Seven hotspot areas in south west London have been named among the worst in the capital for street crime, theft and anti-social behaviour, sparking a major police crackdown this summer.
Brixton Town Centre, Kingston Town Centre, Richmond Town Centre, Mitcham, Sutton High Street Tooting High Street and Croydon Town Centre have all been listed among 20 hotspots across London where the Met Police say crime is at its most concentrated.
These areas will now see more officers, undercover patrols and joint enforcement action with councils and businesses in a bid to tackle persistent problems.
The Met says the hotspot areas on its priority list account for nearly a quarter of all thefts from the person across the capital, 10 per cent of knife crime and six per cent of all calls about anti-social behaviour.
With the school holidays approaching and an estimated five million extra visitors expected over the summer, police say it is vital that public spaces feel safe.
Sutton, Croydon, Kingston and more set to be part of summer crime 'blitz'
Deputy Commissioner for the Met 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.”
Brixton Town Centre, Croydon Town Centre and Kingston Town Centre have been placed in Tier 1 of the priority list, meaning they face the most serious problems and will receive the highest level of intervention.
Richmond Town Centre, Mitcham, Sutton High Street and Tooting High Street are in Tier 2 but are still considered among the worst-affected in the city.
The initiative, called Safer Summer Streets, runs through to the end of September and is part of wider work backed by the Home Office and the Mayor of London to reduce town centre crime.
It builds on what police say are already encouraging figures this year, with knife crime down by 18 per cent, burglary down 17.7 per cent and robbery down nearly 13 per cent compared to last summer.
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.”
Police say they will continue to focus on known offenders in each area and work closely with local people to respond to problems faster and more effectively.
For residents and shopkeepers in Brixton, Kingston, Richmond, Mitcham, Sutton and Tooting, the hope is that this summer brings not just more patrols, but real change.
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