South Hampstead

We are aware of concerns regarding repeat shoplifting and other retail robberies offences affecting businesses along Finchley Road.

In response, officers have worked with local businesses to identify high-harm and repeat offenders targeting the area. This information has been cross checked using police systems so that those responsible can be more effectively targeted. As a result of this work, one recent investigation has led to a male being charged with six robberies.

Officers have also carried out a mixture of uniformed and plain clothes patrols in the area, using stop and search powers where appropriate to help deter offences. Alongside this, we have been working with local stakeholders, including retailer representatives, to identify prolific offenders and obtain victim impact statements to support investigations.

This work remains ongoing, and we will continue to work with businesses and partners to reduce offending and improve safety in the area.

Finally, retailers have been engaged with and Op Retail promoted to standardise victim reporting to the police to ensure key evidence such as CCTV is secured.

We are aware of local concerns about personal safety on the ward, particularly along Finchley Road.

In response, your Ward team has been holding regular monthly drop-in advice sessions / Coffee with a Copper events to hear directly from residents, provide reassurance, and offer crime prevention advice. We have also been using local data to identify repeat and vulnerable victims of crime, enabling officers to make contact and carry out visits where appropriate to offer support. That same data has also helped us shape our patrol plans, so that officers are patrolling the areas and times where they are most needed. In addition, we are working with internal colleagues to plan a live facial recognition deployment in the area as part of wider efforts to improve safety and identify offenders.

This work remains ongoing, and we will continue to review our activity to ensure it is meeting local needs and helping to improve reassurance across the ward.

We have received reports of ongoing anti-social behaviour (ASB) in the area of the Hilgrove estate, including loitering and suspected drug use. Concerns suggested that some of those involved may be local school-aged young people, and that this behaviour has been affecting residents’ sense of safety.

Our enquiries indicate that the behaviour involves a mix of repeat individuals and groups gathering in the area. Some incidents appear linked to young people remaining in the area after school, while other reports relate to drug use and wider nuisance behaviour.

We have carried out enhanced high-visibility patrols in the area across a range of shifts. During these patrols, officers have used police powers where appropriate, including stop and search, issuing summons to court for drug-related offences, and giving ASB warnings.
We have also been working with a local school to address concerns that some of those involved may be students. Officers have liaised with the school to speak with young people and discourage loitering in the area.
Alongside this, we are working closely with partners, including Camden Council, to improve intelligence sharing, identify those responsible for persistent ASB, and consider joint enforcement options. Joint patrols between police and council officers are also being planned.

This work is ongoing. We will continue to monitor reports, review the impact of patrols and partner activity, and adjust our approach where needed. Our aim is to reduce ASB, improve reassurance for residents, and take action against those causing repeated problems.