The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham in co-operation with the London Borough of Redbridge have taken a major step in London’s fight against knife crime after B&M Retail Ltd was ordered to pay £492,598.53 – one of the biggest ever fines for knife crime in the UK.

A joint investigation between Barking and Dagenham and Redbridge Trading Standards and Legal Departments has led to a successful prosecution at Barkingside Magistrates Court. B&M Retail Ltd pleaded guilty to three offences of underage sales of knives.

The Mayor of London’s recent decision to give plans for two data centres in Dagenham the green light has been welcomed by Barking and Dagenham council’s Deputy Leader and cabinet member for Finance, Performance and Core, Councillor Dominic Twomey.

Plans to transform Dagenham East into a digital and media hub have received yet another boost with planning approval agreed for two of the UK’s largest data centres to be built just a stone’s throw from the site of London’s new film studio.

The Al Madina mosque in Barking has been recognised for its high standards of governance, practice and youth provision, as they were awarded the highest honours in two categories at the British Beacon Mosque Awards.

The prestigious awards ceremony took place at the Hilton Hotel in Paddington on Saturday 8 September, and saw over 200 Imams and members of mosque committees gather to celebrate the achievements of mosques in the UK.

Eastbury Community School’s sixth form provision has been rated Outstanding by Ofsted following a visit in July.

Barking and Dagenham’s schools have received further recognition from Ofsted for their high standards of education, with less than a quarter of sixth forms in the UK currently holding this top mark. Ofsted believe Eastbury have achieved this through ‘highly effective leadership’, the students’ determination to succeed and their high aspirations for the future.

In the report Ofsted said:

The latest tool in clamping down on anti-social behaviour was unveiled yesterday at Dagenham Heathway.

A Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) is now in operation around the station and the shopping centre, extending down to the junction of Ripple Road and New Road, and as far as Old Dagenham Park. 

The new powers prohibit anyone from causing anti-social behaviour such as spitting, harassment, drinking alcohol in the street or begging.

A teenager from Barking and Dagenham has received one of the best sets of results in the country after picking up a clean sweep of top grades in her GCSEs.

Just under half of all students in Barking and Dagenham have secured A* to B grades in their A-level results – the borough’s best performance since A-levels were overhauled.

The venue at Parsloes Park will benefit from the huge investment and the Parklife Project will offer high quality, accessible and affordable football and fitness.

Barking and Dagenham council has stepped up the fight against grime crime in the borough, by launching an innovative new video series identifying culprits who have been illegally dumping waste.

As teenagers around the country nervously await their A-level results next week, students who have yet to decide on their future can still apply to complete a degree course at CU London, Dagenham – the borough’s only university campus.