London's Oxford Street underwent a transformative experiment over the weekend as vehicles were prohibited from accessing a half-mile stretch between Oxford Circus and Orchard Street for an eight-hour period. The Sunday trial, branded "This Is Oxford Street," provided the first concrete glimpse of Mayor Sadiq Khan's vision to pedestrianize the iconic shopping destination. The event featured live music, pop-up installations, and retail activations that temporarily replaced the usual traffic flow.

Mayor Khan characterized the trial as a watershed moment, telling reporters that Sunday "will go down in history as the day the fight back began to rescue this street." He acknowledged that Oxford Street had experienced "managed decline" in recent years, citing the rise of online shopping, competition from out-of-town centers, and the pandemic's lasting impact. The mayor emphasized that pedestrianization represents a strategic response to these challenges, aimed at increasing footfall and consumer spending.

The one-day closure serves as a precursor to more ambitious plans that would permanently ban vehicles from a 0.7-mile stretch between Oxford Circus and Marble Arch, with potential extensions toward Tottenham Court Road. Detailed proposals for traffic management under the pedestrianization scheme will undergo public consultation later this year. The initiative forms part of a broader £90 million investment package designed to revitalize the area and restore what Khan describes as the street's "previous glory."

While the mayor expressed confidence in the plan's benefits, he acknowledged concerns from a "minority of residents" regarding potential congestion and accessibility issues. Khan confirmed that authorities have conducted consultations with local stakeholders and will continue working with residents, retailers, and landowners to address these challenges. The weekend's successful trial demonstrates growing momentum behind efforts to reimagine one of London's most famous thoroughfares as a pedestrian-friendly public space.

London's Metropolitan Police has reversed its longstanding position on grooming gangs in the capital, acknowledging for the first time that it has multiple active investigations into group-based child sexual exploitation. The shift came after an investigation by MyLondon and The Daily Express challenged official statements from both police leadership and Mayor Sadiq Khan, who had consistently maintained there were "no reports" or "no indication" of Rochdale or Rotherham-style rape gangs operating in London.

The investigation uncovered evidence from four separate His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services reports spanning 2016 to 2025 that documented at least six potential victims of grooming gang abuse. These case studies, which the Mayor of London personally responded to according to public statements, described children as young as 13 being exploited by groups of predatory men. The reports detailed how girls were plied with drugs and alcohol, raped in hotels by multiple perpetrators, and subjected to life-threatening situations.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley revealed to Assembly Members at City Hall that the force now acknowledges a "steady flow" of live multi-offender child sexual exploitation investigations and a "very significant" number of historic cases requiring reinvestigation. The commissioner estimated these reviews would cost "millions of pounds a year, for several years" to properly investigate, contradicting previous assertions that the force had "not seen" such cases in London.

Political figures including Reform UK MP Lee Anderson and Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp have criticized the mayor's handling of the situation, with Anderson stating there is "real, credible evidence that grooming gangs exist in London" and Philp alleging that Khan is "facilitating a cover-up." A spokesman for the mayor maintained that Khan has "always been clear that the safety of Londoners is his top priority" and remains "committed to doing all he can to protect children in London."