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The Standard
Battling UK extremism & social media disinformation
Emergency services report almost 40 police officers were injured as riots hit Southport after three girls were killed in a devastating knife attack.
Violence on Tuesday flared as crowds gathered in the north-west seaside town for a vigil honouring Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, who were all fatally stabbed at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club on Monday.
Tensions were already running high in the wake of the tragedy, which escalated into violence.
A police van was torched and a mosque attacked by a far-right mob after false rumours circulated on social media about the identity of the 17-year-old male suspect arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder at the dance studio.
In this episode of the Standard podcast, with our home affairs editor Martin Bentham, we examine how social media disinformation is fanning the flames of extremism.
Plus, why the British legal process won’t give you a suspect’s name or crime scene evidence immediately.
In part two, reporter Robert Dex with Paris Olympics 2024 analysis as Great Britain leap to fourth in the medal table with two more golds, in the men’s triathlon and women’s quadruple sculls.
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(In)Justice: Killer Privilege | Episode 6: Catch Me If You Can
37:48||Season 1The London Mayor’s policing blitz tackling town centre crime
14:18||Season 1Today Sir Sadiq Khan has announced a policing blitz on London’s 20 most blighted town centres for shoplifting, robbery, knife crime and anti-social behaviour. The Standard’s Crime Editor Anthony Frances has the latest. And in part two, The Standard’s Head of Culture, Martin Robinson, gives his verdict on the latest Superman film which is out in cinemas on Friday 11 July.Post Office Horizon scandal: Will the postmasters receive justice?
15:24||Season 1Today, the first volume of the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry report delivered a devastating assessment of the damage done by the scandal, which is one of the biggest miscarriages of justice in British history. It focuses on the “disastrous” impact of false accusations made against at least 1000 postmasters. The Standard’s Courts Correspondent Tristan Kirk has the latest.And in part two, The Standard’s Food and Drink writer Josh Barrie shares how NYC-style pizzas are taking centre stage in the capital, after more than a decade of floppy Neapolitan style pizzas - plus where to get a slice of the action. *This episode was amended on 09 July 2025 to change the reference to Kap and Jess running Chatsworth Bakehouse, which is incorrect.The fallout from the 7/7 London bombings, 20 years on
15:13||Season 1It’s been 20 years since the 7/7 bomb attacks in the capital which killed 52 people and injured several hundred. The Standard is joined by Islamic scholar Thomas Small, and survivor Mustafa Kurtuldu, to discuss the aftermath. You can hear more from Thomas Small in Conflicted - 7/7 The Inside Story, produced by Message Heard for Wondery. And in part two, is Scandinavia the new Mediterranean? Travel writer Alicia Miller joins us to discuss where you might want to visit for a ‘coolcation’ this summer to escape the European heatwave.One year of Keir: Can the Prime Minister save himself?
15:03||Season 1Today marks one year since Labour Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer entered No. 10 Downing Street, but it’s been a tricky start, as he faces plummeting polls, backbench rebels and sudden U-turns. The Standard’s reporter Fred Hood takes to the street to ask the public how they feel about his policies, and Chief Correspondent Rachael Burford explains the challenges that lie ahead - plus the latest on the news that Ex-Labour MP Zarah Sultana will set up a new independent party with Jeremy Corbyn.And in part two, The Standard’s Head of Culture, Martin Robinson, reports from Cardiff where Liam and Noel Gallagher are reuniting for the first time since 2009, kickstarting their long-awaited worldwide Oasis tour.(In)Justice: Killer Privilege | Episode 5: Full Pockets
30:07||Season 1Sam Hunter, Alex’s childhood friend, recounts the eerily similar death of another friend, Liam Anderson, in Sydney, Australia. Journalist Sacha Batthyany delves into the psychology of extreme wealth, exploring a self-help course designed for those born into unimaginable privilege. Then, a shocking revelation—a third death within this same social circle. We zoom out to examine the toxic mix of privilege, drugs, and the dangerous sense of invincibility that pervades this world of young, affluent men.The ‘catastrophic failure’ behind Heathrow’s power outage
12:40||Season 1Today, a new report from Britain's National Energy System Operator (NESO) has revealed that a power outage which shut Heathrow Airport earlier this year, causing travel chaos for more than 270,000 passengers, was caused by a ‘catastrophic failure’ of equipment in a nearby substation. The Standard’s Business Editor Jonathan Prynn has the latest.And in part two, freelance journalist Edwina Langley shares what to eat, drink and wear if you’re heading to SW19 for this year’s Wimbledon tennis tournament.The TfL fat cats earning more than the Prime Minister
12:40||Season 1Transport for London has missed passenger targets, delayed the new Piccadilly line trains and caused chaos on the Central line, but 2,200 Transport for London staff earn six-figure sums, according to exclusive reporting by The Standard’s City Hall and Transport Editor Ross Lydall. And in part two, The Standard’s sports writer Dom Smith explains why this year’s opening day at Wimbledon has been record-breaking for British players.Inside the London youth courts tackling knife crime
13:45||Season 1The problem of knife crime is usually viewed through the prism of tragedy. But after spending months reporting from inside the capital’s youth courts, The Standard’s Courts Correspondent Tristan Kirk joins us to discuss his special report on the efforts being made to steer children away from crime before it’s too late. And in part two, journalist Alice Cockerell ventures behind the scenes at Wimbledon tennis tournament, with ball boys and ball girls being put through their paces, and bad behaviour both on and off court.