Your Policing team's March update

The team have been busy in recent weeks working on investigations and Community Behaviour Orders for our most prolific offenders. Our partnership deployments to combat antisocial behaviour are ongoing and we continue to balance this with our many other policing responsibilities - from regular large protests, Changing of the Guard four times a week and the many other events taking place on our bustling ward.

There are two active murder investigations ongoing following recent incidents on our patch. One of these sadly involved a young child - a suspect was arrested and is now in custody. If anybody has information about this or any other incident, please call 101.

Together with the Safer Business Network, the St James’s Policing Team took part in an engagement event in Leicester Square, where Virtual Reality technology was used to educate people about the issue of violence against women and girls. This is a priority issue for the Met and for Londoners and we were happy to be involved – particularly as our night-time economy can be a hot spot for this issue.

We are also working with partners on the issue of homelessness and associated anti-social behaviour (ASB) and criminality. Alongside Westminster City Council, charity partners and British Transport Police, we are providing safeguarding and referral assistance to those who need it, arresting and charging prolific offenders and helping clear up our streets. As part of this are stepping up our work to deter street drinking and the  enforcement of  Westminster’s Public Space Protection Order.

Social media-inspired youth crime is an ongoing problem across St James’s and the West End. From harassment of sex workers to trespass and disruption of businesses, this issue is bringing many school-age teens to the West End to cause trouble. We are working toward convictions for some of the most serious adult offenders, with others inspired to take part in this ASB being issued Community Protection Warnings and Notices. When identified, we are also contacting these young people’s parents and schools to crack down on this unacceptable behaviour. Whilst most young people who come to the West End behave respectfully, we will not tolerate anyone causing alarm and distress to our residents, businesses and visitors for social media likes.

Pedicab licenses are on their way. Since the announcement in February, a process of registration and driver assessments has started, with driver licensing due to be in place by October 2026. Regulated fares should also be in place by this time, with vehicle registration coming in early 2027. We are still enforcing our usual restrictions on parking, loud music and antisocial behaviour.

Finally, Easter is almost upon us, a sacred time when Christians commemorate the resurrection of Jesus. We are lucky to have some of the most beautiful places of Christian worship within our ward, including the iconic Westminster Abbey and the stunning Westminster Cathedral. Some of my favourite smaller churches in the neighbourhood that are worth a visit include the Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Covent Garden, the Church of Notre Dame de France in Leicester Square, and of course St Clement Danes - The Central Church of the Royal Air Force on the Strand.

Whatever your denomination, and wherever you worship, we wish you a peaceful Easter.

Should you wish to contact us over Easter:

Call 999 in an emergency

Call 101 for case updates or non-emergency assistance

Visit met.police.uk to make an online report 

Keep an eye on Met Engage for news and upcoming events.