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Fresh action in London’s town centres to build on crime reductions achieved in capital

Created on
09 July 2025

Fresh action in London’s town centres to build on crime reductions achieved in capital

  • Town centres across London will see an enhanced police presence this summer, building on reductions in thefts, burglary, knife crime and robbery achieved so far this year* and more shoplifting cases solved.
  • Intensified multi-agency action will tackle anti-social behaviour and theft is part of ongoing work by the Met and Mayor of London to put visible neighbourhood policing at the heart of fighting crime and rebuilding community confidence.
  • London’s Safer Neighbourhood teams now have an additional 500 Met officers and staff ranging from Superintendent to PCSOs, working closer than ever with communities to understand and deal with local priorities.
  • Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime Kaya Comer-Schwartz joins Deputy Commissioner Matt Jukes and Enfield Council Leader Cllr Elgin Erbil to see ‘Safer Streets Summer’ in action.

London’s town centres, high streets and communities will see an enhanced police and local authority presence this summer as part of partnership work to build on reductions in theft, burglary, robbery, ASB and retail crime achieved in the capital so far this year. 

The Met Police have identified the top 32 town centres and high street locations3 across London that have the biggest challenge with anti-social behaviour, theft and street crime and they will be the focus for enhanced partnership action with local authorities, businesses and communities to tackle crime.

Every single borough will see increased police and partner activity in the hotspot areas including Stratford, Woolwich Town Centre, Finsbury Park, Croydon Town Centre, Shepherds Bush Green, Elephant and Castle, Seven Sisters and London’s West End.

London is a global destination, particularly over the summer months with five million additional visitors expected over the peak tourism season and with school summer holidays beginning soon, our town centres will be very busy. At a time of high demand for policing, the Mayor of London, Met police, local authorities and partners are strengthening their joint work to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour impacting our town centres and high streets.

The top twenty town centre and high streets being focused on by police, MOPAC, local authorities and community partners as part of Safer Summer Streets make up only a small percentage of London overall, but account for almost 10 per of knife crime, 24 per cent of theft person offences and 6 per cent of all ASB calls.*

There will be increased police patrols, intelligence-led plain-clothed operations in hotspot areas, and officers will relentlessly target wanted and prolific offenders who commit multiple offences, particularly shoplifting and ASB, seeking long sentences and Criminal Behaviour Orders​.

These summer plans are based on strong partnership working, with the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC), the Met, local authorities, businesses, community organisations sharing information using a new approach so issues can be identified and acted upon quickly. Local solutions will include the designing out of offences through local authority powers related to licensing, parking, CCTV, waste management and trading standards.

Thanks to the hard work of the police, London’s Violence Reduction Unit, Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC), local authorities and partners, the first six weeks of this financial year have seen promising reductions in a number of crime types compared to the same period last year.

  • Knife crime - down by 18.1 per cent
  • Residential burglary - down by 17.7 per cent
  • Theft from the person – down by 15.6 per cent
  • Personal robbery - down by 12.8 per cent.
  • Shoplifting – the Met have solved 163 per cent more cases this year than in the same period as last year.

These reductions are in addition to the latest Office for National Statistics Crime stats which show that overall, the violent crime with injury rate is lower in London than in the rest of England and Wales1. Gun crime with lethal barrel discharges, knife crime with injury for those aged under 25 and homicides in the capital have all fallen since 2016.2 

Through more precise targeting of the most dangerous offenders and greater focus on the issues that matter most to Londoners, the Met are arresting more than 1,000 more criminals each month.

Whilst there have been significant reductions in some crime types since the start of the financial year and since 2016, it’s clear that more needs to be done to ensure everyone in the capital is safe and feels safe.

The intensified action to tackle anti-social behaviour and theft is part of ongoing work by the Met and Mayor of London to boost local neighbourhood teams and put high visibility policing at the heart of fighting crime and rebuild community confidence. It is backed with record funding from City Hall which has helped to London’s Safer Neighbourhood teams. Over the last two years the Met has put an additional 500 Met officers and staff ranging from Superintendent to PCSOs into neighbourhood teams and continue to increase officers in these teams, working closer than ever with communities to understand and deal with local priorities.

It also forms part of the Home Office’s national Safer Streets Summer Initiative running from 30 June until the end of September 2025, which will see officers in London focusing on reducing town centre criminality including shop theft, street crime and anti-social behaviour.

On Wednesday morning, London’s Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime Kaya Comer-Schwartz will join Deputy Commissioner Matt Jukes, Enfield Council Leader Cllr Elgin Erbil and neighbourhood officers in Enfield to see the ‘Safer Streets Summer’ in action. 

Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Kaya Comer-Schwartz, said: “The safety of our town centres is more than just policing – it's about building stronger, more connected communities where everyone feels secure.

“That’s why I was really pleased to meet with local partners and community groups today – along with the police – to strengthen our collaborative work to tackle shoplifting, theft and anti-social behaviour in all its forms. 

“We have seen this in action today in Enfield, with officers speaking with local people and business owners addressing their concerns. Across our city there will be partnership led operations to tackle shoplifting and clear, visible neighbourhood officers out on patrol, keeping our communities safe and working to build safer town centres and a safer London for everyone.”

Deputy Commissioner for the Metropolitan Police, Matt Jukes, said: “Our intelligence and data-led approach to tackle the crimes that matter most to Londoners – such as shoplifting, robbery and anti-social behaviour – is already working.

“We’re arresting 1,000 more criminals each month, neighbourhood crime is down 19 per cent and we’ve solved 163 per cent more shoplifting cases this year.

“In 32 of the hardest hit areas, we’re working with the community, councils, businesses and partners, to focus our resources and bear down on prolific offenders and gangs who blight too many neighbourhoods across the capital.”

Cllr Ergin Erbil, Leader of Enfield Council, said: “Creating a safer Enfield is our priority. Everyone deserves to feel safe in their neighbourhood and community, and here in Enfield we’re proud to be working closely with the Met Police, the Mayor of London and our partners to make that a reality. Safer Streets Summer is a powerful example of what can be achieved when we come together to cut crime and antisocial behaviour.

“Alongside improved policing, Enfield Council is spending time and money towards making our streets safer for those who live and work in Enfield. For example, our dedicated summer parks patrols, launched last month, are helping to stop and prevent antisocial behaviour by providing a visible presence and reassurance. Police officers and our council teams are patrolling our parks and town centres side by side.

“Likewise, our partnership with local policing teams and other partners in Upper Edmonton and Edmonton Green has meant we are tackling serious organised crime and the causes of crime through three steps called Clear Hold Build. Our residents on the most affected estates are telling us they feel safer and better protected. Consequently, they are working with us to combat crime and improve our neighbourhoods.

“We’re committed to building safer, stronger town centres where residents, businesses and visitors can feel safer and can thrive.”

Hannah Wadey, CEO, Safer Business Network said: “Businesses across London have a crucial role to play in keeping our public spaces safe, and Safer Streets Summer is a great example of what we can achieve when we all work together. From preventing crime and anti-social behaviour to creating welcoming environments, this work is vital for our communities and businesses are proud to play their part. When people feel safe, our town centres thrive.”


Notes to editors

Latest crime stats

1Thanks to the hard work of the Met, the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC), London’s Violence Reduction Unit, local authorities and other partner organisations working together, the number of homicides, gun crime with lethal barrel discharges and burglary all down since 2016. 1The latest ONS stats also show that overall, the violent crime with injury rate is lower in London than in the rest of England and Wales. And last year, personal robberies (for the financial year) were down (5 per cent) and teen murders (11) were the lowest they’ve been in over a decade.

2Crimes which have fallen since May 2016:

  • Knife crime with injury for those aged under 25 (down 21%), 365 fewer offences in 12 months to April 2024 compared to the 12 months to May 2016*.  
  • Violence with Injury (down 13%)**
  • Homicide (down 23%), 27 fewer offences**
  • Burglary (down 26%)**
  • Gun Crime Lethal Barrel Discharge (down 43%)**

*Due to a change in recording practice at the MPS, statistics for Knife Crime with Injury victim under 25 for FY year 2024/2025 cannot be compared to previous periods. 
Performance against this measure will therefore be tracked separately beyond this period and presented in due course.
** 12-month period to May 2016 as compared to 12-month period to May 2025

Thanks to the hard work of the police and partners, the first six weeks of this financial year have seen promising reductions in a number of crime types compared to the same period last year. Reductions reported by the Met at the most recent meeting of the Mayor’s London Policing Board include:

  • knife crime - down by 18.1 per cent
  • residential burglary - down by 17.7 per cent
  • theft from the person – down by 15.6 per cent
  • and personal robbery - down by 12.8 per cent1.

MPS Commissioner’s report to the London Policing Board, 26th June 2025: https://www.london.gov.uk/moderngovmb/documents/s82711/6a%20-%20MPS%20Commissioners%20Report.pdf

3The Met have identified the top 32 town centres and high street locations that have the biggest challenge with ASB, theft and street crime. All of the locations we have selected have been agreed with the Home Office Town Centre team and MOPAC.

*Tier 1:

Barking Town Centre, Brixton Town Centre, Camden Town, Catford – Lewisham High Street, Croydon Town Centre, Ealing Town Centre, Elephant and Castle,  Finsbury Park, Woolwich Town Centre, Ilford Town Centre, Kingston Town Centre, Romford Town Centre, Seven Sisters, Shepherds Bush Green, Shoreditch Town Centre, Silver Street, Stratford, Walthamstow, West End and Whitechapel.

Tier 2:

Ladbroke Grove, Hounslow High Street, Uxbridge Town Centre, Harrow on the Hill, Richmond Town Centre, Mitcham, Sutton High Street, Bromley Town Centre, Bexleyheath Broadway, Harlesden, Tooting High Street and Grahame Park.

Safer Streets Summer Initiative

  • A national Safer Streets Summer Initiative is running from 30 June until the end of September 2025, focusing on reducing town centre criminality, shop theft, street crime and anti-social behaviour across the UK.
  • The Safer Streets Summer Initiative is being led by Police and Crime Commissioners

(PCCs), supported by the Home Office in partnership with Chief Constables and other essential local partners such as councils, schools, health services, business, transport and community organisations.

  • Forces will be harnessing £66m in hotspot policing funding this financial year, and

building on existing powers and initiatives, to ensure local needs and concerns are

addressed.

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Working with local authorities

The police cannot prevent and reduce crime alone, and the Mayor is committed to strengthening partnerships and collaborations in order to tackle complex issues and deliver long-term improvements in quality of life for Londoners. This summer’s action builds on work already underway across the city with local authorities and other partner agencies to prevent crime and tackle its complex causes. The benefits of working together are many. For example, intelligence-sharing between organisations can enable quicker action to address problems, partners bring a range of different enforcement powers such as licensing, parking, waste management and trading standards that can be brought to bear to address crime and antisocial behaviour, and important non-policing resources such as youth workers, social care and health care can assist in addressing the complex underlying causes of crime.

Enfield Council action

Enfield Council is delivering a wide range of targeted initiatives to tackle antisocial behaviour and make our town centres safer, more welcoming places for everyone. Our Community Safety service is conducting reassurance patrols in selected parks and other hotspot areas to deter criminality and build community confidence. To support women’s safety, we’ve partnered with local businesses to promote the Enfield Women’s Night Safety Charter, as part of the Mayor of London’s strategy to tackle violence against women and girls. For young people, our Youth Bus offers outreach, advice and support directly in the community. These actions are backed by regular ASB patrols, support for knife surrender schemes – including a new knife bin at North Middlesex University Hospital – and our Substance Misuse Service. Together, these efforts demonstrate the Council’s strong commitment to partnership working and keeping Enfield safe.

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