First day back at proper work. The negotiations continue over the future workings of the GLA.

My first concern today was to expose a really scandalous letter from Met Police to black men who refused to give voluntary DNA samples in a suspect trawl in South London. The Met are trying to catch a serial rapist – a very serious criminal – and they have been able through his DNA samples to trace his ancestry. They are therefore asking the community to come forward for voluntary DNA testing to eliminate them from the inquiry.

However, you can imagine the sensitivities around this process. In an opportunity for the community and police to work together to find this criminal – it looks like the police have not been handling it too well. I am making enquiries as I write.

Later go to a meeting regarding the Highgate Tube works where residents are concerned over the finishes to the work – fencing, crash barrier and planting. This is the second of two meetings that I originally had to bang heads together so that Highgate didn’t end up looking like Colditz with terrible finishes following remedial work to stop the Archway Road falling into the station embankments.

Amazingly, after some discussion, agreement was reached on all the issues and everyone went home happy Amazing and so pleasant!

Decide I want a drink in my local in Highgate Village. Haven’t been out for a casual drink for months virtually – and wander in to find all the ‘usuals’ in there. Have a bit of a chin wag and enjoy the summer evening, or what’s left of it, with a very welcome gin and tonic!