Veteran broadcaster Selina Scott has come forward with a harrowing account of a daylight mugging in central London, expressing deep frustration at the perceived lack of police assistance and the broader issues of rising street crime in the capital. The 74-year-old, known for her long career on British television, was attacked by a gang of around seven or eight individuals while leaving a Waterstones bookstore on Piccadilly. Despite bravely fighting off her assailants, Ms Scott was robbed of her purse, which contained bank cards, her driving licence, and cash.

The incident, which occurred in broad daylight, left Ms Scott feeling "shattered and traumatised" as well as "embarrassed and stupid" for having been caught off guard. She described the experience as leaving her with a sense that the streets of London are no longer safe, emphasising her unsuccessful attempts to find any police presence nearby. After the attack, she found that the nearest police station had been closed for several years, further compounding her frustration. When officers were scheduled to visit her home the following day, they failed to attend, citing a lack of available vehicles. "You’ve got to fend for yourself in this world. You can’t depend on anyone," she told Good Morning Britain.

This case has drawn attention amid a wider context of increasing crime in London. The Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, issued an apology acknowledging that the police could not provide the expected level of service on that day, reflecting broader challenges facing the force. According to official data, thefts of a similar nature have surged by 23.5% over the past year alone. Conservative politicians have criticised the current leadership under Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan for what they see as a failure to stem the rise in crime, pointing to cuts in police funding and staff as contributing factors. They have called for a zero-tolerance approach, including better use of technology such as facial recognition to improve prosecution rates, which remain disappointingly low.

London’s standing on crime indexes tells part of the story: it ranks 103rd out of 380 major cities worldwide, a position that places it below Naples but above Milan and Rome. These figures highlight growing concerns about public safety, corroborated by other reports of rising street crime in key areas like the West End and Westminster. Notably, thefts from individuals in the West End have more than tripled over two years, fuelling anxieties among retailers and residents alike.

Community responses also reflect this sense of vulnerability. In Enfield, for example, local volunteers have taken to patrolling areas around schools to protect children from frequent robberies, revealing a grassroots push for safety amidst perceived police scarcity.

The Metropolitan Police have responded by highlighting increased patrols, both in uniform and plain clothes, focusing on robbery hotspots and efforts to apprehend repeat offenders. They report a recent 18.6% reduction in neighbourhood crimes and a 10% increase in arrests over the last 15 months. Additionally, Mayor Khan’s office stresses the ongoing challenges posed by historic police funding cuts and maintains that significant investment is being made to support neighbourhood policing and frontline officers.

Yet, with private security increasingly filling gaps left by stretched police resources and high-profile incidents such as muggings targeting luxury goods in affluent areas, concerns remain acute. Some critics argue that more decisive, better-resourced policing is urgently needed to prevent London’s growing reputation as a crime hotspot from worsening.

Selina Scott’s ordeal underscores the human impact behind the statistics – highlighting how even well-known and resourceful individuals can feel vulnerable and isolated when crime strikes and public safety mechanisms fall short. Her case invites renewed scrutiny on how London’s policing and community safety strategies can be strengthened to restore confidence in the city’s streets.

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Source: Noah Wire Services