6 January – Reynhard Sinaga, described as "the most prolific rapist in British legal history", is sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 30 years, after being found guilty of raping or sexually assaulting 48 men in Manchester. Police believe he may have been responsible for assaulting a total of nearly 200 victims.[1]
9 January – Five members of prison staff are injured when they are attacked by two inmates at Whitemoor Prison in Cambridgeshire; the Metropolitan Police subsequently announces that the incident is being treated as a terrorist incident.[2]
10 January – Gemma Watts, a 21-year-old woman from Enfield, north London who disguised herself as a 16-year-old boy to sexually assault teenage girls she had groomed online, is sentenced to eight years imprisonment after pleading guilty at Winchester Crown Court to charges involving four girls. Police believe she may be responsible for assaulting as many as 50 victims.[3]
10 February – In a "historic" decision, councillors reject a proposed expansion of Bristol Airport, by 18 votes to seven, on the grounds that it would exacerbate climate change, damage the health of local people, and harm flora and fauna.[6]
24 February – The Football Association bans children under the age of twelve from heading footballs during training sessions.[7]
25 February – A landmark study shows that life expectancy in England has stalled for the first time in more than 100 years and that health inequalities are growing wider than a decade ago. The study said that this can largely be attributed to the UK government's austerity policies.[8][9]
9 September – COVID-19 in the England: The government announces a ban on social gatherings of more than six people in England and will be enforced from the 14 September - with some exceptions such as schools, workplaces or COVID-secure weddings, funerals and organised team sports.[17]
25 September – Sgt Matiu Ratana, a long serving police officer with the Metropolitan Police, is shot dead during an incident at a custody centre in Croydon, London.[18][19]
