A huge security operation is being planned in London’s West End to keep stores targeted by shoplifters safe in the run-up to Christmas.
The mission is being described as the largest private security operation ever seen ahead of one of the busiest commercial periods in London’s calendar year.
The area has long been associated with pickpocketing and phone-snatching, which retailers and hoteliers are worried will affect business in the lead up to the festive season.
The project is being launched by the New West End Company (NWE), which brings together 600 businesses in the area, and will deploy private security guards to roam the streets.
NWE already funds a 24/7 security patrol throughout the year, but the organisation has warned of a “significant uplift” over the weeks ahead.
More than 20 uniformed officers will be commissioned, who will work alongside “covert operations”, who will have the power to identify and detain suspects until police officers arrive to make arrests.
The organisation has also launched a digital portal where they can alert other businesses to incidents, as well as suspicious behaviour.
John Dickie, CEO of BusinessLDN, said the perception of crime was “putting people off” visiting the capital. He added that he didn’t believe the perception of crime was in line with the reality, but also was not “wholly dissonant”.
Although violent crime in London has fallen, reports of mobile phone robbery continue to rise, giving Londoners cause for concern.
Phone Snatcher, on Oxford Street, this morning 08:30hrs
— London & UK Street News (@CrimeLdn) October 29, 2025
(Pickpocketlondodon)
Remember, always keep your head on swivel when visiting in central London pic.twitter.com/VwIHsNdfwE
The Met Police will also be joining forces with NWE’s private security, organising joint patrols in an “autumn intensification” plan across the West End.
Thanks to extra funding from City Hall and the Home Office, the Met will be deploying 80 extra officers into central London.
The Times reported that 71 of those positions have been filled, with some officers being redeployed from the Royal Parks police, which was broken up at the start of this month.
Dee Corsi, CEO of the NWE, said that the key to the operation’s success lies in its ongoing support from the Met.
She explained: “The West End is a unique environment with its own set of challenges. Tackling crime here requires a multiagency approach — no single organisation can solve it alone.”
“That’s why we have welcomed the force’s renewed focus on the district, a step-change we’ve long campaigned for. We’re already seeing encouraging early results, but meaningful change takes time and sustained commitment.”
This isn’t the first time the Met has partnered with a private security service – the force also conducts joint patrols around Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square with private teams funded by the Heart of London Business Alliance.
According to Superintendent Natasha Evans: “Our priority is to ensure that everyone - whether they are shopping, working or visiting - feels safe and protected.”
