On Tuesday 16 January 2024 we hosted Susan Hall, Conservative Mayoral candidate for London and current Greater London Assembly Member, to discuss key issues in the West End. The conversation was wide-ranging, and we discussed issues such as tackling crime, rough-sleeping and transport infrastructure.

One of Hall’s key priorities is reducing crime in London. She has announced that she will give the Met Police an extra £200 million to “make criminals fear the police again”. As a core issue for Heart of London Business Alliance and our members, we explained how crime is affecting the West End and the impact that it has on footfall in the area.

We discussed the need for increased CCTV and police presence in the West End and showcased the integral role My Local Bobby plays in creating a safe environment in the area.

We took the opportunity to give Susan a tour of the West End, visiting iconic locations in the Heart of London, including Leicester Square. When we were there she met My Local Bobby and some of our members to discuss the need to introduce CCTV in the area.

Another priority of the mayoral candidate is to support London’s cultural offering and promote it as a 24-hour city. During the meeting we discussed the incredible potential that the night-time economy could have on businesses in the West End, and raised our evening and night time economy strategy, which was published in March 2023.

We also discussed tax-free shopping for international visitors to the UK, which Heart of London, Susan and many others are urging the Government to reintroduce.

We will continue to engage with local, regional and national decision makers across the political spectrum to advocate for the policy priorities of our members.