“We’ve seen a deterioration in the sense of control of the public realm,” said Conservative MP Kit Malthouse, who served as deputy mayor of London for policing between 2008 and 2012. “If a city gets a reputation for being high crime, it puts a lot of people off.”
Everyone POLITICO interviewed agreed that more active policing of the area was needed.
Paul Swaddle, Tory leader of the opposition on Westminster City Council, said “a small number of people” in the borough are “causing a very large number of crimes,” arguing that clamping down on organized criminality could make a big difference.
But he said social media had also contributed to London’s reputation as an unsafe place. “It’s an impact of the TikTok generation,” he argued, citing phone thefts across the capital. “That is creating a perception of Westminster and London as a no-go place for tourists.”
Hotspots
Malthouse urged police to target hotspots like Leicester Square, which have a high footfall — arguing that a strong and visible police presence can have a knock-on deterrent effect. “You need to be sure you have an absolute grip of the geography and that any criminal that’s appearing in there knows they are extremely likely to be apprehended,” he said.
“It’s all about conditioning the public environment and giving a sense of order. If you make sure the public realm feels ordered and controlled, you are less likely to see robberies and car crime and scams and muggings, because that psychologically communicates itself to criminals.”