West End Crime Crack-Down

Police officers have been highly visible in central London today, as the Metropolitan Police launched a crack-down on crime in the West End.

'Operation Trafalgar' is designed to tackle crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour in the heart of London.

Matthew Bennett from the Soho Society, which represents residents and businesses in the area, has welcomed the news that more police officers will be put on patrol in the West End.

The Metropolitan Police have announced that there will be 400 extra police officers on the streets on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

As police launch a new crack-down on crime, London Tonight has gathered statistics on assaults, thefts, robberies and sex offences in central London.

Over the last year, the West End (including areas such as Soho, Covent Garden, Chinatown and Leicester Square) has seen:

• 2,352 assaults

• 95 robberies

• 6,201 thefts from a person

• 204 sexual offences

The Metropolitan Police have announced that 400 extra officers will patrol the West End on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

It is part of a New York-style policing crackdown, which aims to target crime and anti-social behaviour over the next six months.

The Met police will launch a major new crackdown on crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour in the West End later today.

The campaign, called Operation Trafalgar, includes an area with a bed in it to help worse-for-wear revellers sober up.