Agenda item

Report of the Commissioner.

The Committee received a report of the Commissioner concerning Policing Plan performance for Q2 2025/26.

Officers reported that overall crime was down 2.5% compared with the same quarter last year, and the rolling 12-month position reflected a 6.1% reduction (569 fewer offences). Theft had reduced by 6.9% on the rolling measure (342 fewer offences), and theft-from-person had reduced by 11.3%, attributed to targeted operations including Operation Swipe. Attendance rates for theft reports remained at 95%. Violence was down 2.3% on the rolling measure and VAWG by 5%, with 90% attendance rates. Officers highlighted reductions around the Bishopsgate area following evidence-based hotspot policing.

A Member asked what could be expected from Operation Swipe in the future, particularly whether activity would be increased or reduced. Officers responded that Operation Swipe operated as a full-systems approach involving prevention, communication of risk, seizure of e-bikes, and upstream investigations.

A Member raised concerns around the night-time economy, asking whether increased footfall would lead to increased crime and what strategy officers had in place. Officers advised that increased footfall would naturally increase crime volumes, but partnership work, licensing controls, and targeted policing mitigated this.

The Chair noted the description of phone theft as an emerging issue and expressed surprise given its prominence, stressing that international perceptions of London as unsafe for mobile phones risked impacting the City’s economic success. Officers accepted that describing phone theft as “emerging” had not been accurate and responded that whilst phone theft was declining, longer-term solutions required work with the tech industry.

The Chair requested an update in future reports on the “Ask for Angela” scheme, noting feedback that some venues lacked awareness. The Chair further queried the absence of hate-crime data in the pack given the geopolitical context and asked that a method be identified to alert the Committee should any spikes or trends arise. Officers also confirmed that data on Ask for Angela usage could be incorporated narratively in future reports. On hate crime, Officers noted that offences were low in number, usually linked to alcohol-related violence in the night-time economy, and that expanding the report risked mission creep. The Chair reiterated the need for visibility should a spike occur, and Officers undertook to identify an alert mechanism.

Officers briefed the Committee on counterterrorism activity, including PREPARE and PREVENT work, intelligence submissions, and the move toward a single counterterrorism policing model for London.

Officers summarised victim-satisfaction performance, reporting an average score of 4.06/5 and compliance with the Victims’ Code at 96.4%. Positive-outcome rates were 14.2% overall (against 10.7% nationally) and 10.9% for victim-based crime (against 7% nationally). Crime Data Integrity audit results were reported, with 98% accuracy and unrecorded cases identified by internal audit.

The Chair requested a quarterly summary of key challenges emerging from the pack.

RESOLVED, That the report be received and its contents noted.