A private investment package worth £23 million aims to bolster security operations and infrastructure in London’s West End, with more than 800 local businesses contributing to the fund.
The funding is being deployed by New West End Company, an organization that represents over 100 streets across the district and Mayfair. The group has already grown its existing 24/7, 365 on-street security team during peak footfall periods from 1 April, marking the first year of a £5 million investment in security infrastructure. Significant projects include the start of a phased roll-out of a 24/7 monitored CCTV network across the district, for which initial site mapping is underway.
In late 2025, New West End Company became the first London Business Improvement District to achieve national accreditation as a Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP). With the certification now in place, the BID is expanding its in-house team with a permanent BCRP role to further strengthen intelligence sharing between local businesses and police.
This additional investment into both our on-street team and back-end security operations will enable us to work more effectively with local business and our long-term partners at the Met Police to share intelligence, run joint operations and support targeted enforcement.
Related: Justis Saayman Discusses AI Boost for Retail Operations
Dee Corsi, chief executive of New West End Company, said: “As one of the most visited and visible destinations in Europe, keeping the West End safe requires coordinated action.”
Police report drop in theft
Crime of this nature is not going to be solved by one organisation alone – partnership working remains absolutely critical, with everyone playing their part. Together, we can make the West End safer and stronger.”
Superintendent Natasha Evans, the Met’s neighbourhood policing lead for Westminster, said: “We’ve cut theft in the West End by 40 per cent in the last financial year – meaning more than 6,400 fewer victims – and personal robbery is also down by a quarter.”
These results show what can be achieved through data-led policing, targeted enforcement and close partnership working. Our joint approach sends a clear message: crime will not be tolerated, and we will continue working together to make the West End even safer for businesses and visitors.”
Related: Sephora opens Glasgow store marking summer’s final launch
The latest investment coincides with a step-change in the Metropolitan Police’s approach to tackling volume crime, including theft and retail crime. Over the last 12 months, the Met has deployed new technology, additional officers, and innovative partnership working in crime hotspots. In the West End specifically, theft from person, including phone theft, is down 40% over the last financial year.
Additional ring-fenced funding of £4.5 million from the Mayor’s Office of Policing and Crime has also been unlocked to create a West End intelligence ‘Command Cell’ to tackle mobile phone theft and other volume crime.
Comparing this current wave of localized funding to previous public safety initiatives, the shift toward permanent BCRP accreditation stands out. Past efforts often relied on temporary task forces or ad-hoc funding cycles, which could lead to gaps in coverage when grants expired. The current strategy of creating a permanent intelligence-sharing role within the BID’s own structure suggests a move toward sustained, long-term operational continuity rather than reactive measures.
