LBC is dedicating an entire day of programming and content to online safety today, to focus on some of the dangers and hold those in power to account. Here are some of the stories our reporters have found👇🏼

'We can’t be everywhere' Here's what spending a full response shift with the Met taught me about police cuts @lbc.co.uk www.lbc.co.uk/opinion/view...

'We can’t be everywhere' - What a night with the Met taught me about police cuts

The police get a lot of criticism.

lbc.co.uk

EXCL: A second woman in as many weeks has been arrested by immigration officers for allegedly wearing different wigs to sit the British Citizenship test for other people. Wigs, designer shoes, watches, bags and suspected false documents were seized in Kent this morning @lbc.co.uk

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper was in the LBC studio this morning taking calls from listeners. Some key takeaways on knife crime, online safety, phone theft and police budgets 👇🏼 @lbc.co.uk

NEW: Cop killer Louis de Zoysa ‘looks like a tramp’ as he serves whole life order at Belmarsh, his mum has told LBC. He was jailed after he killed Sgt Matt Ratana in Croydon in 2020. His mum says he still can’t string a sentence together after a brain injury from one of the bullets he shot.

Sweeping new powers, inspired by counter terrorism laws, are planned to tackle small boat crossings. They include a new offence for migrants who refuse help from authorities, endangering lives, and for people who research and plan crossings @lbc.co.uk www.lbc.co.uk/news/border-...

Border Force to be given 'counter-terrorism' powers in crackdown on small boats

Immigration authorities are to be given much stronger powers, inspired by those used to prevent terrorism, in an effort to tackle deadly small boat crossings in the English Channel.

lbc.co.uk

The chancellor tells LBC flights can take off from a third runway at Heathrow within 10 years, with proposed changes to planning rules. ‘I want to see spades in the ground in this parliament,’ she says. Rachel Reeves says she ‘knows sustainable aviation and economic growth do go hand in hand’.

Essex Police to cut all PCSOs to balance budget as government still to reveal details of neighbourhood plan – to hire more PCSOs @lbc.co.uk www.lbc.co.uk/news/essex-p...

Police force to get rid of all support officers because of £5 million funding shortfall

Essex Police is set to cut all of its police community support officers as it warns of a £5 million gap in funding that it can’t fill.

lbc.co.uk

EXCL: Thousands of new prison places, to help ease overcrowding, have been held up by regulations designed to mitigate against water pollution. Luke Charters MP says ‘it’s a farce that we care more about PH levels than we do about victims’ www.lbc.co.uk/news/prison-...

Green rules cause delays to thousands of new prison cells, as soaring jail population threatens fresh crisis

The creation of thousands of new prison spaces in England and Wales has been held up by environmental regulations, as capacity continues to be squeezed behind bars.

lbc.co.uk

A 61 year old woman has been arrested, accused of sitting ‘Life in the UK’ tests for at least 14 people, to obtain leave to remain in the country - by using wigs to disguise herself. The Home Office has shared images, alleging she posed as both female and male applicants @lbc.co.uk

BREAKING: Southport murderer 18 year-old Axel Rudakubana has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 52 years. The judge said if he’d been 18 when he carried out the attack, he would’ve been handed a whole life term, but ended saying “it’s highly likely he will never be released”.

BREAKING: The Metropolitan Police Service is out of special measures, after more than two and a half years. The inspectorate says improvements have been made to professional standards, investigations involving children and the prioritisation of the most dangerous crimes @lbc.co.uk

Keir Starmer says the law around terrorism may need to change, as he says the Southport attack ‘is a sign that terrorism has changed’. He points out that loners are carrying out attacks, inspired by terrorism, rather than being directed by terrorist organisations. He says a review is underway.

BREAKING: Having not spoken in any court hearings to date, knife attacker Axel Rudakubana, 18, has pleaded guilty on the first day of his trial at Liverpool Crown Court. He’s admitted all charges, including the murder of three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed class in Southport @lbc.co.uk

Police should consider investigating people who have threatened Labour MP Jess Phillips for terror offences, Jonathan Hall tells LBC. UK's terror watchdog: “The sort of threats and attacks on MPs can amount to terrorism... I hope that the authorities look as strongly as possible [at those people]."

NEW: Elon Musk has "done the UK a favour" by getting so involved in our politics, the terror watchdog has told @lbc.co.uk Jonathan Hall says interventions from Elon Musk provide "a laboratory situation" for politicians to look at how we deal with statements by foreign, powerful people online.

EXCL: UK spending £100 million on public inquiries every year, as calls grow for a fresh probe into grooming gangs. Analysis shows 27 have been announced since 2014, with 17 still ongoing. One key player from IICSA says an oversight body is needed @lbc.co.uk www.lbc.co.uk/news/uk-spen...

UK spending £100m on public inquiries per year as Tories force vote on grooming gangs probe

The UK has spent more than £100 million on public inquiries every year over the past decade, LBC analysis can reveal, as calls grow for a national probe into grooming gangs.

lbc.co.uk

One of the pedestrians hit by a car in London’s West End on Christmas Day has died in hospital. 25 year-old Aidan Chapman has been described as a loving, kind, funny soul who enriched everyone’s lives. A court will review the attempted murder charges brought against 30 y/o Anthony Gilheaney.

‘Business as usual’ for police on Christmas Day as officers in Manchester make 124 arrests, charge a man with murder and stop a thief stealing money from a charity @lbc.co.uk www.lbc.co.uk/news/gmp-pol...

Man ‘caught red handed stealing’ charity tin on Christmas Day as Manchester cops make 124 arrests in ‘business as usual’

England’s biggest police force outside of London has told LBC it was “business as usual” for officers working on Christmas Day.

lbc.co.uk

Oh my Christ!

Hope you all have a very merry Christmas. I’ll still be popping up on air tomorrow morning and for some more of this week if you happen to be listening (the news never stops !!) but I’m excited to be with family and friends back in Scotland to celebrate. Truly the best time of the year 🥰🎄

EXCL: Five men have been questioned as suspects by police investigating the fatal crush at the O2 Academy Brixton. No charges have been brought yet, as this weekend marks two years since it happened. www.lbc.co.uk/news/brixton...

Five men questioned by police over Brixton Academy crush as investigation continues two years on

LBC can reveal that five men have been questioned as suspects by police investigating a fatal crush at the O2 Academy Brixton, in South London, two years ago.

lbc.co.uk

‘Britain’s FBI’ says it has opened talks with China, as part of its bid to price people smuggling gangs out of their small boat Channel crossing business model. www.lbc.co.uk/news/britain...

Britain's FBI ‘opens talks with China’ over small boats Channel crossings

Britain's equivalent to the FBI says it has "opened talks with China" over small boats crossing the English Channel.

lbc.co.uk

Dozens of people are being investigated over the Post Office Horizon IT scandal, police have revealed. But no prosecutions will be brought until at least 2027. Lord Arbuthnot has told @LBC the delay is a ‘slap in the face for subpostmasters’ www.lbc.co.uk/news/post-of...

‘A slap in the face’: No prosecution over Post Office Horizon scandal until at least 2027

Police have warned that it could be another two years before anyone appears in court over potential criminal acts linked to the Post Office Horizon IT scandal.

lbc.co.uk

‘One step behind’ crime bosses: Met fury as force to cut 2,300 police due to £450m budget black hole www.lbc.co.uk/news/met-pol...

‘One step behind’ crime bosses: Met fury as force to cut 2,300 police due to £450m budget black hole

The Met police will be forced to ‘scale back’ its ability to tackle serious violence and organised crime, Sir Mark Rowley admitted today as he proposed scrapping 2,300 officers to make up a £450m budg...

lbc.co.uk

EXCL: ‘We’re paying for a flat that doesn’t exist’: Leaseholders fury as Dagenham fire block demolished @LBC Flat owners say decision taken without their knowledge Still no contact with freeholder They may still be expected to pay service charges 👇🏼 www.lbc.co.uk/news/were-pa...

‘We’re paying for a flat that doesn’t exist’: Leaseholders fury as Dagenham fire block demolished

Leaseholders who owned flats in a block which went up in flames three months ago have told LBC they still haven’t heard from the building’s owner or had any of their service charge money back, as thei...

lbc.co.uk

EXCL: Mould, leaks and collapsing roofs: The reality for residents living on what was once named Britain’s ‘best council estate’ @LBC www.lbc.co.uk/news/pimlico...

Mould, leaks and collapsing roofs: Inside Britain’s ‘best council estate’

Lillington Gardens in Pimlico has won multiple awards for its design and desirable location in central London - but behind the flat doors, residents have told LBC they’re living in a nightmare.

lbc.co.uk

London has come close to 'other deadly Grenfell tragedies' several times since 2017, fire chief tells me, as he hits out again at building owners who are not taking responsibility for fire safety @LBC www.lbc.co.uk/news/london-...

London has come close to 'other deadly Grenfell tragedies' several times, fire chief tells LBC

London has come close to suffering another Grenfell tragedy several times since 2017, the capital's top firefighter has told LBC.

lbc.co.uk

An influx of inexperience, heightened scrutiny and lengthy investigations — Police officers are “lacking the confidence” to use their powers, despite assaults against them soaring. I’ve been ‘inside the force’ at Thames Valley Police for @LBC 👇🏼 www.lbc.co.uk/news/inexper...

Inexperienced police 'lacking confidence' to use force - as assaults on officers soar

Police officers are ‘lacking the confidence’ needed to use their powers, a chief constable has told LBC.

lbc.co.uk

Some children are being left to live alone and fend for themselves when their parents are sent to prison. Extraordinary revelation that governments have been warned about - but until recently, there’s never been official stats on how many inmates have kids @LBC www.lbc.co.uk/news/childre...

Children 'left to fend for themselves' when parents sent to prison – because authorities 'don't know about them'

Scores of children are being left to live at home alone when their parents are sent to prison, a charity is warning.

lbc.co.uk