Veteran broadcaster Selina Scott’s harrowing daylight robbery in central London underscores the profound failure of the police to safeguard ordinary citizens in the capital. The incident, which saw her mugged by a well-dressed gang of thieves amid sweltering summer heat, is just the latest example of London’s spiraling crime wave—a crisis that exposes the dangerous complacency of a police service with its priorities misaligned. Instead of prioritizing the protection of the public, the Metropolitan Police demonstrably cowers in the face of rising lawlessness, hamstrung by political interference and misguided policies.

From the moment Scott was targeted, she found herself abandoned without meaningful police support. No officers responded to her call, and the once-reliable West End Central station had been closed for four years, leaving victims to fend for themselves. Despite claims of targeted patrols and crime reduction efforts, her personal account reveals a police force that remains woefully under-equipped and under-manned, unable to protect even its most vulnerable. The worsening situation—marked by a 23.5% increase in thefts last year—should be a wake-up call, but it instead exposes the shortsightedness of London’s current leadership.

The political fallout has been swift, with opposition figures from Labour-led City Hall blaming the police and the Mayor, Sir Sadiq Khan, for the chaos. They cry about “brazenness” and push for more surveillance while ignoring the broader trend: the steady erosion of traditional policing standards. Crime in London is not just rising; it’s becoming normalized. Retailers report thefts tripling, and iconic shopping districts are turning into no-go zones—an economic and social decay driven by failed policies. The so-called “progressive” approach has only emboldened criminal gangs, some operating with apparent impunity, including moped-enabled thieves that plague the streets.

In response to incidents like Scott’s, the police trumpet their investments and targeted operations, yet these efforts are superficial at best. An 18.6% reduction on paper in certain offences masks the real picture—an environment in which criminals sense they can operate above the law. The high-profile videos of opportunistic moped thefts, and even attacks on frontline workers, demonstrate the widespread frustration and helplessness felt by everyday Londoners. Far from being a place of safety, the city feels increasingly unmanageable, demanding a decisive, no-nonsense crackdown.

The ongoing debate over surveillance technologies—such as facial recognition—misses the core issue: moral decline and the police’s inability or unwillingness to restore order. Invested in crowd-control and data collection, authorities neglect the basic need for visible, proactive policing that deters crime before it happens. Meanwhile, community confidence continues to plummet, with residents and business owners feeling abandoned and betrayed.

Selina Scott’s ordeal must serve as a rallying cry for a fundamental shift. The city’s safety is not an abstract political issue—it’s a personal priority for every Londoner. Yet, under the current leadership, it’s clear that the police have become another tool of bureaucratic politics rather than an effective force for justice. Until there’s a reassertion of authority, tough enforcement, and a restored sense of zero tolerance towards crime, London’s streets will remain unsafe, especially for those like Scott who simply want to go about their day in peace. The public deserves better than this retreat into lawlessness and despair.

Source: Noah Wire Services