Robbery of personal property, including muggings and snatch thefts, in London
has increased sharply since the terror attacks on the city, according to crime
figures released by the Metropolitan Police today.
It was up by almost 13% in August compared with the same month last year -
from 2,816 offences in August 2004 to 3,178 last month.
Some outlying London boroughs recorded much larger increases; a 54% rise in
Waltham Forest, 48% in Bromley, 39% in Barnet and 38% in Hounslow and Enfield.
Personal robbery also increased by more than 40% in the suburban boroughs of
Wandsworth and Southwark. There was also a slight increase in gun crime across
the capital last month.
However, crime overall was down in August compared with the same month last
year, with around 3,000 less offences recorded.
A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said: The statistics published today show that the
total notifiable offences are down overall by 3.8% - when you compare the last
12 months to the same time period the previous year - this equates to 40,245
fewer offences.
"The 12 months has also seen an improvement in the overall sanctioned
detection rate - which has risen to 16.1% in the last 12 months from 13.4% in
the preceding 12 months."
Scotland Yard commissioner Sir Ian Blair has admitted that the demands of
investigating the terror attacks have placed his force under great strain.
Hundreds of officers have been seconded from other departments to assist the
inquiry into the July 7 bombings and the July 21 attempted bombings, the largest
investigation in the Met's history.
However, the force has pledged not abstract officers from London's boroughs
more than is absolutely necessary and has reiterated its commitment to meeting
crime reduction targets.
=====