Major Police Operation Nets Over 140 Suspects in London's West End
In a significant crackdown on crime, more than 140 people were arrested in London's West End over the course of just seven days. The Metropolitan Police deployed an additional 100 officers to target shoplifting and phone thefts, which have been plaguing tourist hotspots, as part of Operation Baselife.
Undercover Sting Captures Phone Thieves in the Act
The operation's effectiveness was highlighted on November 4, when plain-clothes officers apprehended two thieves at the Leicester Square ice rink. The duo, who were captured on video, had been targeting women and attempting to steal their phones. A search by the undercover team revealed the men were in possession of several stolen mobile devices, one of which was immediately returned to its rightful owner.
In the released footage, the officers, confronting the men dressed in padded jackets on a busy street, can be heard saying, 'It looks like you've made multiple attempts to try to nick phones from people.' Upon finding a mobile during the arrest, an officer questions one of the men, who lamely replied, 'I found them...here...after I heard someone calling it.' The collection of phones was then bagged as evidence, and the pair were led away.
Upskirting Offence and a Soaring Shoplifting Crisis
The crackdown extended beyond phone theft. The following day, covert officers arrested a man for an upskirting offence in a Soho cafe. The individual was caught filming two women from behind as they queued for the toilet. His phone was seized, and officers discovered a significant number of similar videos taken at various locations around London.
Superintendent Natasha Evans, who led the operation, stated, 'This operation shows that targeting prolific offenders in crime hotspots works. Our intelligence-led approach means we're solving twice as many shoplifting cases and taking hundreds of offenders off the streets.' She emphasised the commitment to ensuring the West End remains safe, especially during the busy Christmas period, through the use of highly visible patrols, specialist teams, and technology like Live Facial Recognition.
While the operation has yielded positive results—with a 22.3% reduction in knife crime and a 23.7% fall in theft from a person between April 1 and October 29—the shoplifting crisis continues to reach a boiling point. Nationally, shoplifting offences in England and Wales hit a record 530,643 in the year to March, with London experiencing a shocking 50% increase, rising from 53,202 offences in 2023 to 80,041 last year.
This surge has been attributed to a combination of factors, including the aftermath of the pandemic, the conflict in Ukraine, and soaring inflation. Former detective Norman Brennan highlighted that crippling police cuts have left shop staff feeling helpless against brazen thieves, a problem that peaked in August 2023 when TikTok-fuelled disorder led to stores in Oxford Circus locking their doors.
