Officers investigating an alleged trafficking and forced prostitution ring based in Kensington & Chelsea arrested seven people on Tuesday 14 May.

Five people were charged and appear in custody at Westminster Magistrates' Court today.

Tatiana Shmyrova, 44 (21/9/68) of Brompton Park Crescent SW6 was charged with conspiracy to traffic persons into the United Kingdom for sexual exploitation and conspiracy to control prostitution for gain. She was also charged under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Kensington and Chelsea has narrowly averted 'disaster' after becoming one of a small number of local authorities exempt from new planning rules.

The new planning policy introduced by the Government will allow offices to change into residential property without permission from local councils.

Sir Malcolm Rifkind MP was among those who campaigned for an exemption, citing the vast differences between office and residential property values in Kensington and Chelsea and the importance of defending the need for small and medium-sized businesses to be able to remain in the borough.

Kensington and Chelsea Council's new cabinet has been announced this morning by incoming leader Councillor Nick Paget-Brown.

Councillor Rock Feilding-Mellen has been named as deputy leader.

Councillor Paget-Brown will formally take up the reins as Leader of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea at the Council's Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 22 May.

A SUSPECTED Russian mafia trafficking gang has been crushed after the MET police carried out a dawn raid in the borough yesterday morning.

Nine Eastern European women forced to work as prostitutes in luxury apartments in Chelsea were rescued and £75,000 in cash seized.

Six people were arrested including four Russian nationals after a 12 week covert surveillance operation on the trafficking racket, which is reported to have been bringing in £20,000 per day.

A CHRISTENING party was violently disrupted after a gatecrasher was stabbed in the street in North kensington on Sunday.

The stabbing happened just yards from David Cameron's former home and is thought to be the result of a running feud between the victim and another man.

Due to a childhood love of The Three Musketeers, that scene in James Bond (Die Another Day) and a bit of a vicious streak I've always wanted to have a go at fencing.

I've always been fascinated, but then put off a bit perhaps because it's not that easy to just pick up. You can't really go to the local park with your 3ft long Sabre and start waving it about. Tennis rackets and a ball are much more friendly and I don't really fancy being arrested for possession of a dangerous weapon.

Having previously lived in Pembrokeshire, donning a wetsuit before doing strenuous activity was a weekly habit of mine. However it also included jumping into the cold sea.

So, the first half of the launch on the King's Road Chelsea of the pioneering Zaggora exercise gear was familiar, as the scientifically tested fat burning threads do closely resemble a 3mm summer wetsuit; all be it in the guise of separate items which include leggings, top and a jacket.

RATS, rubbish, cut phone lines and losses of £1000s per week in takings are being suffered by local shop owners due to the Notting Hill Gate road works.

Pembridge Road has suffered a devastating drop in footfall for its shops since the roads have been closed and bus stops bypassed.

A subterranean void discovered under Notting Hill Gate continues to cause traffic chaos.

Councillor Nick Paget-Brown has been elected new leader of the conservative group after Councillors Rock Feilding Mellen and Daniel Moylan stepped aside yesterday.

In a shock u-turn Councillors Moylan and Feilding-Mellen both bowed out of the race for the leadership position over the weekend despite giving campaigning interviews to the Kensington and Chelsea Chronicle late last week.

A CAVERNOUS hole under Notting Hill Gate has been discovered leading to road closure today over fears the road may be unstable.

Notting Hill Gate will be closed between Pembridge Road and Pembridge Gardens but traffic will be diverted from Marble Arch. The tube station will remain open as normal and pedestrians will still be able to access the road.