The Strategic Planning & Performance (Police) Committee was scheduled to meet to discuss the election of a deputy chair, minutes from the previous meeting, outstanding references, and updates on various policing strategies and performance reports. The committee was also expected to discuss a motion to exclude the public from part of the meeting.

Policing Plan Performance Report

The committee was scheduled to receive the Policing Plan Performance Report for Quarter 4 of 2024/25. The report included an overview of crime trends, a crime profile, and an update on the 14 performance measures of the 2022-25 Policing Plan.

The report noted that overall crime decreased this quarter, but was still higher than the previous 12 months. This was attributed to a rise in theft from people, shoplifting, and violence without injury offences in March 2025.

The report also highlighted the following:

• Neighbourhood Crime: There was an increase in neighbourhood crime, driven by theft from people offences, particularly phone snatching. In response, the City of London Police established Operation Swipe, described as:

  an end to end response to snatch offences in the City of London.

• Violent Crime: Violent crime had decreased compared to the last quarter, but increased compared to the same period last year.

• Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG): There was an increase in VAWG offences. The profile of VAWG crime in the City was reported as not primarily related to domestic abuse, and largely committed against non-residents.

• Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB): ASB incidents remained low. The most common types of ASB were inconsiderate behaviour and begging/vagrancy.

• Fraud: The volume of fraud outcomes had increased compared with the preceding 12 months.

• Hate Incidents: There was an increase in hate incidents, with racial hate crimes being the most common motivator. A significant proportion of non-crime hate incidents related to complaints about a broadcast made from GB News relating to the conflict in the Middle East.

The report also provided updates on victim satisfaction levels and workforce diversity within the City of London Police.

Community Engagement Strategic Plan

The committee was scheduled to discuss a quarterly update on the joint strategic community engagement plan between the City of London Police and the City of London Corporation. The plan centres on four priorities: preventing crime, protecting vulnerable individuals, gathering intelligence, and fostering public trust.

The report assessed the effectiveness of community engagement based on metrics such as public confidence, crime reduction, and demographic diversity. It also listed community-safety related engagement activities undertaken since February 2025, including public events and initiatives focused on crime prevention, inclusion, and hate crime awareness.

The report mentioned a new cluster panel model launched in November 2024, with biannual meetings. The most recent panel meetings had been completed in May 2025, and included representatives from City Corporation departments such as Street Cleansing, Environment, and Community Safety.

The report included a summary of topics raised by attendees at the cluster panel meetings:

• Fenchurch: Theft and phone snatching were top priorities. The Minories Co-Op was identified as a hotspot.
• Fleet: Concerns were raised about youths on bicycles on Shoe Lane.
• Monument: Theft offences and shoplifting were top priorities, particularly around the bridge area, Pret, Starbucks and Tesco. There had been 64 phone snatches, attributed to high footfall with snatchers masquerading as delivery cycles. An update was given on a rough sleepers’ encampment at Peninsula House.
• Liverpool Street: Shoplifting and theft were the top priorities. There was good collaborative work with British Transport Police around strands such as VAWG, but BTP have their own priorities as a national force which they concentrate on.

HMICFRS Inspections Update

The committee was scheduled to receive an overview of activity related to His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Service (HMICFRS). The report outlined the current operating position of the force in relation to HMICFRS activity and provided an update on the conclusion of the PEEL 2025 inspection process¹.

The report noted that the City of London Police had ten active HMICFRS action plans under review and was in a stable operating environment concerning the management of HMCIFRS-related improvement workstreams.

The report also stated that the City was expecting to receive notification of a custody inspection in Q2 of 2025.