The West End is a district you can walk across in just 20 minutes, yet it is one of the UK’s most economically significant places, generating nearly £9 billion in annual turnover. It boasts an extraordinary concentration of British heritage, globally renowned retail, leading hospitality and leisure providers, cultural institutions, and in-demand Grade-A office space. It is a world-leading destination where international perceptions of London and the UK are shaped every single day.
Whether you are visiting for the first time or the hundredth, it is the buzz of the West End, coupled with the district’s unique ability to offer something for everyone, that is so magnetic, drawing people back time and time again. That experience however depends on people feeling welcome and safe as they explore everything the district has to offer. Safety is not just a public service issue; it drives visitor confidence, investment decisions and the long-term commercial viability of an area.
As the Business Improvement District (BID) representing over 800 West End businesses, which employ approximately 350,000 workers, New West End Company is committed to protecting and strengthening that foundation. Creating a West End which is safe and welcoming is one of our core pillars, with Security and District Operations representing our single largest area of investment.
That is why, in addition to continued investment into our own security operations, we pride ourselves on having built close working relationships with the Metropolitan Police, Westminster City Council and other local stakeholders over the past decade. And, as our inaugural ‘Open and Safe: The West End Evidence Report’ demonstrates, this type of partnership working delivers real results.
Crime in the UK’s busiest commercial district is increasingly organised rather than opportunistic. The concentration of world-class retail, hospitality, leisure and business operators, combined with visitor numbers not seen anywhere else in the UK, make the West End an attractive target. Despite this, our own data shows year-on-year footfall increases, and our bi-annual on-street sentiment surveys of thousands of visitors show that the majority who feel safe when they are here.
That said, there is still more to do, and it is critical we maintain the momentum of positive changes already underway. Recognising the impact crime and the perceptions of safety have on the West End’s reputation and economic success, New West End Company has committed £23 million to enhance security operations over the next five years, a clear demonstration of our long-term commitment to an open and safe West End.
A step-change from the Metropolitan Police, which has committed additional officers to the West End, alongside a further £4.5 million investment from the Mayor’s Office of Policing and Crime to tackle high-profile crimes like phone theft are all beginning to make measurable differences.
Furthermore, the new administration at Westminster City Council has placed street safety front and centre of its own agenda, reflecting commitments made in its manifesto and responding to concerns from businesses and residents. The newly created position of Cabinet Member for Enforcement, held by a Deputy Leader of the Council, signals a renewed focus on ensuring the public realm reflects the West End’s global reputation, focusing on issues including anti-social behaviour, illegal street trading and dumping of e-bikes and scooters.
This report examines what is working, where further action is needed, and how we can build on the progress already made. Creating an open and safe West End depends on a shared ambition, continued investment and a sustained partnership approach.
Together, we can ensure the West End remains one of the world’s most welcoming, safe, vibrant and economically successful destinations for generations to come.
Dee Corsi
Chief Executive, New West End Company
