Crime & Safety
Highs of 33°C in Oxford amid alerts and supermarket chaos
The UK has recorded its hottest ever May temperature with provisional temperatures reaching 35°C in London and 33°C in Oxford on Tuesday, May 26.
This comes as temperatures in Oxfordshire hit record heights on Monday, May 25, with 33.6°C measured in Benson, near Wallingford.
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Meanwhile a yellow thunderstorm warning has been issued for the Tuesday evening with the possibility of isolated storms hitting large swathes of the country including Oxford.
The Met Office said many areas will stay hot and sunny but there is potential for as much as 30mm of rainfall in the space of an hour in some parts.
The warning is in place between 3pm and 10pm today (Tuesday, May 26).
The heat has caused some disruption in Oxfordshire with reports of freezers and fridges within supermarkets breaking down.
Multiple customers said they left the Aldi in Broadway, Didcot, without any chilled food due to broken cooling systems in the shop.
Several other supermarkets in the county are showing empty shelves, as products are returned to the warehouse to prevent spoiling them while fridges and freezers are out of action.
One such store is the Waitrose in Bell Street, Henley, where cooled shelves have been cleared and a notice put up in the place of products like dairy and meat.
The notice said: “Due to the extreme temperatures and a breakdown of our main refrigeration units we have, unfortunately, had to send our chilled and frozen products back to our warehouse to prevent the stock being destroyed.”
Meanwhile, a section of the Oxfordshire police called on the public to ensure dogs are not left in hot cars after one was found left in a vehicle with the temperature “dangerously high”.
The South Oxon and Vale of White Horse team said: “We are urging the public to never leave dogs in hot cars—even for a short time.
“Recently, PC Hackett attended a report of a dog left in a vehicle.
“Despite the windows being slightly open and a bowl of water inside, the temperature was still dangerously high.
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“The dog had to be removed and kept safe in an air-conditioned police vehicle until the owner returned, where advice was given.”
The Met Office said that the minimum temperature tonight is likely to be 15°C with Wednesday set to be “mainly dry and sunny again”.
A spokesperson said: “Fresher conditions expected near eastern coasts with stronger onshore breezes. Maximum temperature 29 °C.”
Longer term it is expected to stay warm for the remainder of the week albeit with a slight temperature dip.
Thames Valley Police has warned dog owners to “never” leave their pet in a hot vehicle, even if for a short time.
The force released the advice today (Tuesday, May 26) after a dog was removed from a car because of the “dangerously high temperature”.
READ MORE: Oxford highs of 33°C amid thunderstorm alerts and supermarket fridge chaos
It was kept in an air-conditioned police vehicle until the owner returned.
A spokesperson for the South Oxon and Vale of White Horse team said: “We are urging the public to never leave dogs in hot cars—even for a short time.
“Recently, PC Hackett attended a report of a dog left in a vehicle.
“Despite the windows being slightly open and a bowl of water inside, the temperature was still dangerously high.
“The dog had to be removed and kept safe in an air-conditioned police vehicle until the owner returned, where advice was given.
“Cars heat up rapidly, even on mild days. Dogs cannot regulate their body temperature effectively and can quickly suffer or die.
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“Leaving a dog in a hot car may constitute an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
“If you see a dog in distress call 999 in an emergency otherwise report via 101.
“Remember: If you wouldn’t sit in the car, don’t leave your dog in it.”
Thames Valley Police updated that they arrested a male this morning (Tuesday, May 26) after a major operation in Blackbird Leys.
Multiple teams were involved and it led to drugs, weapons and cash being seized, with the man arrested on suspicion of drug supply offences.
READ MORE: Police warn Oxfordshire drug dealers after Brazil cocaine supplier jailed
A spokesperson for police said: “This morning, officers have carried out a drugs warrant in the Blackbird Leys area of Oxford, led by the local Neighbourhood Team.
“They were supported by colleagues from the Harm Reduction Unit, Oxford Central Neighbourhood Team, and the Proactive Disruption Team as part of a coordinated effort to disrupt criminal activity.
“During the operation, drugs, weapons and a quantity of cash were seized.
“One male has been arrested on suspicion of drug supply offences and remains in police custody.”
The force added that this showed that they are committed to tackling illegal drug crime and protecting communities such as those in Blackbird Leys.
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The spokesperson continued: “We are committed to tackling drug-related crime and protecting our communities from the harm it causes.
“Warrants like this demonstrate our continued focus on those involved in supplying illegal drugs.
“If you have information about drug activity or other crime in your area, please report it to us.”
Motorists were stuck in a traffic jam of more than seven miles at one point on the A34 after three cars collided.
Police were called to assist with the incident at East Ilsley, northbound on the A34 into the Oxfordshire border from Berkshire.
Thames Valley Police said one person suffered minor injuries but declined to give more information.
READ MORE: Train evacuated in Oxfordshire due to heatwave as ‘temperatures reach 45C’
“As this is now resolved we wouldn’t look to provide further details,” a spokeswoman said.
Both lanes northbound into the county were blocked at around 8am on Tuesday, May 23, causing significant tailbacks all the way to Chieveley close to the M4.
Highways England reported drivers were stuck for more than 90 minutes during the rush hour commute, before things started to ease at around 10am.
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