Dee Corsi, CEO of the New West End Company, has stated that policing alone will not resolve London's shoplifting issues. Corsi emphasised the need for the entire justice system to collaborate, particularly advocating for stronger sentencing for repeat offenders.
Research from the New West End Company indicates that safety and policing are impacting London's reputation as a global city for culture and tourism. The organisation highlights that London's police officer per capita ratio is nearly half that of Paris.
Data from the Metropolitan Police reveals that 104 prolific shoplifters were connected to 4,389 offences over the past two years, representing almost a third of all incidents where a suspect was identified. These offenders typically committed a minimum of 31 offences before receiving a custodial sentence.
The New West End Company is investing £23m in security over the next five years, including 24/7 CCTV and on-street security. They also support the Met's plans to pilot permanent Live Facial Recognition in the district.