Clapham Junction remains a vibrant yet challenging area for local policing, with concerns around parcel thefts, anti-social behaviour, and rising violence. Despite these issues, crime rates in the area are relatively low compared to other parts of London, and local police efforts are focused on addressing these concerns through regular patrols, community engagement, and targeted operations.
Every morning, the Safer Neighbourhood Team based at Lavender Hill Police Station have a team briefing before heading out to ensure the area’s safety. The Safer Neighbourhood Team based at Lavender Hill Police Station cover the 8 wards of which are Lavender, Northcote, Battersea Park, Balham, Nine Elms, Falconbrook, St Marys and Shaftesbury and Queenstown. Also based here are the Safer Transport Team. The 8 wards are on 2 alternate leave lines that occasionally overlap.
The ward officers are dedicated to their ward, they patrol simultaneously, though they may assist in neighbouring wards if necessary. At the end of their shift, any ongoing police matters are referred to their dedicated stations, allowing the next teams to step in as required.
While high foot traffic might suggest increased visibility of incidents, perception can often differ significantly from reality. It is crucial to examine actual data before drawing hasty conclusions about crime rates.
To provide more analysis, the police have developed a valuable online resource. Their website offers detailed crime statistics and interactive maps that are user-friendly and informative. The statistics are comprehensively organised by ward areas, and this article will focus specifically on the Lavender, Shaftesbury and Queenstown, Falconbrook, and Wandsworth Town wards.
The maps above record the statistics of incidents registered by the police for October 2024. Over the year, the crime level is stable, with monthly figures typically ranging between 150 and 200 incidents per area, although with month-to-month variations.
We have compiled the number of crimes indiscriminately for the last 12 months across the four wards forming the Clapham Junction area and compared them with areas in surrounding boroughs.
Crime statistics must always be interpreted with caution, as they depend not only on the crimes actually recorded (with petty crimes often going unreported) but also on the nature of the area—whether touristic, commercial or residential.
At first glance, Westminster might seem like a particularly rough area where one would be fortunate to escape unharmed. However, it is essential to remember that central London welcomes millions of tourists each year, with huge foot traffic and busy shopping parades. Tourists, often distracted and unfamiliar with their surroundings, can become easy targets for opportunistic criminals. Mobile phone thefts have risen exponentially in recent years. Pickpocketing is also a significant concern, particularly in areas with high tourist concentration, such as near museums and popular attractions.
However, when comparing with South Kensington, Hammersmith, Brixton and Camden however, it becomes apparent that Clapham Junction is a low-crime area by London standards.
It is worth going into the detail of the record to notice some differences between the areas.
While antisocial behaviour features prominently in the statistics, it is considered a low-level offence. However, as the police have pointed out, it can often serve as a precursor to more serious crimes, including violent assaults, drug-related offences, and robberies. Violence is also a broad category which includes group fights and assault, as well as domestic violence.
The broad category of ‘other theft’ is a catch-all that includes parcels taken from doorsteps, phones stolen by methods other than being grabbed directly from individuals, stealing plants in front gardens… etc. Nextdoor, a social networking platform specifically designed for neighbourhood communications, has become a primary forum for residents sharing their experiences. Nearly every day, users post images from CCTV or doorbell cameras capturing individuals lifting parcels left by delivery drivers. These posts invariably feature the now-familiar refrain: “Does anyone recognise this person?“
Parcels being stolen from front garden
A decline in parcel thefts was noted over the summer, highlighting the often fleeting nature of such crimes. Thieves may shift from one area to another to evade detection or in response to heightened awareness among residents and law enforcement. A drop in cases might be attributed to a suspected group of offenders relocating their operations. Nonetheless, this is a seasonal trend, with incidents likely to surge as the Christmas season approaches.
Many residents have shared their experiences of parcels being stolen from their front gardens through posts on Nextdoor, a social networking platform designed specifically for neighbourhood communications. Not a single day passes without a post, usually accompanied by a CCTV or doorbell camera image of someone lifting parcels left beside the doorstep of properties by a delivery driver rushing to their next assignment. Typically, these posts include a similar message: “Does anyone recognise this person?“
It’s also important to note that while platforms such as Nextdoor can be valuable for community awareness, residents should still be encouraged to report crimes officially to the police to ensure accurate crime statistics and appropriate resource allocation. The police insisted that any personal CCTV footage should also be communicated, to allow them to track the offenders. As an officer told us : “People seem to report their parcel loss on Nextdoor, not to the police“.
Most shoplifting not recorded but reports are improving
Although anti-social behaviour and violence are the two most significant crime categories, Lavender ward stands out for its notably high number of shoplifting incidents. This can be readily explained by the area’s concentration of retail premises. Clapham Junction, being a busy shopping area, is logically more susceptible to shoplifting compared to predominantly residential areas.
While the numbers of shoplifting incidents are slightly on the rise, the police have cautioned against drawing hasty conclusions from these statistics; many shoplifting go unreported. Over the summer, for instance, the police noted that major retailers like Boots and Superdrug were not consistently submitting reports, which can inadvertently encourage offenders to target these locations repeatedly. Some retailers, have internal policies of not reporting thefts below a certain amount (which can actually be very important, reaching several thousand pounds). However, when a suspect is identified, retailers can link multiple previously unsubmitted cases against the same individual, potentially reaching the reporting threshold. They may choose to submit evidence to the police either on a case-by-case basis or collectively.
The police have multiple intervention options, including issuing a Community Protection Order (typically banning the offender from the area) or a Community Protection Notice that can lead to arrest.
There has been some confusion regarding the reporting process, with some shops reporting shoplifting incidents to the two private security guards employed by the Business Improvement District (BID) rather than directly to the police. The Clapham Junction BID is a business association established to support local enterprises, funded by contributions from member businesses. Its area of operation includes a significant stretch of St John’s Hill, St John’s Road, Northcote Road, and portions of Lavender Hill, Battersea Rise, and Falcon Road.
Issues with moped Crash for Cash crime
Crash for cash is a recent and alarming variation of insurance fraud that has seen a significant rise in recent years. This scam involves criminals deliberately causing collisions (usually by breaking suddenly in front of the vehicle) with innocent motorists using mopeds or e-bikes to file fraudulent insurance claims.
Organised criminal gangs are often behind these incidents and will make fake or exaggerated insurance claims for storage and replacement moped costs. In some cases, fraudsters will cause a crash and try to intimidate victims into handing over money at the scene.
Unfortunately, when you are contacted by your insurance a few days later it is too late and there is not much that the police can do. However, they have issued advice:
- Beware of single parked vans near junctions. ‘Crash for cash’ moped riders often use them as hiding spots.
- Be wary of moped riders loitering or acting suspiciously in residential areas. Often, they will hang around in small roads off busy high streets before staging a collision.
- ‘Crash for cash’ fraudsters overreact and fake injuries after crashes.
- Moped riders will often keep their helmets on after a collision to avoid identification.
In order to protect yourself against this new fraudulent activity, they recommend to use dashcams which can be used as a proof that the claim is fraudulent, gather witnesses when possible and avoid providing your full ID other than the necessary insurance details.
Operation Meryn in November to target criminal networks
The local police have long suspected Falconbrook of being a hub for significant drug related crime. Since the 11th November, officers from across Wandsworth Neighbourhood Policing teams have been deployed to Operation Meryn, a targeted law enforcement initiative aimed at disrupting criminal networks and addressing high-harm crimes in a specific area, led by PS Nuttall.
The operation focused on repeat offenders and individuals exploiting local residents, with a particular emphasis on drug dealing, serious violence, gun crime, exploitation, people trafficking, modern slavery, and county lines activities.
Operation Meryn is a long term policing strategy that has already yielded significant results. The operation saw the seizure of multiple weapons, including a taser, meat cleaver, CS spray, and knuckle duster, and drugs worth an estimated street value of £100’000. Additionally, police recorded 16 drug-related offences and apprehended 13 individuals.
More action against unlawful e-bikes and e-scooters
There has been growing concerns about illegal e-bike usage, particularly in the food delivery sector.
E-bikes in London are limited to a maximum power output of 250 watts and must cut out at 15.5 mph but everyone can see on the road some electric cycles that bear little ressemblance with a normal bike.
The police announced more officers will be dedicated to tackling illegal and boosted e-bikes.
The question of e-scooters remains equally complex, as it is still illegal to ride them, with the exception of rental e-scooters that are permitted (just the opposite of what they do in Paris!). In theory, riders can be stopped and have their e-scooter seized; however, the police cannot immediately currently retain the e-scooters in their van due to the potential risk of battery fires.
- Read our article: Is London paranoid about e-scooters?
Last but not least, everyone has noticed the issue with the rental e-bikes (Lime being the usual culprit). Unfortunately it does not constitute a crime and the police has got the same power as anyone else: calling the rental company to ask them to remove the bike.
The council has installed 111 designated parking bays for e-bikes in busy town centre locations such as Clapham Junction, Tooting Broadway, and Wandsworth Town. This effort aims to encourage responsible parking and reduce instances of e-bikes being left on pavements, which has been a concern for local residents. An additional 65 e-bike parking bay are being installed this winter.
Police community engagement
Every three months is organised the Safer Neighbourhood Ward panel, serving as a forum where the local police team meets with residents, ward councillors, and community representatives to report on their activities and discuss local issues affecting the ward.
The main functions of ward panels include setting ward priorities for local policing, informing police officers about emerging issues, holding the police accountable for addressing ward-specific concerns, facilitating community engagement and problem-solving, and providing feedback on police performance and community satisfaction.
Ward panels are a crucial mechanism for police to engage with local communities, particularly in setting ward priorities and building trust. The local police team usually consists of a Sergeant, two Police Constables, and one or more Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs), though the exact composition may vary depending on the ward’s size and needs.
To further engage with the community, the local police team organises regular events. These include Safe Space sessions, such as those held every Friday at Clapham Junction station, where residents can talk and seek help. They also conduct bike marking schemes to prevent theft and aid in the recovery of stolen bicycles. Crime prevention stalls are set up to offer advice and resources to the public. “Cuppa with a Copper” sessions provide informal meet-and-greet opportunities for residents to interact with their local officers.
Ahead of their quarterly reports, the local police team distributes surveys to gather concerns from the area’s residents. However, the most recent survey sent by the Lavender police team received only 15 responses. While the results indicated that half of the respondents had no particular concerns about safety and crime in the area, it’s challenging to draw meaningful conclusions from such a limited sample size.
There are different Safer Neighbourhood teams for each ward. The Lavender Ward police team is made up of Aneka Jones (Police Sergeant), Emily Hale (Police Constable), Simon Sadasivan (Police Constable) and Syed Rahman (PCSO). To contact them and be added to their mailing list for future events, use the form here or email lavender@met.police.uk. You can also find them on X/Twitter: @MPSNorthcote
The Lavender Ward police team has identified three main priorities
Their primary focus is to reduce the number of robberies, particularly in the areas around St John’s Road and Northcote Road. Although the number of these violent crimes might appear relatively small, there has been a noticeable increase.
The main explanation for this trend seems to be linked to students returning to school, as they are often perceived as easier targets by gangs looking to steal mobile phones and other valuable accessories.
Thefts from motor vehicles are also prevalent in the area and have been raised as a concern by residents. As with many crimes, one way to reduce this issue is by increasing police patrols on the streets. Increased police presence has been shown to deter offences and reduce their occurrence.
How to address the issue of rough sleeping
The third priority highlighted by the local police falls within the category of anti-social behaviour. Local residents have expressed concerns about an increase in rough sleepers and beggars, which has caused some unease among community members and the general public. It is crucial to emphasise that rough sleeping itself is not a crime. However, if such situations lead to harassment (which includes as little as begging for money which can trigger a warning), they can be classified as anti-social behaviour and thus fall under police jurisdiction.
This situation underscores the complex nature of addressing homelessness and its potential impact on community perceptions of safety. In a recognition that addressing these issues requires a multi-faceted approach, the police are actively communicating with SPEAR to ascertain the number of rough sleepers they are currently managing in the area. SPEAR, which stands for Single Persons Emergency Accommodation in Richmond, is an organisation dedicated to supporting individuals experiencing homelessness, particularly rough sleepers, in South West London.
A Rough Sleeper Hub is meant to open in front of the Battersea Art Centre on Lavender Hill. It won’t be a hostel, albeit providing a few temporary accommodation, but rather a place where to find advice and getting help moving out of the precarious situation. We have reported multiple time about the plans for a new hub for rough sleepers proposed at 201 – 203 Lavender Hill, located in front of the Battersea Art Centre and just beside the Linden Tree Nursery (find all our articles HERE).
While potentially beneficial for vulnerable residents, the Council’s secretive approach has sparked controversy. The plan was quietly developed during the autumn last year and submitted as a minor change of use, bypassing standard notification processes and surprising nearby residents. Despite its potential merits, the lack of transparency has raised concerns (when we contacted the police last December to get their feedback about the plan, they responded they had not “heard about the project at all“).
As we wrote last May, if managed safely and effectively, the new hub should support the rough sleepers it intends to help while also addressing the concerns of the local community. The facility is schedule to open in February 2025.
