At least five people have been stabbed and a number of others injured after "unacceptable" violence broke out in four London areas as soaring temperatures gripped the British capital.

Scotland Yard was under the spotlight today after facing fresh allegations of racism amongst its officers.

A Polish gang trafficked more than 200 people to the UK as part of a multimillion-pound benefit fraud scam, police said today.

Up to 26 British police officers were being treated in hospital today following riots which broke out in north London two days after a man was shot dead by police.

A third post-mortem examination will be carried out on the body of newspaper vendor Ian Tomlinson, who died during the G20 protests, the City of London coroner said today.

The tactics used by British police during the G20 protests were under further scrutiny tonight after the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said it had received 90 complaints about the use of force.

A British police officer seen striking Ian Tomlinson during G20 protests could face manslaughter charges after it was revealed tonight the newspaper vendor died of internal bleeding.

Eleven people were arrested today after climate change protesters staged simultaneous demonstrations at two airports against private air travel.

Police were today given a further 36 hours to question a man over the murder of two women whose butchered bodies were found dumped in bin bags.

Detectives were tonight continuing to quiz a man over the murder of two women whose butchered bodies were found dumped in bin bags.