Overview

• Scott, 74, said a gang of seven or eight people in designer sportswear surrounded and struck her behind the knee before unzipping her backpack and fleeing with her purse.
• The thieves, whom Scott described as appearing East Asian and practicing a slick, brief operation engineered for a crowded area, stole her cash, cards, and driving licence.
• After the assault, Scott was forced to walk three miles home when her stolen cards and cash left her unable to use public transport.
• She criticised the lack of visible officers across central London, saying she searched busy areas without spotting a single policeman.
• The Metropolitan Police defended their West End patrol strategy, emphasising a mix of uniformed, plainclothes and vehicle patrols to deter and apprehend suspects.