The Local Policing Committee met on Tuesday 22 September 2026 to discuss a range of policing matters, including performance updates, victim support strategies, and community engagement plans. Key decisions included noting reports on local policing, the policing plan performance for Q1 2026/27, and an update on the City of London Victims Strategy. The committee also engaged in a discussion regarding proposals for a Strategic Engagement Plan.

Local Policing Update

Commander Mandy Horsburgh provided an update on local policing operations and security. The report highlighted ongoing efforts to prevent crime and increase public confidence across the Square Mile. Operation Reframe, focused on tackling sexual offending and supporting victims, received positive feedback. A Neighbourhood Policing Day of Action on 30 July aimed to address acquisitive crime and violence against women and girls. Significant incidents included a response to a stabbing near Aldgate High Street, where swift actions by officers are believed to have saved a life, and the arrest of three suspects following a high-value armed robbery.

Anti-social behaviour (ASB) in the Barbican area saw a 25% reduction in July due to joint teamwork and partnership efforts. The City of London Police Federation organised a successful Family Fun Day on 25 July, attended by over 600 staff and their families. Operation Makesafe delivered significant safeguarding outcomes through targeted engagement with the hospitality sector, increasing uptake of child exploitation awareness training. Project Servator deployments across the City will be enhanced with £96,000 of external funding, with a focus on protecting vulnerable locations and sites of interest, particularly those associated with the Jewish community.

The City of London Corporation's hotel safety kit was launched on 16 July, equipping hotel staff to recognise and respond to safeguarding concerns. The City Belonging Champions initiative, focused on promoting inclusion, was launched on 17 July, with officers engaging directly with businesses and community partners. In response to a rise in vehicle crime, targeted policing led to the arrest of two males, resulting in zero reported offences at the affected location since the operation. The Cycle Team continued their road safety events and engagement with vulnerable road users. Shoplifting offences in July reduced significantly compared to the previous year, attributed to effective deployment plans and local engagement with businesses.

Policing Plan Performance Report - Q1 2026/27

The committee received a report summarising the City of London Police's performance against its Policing Plan for the first quarter of 2026/27. The report indicated that the force had successfully reduced violence, even with expected seasonal increases. Efforts are ongoing to adapt the hotspot policing approach to emerging threats, such as the rise in all other theft crime types. Response rates for incidents remain excellent, and these are beginning to translate into increasing outcome rates for theft and violence offences.

The report noted a national increase in the terrorism threat level during the quarter, with CoLP maintaining a proactive counter-terrorism protect and prepare approach. Victim satisfaction surveys are progressing, with workshops held to better understand victims' experiences. Service levels for victims' rights in investigations remain high. A change in reporting outcomes from April 2026 may affect how outcome rates appear compared to previous reporting periods.

Overall crime saw a 1.2% reduction in the past 12 months. In Q1 2026/27, there were 2,133 crimes, a slight increase from the previous quarter but similar to Q1 2025/26. Theft offences constitute the largest proportion of crime (65%), followed by violence (14%). Notable increases were seen in theft from the person and violence without injury. A substantial decrease in drug trafficking was attributed to a specific recording issue.

Regarding theft, while there was a small increase in the three priority theft offences this quarter, they remain within tolerance levels. However, compared to the same quarter last year, there was a 6.1% increase. All other theft offences have seen a significant increase of 25.3% when comparing Q1 2026/27 to Q1 2025/26. Shoplifting offences increased by 11.9% this quarter compared to the previous one, but decreased by 3.2% compared to Q1 2025/26. Theft from person offences increased by 29.4% this quarter but decreased by 6% compared to Q1 2025/26.

In terms of incident response, CoLP attended 100% of immediate graded theft incidents within the 15-minute timeframe and 100% of significant graded theft incidents within the 60-minute timeframe. The solved+ outcome rate for theft offences closed this quarter was 11.8%.

For violence, immediate graded response attendance was 96.8%, and significant graded response attendance was 94.6%. The solved+ outcome rate for all violence offences closed this quarter was 20.3%, an increase from the previous quarter and above the national average.

The report also detailed efforts to protect the City from terrorism, with the UK threat level raised to severe. CoLP implemented fortnightly CONTEST(e) meetings and a Gold/Silver/Bronze command structure. Training packages for SCaN and ACT were delivered to over 375 individuals. Multi-agency exercises were conducted to test responses to marauding terrorist attacks. Prevent referrals remained low, with five referrals deconflicted and returned to the Metropolitan Police Service. Op Lightning reports increased by 34% compared to the previous quarter.

City of London Victims Strategy - Update

The committee received an update on the City of London Victims Strategy, published in December 2024. The strategy prioritises better information and communication, procedural justice, improved multi-agency working, and the professionalism of victims' services. Seven of the thirteen measures outlined in the strategy have been delivered, with six in progress. Enabling measures, including improved governance and a new performance framework, have been delivered.

Compliance with the Victim Code of Practice remains consistently above 94%, exceeding the internal minimum standard of 90%. For victim-based crimes, 11.9% reached a positive outcome rate in the past 12 months, significantly above the national average. A new victim information leaflet has been created and embedded in initial crime report letters. Victim services are now integrated into the Op Hampshire working group, ensuring victims at the heart of responses to assaults and hate crimes on police officers and staff.

CoLP has transitioned to an opt-out approach for victim support referrals, resulting in a 24% increase in victims referred to Victim Support. The City's Vulnerable Victim's Advocate (VVA) has seen a significant increase in referrals, with the role now full-time. The victim satisfaction survey has been redesigned and is now managed internally, with a 97% completion rate for demographic information. Victim focus groups have provided qualitative insights, highlighting the importance of feeling listened to, informed, and supported. Areas for improvement include explanations of the criminal justice and court processes.

Strategic Engagement Plan Proposals

The committee discussed proposals for a new Safer City Community Engagement Strategy 2026-2029 and its supporting Delivery Plan. The strategy aims to embed a more structured, evidence-based, and collaborative approach to engagement, ensuring communities influence policing priorities and community safety outcomes. The report highlighted extensive engagement activity undertaken by City of London Police between April and August 2026, including community meetings, crime prevention events, and business engagement.

The strategy is built on principles of being community-led, targeted and inclusive, partnership-based, scalable and universal, insight-driven, and accountable. It aims to prevent crime and harm, strengthen trust and confidence, enhance feelings of safety, and improve accountability. The strategy will be delivered through a coordinated partnership approach involving the City of London Police, the Police Authority Team, the Safer City Partnership, and the City of London Corporation.

Key actions for 2026-27 include holding Safer City Forums, implementing the Neighbourhood Alert platform, rolling out the City of London Corporation's Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system to CoLP, and developing topic-based engagement with businesses. The plan also includes increasing targeted engagement with under-represented groups and developing an annual engagement calendar. The committee was asked to note the new strategy, endorse the development of a coordinated delivery model, and note that CoLP's communication requirements will inform the new City Corporation communications strategy.