April

  • Croydon Council came under fire for investing millions in tobacco companies despite becoming responsible for helping smokers to quit. Anti-smoking campaigners, a cancer charity and opposition councillors spoke out against "an appalling conflict of interest" as the council took over public health services from the NHS. The council has £2.1million invested in the industry.

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Rob and Paul Forkan outside their old high school

May

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Crystal Palace won the play off final

June

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Emma West leaves court after pleading guilty

  • A woman filmed unleashing a racist rant at passengers on a tram bound for New Addington finally pleaded guilty to the offence. Emma West was secretly filmed by another passenger on a mobile phone and the video, called My Tram Experience, went viral on YouTube. Miss West was given a community sentence for admitting racially-aggravated disorderly behaviour.

  • A mother called on the government to ban assisted suicide websites after her son killed himself with a suicide kit bought online. Kevin Boyle was discovered three months after he went missing at the bottom of a Coulsdon garden. Mr Boyle was the youngest apprentice at Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen restaurant, beating off thousands of other competitors.

  • A lollipop lady who has served her Shirley crossing for 35 years was awarded in the Queen’s birthday honours list. June Rixson, 80, was given a British Empire Medal for her service to the Croydon community, but lost her job amid council cuts just five days later.