Proactive Policing in Hotspot Areas
July saw the launch of Operation Martello, a Home Office-funded initiative focused on enhancing proactive policing in crime hotspot areas across Croydon town centre.
The operation involves an uplift in officers and targets serious offences such as robbery, theft, knife crime, and drug-related activity.
As part of a recent day of action under Martello:
- A male was arrested for possession of an offensive weapon, after being found with a knuckle duster
- A large quantity of drugs was discovered in a nearby stash, believed to be connected to the same individual
- He was further arrested for being concerned in the supply of drugs
This work will continue throughout the summer, with more deployments planned to disrupt criminal behaviour and increase police visibility.
Enforcement Against Illegal Vehicle Use
Operation Veyvah has been developed in response to growing concerns around the illegal and often dangerous use of e-bikes and e-scooters, which are increasingly linked to other criminal activity in the area.
During recent enforcement a vehicle was stopped for no insurance, where officers found a quantity of Class A and B drugs in the vehicle. The driver was disqualified, suspected of having taken the vehicle without consent (TWOC), and failed a roadside drug test.
He was arrested for multiple offences, including drug driving, possession of drugs, TWOC, and driving while disqualified. He was subsequently charged, remanded, and sentenced to 8 weeks in prison.
Ongoing Focus Areas
Croydon town centre’s policing priorities remain clear, with the team continuing to target the offences that cause the most harm and disruption to residents and businesses:
- Knife crime
- Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)
- Shoplifting and Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB)
While these remain key focuses, officers remain committed to tackling all crime types across the town centre.
Latest Crime Data and Reporting
There have been positive reductions in several key crime types between April and July 2025, including:
- A 21.5% decrease in personal robbery
- A 24.8% reduction in knife crime
- In May 2025, Croydon recorded its largest year-on-year decrease in robbery, down 38.53% compared to May 2024
However, there has been a recorded increase in anti-social behaviour, and work is ongoing to address this through both enforcement and partnership work.
It is important to stress that all crime data depends on accurate and timely reporting. Businesses and the public are urged to continue reporting incidents, as this directly influences how resources are deployed and priorities are set.
In case of an emergency, please call 999. For non-emergency enquiries or to report incidents, please call 101.
Businesses in the town centre can also report incidents and communicate directly with the Croydon BID Street Rangers using the Croydon BID Radio Link. This provides a fast and effective way to raise concerns and receive support.
Additionally, businesses are encouraged to join the Croydon Business Crime Reduction Partnership (CBCP) free of charge. The CBCP facilitates intelligence sharing and enables reporting of incidents. This collaboration helps build a clearer understanding of crime patterns and identifies prolific offenders in the area. More information is available at https://croydonbid.com/business/resolve/croydon-business-crime-reduction-partnership/
