St John's Wood: Concern over increase in mobile phone thefts and muggings

We spoke to Westminster Councillors Ralu Oteh-Osoka (Regent's Park) and Caroline Sargent (Abbey Road) outside Beechcroft Academy earlier.

The councillors are alarmed to learn about an increase in muggings and phone theft on children as they leave school or walk home through the Abbey Road and Finchley Road area. They are engaging with the schools, local Safer Neighbourhood Team Officers, with Council colleagues and other stakeholders, to ensure robust safeguarding steps are implemented so children can leave school safely.

The bottom line is that all agree we need more police on our streets.

Secondly, we want CCTV across the St John’s Wood area, we are hopeful of securing cameras in various locations to reduce the incidence of crime and anti-social behaviour in this part of Westminster.

Ralu explained,

"Caroline and I are outside Beechcroft Academy, having just done a joint visit between Abbey Road and Regent's Park councillors to visit the school, just to get more engaged, as part of our full school engagement across the St John’s Wood area."

Caroline continued

"And in particular, we've been discussing the steps that the schools can be taking to improve the safety of the children from all the schools around here as they're leaving at the end of the day. "This is in response to some recent incidents, which I know we're all very concerned about."

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Ralu Oteh-Osoka

Ralu Oteh-Osoka

Councillor for Regent's Park Ward
Ralu Oteh-Osoka has represented the residents of North Marylebone & St John’s Wood since 2022.Self-described as a ‘Child of Westminster’ she was born & bred in Maida Vale / Little Venice and has lived there nearly all her life.Politically, she has been involved heavily at the local grassroot
Caroline Sargent

Caroline Sargent

Councillor for Abbey Road Ward
Caroline Sargent is a lifelong Londoner and has called Westminster home for more than 15 years. Before returning to the city with her family, she worked internationally in the conference industry and now runs her own business.

Abbey Road

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Regent's Park

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It's time for Safe Streets in Westminster

Under Labour, crime has got worse. Phone theft, antisocial behaviour, public disorder and drug dealing have all increased. People think twice before using their phone on the street. Shopkeepers have accepted shoplifting as a daily reality. Families avoid their local parks. And schools have lost community police officers. All under Sadiq Khan’s watch as Westminster Labour have overseen managed decline.