During my campaign efforts in Whitton last week, an impromptu visit to a renowned local high street store offered me a startling insight into the evolving landscape of security in our shops. Intent on purchasing a steak for dinner, I was surprised to find the meats encased in security-tagged containers, reminiscent of anti-theft measures typically seen in clothing stores. A conversation with a store employee revealed that merely twenty minutes prior, an individual had brazenly absconded with unsecured meats, resorting to threatening behaviour when pursued by a vigilant bystander who happened to witness the incident. This incident, though alarming, is increasingly becoming the norm across London.
Instances of shoplifting are on the rise, with an unprecedented 48% surge recorded last year alone, culminating in 55,860 reported cases across the capital. This escalation is accompanied by a growing resignation among shopkeepers and store managers, many of whom believe thefts under £50—or, by some accounts, £200—go uninvestigated. This perception undermines the efforts of small business owners operating on razor-thin margins, for whom every loss exacerbates the challenge of attracting customers in a competitive environment. Shoplifting, contrary to some beliefs, is far from a victimless crime.
It is imperative to challenge the defeatist attitude that trivialises theft under the guise of petty crime. The law unequivocally classifies theft as a criminal offence, irrespective of its scale. The current administration, led by Mayor Sadiq Khan and armed with a £21 billion budget for London, has witnessed a mere 6% resolution rate for crimes in the past year, indicating a significant advantage for perpetrators over law enforcement.
In light of this, I wholeheartedly endorse Susan Hall’s proposal to allocate an additional £200 million to bolster our police force, ensuring every incident of crime is met with the seriousness it deserves. We must stand united against criminality in all its forms, reinforcing the obvious principle that law breaking will not be tolerated.
As we approach the upcoming mayoral election on 2nd May 2024, I urge you to contemplate whether your sense of security has been enhanced or eroded over the past eight years. The evidence suggests a pressing need for change, to a leadership committed to the restoration of Law and Order across London. As your GLA representative, I will work with the community and law enforcement every day to forge a safer, more secure borough for all of us.
