationships and sex education based on consent and equality, and public campaigns to shift the attitudes that justify and normalise this violence and abuse. Women and girls deserve better.”

Conservative MP Caroline Nokes has criticised the government for refusing to commit to a new educational strategy for boys which would aim to tackle sexual harassment and gender-based violence.

The chair of the cross-party women’s and equalities committee said: “Education is a powerful and necessary tool in preventing violence against women and girls. Relationships, sex and health education that continues past secondary school and that engages proactively with boys and young men is crucial to combat harmful attitudes.”

A Home Office spokesperson said: “The government is committed to raising the bar in how these vile crimes are dealt with.

“We have gone further than ever before in protecting domestic abuse victims, classifying it as a national threat. Our innovative Young Women and Girls Fund also delivers specialist interventions to vulnerable young women and girls at risk of exploitation or violence.

“We will continue to work closely with the police and courts to bring more criminals to justice, and have set clear expectations for how the police should respond.”

[eardefenders]

Sherlock & Co Locations

Location, location, location. Are you like me and not a native Londoner? Are you also like me wondering how to visualize a place or, perhaps more importantly, how long does it take to get from 221B to the various locations and how much they're spending on tube fare?

Well then look no further! This is my masterpost with links to each location described in detail in each post made on those locations. Each post gives a bit about how far from 221B it's located (depending on travel method), how much it likely cost them to get there, photos of the location, and a bit of the location's history.

Every time we get a new locale I'll add a post and link it here. :) Lmk if I miss any and I'll add them. If you see a location and it has no link then either the link broke or I haven't made the post yet, but logged the location.

Cheers!

The Criterion Bar

221B Baker Street

Brixton

The Volunteer Pub & Restaurant

Regent's Park

Hampstead

Thor Bridge (Upney Ln)

Walthamstow (Morgue)

King George's Hospital

Barking/North Barking

Fortnum & Mason

Paddington Station

Hilton Green/Chatham

Berlin (John's Vacay Spot with The Boys)

Heathrow Airport

Hotel Cosmopolitan

Bailey's Street

Shoreditch

King's Road

Chelsey

44 Cross St., Croydon

Chiswick Flyover

The Fox (the swinger's pub)

Hanwell/Ealing/West London

Islington Tunnel

Eltham

Blackheath Common

"GAIL'S Bakery"

The Strand

'Saxe-Coburg Square'

Pinewood Studios

Embankment

Charing Cross

Opera House (?)

Barking Station

Walthamstow

Waterloo Bridge

Bank of England Museum

Camden Town

Living Room Club Cafe

'Gloria Scott' (Oil Rigs)

Ramack/Kosovo

St Dunstan

Little Venice

Satalfields

Brick Lane

Neal's Yard

South Kensington (Ice Rink)

[master-john-uk]

I am back at my main home in Kent. I feel sure I saw Sir Winston raise two fingers to me as I passed Westerham Green earlier!

I had planned to stay at the farm until tomorrow morning but, I have an early start, all day engagement in West London tomorrow. It will be an easier journey from Kent... plus, I need to collect some equipment from our out-station near Croydon.

I have had a very relaxing couple of hours in a nearby pub garden, which is (partly) owned by my follower GamesMaster. He keeps telling people that the pub is so busy that he has to work 27 hours a day. I was the only customer... and he was nowhere to be seen!

[kumkaniudaku]

Aaron should’ve dropped some West Croydon slang – Kelvin may be across the sea but Black is Black and the context clues would’ve helped 😂

That’s what I really wanted to hear! Tell me more about our black brothers and sisters from over there. I bet it’s much more familiar.

[insidecroydon]

Just 2% of Croydon voters join petition call for another election

Tax-avoiding millionaires and newspaper owners are getting all excited about calls for another election. The same people who have said it’s too soon for another vote on Brexit, reports WALTER CRONXITE, political editor Petition fury: except the national figures are not reflected in local constituencies A petition raised by a publican in the West Midlands who describes himself as “patriotic, not…

[scotianostra]

On November 16th 1891 Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show paid it's first visit to Scotland opening in the East End Exhibition Buildings at Duke Street, Glasgow.

The entourage had completed an engagement in Croydon, near London, on Saturday, 24th October, and proceeded to Glasgow by train immediately thereafter. The opening night finally took place on Monday, 16th November 1891, after a succession of delays had forced repeated postponements, whilst an army of workmen battled round the clock with the extensive preparations.

The show which caused such a sensation in the city that winter was entitled The Drama of Civilization. By means of a series of tableaux grouped into six dramatic episodes, it presented a highly culturally biased view of the manner in which ‘civility’ had supposedly triumphed over the primordial chaos of paganism and anarchy over the course of several centuries of American history.

It goes without saying that the native Americans were vilified as the villains of the piece, and that the near destruction of their culture was represented not merely as an unfortunate side-effect but as the crowning glory in the triumphant and inexorable outcome of the process of cultural evolution.

Exhibitions of marksmanship were given by Buffalo Bill himself, C.L. Daly the pistol and revolver expert, Johnny Baker, and best of all, the Wild West show’s ever-popular star attraction, Miss Annie Oakley, seen in the second pic in a tartan outfit specially made for the visit.

The native Americans in the show were genuine Lakota, and Oglala Sioux, amongst them was Kicking Bear, who was said to be the last of the tribe to surrender to the U.S troops after Wounded Knee only just over a year before. By the close of the same year, Kicking Bear had become a familiar figure on the streets of Glasgow.

One of the stories that gained notoriety during the time the show was in Glasgow concerns when one of the troupe who went by the name of Charging Thunder succumbed to the effects of "Fire water" who ended up falling foul of the local Sheriff, only this one wore a white wig not a stetson, and sat in the City's Sheriff Court.

The Scotsman reported on Charging Thunder’s trial at Glasgow Summary Court: “

‘Charging Thunder’, one of Buffalo Bill’s hostages from the American Government, was taken before Sheriff Birnie, in the Glasgow Summary Court, on a charge of having, on the 31st December last [1891], in the Wild West Show at Glasgow, assaulted George Crager, Sioux interpreter, by striking him on the head and neck with an Indian club.

“‘Charging Thunder’ pled guilty, and it was stated on his behalf that he was only 23 years of age, and was usually one of the quietest members of the Wild West Show, but in common with other Indians, the slightest drop of drink infuriated him, and on the night in question he had obtained whisky in a public-house in mistake for lemonade, which he asked for. He entertained no malice towards the interpreter.

“The Sheriff said that the assault was of so serious a stature that had ‘Charging Thunder’ not been a stranger he would have sent him to prison for a long period, but under the circumstances he would limit the imprisonment to 30 days.

“He thought it a great shame that publicans should supply these Indians with whisky.”

Another tale about Cody himself was found in the Glasgow Evening News of 11 November 1891. A ‘correspondent’ told of encountering a ‘distinguished looking gentleman, with a somewhat outré appearance’, who bought a pile of newspapers from an old lady in George Square and noticed a shoeless young girl helping her to sell the papers.

The account continued: “Pointing to her shoeless feet, which evidently attracted his attention on the cold night, he asked the old woman what it would cost to get a pair of shoes for the child, and then handed her the amount she named. He paid for his papers, gave the old lady a sixpence for herself, handed a silver coin to another poor body in the neighbourhood, and then went off with a smile on his face, that showed he felt pleased at being able thus unostentatiously to do a kindly action. On inquiring who the gentleman was, the old woman replied - “Sure that’s Buffalo Bill, an’ he has bought his papers from me the last two nights. God bless him.”

Although the final performance was held on 27 February, the last performers didn’t leave Glasgow until nearly two months later.

Other notable moments from the tour included Cody attending the Court of Session in Edinburgh on a day off, causing a stir as he took a seat in the public gallery in full regalia, as well as a visit to the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

He is also reported to have climbed Calton Hill, and on seeing the view of Edinburgh from the summit, shouted: “Ain’t she a beaut!” Not the first or last to say that I bet!

The lengthy tour had taken in venues including Edinburgh, Arbroath, Fraserburgh, Inverness and Ayr.

Cody’s visit to the north east - Aberdeen, Peterhead and Fraserburgh - actually had an adverse effect on the fishing industry, as workers abandoned their trawlers to attend the performances. The price of fish reportedly sky-rocketed on the days following Cody’s shows in the region.

The aforementioned jailed Charging Thunder changed his name to the rather less distinctive George Edward Williams settled into anonymity within north-west England.

The third pic is a wee gem of a reminder of Buffalo Bill's visit to Glasgow, a statue of Cody riding a bucking bronco is hidden in the Dennistoun area of the city.

[ingek73]

ok this is cool

The new lines are:

Lioness: Euston to Watford Junction. Runs through Wembley, honouring the England women’s football team; yellow parallel lines on the map.

Mildmay: Stratford to Richmond/Clapham Junction. Runs through Dalston and honours the charitable hospital in Shoreditch’s pivotal role in the HIV/Aids crisis in the 1980s. Blue parallel lines on the map.

Windrush: Highbury & Islington to Clapham Junction/New Cross/Crystal Palace/West Croydon. Runs through areas with strong ties to Caribbean communities, honouring the Windrush generation. Red parallel lines on the map.

Weaver: Liverpool Street to Cheshunt/Enfield Town/Chingford. Travels through areas of London known for the textile trade, shaped by migrant communities. Maroon parallel lines on the map.

Suffragette: Gospel Oak to Barking Riverside. Honours the fight for votes for women, running to Barking, home of the longest-surviving suffragist, Annie Huggett, who died at 103. Green parallel lines on the map.

Liberty: Romford to Upminster. Referencing “the freedom that is a defining feature of London”, according to TfL, and the “historical independence of the people of Havering”, where it runs. Grey parallel lines on the map.

[royalcarscroydon2]

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[beardedmrbean]

A former Metropolitan Police officer has been convicted of 10 counts of rape, including three of raping a child under the age of 13.

Cliff Mitchell, 24, was also found guilty of one count of kidnap after tying up a victim, threatening her with a knife, putting tape over her mouth and forcing her into his car.

Mitchell, of Wandsworth, south-west London, was a PC in the Met when several of the offences happened.

He was sacked by the force in 2023.

A jury at Croydon Crown Court found Mitchell guilty of 10 counts of rape, three counts of rape of a child under 13, one count of kidnap and breach of a non-molestation order following a trial.

The Met said Mitchell had previously been subject to a rape investigation in 2017, which had resulted in no further action.

Following his latest arrest, the case was reinvestigated which resulted in Mitchell being charged with an additional three counts of rape of a child under 13 and three counts of rape.

These six charges related to a second victim and occurred between 2014 and 2017, the force said.

'Truly shocking'

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy described Mitchell's actions as "deplorable".

"This is a truly shocking case and I am sickened by Mitchell's abhorrent behaviour and the pain he has caused the victims, who have shown enormous bravery by coming forward and giving evidence in court.

"It is down to their courage that he has been convicted and faces a significant custodial sentence."

He said Mitchell had told one of his victims she would never be believed due to the fact he was a police officer.

"This brazen abuse of power makes Mitchell's actions all the more deplorable," he added.

[lollytruecrimeworld]

Missing too long — a life of drugs & exploitation

Missing Carmel Fenech

Carmel grew up in North Peckham, a rough area of London, England.

Her father left home when she was just a small child less than 2 years old and she grew up with her mother as head of the household.

When Carmel was 14 years old she met a 40-year-old Jamaican man who introduced her to crack cocaine. She believed this man was her boyfriend and that he loved her. Sadly this was far from the truth, in fact, he exploited her along with several other vulnerable underage girls.

As a result of her involvement with class-A drugs, Carmel began to wander off from home spending nights and days in drug dens or with undesirable people. When she did return home to see her family and to wash the man would wait in his car mostly out of sight around the corner somewhere.

Carmel’s family begged her not to go with him but she really had become transfixed with him and just ignored her family, repeatedly leaving with him as if he were her boyfriend.

Malcolm was of course questioned by police at the time of Carmel’s disappearance but was not charged with anything, he denied any relationship at all

You can read about him in more recent years by clicking the link HERE this will demonstrate just what kind of nasty person he is.

Eventually, in desperation, Carmel’s mother Elaine made a difficult decision to move the entire family away from their relatives and friends in order to try to help Carmel get away from drugs and the gangs in which she had become embroiled. They made the move to Broadfield, Crawley, West Sussex just a year before Carmel disappeared.

Sadly the teenage addict still returned regularly to Peckham, Brixton, Luton, Watford, Croydon and Crawley.

There seems to be some discrepancy about the date that Carmel disappeared, the dates 1st May 1998 and 21st May 1998 but it seems pretty certain that the 16-year-old was last seen at Camberwell Green Magistrates Court on May 21st 1998.

Most media stories seem to indicate that she was in the company of a male when she left the court, but one of my colleagues says that in a recent conversation with Carmel’s mother, Elaine he was told that Carmel was alone and the male some reported seeing was a court officer releasing her from the court. This could be a very important point and one that I would like to have confirmation on, if anyone can clarify this please do let me know.

One point that has been made on forums is that it was a month after Carmel was last seen before she was reported missing. I do understand that Carmel’s mother had become used to her daughter going off for periods of time and she states this was the reason that she waited a while but having done what she did many times and trawled the streets looking for her daughter, Elaine eventually contacted the police and formerly reported Carmel missing.

Carmel had a lot of friends and was well-known in both Brixton and Peckham. Her friends were made up of a variety of drug users and non-users, but it seems the majority that she regularly associated with were addicts.

Carmel was mixed race, half Maltese and a very beautiful girl and is described as having a beautiful smile. She apparently spent a lot of time in the Turkish community on Meeting House Lane, especially the cafe.

It has been suggested that Carmel may well have been murdered but I am not so sure, I feel there is a lot to indicate that she may well be alive too. I have a feeling that she may well have been taken out of the area and made to work in the world of drugs and/or prostitution and has become wrapped in a new and probably dangerous life.

From some recent research, I have discovered that Carmel was known to frequent a flat in Loampit Lane, Lewisham and I would like to know more about this as it doesn’t seem that police have followed this up. In fact, the whole thing in respect of the police investigation is of concern. It seems that despite Carmel last being seen at Camberwell Green in southeast London it seems that a great deal of the investigation surrounding the disappearance has been investigated by Sussex Police.

I really do feel that the people that Carmel’s mum rightly believed were the people that the police needed to approach, there could well have been others who no one has ever spoken with that may hold a lot of answers in the case. I will say that if there does happen to be anyone reading this then please come forward and share anything that you have to tell.

Loyalties change, and time moves on, if you were scared or worried about telling the police something 25 years ago it doesn't mean you have to stay silent now. I know that Carmel’s mother has said that she feels her life has been ‘on hold’ ever since so, it is NOT too late, if you know something speak up and let's find out what happened to Carmel.

It is noteworthy here that Carmel had evident scars on her face, in particular the one on her forehead and although they may have faded they almost certainly will not have disappeared.

There have been quite recent reports of potential sightings of a homeless woman of a very similar appearance to Carmel in the above pictures, but the police do not seem to have followed up reports. The main sightings seem to be around London railway stations, particularly the smaller outskirts ones and some on the line between Brighton Sussex which runs through London and terminates in the town of Bedford, East Anglia. This is the Thameslink line I believe so do keep your eyes open.

I will leave this one there and hopefully be able to bring you updates as we investigate further. There are a small Facebook Page and group that have recently been set up if you’d like to speak to one of the people that run it, they are very keen to help to find out what happened to Carmel. Just click on the links above to visit them.

I will be back with another case very soon, this is one that I am very passionate about and keen to see solved, so you will be hearing more from me soon.

As my regular readers know I love to hear from you so do get in touch if you would like to discuss this case or any other.

Contact me

Email: Lolly-truecrime@protonmail.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LollyTrueCrime

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LollyTrueCrime

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lollytruecrimeworld/?hl=en

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lolly-true-c-43937a201/

Buy me a coffee: buymeacoffee.com/?via=lollytruecK

[archoptical]

West Croydon Bus Station

[aspiringyoungwomen]

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