Westminster’s policing approach is no longer just a talking point but a tangible expansion of local enforcement. The council has funded nine officers joining the Police and Council Tasking Team (PACT), creating an 18-strong, highly visible unit aimed at tackling persistent offenders and high‑impact anti-social behaviour in crime hotspots, including Victoria. The £3 million investment, described by Council Leader Adam Hug as a “significant investment” in reducing anti-social behaviour and crime that affects communities, also underlines a broader shift toward more visible policing in central Westminster. Deputy Leader Aicha Less added that visible policing provides reassurance, noting the team will be on foot or on bikes in the heart of the communities they serve. The plan sits within Westminster’s Safer Westminster Partnership (SWP), a multi‑agency framework guided by a three‑year strategy and annual action plans. Industry data and council strategy emphasise a data‑driven approach to prioritise interventions and to co‑ordinate work across policing, fire, probation and health services to protect vulnerable residents and boost confidence in the area.

The Westminster initiative is part of a broader, multi‑layered push to counter street‑level crime and disorder. In addition to the nine new officers, the council’s wider enforcement ecosystem includes substantial CCTV coverage and city inspection resources designed to support rapid responses and long‑term interventions. Westminster’s safety strategy highlights that officers are embedded in communities and that the CCTV network, together with City Inspectors, forms a visible reassurance for residents and visitors alike. The aim is to co‑ordinate multi‑agency responses, share information quickly, and backstop enforcement with support services for those in need. The wider SWP framework and the council’s public‑facing safety messaging frame these changes as a coordinated, resident‑facing effort rather than standalone policing actions.

Looking further ahead, Westminster has begun rolling out targeted, street‑level interventions to complement the new policing team. A six‑person Street Based Intervention unit is being deployed to tackle chronic street‑based anti‑social behaviour, initially in Victoria. The team brings together City Inspectors, rough sleeping coordinators and an anti‑social behaviour caseworker and can issue community protection notices and warnings, with civil powers available to ban individuals from particular areas under defined conditions. This initiative, announced by Westminster Council in January 2025, is designed to deliver immediate, visible enforcement while coordinating longer‑term support for vulnerable residents in tandem with the police, outreach partners and local business groups. In parallel, Westminster Labour Councillors have signalled a broader crackdown on crime in the West End, highlighting new resources including additional police officers funded by the Mayor and a stepped‑up enforcement regime designed to relieve pressure on safer neighbourhood teams. The combined effect is a stepped approach to safety that blends street‑level enforcement with investment in technology and multi‑agency collaboration.

From Reform UK’s perspective, this approach confirms that Labour’s management of crime is too cautious and overly bureaucratic. The party argues that genuine security comes from more frontline policing, faster decision‑making, and direct funding to empower the officers on the beat rather than layering in committees and multi‑agency coordination that can slow responses. Reform UK insists that councils and police must work with minimal red tape to deliver immediate results, with tougher penalties for persistent offenders and clearer, measurable outcomes. In this view, the Westminster example should be a blueprint for a more assertive, locally led model of safety rather than a gradual consolidation of power within a sprawling, centrally influenced framework. The message is clear: if you want lasting calm on the streets, you need more boots on the pavement, swifter interventions, and a straightforward, accountable plan that keeps communities protected now.

Source: Noah Wire Services