London phone snatching epidemic: 200 new Westminster CCTV cameras 'not enough' to stop thefts

Westminster City Conservative councillor Paul Swaddle said though the move by the Labour-run administration was welcomed, the cameras would not “put off” mobile phone thieves and shoplifters operating in the borough.

Harrowing figures recently revealed a phone is now stolen in the capital every six minutes.

London is grappling with a significant surge in mobile phone thefts, with data from December revealing that a device is reported stolen every six minutes. In 2022 alone, the Metropolitan Police recorded approximately 91,000 phone thefts, averaging 248 incidents daily.

A substantial portion of these crimes involves perpetrators on mopeds or e-bikes. These thieves often target pedestrians, swiftly snatching phones from individuals using their devices on the streets. The rapid approach and escape facilitated by these vehicles make it challenging for victims and police to catch the culprits.

The impact of these thefts extends beyond the immediate loss of property. Victims frequently report significant financial repercussions, especially when thieves exploit mobile payment apps to withdraw substantial sums.

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On Monday (February 17), Westminster City’s cabinet agreed to double the number of CCTV cameras on streets, including 40 new cameras in the West End, as part of a £2m budget package to tackle anti-social behaviour.

The local authority will also recruit eight new inspectors to work with police to manage community safety. The measures, which are part of the 2025/26 budget, are expected to be given the final seal of approval when the full council meets on March 5.

Westminster City said installing 40 new cameras in the West End – focusing on Soho and Leicester Square – was the most significant council security investment in the area in nearly a decade. Council leader Adam Hug said: “Wherever you live in Westminster, you should be able to enjoy your surroundings without fear of those dealing drugs or committing other crimes and anti-social behaviour that can sometimes blight our neighbourhoods.

“Our new, redeployable cameras are already helping in court prosecutions and we will deploy them wherever residents need them most.” He also said safety and helping those less well-off were at the crux of the 2025/26 budget.

On crime, the Local Government Association found shoplifting was the third most reported victim-based crime in Westminster City in the 12 months to June 2024.

Some 5,763 incidents were recorded while more than 29,000 incidents of theft from the person were reported. Met Police data shows the borough had the highest crime rate in the capital with 364.89 crimes recorded per 1,000 people. In distant second was Camden with 155.56 per 1,000 people.

The Met said its clampdown on £50m-a-year trade in stolen phones has seen 230 people arrested and more than 1,000 handsets seized. it said it was tackling the organised criminality behind phone thefts, and called on tech companies to make stolen phones unusable - helping to 'design out' the criminal market.

Cllr Hug added: “Like all London councils, we are facing unprecedented demands on our services with spiralling costs for housing and care. I am proud that we have been able through careful management and savings to target money to those who need it most while keeping a rise in council tax to the bare minimum.

“We all know everything is more expensive these days – food, rent, and looking after elderly family members. We are keeping bills down for those who can least afford it, but I am also pleased we can increase the hourly pay of those care assistants who do such a vital job but are often on the lower end of the pay scale.”

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Westminster City is seeking to allocate £1.4m to increase the pay of personal care assistants. An additional £1m will go towards cost of living support while £1.2m is being allocated to tackling rough sleeping.

Westminster City has also proposed increasing council tax by 4.99pc and is introducing £20m in savings measures to plug a £41.2m black hole in its finances expected over the next two years. From the 2025/26 financial year, a Band D property will pay an extra £25.04 a year – an equivalent weekly amount of 48p.

The council said the borough still has one of the lowest council tax rates in the country. The amount paid to the Greater London Authority on a Band D property has also increased by £18.98 a year. In total, these residents will now pay £1,017.18 a year.

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The council has also committed a total of £916m in capital investment over the next five years. Meanwhile, the council is expected to save £2m from adult and children’s services and some £8m from the environment and communities portfolio, a large chunk of which – £5.2m – is tipped to come from parking charges, fines and fees.

Another £5.9m is expected to come from housing and commercial partnership. The council’s decision to invest £140m into buying temporary accommodation was praised by Centre for London, a think tank. Chief executive Antonia Jennings said it was a “step in the right direction”.

London has 68,990 households currently homeless and in temporary accommodation, two-thirds of these are families with children.

According to analysis, this equates to 1 in 50 residents in the capital, and at least one homeless child in every London classroom.