Arrests up by a third during MPS summer crime crackdown

The arrests follow increased and intelligence-led patrols and operations, as part of increased police and partner activity over the summer to target wanted and prolific offenders.

Among those arrested was a suspected shoplifter who has been charged with carrying out 113 offences in Waltham Forest over ten days, as well as a man who targeted the same Co-op in Notting Hill on 15 occasions.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ben Russell, the MPS’s lead for Safer Summer Streets, said: “Town centres across London continue to see an enhanced police presence this summer, building on reductions in theft, burglary, knife crime and robbery achieved so far this year, and more shoplifting cases solved.

“Despite the Met facing significant demand elsewhere in the capital – including festivals, concerts, sporting events and large protests – we are relentlessly focusing our resources on tackling the crimes that matter most to Londoners. Every day, we are targeting the prolific offenders who make the lives of others a misery.

“Through precise community crimefighting and intensified multi-agency action in 20 hotspots areas, offending is down and arrests are up.”

The MPS analysed crime data to identify the 20 town centres and high streets across London that have the biggest challenge with anti-social behaviour, theft and street crime.

Delivered in partnership with local authorities, each borough continues to see increased police and partner activity in hotspot areas including Stratford, Woolwich town centre, Finsbury Park, Croydon town centre, Shepherd’s Bush Green, Elephant and Castle, Seven Sisters and the West End.

The intensified action is part of ongoing work by the MPS and Mayor of London to boost local neighbourhood teams, enhance partnership working and put high-visibility policing at the heart of fighting crime and rebuilding trust.

Between June 30 and August 10, there were 1,376 arrests in the 20 hotspot areas across London – up by a third compared to the same period last year. The number of cases solved is up 176 per cent.

The activity is part of the Home Office’s Safer Summer Streets campaign running until the end of September, which will see officers focusing on reducing criminality and anti-social behaviour.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “It’s incredibly encouraging to see the impact of the Safer Summer Streets campaign in London is already having, with arrests up by a third and offending down following the Met’s crackdown in hotspot areas.

“Neighbourhood policing not only builds stronger, more connected communities where everyone feels secure, but also increases the public’s confidence in the police. That’s why I’ll continue to prioritise neighbourhood policing and provide record funding for the Met to tackle the issues that matter most to Londoners, including shoplifting, theft and anti-social behaviour, as we build a safer London for everyone.”

Crime and Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson added: “These initial results from the Met are exactly what we want to see and demonstrate what we can achieve with a smart approach and more visible police presence, along with multi-agency action. I am grateful for their continued efforts to make streets safer for Londoners.”

The first six weeks of this financial year has seen reductions in a number of crime types compared with the same period last year.

Neighbourhood crime was down by 15.3 per cent, knife crime by 18.1 per cent and residential burglary by 17.7 per cent.

In addition, theft from the person fell by 15.6 per cent and personal robbery was down by 12.8 per cent.

The number of shoplifting cases solved is also 163 per cent more this year.

Paul Gerrard, director of Campaigns, Public Affairs and Policy at the Co-op, said: “Co-op has been a relentless campaigner to tackle retail crime and our partnerships with police forces across the UK are central to how we protect our colleagues, the shops they run and the communities they serve.

“We currently have 20 police partnerships nationwide, which continues to drive an increase in the number of offenders tackled, more sentences handed down and more rehabilitation orders than ever before.

“This illustrates how when retailers and police commit to working together and share intelligence, the prolific and persistent offenders who are behind the vast majority of retail crime can be tackled – and that’s good for shops but, importantly, also for the communities that rely on them.”