Crime across London falls as Sadiq Khan addresses online misinformation
As neighborhood crime falls across London, the Metropolitan Police are arresting around 1,000 suspects a month with the help of drones and high-powered e-bikes.
Figures released on Thursday reveal a 14 per cent drop in neighborhood crime (including burglaries, burglaries and muggings) in the 12 months to June; This represents more than 35,000 fewer crimes.
Met data showed a 23 per cent decrease in thefts from people (23,311), an 11 per cent decrease in personal robberies (2,943) and a 9 per cent decrease in vehicle crimes (8,737).
Westminster saw a drop in crime by more than a third, or around 14,000 fewer. A major crackdown on phone thefts has led to a 13,000 drop in mobile phone thefts across London; In the West End these numbers have been halved.
Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said: “The Met also uses technologies such as live facial recognition cameras, drones and high-powered e-bikes to identify suspects and disrupt criminal activity.
“As a result, officers now arrest around 1,000 suspects each month while seizing knives, drugs, illegal e-bikes, stolen mobile phones and other suspected stolen goods.”
This follows up on Sir Mark’s previous calls for phone manufacturers to turn stolen devices into “unusable bricks”.
In June, Apple announced a global security update that made stolen device protection the default setting for users; This was a move aimed at making stolen phones harder to access and resell.
Sir Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, said: “At the beginning of the year we identified the huge progress the capital has made in tackling violent crime. Today, I am really pleased to announce further significant reductions in neighborhood crime across London, thanks to my record investment in the Met, the hard work of officers and the London Violence Reduction Unit.
“Last year there was a 35,000 reduction (a 14 per cent decrease) in neighborhood crime in London, along with personal property burglaries, burglaries, residential burglaries and vehicle crime.
“We have seen phone thefts halve and neighborhood crime drop by 14,000 in the West End alone after doubling the number of police officers patrolling the heart of the capital.
“A new Command Cell, based in the heart of the West End and funded by the Town Hall, also serves as a central point for sharing intelligence, identifying suspects and helping prevent robberies, burglaries and anti-social behaviour.
“With more than five million extra visitors coming to London during peak tourist season and the start of the school summer holidays, the Met Police is building on this work by deploying extra officers in hotspot areas to tackle issues important to local communities, such as anti-social behaviour, robbery and mobile phone theft.
“We know many people online and around the world are trying to convince London, but the evidence is clear: London is one of the safest global cities in the world, crime is falling and we will continue to work together to build a safer London for everyone.”
