Oxford Street is being overrun by shoplifters and phone snatchers as underfunded police struggle to cope in lawless London, retailers warn

Daily Mail​

a day ago

London 's Oxford Street and other flagship high streets are at 'serious risk' without urgent national action on crime, a consortium of retailers warned today.
The West End shopping destination has struggled in recent years as big names have moved out and it has become known for phone snatching, anti-social behaviour and theft – as well as the infamously tacky US-style sweet shops and souvenir stores.
Some empty stores in the street have fallen into disrepair while shoplifting has become an increasing problem and rough sleepers are a regular sight in storefronts.
Problems reached a peak in August 2023 when West End stores were forced to lower their shutters and lock customers inside after large groups of mainly young men and teenagers responded to a call on TikTok to join an 'Oxford Circus JD robbery'.
But the biggest issue in recent months has become phone snatching after 80,000 smartphones were reported stolen in London last year at a cost of £50million.
This week senior Scotland Yard bosses outlined the 'organised criminal enterprise' they were grappling with and told MPs it was a 'growing and very serious problem'.
The black market for smartphones is said to be driving soaring rates of theft, robbery and knife crime – with some criminals who were once involved in drug crime pivoting towards smartphone theft and robbery as an alternative means of illicit income.
Gangs of teens on bikes are said to be committing up to 20 thefts at a time in parts of London, with three-quarters of stolen devices in the capital being sent abroad.
Now, High Streets UK, a group representing 5,000 UK firms, is calling for ring-fenced funding for police to protect key shopping destinations including Oxford Street.
The body includes members from business improvement districts in Aberdeen, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Leeds, Liverpool, London and Newcastle.
Dee Corsi, chair of High Streets UK and chief executive of founding member New West End Company, said: 'Flagship high streets are engines of the local and national economy, drivers of tourism, and anchors for communities.
'But without urgent national action on crime, they are at serious risk. We have welcomed the Government's renewed focus on retail crime in particular.
'But we must go further and faster to tackle all types of crime affecting high streets, having a devastating effect on businesses and communities, tarnishing the UK's global reputation, and jeopardising tourism and investment.'
According to the most recent official statistics, the number of shoplifting offences recorded by police in 2024 surpassed 500,000 for the first time.
Ms Corsi said it is critical for additional funding for policing in the upcoming spending review to be ring-fenced for key high streets.
'The UK's flagship high streets are important cultural and economic centres - with High Street UK locations generating over £50billion in economic value every year - yet growing complex challenges around crime and anti-social behaviour put these locations at risk,' she said.
'Take London's West End - the internationally renowned home to Oxford Street, Bond Street and Regent Street is an important driver of jobs, investment, and tourism, contributing 3 per cent of the capital's economic activity.
'Despite this, continued underfunding of policing has left it facing real issues including anti-social behaviour, shop theft and organised business crime.
'Through the collective voice of High Streets UK, we are calling for the Government to recognise the value of these locations - as economic hubs, anchors for community, and tourism destinations - by ring-fencing dedicated police support.
'Failing to do so puts growth, and flagship high streets, at serious risk.'
High Streets UK held its second quarterly meeting yesterday, drawing up four key points that it is urging the Government to tackle.
Ms Corsi added: 'At our Safer High Streets Forum, we shared our frontline experience of the international criminal gangs, business crime, prolific offenders and anti-social behaviour affecting our high streets - none of which can be meaningfully tackled with the current systems and resources in place.'
High Streets UK has called for boosted police numbers around high streets, separately measuring performance for the specific areas.
It wants immediate jail terms for those who breach criminal behaviour orders, quicker sentencing for crimes linked to retail, and a focus on repeat offenders.
And it is calling for national measures to tackle organised crime that affects high streets including begging gangs, and the creation of a national framework for businesses to report crime.
While Oxford Street has lost big names such as Topshop, House of Fraser, Miss Selfridge, Dorothy Perkins and Debenhams in recent years, it has also seen a major new Ikea store and HMV reopen its old flagship outlet.
And London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan has said he wants to pedestrianise 0.7 miles of the street as part of a regeneration project despite warnings this could make it a crime-ridden 'no-go area'.
Responding to the report, Chief Inspector Luke Dillon, from the Metropolitan Police team responsible for policing the West End, told MailOnline: 'Tackling offences such as shoplifting and phone theft remains a priority for the Met as we know the negative impact these crimes have on Londoners, tourists and businesses.
'We are working with businesses to respond to their concerns, and we have increased targeted patrols in hotspot areas to identify and deter perpetrators. We're also using new tactics, such as investing in Sur-Ron e-bikes, to help us catch more offenders.'
And a spokesman for Sir Sadiq said: 'Nothing is more important to the Mayor than keeping Londoners safe and he is committed to doing everything he can to make our high streets thrive.
'Sadiq's record £1.16billion policing budget has protected 935 neighbourhood policing roles to ensure officers are visible in our high streets and town centres, working closely with local businesses and communities on the issues that matter to them.
'The Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime is working closely with the specialist business crime team in the Met and partners to crack down on retail crimes including shoplifting, which has increased across the country during the cost-of-living crisis.
'His record fund will empower the Met to focus on hot spot areas to build a safer London for all.'
Sources close to the Mayor have previously cited official data showing that Londoners are less likely to be a victim of violence resulting in injury than across the rest of England and Wales.
But they also acknowledge that more needs to be done to tackle anti-social behaviour, robbery, shoplifting and theft.
The Home Office has also been contacted for comment.