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Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.24.041814
I note you seek access to the following information:
Part 1
The number of mobile phones thefts from the person (pickpocketing, snatching etc) in each London borough between 01 January 2022 and 31 October 2024.
Please ensure that the statistics are segmented by calendar year. Data for the most recent year (calendar year or previous 12 months) is most of interest.
I would like to receive have the actual number of thefts, and, if possible, the number per 1000 people.
Part 2
I would like to know the number of accidents involving Met Police cars (please if possible differentiate by marked and unmarked police vehicles) and members of the public between 01 January 2018 and 31 October 2024.
Please ensure that the statistics are segmented by calendar year. Data for the most recent year (calendar year or previous 12 months) is most of interest.
If possible, please include the rate of the accidents that were fatal in the same time frame and include the number of victims.”
Clarification - in December 2024, I refused your request on the basis that the Met’s system used to record police collisions does not differentiate between collisions involving marked and unmarked police vehicles and/or collisions and vicinity only collisions. I explained that to answer these parts of your request would exceed the 18-hour research/cost threshold of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
In December 2024, we discussed your request for information. In that conversation, you confirmed that you would like to receive the information collated in response to part 2 of your request for information. I agreed to record your request for information.
I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.
Please find below information pursuant to your request above.
Please find below a spreadsheet in which the located information has been provided. Please note the following when reviewing the data provided:
1. The data provided does not differentiate between marked and unmarked police vehicles.
2. The data provided includes both collisions and vicinity only collisions (collisions in which the presence of a police vehicle can, in any way, be felt to be contributory to the collision).
CONTEXT
All serious road traffic collisions, whether fatal or involving serious injury, are a tragedy for everyone involved.
As well as supporting families and others connected with these incidents and assisting with coronial investigations, work is also ongoing across the MPS to learn from these incidents to establish what can be done to enhance our ability to police fast-moving and complex scenarios across the London Road network in the safest way possible.
A number of processes have been implemented to further reduce collisions involving police vehicles. This includes adopting best practice from other policing specialisms, as well as taking recommendations from Tactical Advisors and Pursuit Command and the mandatory use of body worn video (BWV) whenever a police pursuit is declared.
The MPS follows the national APP (Authorised Professional Practice) for pursuit policy, set out by the College of Policing, as well as the tactics directory. The MPS is continually seeking to develop an approach when responding to incidents, balancing the inherent risks involved with pursuits and emergency response driving with the continued priority for public protection.
Work is also ongoing with neighbouring forces, knowing that criminals don’t recognise police boundaries and pursuits often continue outside the MPS’s area, therefore officers need to be able to operate across different force boundaries safely.
When a police pursuit is declared in the control room, a trained tactical advisor is on hand 24/7 to ensure that a qualified pursuit expert is available to give advice and ensure full compliance with operating procedure at any time.
Officers make decisions at the time of any incident based on the specific circumstances relevant to the situation in front of them - of which public safety, including the safety of the drivers, is a critical element. A dynamic risk assessment is conducted by the driver who liaises with the control room, to seek authority to continue to pursue the vehicle. Only police drivers qualified at the appropriate level have the option to seek this authority.
Fatal collisions and those resulting in serious injuries involving police vehicles are subject to mandatory referral to the IOPC and subsequent investigation, either directly by the IOPC themselves, or by the Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) and the Police Driving Standards Unit.
In addition to this, the Commander for Roads and Transport Command ensures any such incidents are examined swiftly and efficiently, identifying lessons learned for the organisation.
The MPS regularly reviews driver training procedures to ensure that our staff receive the most professional and appropriate training available.
Officers are all trained to a high standard and know and expect to be held to account for their actions.
DUTY TO ADVISE AND ASSIST
Under Section 16 of the Act, there is a duty to advise and assist those that have made a request for information. In accordance with this duty, I can confirm that the MPS publishes information about various types of crime on its website. I have provided a link to this information below.
MPS Website: Stats and Data
Additionally, it may assist you to note that the MPS proactively publishes all disclosures made in response to requests made under the Act on its Publication Scheme. I have provided a link to this section of the MPS website below.
MPS Website: Publication Scheme
The MPS Publication Scheme can be searched using keywords and may accordingly hold other information that is of interest to you.