12 Oct CCTV Report & Crime Figures
The BID’s security team has been busy keeping shoplifters at bay this past month.
In one incident, a male shoplifter, suspected of stealing an expensive pair of shoes from a large King Street retailer, was flagged up to the BID’s CCTV operator. CCTV found the man and notified the police and store security, who swooped in and recovered the shoes and arrested the suspect. Another retailer reported a description of a male shoplifter who had already left the store. On scanning King St a man matching the description was seen entering another store. The information was passed from CCTV to the local Safer Neighbourhood Team who responded and arrested the man. These are just some examples of arrests that would not have happened if it was not for CCTV, keeping the area safe as part of the HammersmithLondon Business Crime partnership.
The BID’s Safetynet radio system has also been playing a vital role in keeping the town centre free of crime this month.
One female criminal was apprehended when the security team at a large King Street retailer noticed her stealing £75 worth of electrical goods. Using the Safetynet system, staff contacted the police who found several wraps of heroin and crack cocaine on her when she was arrested.
The staff of a Kings Mall retailer noticed a serial shoplifter and used the Safetynet system to notify the police. When they arrived, they searched him and found not only £600 worth of goods from that store, but a quantity of items from another store. He was arrested and charged with the thefts. In a similar incident, the Safer Neighbourhood Team came across a shop security team having an altercation with a man in King Street, who proceeded to flee from the scene. After chasing him, he was apprehended with items from various stores worth more than £400 on him. He was arrested and charged with theft.
The BID was present at a recent meeting of the Safer Neighourbood Board, which revealed that Hammersmith was experiencing some muddling crime figures.
The board is made up of senior policing officials and local residents to scrutinise the success of the local Safer Neighbourhood Teams in the borough.
It was revealed that in September, the area has seen an unfortunate increase in the number of total crimes, but had seen a few decreases in specific crimes.
Total crime in the borough has risen by 5.8% for the period of September 2014 to August 2015. This reflects the wider trend as the Met has reported an incresae of 4.2% across London for the same period.
However, when looking at Mayor of London’s targets, which were set in 2011/12, the borough is faring a little better.
Crime figures 2014/15
Burglary
H&F + 13%
London + 12.4%
Robbery
H&F – 2.2%
London – 10.8%
Theft from person
H&F – 3.9%
London – 3%
Theft of Motor Vehicle
H&F + 7.4%
London + 3.2%
Violence with injury
H&F + 13%
London + 12.4%
Criminal damage
H&F + 24.3%
London + 10.9%
Theft from Motor Vehicle
H&F + 9.7%
London – 12.8%