Mayor has lost control of crime, says rival, as knife thefts double

SADIQ KHAN has been accused of losing control of crime in London as figures reveal that thefts and robberies involving a knife have nearly doubled on his watch.

Susan Hall, his Conservative opponent in May’s mayoral election, claimed that if you get robbed in London “all you get is a crime reference number”.

First elected in 2016, Mr Khan is pursuing an unprecedented third mayoral term next month, with crime featuring as a major issue in the contest.

Figures collated by Ms Hall’s campaign show that since Mr Khan took office, “theft from person” in London has increased by 96 per cent.

In the year ending March 2016, the police recorded 33,983 incidents of theft from person. In the year ending September 2023, it had risen to 66,649.

Robberies involving a knife in London have increased by 97 per cent, with 4,215 incidents in the year ending March 2016 rising to 8,307 in the year ending September 2023.

Shoplifting increased by 20 per cent, from 43,755 incidents in 2016 to 52,436 in 2023.

The Tories said that with 90,864 mobile phones stolen in London in 2022, a phone is effectively snatched in the capital every six minutes.

However, some crime categories have fallen since 2016, with domestic burglary, arson, bicycle theft and criminal damage all down.

Ms Hall said that 36 police stations had closed under Mr Khan, whom she accused of failing to recruit enough police and scrapping borough-based policing. She said: “Crime is out of control in Sadiq Khan’s London, but he just won’t listen – I have a plan to sort it out.

“I am listening to Londoners, who tell me they do not feel safe and are fed up with being ignored by Sadiq Khan. As Mayor, I will put more officers on the beat and bring back borough-based policing, so your police are local to you.”

Mr Khan remains the favourite in the mayoral race. Last week, a poll by Survation placed him on 44 per cent, with Ms Hall on 26 per cent.

However, he has insisted the race will be the “closest ever”.

A spokesman for Mr Khan said: “The Mayor is investing record amounts in London’s public services, including an additional £151m in this year’s budget for policing and crime prevention. Sadiq has now doubled the amount of funding he’s given to the police since becoming Mayor.

“At the same time Tory government cuts have been a disaster for combating crime across the country, with £1 billion cut from the Met police in real terms since 2010.”