The Metropolitan Police's intensive week-long operation in London's West End has resulted in more than 100 arrests, targeting offences ranging from shoplifting to phone snatching and antisocial behaviour.
High-Visibility Policing in Crime Hotspots
Operation Baselife ran from November 3, deploying over 100 additional officers across the West End area. The operation formed part of the Met's wider strategy to tackle crime in known hotspots throughout autumn and winter.
During patrols, officers in fluorescent yellow hi-vis jackets maintained a highly visible presence while engaging with the public - from providing directions to the now-obligatory dog-stroking moments that characterise community policing.
Targeting West End Crime Patterns
The West End focus comes as no surprise to regular visitors familiar with reports of phones being snatched from unsuspecting victims, often by perpetrators on mopeds or bikes disappearing down side streets. After dark, attention shifts to alcohol and drug-related incidents, particularly in the Soho area.
Despite these challenges, the Met reports significant progress. Between April 1 and October 29, neighbourhood crime in the West End decreased by 20.7% compared to the same period in 2024, with knife crime down 22.3% and theft from a person reduced by 23.7%.
Superintendent Natasha Evans, who led the operation, stated: "These results show that targeting prolific offenders in crime hotspots works. Our intelligence-led approach means we're solving twice as many shoplifting cases and taking hundreds of offenders off the streets."
Mixed Results During Patrols
During an afternoon patrol observed by journalists, officers covered Regent Street, Oxford Street and Soho Square Gardens. Much of their time involved community engagement, though in Soho Square officers handcuffed a man found in possession of cannabis, issuing him with a community resolution as it was his first offence.
PC Amy Cray commented on the visibility strategy: "We have a love/hate relationship with high-vis coats. We like it because we are more visible to people... but if you are in black jackets you aren't as visible so you do catch things in the act a little more."
The operation also involved the Met's Interceptor teams patrolling by car, targeting robberies and thefts involving vehicles and two-wheeled transport. While some patrols resulted in no arrests, other teams engaged in chases that led to apprehensions, demonstrating the value of having officers readily available to respond to incidents.
Looking ahead, Superintendent Evans confirmed: "We're doubling down before Christmas, as the West End enters one of its busiest periods. Local officers, specialist teams and tech such as Live Facial Recognition will focus on the areas with the most crime to keep driving numbers down."
