More than 140 people have been arrested including phone thieves and a “prolific” upskirter in a London crime crackdown.
The Met Police deployed more than 100 additional officers as they targeted anti-social behaviour in London‘s West End ahead of Christmas.
Among those apprehended was an upskirter, who filmed women as they queued for a bathroom in a Soho coffee shop on 4 November.
The man was caught standing behind two women covertly filming their buttocks, and police discovered a number of similar videos on his phone after seizing it.
Also arrested were two men trying to steal mobile phones from women at an ice rink in Leicester Square, who were caught with several stolen phones on them on 5 November.
And on 6 November, a black Nissan Juke was stopped in Paddington with a stinger – a belt of spikes that punctures the tyres – after police identified it as stolen.
The driver and passenger were arrested for theft of a motor vehicle and possession of cannabis with intent to supply.
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Superintendent Natasha Evans, who led the operation dubbed Operation Baselife, said police were using facial recognition technology to combat crime.
She said: “This operation shows that targeting prolific offenders in crime hotspots works.
“Our intelligence-led approach means we’re solving twice as many shoplifting cases and taking hundreds of offenders off the streets.
“Through this intensified action, we are continuing to ensure the West End remains a safe and welcoming place for residents, businesses and the millions of visitors who come here each month.
“We’re doubling down before Christmas, as the West End enters one of its busiest periods. Local officers, specialist teams and tech such as live facial recognition will focus on the areas with the most crime to keep driving numbers down.
“Our officers continue to tackle crimes that matter most to Londoners through highly visible, intelligence-led policing that builds trust in our communities.”
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The week-long operation focussed on crimes like shoplifting, phone theft, and violence against women and girls.
Officers were deployed to target specific places at specific times when crimes were most likely to be committed.
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They were backed up by specialist teams like “interceptors” who respond to crimes that use vehicles.
The Met said Operation Baselife was part of an increase in police activity in the West End and other London crime hotspots over autumn and winter.
