Overview
- The New West End Company, backed by more than 600 businesses, has begun Operation West End running through the end of December.
- Over 20 uniformed private officers and covert teams will patrol Oxford Street, Regent Street and Bond Street with powers to identify and detain suspects until police arrive.
- Joint patrols with the Metropolitan Police align with the force’s Autumn intensification, supported by funding for 80 extra central London officers, 71 already in post after redeployments including Royal Parks units.
- Patrols focus on high-volume crimes such as phone snatching, theft from the person and shoplifting, with additional coverage on peak days like Black Friday, December weekends, Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve.
- NWE plans to spend £4 million annually on security for five years and has rolled out a digital portal for businesses to report incidents and suspicious activity.