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GPs in Tower Hamlets will now be offering Hepatitis C testing to help increase diagnosis and treatment for this life threatening disease. In the run up to World Hepatitis Day on 28 July, the council and its partners across health services are drawing attention to Hepatitis C – a virus that affects the liver, doesn't have any symptoms and is a major cause of liver cancer. The borough-wide screening is thought to be the first in the country and was launched by Mayor John Biggs, Jubilee Street practice GP Dr Salma Ahmed, Professor Graham Foster, Consultant Hepatologist from NHS Barts Health and Queen Mary University of London and Dr Stuart Flanagan from Queen Mary University of London. Jubilee Street Practice was one of four practices in Tower Hamlets that participated in the HepFree study, w...

The council has developed a new strategy to encourage local communities to play a bigger and more active role in shaping their neighbourhoods and council services. John Biggs, Mayor of Tower Hamlets said: "I want our council to draw on all the talent and experience of our community and to include more local people in our decision making. "With government continuing to cut council funding each year its more important than ever that residents are at the heart of everything we do. Working together to identify local priorities and develop solutions to the challenges we face is vital." A wide programme of consultation was done with key stakeholders to develop the current priorities in the strategy, and to help define the council's vision for involving the community. As part of the final phase o...

    Research under way for Thames air quality strategy by Port of London Authority. An operation to clean up the Thames is underway with new research by the Port of London Authority. Its clean air strategy is being worked out where ships berthed along the waterfront will have to switch off their engines and plug into an electrical grid, while vessels on the river will have to reduce their emissions. Our research is to get a detailed picture of emissions on the Thames to develop the first river air quality strategy, PLA chief executive Robin Mortimer explained. We anticipate more trade, passenger journeys, recreation and people on the Thames in the next 20 years. The project is part of a long-term study by Transport for London on river usage rising dramatically by 2037, with th...

    Dramatic pictures of the aftermath of a suspected acid attack on two teenagers show the victims being doused in water by paramedics after a noxious substance was thrown in their faces. According to witnesses, the victims were screaming in agony as their skin peeled off when emergency services arrived at the scene in East London at around 7pm this evening. Photos show firemen use hoses to pour water over the teens' heads on the side of a newsagent in the Bethnal Green area. The victims reportedly raced into the shop crying 'we've got acid on us' before they flagged down police. In one image, medics tip two bottles of water over one of the victim's head in a bid to minimise the damage to the eyes and skin. Police forensic officers were also pictured gathering evidence at the...

    A 17-year-old girl has been charged with terror offences after allegedly communicating with a fighter for the Islamic State terror group in Syria and arranging to receive weapons in order to conduct an attack in the UK. She is also alleged to have received instructions on how to train and use weapons and asked for assistance in completing a plan, contrary to the Terrorism Act 2006. The charge follows an investigation by officers from the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command. She was also previously charged on Wednesday April 12 with acts in preparation contrary to section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006 and is due to appear at the Old Bailey on Thursday July 27 in relation to these matters. The teenager was remanded in custody and is due to appear at Westminster Mag...

    A men being treated at the side of the road near Roman Road in Bethnal Green after acid attak. Two men have been taken to hospital after a suspected acid attack in Bethnal Green. The pair, believed to be in their late teens, were attacked with a noxious substance in Roman Road at around 7pm yesterday. Their injuries are not said to be life-threatening. No arrests have been mande and enquiries are ongoing. Images from the scene show two men with their shirts off having water poured over their faces. Bethnal Green and Bow MP Rushanara Ali called for urgent action from the Home Secretary Amber Rudd. She added: It’s unacceptable that another attack with a corrosive substance has occurred in east London. Anyone with information concerning the attack is asked to call police on 1...

    An Indian Muslim teenager was kidnapped by two men in balaclavas before being raped and murdered after she began a relationship with an Arab Muslim, a court has heard. The body of Celine Dookhran, 19, was found inside a £1.5million home after a woman in her 20s who had her throat slit alerted police from hospital, it is said. Ms Dookhran was allegedly tasered and dragged from the shower before she was kidnapped with the other woman, bound and gagged and taken to an address in Kingston-upon-Thames where they were both raped and Ms Dookran was killed on July 19. A post mortem gave the cause of death as an incised wound to the neck. Mujahid Arshid, 33, appeared in court charged with the murder, rape and kidnap of Ms Dookhran. He is further charged with the rape, attempted mur...