It’s been two years since I took on the role of Superintendent for local policing in Croydon, and I remain incredibly proud of the strong, collaborative work between Croydon Police, our partner agencies, businesses, and the community.

This partnership is the strongest I’ve experienced in my career, and it’s clear that there’s a shared determination to make Croydon a safer and more vibrant place to live, work, and visit.

As the regeneration of Croydon continues, I assure you that the police will contribute our expertise to help ensure that future developments take into account crime prevention and anti-social behaviour reduction. This is crucial to the long-term sustainability and growth of Croydon Town Centre.

2024 Successes

Reflecting on the year gone by, there are notable achievements we can be proud of, particularly in relation to crime reduction.

In 2024, personal robbery offences in Croydon dropped by 25.5% compared to the previous year, and violence with injury offences decreased by 10.6%. At the most serious end of the scale, we recorded one murder compared to nine in 2023.

These reductions represent real progress, and we will continue to build on them as we enter 2025.

Addressing Crime Perception

While we’ve seen positive reductions in crime, we understand that these don’t always translate into a greater sense of safety or change perceptions of Croydon as quickly as we would all hope.

Rest assured, we are committed to doing everything we can to keep everyone safe and to address the issues that matter most to our community. This includes serious crimes such as shoplifting, shopworker violence, and public space harassment of women and girls, which will continue to be treated with the seriousness they deserve.

Operational Activities

Over the past year, operational activities have contributed significantly to tackling crime in Croydon. One example is our use of Live Facial Recognition (LFR) technology, which has led to the arrest of nearly 200 wanted offenders in Croydon Town Centre in the last 12 months. This will continue into the new year, helping us maintain our efforts to reduce crime and increase safety.

Local Policing

I’m proud of the work done by our local policing teams, led by Inspector Chapman-Rosenfeld. Throughout 2024, they have worked proactively to remove weapons, drugs, and dangerous offenders from Croydon.

The support of the community is invaluable in keeping our officers motivated and effective in their roles. While resourcing limitations are a challenge, we continue to explore innovative ways to maximise our visible police presence, which is an ongoing priority.

Looking Ahead to 2025

As we look ahead to 2025, I want to reaffirm our commitment to tackling crime and ensuring that Croydon remains a safe, vibrant, and welcoming place. We are continuously working to improve public safety and support businesses, and I am confident that together, we can achieve even more in the coming year.

I wish you all a safe and prosperous 2025.