London Boroughs targeted in new crime reduction campaign

Crimestoppers is supporting the Home Office’s national initiative to make town centres and communities safer spaces. The Safer Streets summer campaign is working in partnership with the Metropolitan Police Service to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour in town centres right across London.

The campaign will focus on town centres in 20 London Boroughs where increased community engagement, visible policing and public support can make a real difference.

Every day, people across London are affected by crimes including phone snatching, shoplifting, pickpocketing and theft as well as robbery and burglary.

*phone snatching – often carried out by thieves on mopeds or e-scooters. Over 81,000 mobile phones were reported stolen in London in 2024 alone. That’s more than 220 phones stolen every day (a record high)

*shoplifting – increasingly bold and often involving organised groups. This form of crime has surged across London, with High Street retailers increasingly being targeted in broad daylight. It’s often linked to wider criminal networks and repeat offenders

*pickpocketing and theft – targeting busy public spaces

*robbery and burglary – leaving victims traumatised and communities shaken

These crimes don’t just cost money. They damage lives, hurt small businesses and make the streets feel unsafe. Worse still, they often fuel wider criminal networks, trapping people within cycles of exploitation and violence.