West End Crime Watch: December Roundup

1 December: Each month, we share a snapshot of the community support, crime prevention, and enforcement work happening across the West End. 

HOLBA works closely with the Met’s Town Centre and West End Police Teams, Westminster City Council’s City Inspectors, Safer Business Network, and our My Local Bobby officers. Together, we remain committed to fostering a safe and welcoming environment for everyone who works, visits, and lives in the area.  

Police visibility and partnership working across the West End continues to strengthen, with major progress this month on crime reduction, enforcement activity and proactive operations. 

Winter Vigilance Campaign 

We’re supporting the Counter Terrorism Policing Winter Vigilance Campaign with the West End Security Group. 

https://www.protectuk.police.uk/wintertoolkit  
If you see anything that doesn’t look or feel right, tell staff, security or police. 
In an emergency, always call 999. 
#CommunitiesDefeatTerrorism 

Westminster City Council Pedicab PSPO 

Westminster City Council (WCC) has introduced a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) to tackle antisocial behaviour caused by pedicabs across the entire borough. The order came into effect on November 18, 2025, and allows council and police officers to issue on-the-spot fines of £100 for non-compliance.

Since then, a total of £29,845 in fines has been collected.

The nuisance from Pedicabs PSPO prohibits a number of activities within the restricted area, including:  

• Playing amplified music.
• Cycling or parking on the footpath/public highway.
• Causing an obstruction, including gathering in groups of four or more pedicabs, whether stationary or moving.
• Using threatening or intimidating behaviour towards another person.
• Sudden and/or rapid acceleration so as to cause a public nuisance.  

The order also gives officers the power to require a pedicab rider who is in breach of the rules to leave the area for at least an hour. Failure to comply with a PSPO is a criminal offence.  

The PSPO is considered an interim measure while Transport for London (TfL) finalises its own wider regulatory and licensing framework for the pedicab sector, which is expected to come into force soon.

If you need to report noise or illegal parking from pedicabs, you can use the council's online Report It tool.

Safer Business Action Week (SaBA) 2025 

The Met's Town Centre Teams took part in the national Safer Business Action Week, delivering a strong week of coordinated enforcement with partners. 

Results included: 

• 21 arrests
• 36 stop and searches
• Joint patrols with NWEC, HOLBA, Safer Business Network, WCC, My Local Bobby, Saber Security and others
• Crime-prevention stalls in Carnaby Street and Leicester Square
• Policing of the West End’s Christmas lights switch-ons 

The Safer Business Network also identified 37 previously unknown business crime suspects through our new Information Sharing Agreement.

Notable Good News Stories 

• Officers intercepted a suspicious vehicle near Covent Garden, recovering stolen phones and charging a suspect.
• Proactive pickpocket prevention in dense crowd areas.
• Arrest of prolific shoplifter Janelle Johnstone for multiple offences, with two stolen phones returned to victims.
• Stop and search activity uncovering knives, drugs and foil-lined bags.
• Multiple suspects arrested for phone snatches, drug dealing and vehicle-related offences. 

Despite the successes, the week also highlighted the challenges facing officers — including a broken collarbone sustained during an arrest. 

Operation Baselife Launch 

The Met has launched Operation Baselife, the first phase of its Autumn intensification plan for the West End. 

Over 100 additional officers — including covert units, specialist interceptors and the Marine Policing Unit — are now deployed to target: 

• Theft from person
• Retail theft
• Robbery
• VAWG
• Violence against the person 

This is part of the A New Met for London programme and is not linked to a specific incident but rather a commitment to maintain confidence and safety as footfall increases. 

Early Outcomes 

• 140+ arrests
• Significant disruption of mobile phone theft and drug offending
• Arrest following an upskirting incident
• Knife crime down 22.3% (year-on-year)
• Theft from person down 23.7% (year-on-year) 

We encourage businesses to continue sharing intelligence and concerns with neighbourhood teams to support ongoing operations. 

Enhanced Policing Presence 

From January 2026, the West End will benefit from 225 fully operational officers, including: 

• Five Town Centre Teams (up from two in January)
• A new Crime Team
• The St James’s Neighbourhood Team
• Newly formed Intelligence and Forensic Identification units 

These additions significantly boost capability to identify offenders, respond quickly and support local businesses.