Elephant and Castle has been named by the Met Police as one of the top 20 town centres experiencing the biggest challenge with anti-social behaviour, theft and street crime.
The named streets and communities will see an enhanced police presence this summer to reduce theft, burglary, robbery, ASB and retail crime in the capital.
Over the summer months, London welcomes five million additional visitors during peak tourist season so crime rates typically increase.
Elephant and Castle has been named as a ‘tier 1’ hotspot, alongside the follow locations:
- Barking Town Centre
- Brixton Town Centre
- Camden
- Catford – Lewisham High Street
- Croydon Town Centre
- Ealing Town Centre
- Elephant and Castle
- Finsbury Park
- Woolwich Town Centre
- Ilford Town Centre
- Kingston Town Centre
- Romford Town Centre
- Seven Sisters
- Shepherds Bush Green
- Shoreditch Town Centre
- Silver Street
- Stratford
- Walthamstow
- West End
- Whitechapel
These top 20 locations make up a small percentage of London overall but account for almost 10 per cent of knife crime, 24 per cent of theft from the person offences and 6 per cent of all ASB calls.
The hotspot areas can expect to see increased police patrols, plain-clothed operations and officers will target wanted and prolific offenders seeking long sentences and Criminal Behaviour Orders.
This also forms part of the Home Office’s national Safer Streets Summer Initiative running from 30 June until the end of September 2025, which will see officers in London focusing on reducing town centre criminality including shop theft, street crime and anti-social behaviour.
Deputy Commissioner for the Metropolitan Police, Matt Jukes, said: “We’re arresting 1,000 more criminals each month, neighbourhood crime is down 19 per cent and we’ve solved 163 per cent more shoplifting cases this year.
“In 32 of the hardest hit areas, we’re working with the community, councils, businesses and partners, to focus our resources and bear down on prolific offenders and gangs who blight too many neighbourhoods across the capital.”
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