Khan vows policing blitz to tackle crime in London’s most blighted town centres

London Mayor, 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, he says, will see increased activity over the summer.

These areas of the capital were identified by Met 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.

Uniformed patrols and intelligence-led plain-clothed operations in hotspot areas will target the capital’s most prolific offenders thos summer in news welcomed by Royal Borough of Greenwich leader, Councillor Anthony Okereke.

Grateful to @metpoliceuk and @SadiqKhan for backing Woolwich Town Centre as part of the Safer Streets Summer Initiative.

In @Royal_Greenwich, we're worked hard to tackle anti-social behaviour and keep women & girls safe at night, this extra support will help us go even further. https://t.co/uUGALIGUAD

— Cllr Anthony Okereke (@MrOkereke) July 9, 2025

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.

Do you think the plan will help reduce crime in your area?

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