Sir Sadiq Khan has announced a policing blitz on London’s 20 most blighted town centres for shoplifting, robbery, knife crime and anti-social behaviour.
Stratford, Woolwich, Finsbury Park, Croydon, Shepherd’s Bush Green, Seven Sisters, Elephant and Castle and London’s West End are among high streets that will all see increased activity over the summer.
They were identified by Metropolitan Police data which shows they account for almost a tenth of blade offences, one in four thefts and six per cent of all anti-social behaviour calls along with Barking, Brixton, Camden Town, Catford, Ealing, Ilford, Kingston, Lewisham High Street, Romford, Shoreditch, Walthamstow and Whitechapel.
Uniformed patrols and intelligence-led plain-clothed operations in hotspot areas will target the capital’s most prolific offenders.
On Wednesday, new Deputy Commissioner Matt Jukes was joining deputy mayor for policing and crime Kaya Comer-Schwartz, neighbourhood officers and residents for a Safer Streets Summer summit in Enfield.
Latest monthly Met figures show 102,083 shoplifting offences were recorded in the year to May, an annual increase of 41.9 per cent.
The epidemic is estimated to cost the capital’s retailers £16.8 million every month.
But Sir Sadiq said the Met have solved 163 per cent more shop theft cases in 2025.
He insisted knife crime is down by 18.1 per cent in London, residential burglary dropped 17.7 per cent, theft from a person fell 15.6 per cent and robbery decreased 12.8 per cent.
He added fatal shootings, stabbings of those under 25 and homicides in the capital have all fallen since 2016.
Ms Comer-Schwartz said: “Summer is one of the busiest times of the year for our police with a large number of people out and about and our high streets and town streets are bustling.
“But the safety of our town centres is not just about 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 in Enfield – along with the police – to strengthen our partnership work to tackle shoplifting, theft and anti-social behaviour in all its forms.
“Across our city there will be partnership-led operations to tackle shoplifting and clear, visible neighbourhood officers out on patrol, working to keep our communities and town centres safe and build a safer London for everyone.”
Mr Jukes added: “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.”
Last month, dramatic CCTV footage of police officers pouncing on a prolific shoplifter George Nicholson as he tried to escape with his loot from a crime-plagued store in south London was released.
Hooded Nicholson, 35, targeted a Co-op in Penge unaware detectives were lying in wait following daily acts of pilfering.
They watched on security cameras from a staff room as he casually filled his large black holdall with over £50 worth of soft drinks before making a dash for the door.
But Nicholson is stunned to then be surrounded by four plain-clothes officers, two of whom had been outside. He was swiftly detained and handcuffed.
Since 2023, the Met has put an additional 500 officers and staff ranging from superintendent to PCSOs into neighbourhood teams.
City Hall said: “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.
“Thanks to the hard work of the police, London’s Violence Reduction Unit, Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime, 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.”
Hannah Wadey, CEO of the Safer Business Network, said firms across London have a crucial role to play in keeping our public spaces safe.
She added 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,” said Mrs Wadey.
“When people feel safe, our town centres thrive.”
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