West End Town Centre Team - 1st Year Roundup

On the 1st September we marked the 1st anniversary of the formation of the new West End Town Centre Team's, we have 3 teams consisting of 1 Inspector, 6 Sergeants and 34 Constables, in the space of our first year we have made a really impressive impact to combatting crime in the West End with 1146 stop searches and 643 arrests. 

The teams are lead by Inspector David Hunt, Sergeant Dom Corcoran and Sergeant Ashley Squire (TCT A), Sergeant Russell Easterbrook and Acting Sergeant Ollie Clenaghan (TCT B), Sergeant Laura Matthews and Acting Sergeant Ed Lucas (TCT C).

We collaborate really closely with our external partners including HOLBA, My Local Bobby, Safer Business Network, New West End Company, Westminster Council, Saber Security and London Heritage Quarter as well as many individual businesses and retailers in the West End and internally we work together with the West End and St James Safer Neighbourhood Teams lead by Sgt Mark Pettit and Sgt Graham Burke and we help with supporting longer term problem solving and assisting with resident and community concerns.

The wider Met has recognised this fantastic first year and the great successes we have had and moving forward into 2025/26, we will be gaining an additional 80 Police Officer posts for the Town Centre teams. 

Ins David Hunt:

“I have been immensely proud of the success the TCTs have had since being formed in Sep 2024. It’s been a privilege to lead such a keen dedicated team of officers. The sergeants, have been so important in driving the teams forward, keeping morale high and keeping on top of the admin. Over the year some have moved on, only Sgts Easterbrook and Corcoran have been ever present and a lot of credit goes to them. The team have had some incredible results, many that have ended with National press coverage. All 3 teams were part of the operation to take down an OCG  that had stolen millions of pounds worth of cosmetics. Team A have really become experts in going after the dipping teams that are a blight to the West End. High numbers have been arrested and prosecuted. Team B have formed some really strong relationships with partners and have had some excellent results with numerous convictions for shoplifting. Team C’s most notable achievement was filling 2 cells at CX with fraudulently obtained goods after a simple High Street arrest led to a number of search warrants and the huge seizure. The work with The Safer Business Network is something I’m most proud of. Identifying those causing most harm in the West End, arresting and obtaining CBO’s on them has been so successful and is something I want to continue whatever the new West End Model will look like. Also a huge thanks to partners such as WCC, NWEC and HOLBA (MLB). A lot of what we’ve achieved couldn’t have been done without them.”