Each week, Ben Hopkinson looks back at a serious, crazy, and happy news story from the past week.
Serious News
According to police figures, shoplifting offences in Kent are at the highest level in seven years.
Between 2023 and 2024, offences were up by 19.2% with an additional 2,433 cases reported – only 26.9% of cases were solved.
Kent's Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Matthew Scott has created a Retail Crime Board and says: “It is a national problem, but one I think we can improve locally. I have been clear with my intentions for this board - we want less crime, more support for victims and to build trust between them and the police”.
Retailers say that shoplifting is causing staff retention to be difficult, however they have also been urged to sign up to My Community Voice to help contact their local police teams.
These figures follow April's Office for National Statistics figures which reported the highest level of shoplifting of 20 years throughout England and Wales.
Crazy News
A rush hour train that was destined for Gatwick last Monday had to be cancelled for the strangest of reasons.
All aboard the 8.54 train from Reading to Gatwick – along with some squirrels, as passengers fled to other carriages.
Staff attempted to lure the animals off the train at Redhill with snacks and brooms but to no avail. This was when the journey came to an end.
A Great Western Railway spokesperson saw the funny side: “We can confirm that the 0854 Reading to Gatwick was terminated at Redhill after a couple of squirrels boarded the train at Gomshall without tickets, breaching railway byeclaws. We attempted to remove them at Redhill, but one refused to leave and was returned to Reading to bring an end to this nutty tail”.
Happy News
More than 200 children across England who suffer from life limiting conditions were taken to Disneyland Paris by some of London's black cab drivers.
In its 30th year, the event is organised by The Magical Taxi tour charity and The Worshipful Company Of Hackney Carriage Drivers – the drivers give the use of their vehicles and time for free.
Part of the convoy included the London Ambulance NHS Trust and AA breakdown vehicles, as they were all escorted by police from the City of London and France’s Gendarme Nationale.
Last Friday morning was when they departed Canary Wharf to the sound of Royal British Legion band, before spending the Saturday at the theme park. The trip ended with a formal dinner and disco before heading back.
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