People claim London crime is rising because it suits them, Met commander says

"But Andrew Featherstone, a commander in the Met police, said the data showed a decrease of 13% in robbery this year as he revealed that a suspected international smuggling gang believed to be responsible for handling 40% of phones stolen in London had been dismantled. Asked about perceptions that London was becoming unsafe, Featherstone said there was no doubt that it suited some people,"

"After an investigation lasting nearly a year, the force said it had taken down a criminal network suspected to have smuggled up to 40,000 stolen phones from the UK to China over the past 12 months up to 40% of all phones stolen in London. The Met said it believed it had significantly disrupted London's stolen phone market in an operation known as Echosteep, which started last December"

Recorded robbery in London decreased by 13% this year. A suspected international smuggling network believed to have smuggled up to 40,000 stolen phones, accounting for up to 40% of phones stolen in London, was taken down after nearly a year-long investigation. An operation called Echosteep, which began last December, is credited with significantly disrupting the stolen-phone market. Targeting of volume crime such as shoplifting, phone theft and burglary has been stepped up in the West End with potential roll-out across the city. Perceptions of rising danger have been amplified using non-police surveys that report higher victim rates than police figures.

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