Migration minister Kevin Foster has written to all local authorities with children’s services to inform them of the government’s intention to temporarily mandate the National Transfer Scheme for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC). The mandate will replace the existing voluntary scheme.

Chair of London Councils Cllr Georgia Gould, said: “We welcome the decision to make the national transfer scheme mandatory to create more capacity for councils to do this crucial work, which is something London Councils has long been calling for.

“London boroughs are currently caring for around 1,500 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children - a third of the national total. These children enter the country having faced difficult and traumatic circumstances from a young age and need specialist support to make a fresh start.

“Boroughs believe that a mandatory national transfer scheme is an important first step in a different and fairer approach to responding to this national challenge and we look forward to working with government on this.”

Following an increase in the UK’s terrorism threat level , additional patrols are being carried out by officers from the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), City of London Police and British Transport Police, which include both unarmed and armed police patrols focused on busy and crowded locations across London.

Alongside increased patrols, the MPS is calling on the public to remain vigilant and report anything suspicious.

Patrols are set to continue over the coming weeks, with many taking place in or around Christmas events, busy shopping areas and transport hubs. As part of this, Londoners can also expect to see dedicated counter terrorism patrol deployments across the capital – these happen throughout the year, but are being stepped up in the run up to and over the Christmas and New Year period.

If you see something suspicious, either tell a police officer, report it online via www.gov.uk/ACT or call the confidential Anti Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321. In an emergency, call 999.

London Flood Awareness Week (22 to 28 November 2021) is a partnership of the Mayor of London, Environment Agency, Thames Water, London Resilience and others working together to improve awareness of flood risk and help Londoners get better prepared.

London Flood Awareness Week runs at the same time as the Environment Agency’s Flood Action Week.

The series of flash floods that seriously affected parts of the capital this summer were a timely reminder of the risks flooding can pose and the need to be prepared. You can find out more about your own local flood risk here and how to plan ahead here.

When you are out and about you should wear face coverings in crowded and enclosed areas where you come into contact with people you do not usually meet #KeepLondonSafe