Sadiq Khan pledges crackdown on high street crime

Sadiq Khan is seeking re-election again

Sadiq Khan has promised a crackdown on high street crime if elected to a third term as London's mayor.

The "gangbusters package" would see targeted action taken against those most likely to get caught up in incidents such as robbery and exploitation.

The package would be accompanied by a £3m investment in youth workers, Mr Khan said.

Susan Hall, the Tory candidate, previously said crime was "out of control" in the capital and said she would recruit 1,500 police officers and return to "borough-based policing".

Liberal Democrat hopeful Rob Blackie said shoplifting with a weapon had risen significantly under Mr Khan and pledged to "get a grip" on the issue if elected while the Greens said Londoners should be able to "move around our city without fear".

Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures show recorded knife crime rose by 22% in London in the year to 23 September. Nationally, offences increased by just 5%.

'Shoplifting not victimless'

Mr Khan's investment would fund up to 15 boroughs which are prioritised based on robbery crime data, his spokesperson said.

The proposals also include a pilot programme to disrupt the re-selling of stolen phones by allowing police officers to inspect merchandise in second-hand shops without a warrant.

He said: “I want to tackle high street crime head on. We’ll have extra police targeting the worst hotspots where people are more like to be victims.

"I’m also investing in new street-based youth workers, focused on those key after-school hours when young people are most likely to get caught up in crime in their local areas."

Earlier this month, Conservative Ms Hall said: "Never before have we needed police around on our streets as much as we do now."

Green Party candidate Zoe Garbett said: "Both Labour and Conservatives are telling people that the only option is to be tougher and tougher on crime, regardless of the results.

"If we want to bring down crime, we need to address the conditions that create crime in the first place.

The Lib Dems' Mr Blackie said crimes like shoplifting were not "victimless".

He said: "Despite this, the police attend less than half of all shoplifting incidents in London."

Mr Blackie said he would end the Transport for London fare freeze and reallocate the money to policing "where it's needed most".