Ealing town centre is among hundreds of locations across England and Wales set to benefit from a major police crackdown during the summer in response to surging shop theft and street crime.
The initiative – part of the government’s Safer Streets Mission and its new Tackling Retail Crime Together Strategy – will see significantly increased police presence, more frequent patrols at peak times, and visible enforcement in retail and public areas.
Backed by the Home Office, police and local councils, the plan aims to restore public trust in neighbourhood policing and reclaim town centres from anti-social behaviour and crime.
The initiative comes after EALING.NEWS revealed last week (4 July 2025) that Vodafone and O2 stores in Ealing Broadway shopping centre have introduced a ‘locked door’ policy in response to a surge in thefts across London linked to organised criminal gangs.
Announcing the summer initiative, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “High streets and town centres are the very heart of our communities but the last government left a surge in shop theft, street crime and anti-social behaviour which has left too many town centres feeling abandoned.”
Shocking figures reveal street theft has more than doubled in just two years, while shoplifting has soared by over 60% – often turning violent, with shopworkers facing abuse and threats on the frontline.
Ealing Council confirmed it will play an active role in the initiative.
Speaking to EALING.NEWS, an Ealing Council spokesperson said: “We will be working with our partners – the police, businesses, community organisations and resident associations – to proactively address and tackle antisocial behaviour and crime during the summer as we know this increases in warmer weather and with lighter nights.”
They added: “There will be an enhanced police presence in Ealing town centre, with the council supporting in a range of ways, including our extensive CCTV network and patrolling and enforcement resources. This initiative will focus on creating more positive activities for young people and keeping vulnerable people safer.
“We have recently started a public consultation to renew our borough-wide Public Spaces Protection Order, which gives additional powers to the police to tackle problematic behaviour. You can have your say here.”
Ealing is also one of 32 town centres and high street locations across London identified by the Metropolitan Police as hotspots for anti-social behaviour, theft and street crime.
These areas, which include Stratford, Woolwich, Croydon, Shepherd’s Bush Green, Elephant and Castle, Seven Sisters and the West End, will receive targeted partnership action with local authorities, businesses and communities. Every London borough is expected to see increased police and partner activity focused on these trouble spots.
The initiative complements fresh action from City Hall. The Mayor of London’s Police and Crime Plan 2025–2029 includes a renewed focus on town centres, with more neighbourhood officers, joint patrols with councils and support for victims of crime.
Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Kaya Comer-Schwartz, said: “We’ve made real progress in tackling crime in London, but there’s more to do to make the capital safer for everyone. The Mayor and I are determined to build on the progress we’ve made by working with our partners to boost police visibility in town centres, better support victims and involve young people in prevention.
“Through our refreshed Police and Crime Plan and Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy we’re investing in communities, rebuilding neighbourhood policing and taking the action needed to ensure every Londoner feels safe in our city.”
Under the national Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, every community will now have named and contactable officers, while all forces will appoint dedicated anti-social behaviour leads.
The strategy promises a more data-driven approach, pooling intelligence from police, businesses, and security firms to identify repeat offenders and underlying causes such as drug addiction.
Retailers and industry leaders, including Boots, the Federation of Independent Retailers and the British Retail Consortium, have welcomed the initiative.
Anthony Hemmerdinger, managing director, Boots said: “Retail theft alongside intimidation and abuse of our team members is unacceptable, so we welcome this additional support from government and the police to strengthen shopworker protection.”
Hetal Patel, national president of the Federation of Independent Retailers (the Fed) added: “Shop theft is often seen as a victimless crime but this is not the case. It takes a heavy toll mentally, physically and financially on shop owners, their families and their employees. At the same time, the financial costs of retail crime will eventually impact on customers through inflated prices.”
