Councillor recounts tackling alleged shoplifter in central London

Ed Pitt Ford, a Conservative councillor for Westminster City Council’s Pimlico North ward, reported that he brought an individual he described as a “shoplifter” to the ground in central London on Remembrance Day. He stated that he confronted the man at an M&S Food store in Green Park, where he had gone to purchase dinner. According to Ford, a store employee was involved in an altercation with someone he identified as a shoplifter. However, the M&S establishment did not request a police investigation. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that the matter was concluded, noting that the victim chose not to provide a statement and the stolen items were retrieved. M&S was approached for a statement, while Westminster City Council chose not to comment. Ford, who mentioned possessing training for such scenarios, elaborated that after intervening, he “put the shoplifter on the ground on the street outside – at which point I realised the staff were not leaving the shop to come and support me.” He further stated that the individual accused of shoplifting subsequently received assistance from either an accomplice or an unaware member of the public, prompting the councillor to re-enter the store. Ford remarked, “Normally I wouldn’t get involved but at this point there was a risk to the shopkeeper having an actual tussle with the person stealing the wine, so I didn’t want any harm to come to them.” He added, “The shop staff were uncertain about whether it was worth calling the police but they did, and the police said they would take an hour to arrive at the scene.” Ford criticized the Metropolitan Police’s response as inadequate, noting that despite M&S Food not requesting a police investigation, the perpetrator had left a phone at the location, which could have been examined for fingerprints. He further stated, “People who are phone-snatching and you see petty theft, and the staff here have to deal with that on a daily basis, don’t feel that support is there from police.” The Metropolitan Police reiterated that the investigation was concluded and the case had been closed. The force confirmed that the victim declined to provide a statement, and the items were retrieved. Ford observed that while police staffing levels in the capital had risen, the volume of reported crime had also increased. He urged the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, to intensify efforts to reduce crime in the locality. His suggestions included establishing additional police stations and deploying more local officers on patrol during early mornings and evenings, “when you need them most.” A spokesperson representing City Hall stated that they are collaborating with the Met to address shoplifting, and the mayor has allocated “record amounts” to neighbourhood policing, alongside directly financing 1,300 extra police officers across London’s streets. They further mentioned that the government’s police funding agreement is still under development, and both the mayor and the Met are maintaining close communication with ministers. This statement follows Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley’s comment that he could not dismiss the possibility of closing additional police stations, contingent on the resolution of that funding settlement. Previously, a Home Office spokesperson indicated that the Budget had provided an increase in financial support for the Met, with the force set to receive up to £3.5bn in funding for 2024-25. This is in addition to £37.4m designated for the 2024-25 pay award, which was allocated separately from the police funding settlement. Data from the Local Government Association revealed that shoplifting constituted the third most frequently reported victim-based crime in Westminster City during the 12 months leading up to June 2024, with 5,763 incidents documented. Metropolitan Police data also indicated that Westminster recorded the highest crime rate in the capital, with nearly 365 reported crimes per 1,000 residents. Commander Glen Pavelin stated that the force’s objective is to ensure the presence of two Police Constables and one police community support officer (PCSO) in every London borough at all times. He affirmed, “Every effort is made to ensure neighbourhood officers can reach their patrol areas within reasonable timescales to maximise visibility and respond to an incident as quickly as they can.”