Lizzie Dearden
@lizziedearden.bsky.social
Contributing reporter to the New York Times in London, author of 'Plotters: The UK Terrorists Who Failed'
Website: https://www.lizziedearden.com/
Website: https://www.lizziedearden.com/
Xu was first reported to police by a woman who regained partial consciousness while being raped in June
When police examined his phone they found evidence of physical attacks on at least 7 other women, plus the covert filming of many more at his home, office and "upskirting" on the Tube
When police examined his phone they found evidence of physical attacks on at least 7 other women, plus the covert filming of many more at his home, office and "upskirting" on the Tube
November 14, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Xu was first reported to police by a woman who regained partial consciousness while being raped in June
When police examined his phone they found evidence of physical attacks on at least 7 other women, plus the covert filming of many more at his home, office and "upskirting" on the Tube
When police examined his phone they found evidence of physical attacks on at least 7 other women, plus the covert filming of many more at his home, office and "upskirting" on the Tube
While police have found no evidence of a link between the two men, they are combing through messages and search histories to examine whether they might have learned how to perpetrate their attacks online
In Xu's case, 6 million messages on the Chinese platform WeChat have not yet been translated
In Xu's case, 6 million messages on the Chinese platform WeChat have not yet been translated
November 14, 2025 at 4:56 PM
While police have found no evidence of a link between the two men, they are combing through messages and search histories to examine whether they might have learned how to perpetrate their attacks online
In Xu's case, 6 million messages on the Chinese platform WeChat have not yet been translated
In Xu's case, 6 million messages on the Chinese platform WeChat have not yet been translated
Xu's methods bear a striking similarity to those of Zou Zhenhao, another Chinese man who was jailed earlier this year for drugging, raping and filming numerous women
He also targeted Chinese students in London and police are still working to identify more victims www.nytimes.com/2025/06/19/w...
He also targeted Chinese students in London and police are still working to identify more victims www.nytimes.com/2025/06/19/w...
Student Who Filmed Himself Raping at Least 10 Women Is Given Life Sentence
www.nytimes.com
November 14, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Xu's methods bear a striking similarity to those of Zou Zhenhao, another Chinese man who was jailed earlier this year for drugging, raping and filming numerous women
He also targeted Chinese students in London and police are still working to identify more victims www.nytimes.com/2025/06/19/w...
He also targeted Chinese students in London and police are still working to identify more victims www.nytimes.com/2025/06/19/w...
Anyway, the joint National Police Chiefs' Council and Association of Police and Crime Commissioners conference is going to be interesting next week
November 13, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Anyway, the joint National Police Chiefs' Council and Association of Police and Crime Commissioners conference is going to be interesting next week
Because of debate over Liberal Democrat record on PCCs in parliament, here is a comparison of their 2010 election manifesto vs the Conservatives
Lib Dems promised "direct election of police authorities", Tories promised "a directly-elected individual"
Lib Dems promised "direct election of police authorities", Tories promised "a directly-elected individual"
November 13, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Because of debate over Liberal Democrat record on PCCs in parliament, here is a comparison of their 2010 election manifesto vs the Conservatives
Lib Dems promised "direct election of police authorities", Tories promised "a directly-elected individual"
Lib Dems promised "direct election of police authorities", Tories promised "a directly-elected individual"
The answer is likely to be in the delayed Police Reform White Paper - minister Sarah Jones said would come out "this year" but gave no specific timing
For recent criticism of the structure, see the HM Inspectorate of Constabulary annual report hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/publication-...
For recent criticism of the structure, see the HM Inspectorate of Constabulary annual report hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/publication-...
November 13, 2025 at 12:23 PM
The answer is likely to be in the delayed Police Reform White Paper - minister Sarah Jones said would come out "this year" but gave no specific timing
For recent criticism of the structure, see the HM Inspectorate of Constabulary annual report hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/publication-...
For recent criticism of the structure, see the HM Inspectorate of Constabulary annual report hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/publication-...
The question is whether this is a first step towards what some senior police leaders and watchdogs have long been calling for - reform of the archaic 43 force model in England and Wales
PCCs baked it in at a point where many believed it should be modernised with larger regional bodies
PCCs baked it in at a point where many believed it should be modernised with larger regional bodies
November 13, 2025 at 12:15 PM
The question is whether this is a first step towards what some senior police leaders and watchdogs have long been calling for - reform of the archaic 43 force model in England and Wales
PCCs baked it in at a point where many believed it should be modernised with larger regional bodies
PCCs baked it in at a point where many believed it should be modernised with larger regional bodies
Policing minister Sarah Jones tells parliament the new model - a combination of elected mayors and boards made up of council leaders - "will not be a return to the bureaucratic and invisible committee-based oversight" PCCs were designed to replace
Advocates of the PCC system will challenge that
Advocates of the PCC system will challenge that
November 13, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Policing minister Sarah Jones tells parliament the new model - a combination of elected mayors and boards made up of council leaders - "will not be a return to the bureaucratic and invisible committee-based oversight" PCCs were designed to replace
Advocates of the PCC system will challenge that
Advocates of the PCC system will challenge that
The (Labour) chair of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners said the decision had been made "without any consultation" and "risks creating a dangerous accountability vacuum"
"We are deeply disappointed by this decision and the lack of engagement with us," Emily Spurrell said
"We are deeply disappointed by this decision and the lack of engagement with us," Emily Spurrell said
November 13, 2025 at 12:07 PM
The (Labour) chair of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners said the decision had been made "without any consultation" and "risks creating a dangerous accountability vacuum"
"We are deeply disappointed by this decision and the lack of engagement with us," Emily Spurrell said
"We are deeply disappointed by this decision and the lack of engagement with us," Emily Spurrell said
PCCs were introduced by Coalition govt in 2012, to replace police authorities after being proposed in both the Conservative and Liberal Democrat manifestos
They fall along the same regional lines as the 43 forces in England and Wales and have powers over funding, victim services and police scrutiny
They fall along the same regional lines as the 43 forces in England and Wales and have powers over funding, victim services and police scrutiny
November 13, 2025 at 12:04 PM
PCCs were introduced by Coalition govt in 2012, to replace police authorities after being proposed in both the Conservative and Liberal Democrat manifestos
They fall along the same regional lines as the 43 forces in England and Wales and have powers over funding, victim services and police scrutiny
They fall along the same regional lines as the 43 forces in England and Wales and have powers over funding, victim services and police scrutiny
No worries at all, can confirm that it was a very long and sometimes contradictory document
November 11, 2025 at 11:21 PM
No worries at all, can confirm that it was a very long and sometimes contradictory document
This is different parts of the same document, both quotes are in my piece and I obtained the community impact assessment directly
November 11, 2025 at 11:09 PM
This is different parts of the same document, both quotes are in my piece and I obtained the community impact assessment directly
A bonus snippet for those interested in the policing of protest and government trends towards greater police powers and more punitive restrictions:
"[There is] an apparent disconnect between prominent media calls for harsh punishment of disruptive protests and broader public sentiment."
"[There is] an apparent disconnect between prominent media calls for harsh punishment of disruptive protests and broader public sentiment."
November 11, 2025 at 5:09 PM
A bonus snippet for those interested in the policing of protest and government trends towards greater police powers and more punitive restrictions:
"[There is] an apparent disconnect between prominent media calls for harsh punishment of disruptive protests and broader public sentiment."
"[There is] an apparent disconnect between prominent media calls for harsh punishment of disruptive protests and broader public sentiment."
For transparency - I obtained the assessment myself from the Government Legal Department in October after it was cited in a Court of Appeal hearing that I attended
I wrote the story last week but was on holiday Fri-Mon, and The Guardian published an article on the same document today by coincidence
I wrote the story last week but was on holiday Fri-Mon, and The Guardian published an article on the same document today by coincidence
November 11, 2025 at 4:57 PM
For transparency - I obtained the assessment myself from the Government Legal Department in October after it was cited in a Court of Appeal hearing that I attended
I wrote the story last week but was on holiday Fri-Mon, and The Guardian published an article on the same document today by coincidence
I wrote the story last week but was on holiday Fri-Mon, and The Guardian published an article on the same document today by coincidence
The main findings were that the ban "would likely be viewed positively by the majority of UK communities", but there would be "widespread criticism from the British Muslim community" and specific interest groups
The government appears to have been blindsided by Defend Our Juries protests
The government appears to have been blindsided by Defend Our Juries protests
November 11, 2025 at 4:52 PM
The main findings were that the ban "would likely be viewed positively by the majority of UK communities", but there would be "widespread criticism from the British Muslim community" and specific interest groups
The government appears to have been blindsided by Defend Our Juries protests
The government appears to have been blindsided by Defend Our Juries protests
It also warned that a ban may “inadvertently enhance” Palestine Action’s profile, and people could "oppose proscription as representing a creep of terrorism powers into the realm of free expression and protest”
But the document did not predict any demonstrations other than outside future trials
But the document did not predict any demonstrations other than outside future trials
November 11, 2025 at 4:47 PM
It also warned that a ban may “inadvertently enhance” Palestine Action’s profile, and people could "oppose proscription as representing a creep of terrorism powers into the realm of free expression and protest”
But the document did not predict any demonstrations other than outside future trials
But the document did not predict any demonstrations other than outside future trials
The assessment predicted that the ban of Palestine Action could spark public debate on “whether using terrorism powers to counter criminal but non-violent direct action groups is a proportionate response” and warned that opinion polling suggested “growing frustration with Israeli military actions”
November 11, 2025 at 4:45 PM
The assessment predicted that the ban of Palestine Action could spark public debate on “whether using terrorism powers to counter criminal but non-violent direct action groups is a proportionate response” and warned that opinion polling suggested “growing frustration with Israeli military actions”
The arrests have been made for holding signs reading "I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action," which is being treated as a crime under section 13 of Terrorism Act
It has increased terror arrests more than tenfold, piling demand on counter-terror police who say they are “already stretched”
It has increased terror arrests more than tenfold, piling demand on counter-terror police who say they are “already stretched”
November 11, 2025 at 4:42 PM
The arrests have been made for holding signs reading "I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action," which is being treated as a crime under section 13 of Terrorism Act
It has increased terror arrests more than tenfold, piling demand on counter-terror police who say they are “already stretched”
It has increased terror arrests more than tenfold, piling demand on counter-terror police who say they are “already stretched”
"We're liberal, we're progressive, we're multicultural, and as importantly, we're incredibly successful. We've shown diversity is a strength, not a weakness," Khan said
After right-wing populist victories around the world, he said yesterday shows that "progressives are fighting back"
After right-wing populist victories around the world, he said yesterday shows that "progressives are fighting back"
November 5, 2025 at 10:39 PM
"We're liberal, we're progressive, we're multicultural, and as importantly, we're incredibly successful. We've shown diversity is a strength, not a weakness," Khan said
After right-wing populist victories around the world, he said yesterday shows that "progressives are fighting back"
After right-wing populist victories around the world, he said yesterday shows that "progressives are fighting back"
Asked why he thought X has been swamped with posts urging people to vote against Mamdani because New York would "fall" like London, Khan said "dystopian visions" have no basis in reality
He said London is hated by Trump and his followers because it is "the antithesis of everything they stand for"
He said London is hated by Trump and his followers because it is "the antithesis of everything they stand for"
November 5, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Asked why he thought X has been swamped with posts urging people to vote against Mamdani because New York would "fall" like London, Khan said "dystopian visions" have no basis in reality
He said London is hated by Trump and his followers because it is "the antithesis of everything they stand for"
He said London is hated by Trump and his followers because it is "the antithesis of everything they stand for"