Croydon Council has adopted a new Community Safety Strategy for 2026-2029, building on a reported four percent decrease in overall crime since 2023. Mayor Jason Perry highlighted significant reductions in personal robbery (29%), knife crime (24%), residential burglary (19%), and shoplifting (24%). These figures, representing people who have not become victims of crime, come from official Metropolitan Police data and crime records.
The strategy, which received cross-party support after the administration accepted amendments from the Labour Group, focuses on tackling violence against women and girls, protecting young people from violence and exploitation, and creating safer neighbourhoods, high streets, and business communities.
Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls
The strategy continues a strong focus on tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG). Key initiatives include the development of Croydon's first ever VAWG Action Plan, strengthening prevention and earlier intervention, and pursuing perpetrators. The council will also support and protect victims, survivors, and their families, enhancing coordinated community response to domestic abuse through partnership work. Additional funding will be secured for Bromley and Croydon Women's Aid to deliver the Bridging the Borders programme, and the staff Domestic Abuse Champions program will continue. A new VAWG Network will be developed, and schools and libraries will become safe spaces. Croydon is also signing up to the Women's Night Safety Charter.
A new VAWG Taskforce will meet regularly to discuss issues, share information, and safeguard victims. The council will commission a Domestic Abuse Related Death Thematic Review, and a dedicated police officer will join the Croydon Town Centre team to investigate VAWG offences. Furthermore, VAWG Education programmes focusing on healthy relationships will be delivered in 10 schools by voluntary sector organisations.
Protecting Young People
Key strategies for protecting young people from violence and exploitation include prevention, intervention, disruption, and diversion. This means ensuring children have the best start in life, providing opportunities and access through community support, identifying and supporting those at risk of offending or exploitation, acting against individuals causing harm, and offering positive activities.
Specific initiatives include the implementation of the first Youth Safety Delivery Plan
focused on street safety, and the commissioning of trusted community groups for outreach in key areas. A range of youth activities and events will be part of the London Borough of Culture, and the Holiday Activity and Food Programme (HAF) will continue to provide free activities and food for eligible children. Work to tackle online knife sales is ongoing, and partnership with Redthread will continue youth work in Croydon University Hospital. Projects like Engage (custody suite youth work) and Turnaround (prevention project) will continue to reduce reoffending. The council will also work with schools to prevent robbery through education programmes, install knife bins across the borough, and install bleed kits. A Child First
approach will be embedded in the Youth Justice Service.
Effectiveness will be measured by reducing serious youth violence, reducing first-time entrants to the youth justice system, reducing the fear of crime for young people, a reduction in personal robbery, the number of schools visited for safety guidance, and feedback from young people on interventions.
Safer Neighbourhoods and High Streets
The strategy prioritises focusing resources on hotspot areas with disproportionate levels of crime and anti-social behaviour (ASB), including the Town Centre, West Croydon, Thornton Heath, New Addington, Shrublands, and Woodside. A Town Centre Taskforce, involving statutory, community, and voluntary sector organisations, will tackle issues like fly-tipping, litter, drug use, and business crime. Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) are already in place in the Town Centre and Thornton Heath to combat ASB, street drinking, and public urination.
The Community Safety Engagement Board (CSEB), established to improve collaboration with residents and community groups, has met regularly to discuss safety initiatives. The council is also upgrading its CCTV network across Croydon to deter crime and aid investigations. Improvements to the physical appearance of areas, such as installing yellow floor markings outside banks to enhance ATM security, are being implemented. Live Facial Recognition cameras are being deployed by the Metropolitan Police in the Town Centre. Focused home visits by the London Fire Brigade will be conducted in priority neighbourhoods, and Operation Martello, a Metropolitan Police operation, will tackle violence and safeguard young people. The council is also exploring GPS tagging for prolific shoplifters and deploying visibility patrols in hotspot locations.
These improvements are ongoing, with the strategy covering the period 2026-2029. Specific initiatives like the Town Centre Taskforce and PSPOs have already been implemented, and others are being explored.
Sustained Reductions and Community Engagement
The strategy aims for sustained reductions in crime by emphasizing partnership working with the Metropolitan Police Service, schools, businesses, and communities, alongside a zero-tolerance approach to crime and ASB. The focus on prevention and robust enforcement, coupled with targeted resources in high-priority neighbourhoods and continuous improvement of initiatives like CCTV and patrols, suggests a commitment to progress beyond 2029.
To ensure resident and business needs are met, the council has established the Community Safety Engagement Board (CSEB). This board facilitates collaboration between residents, community groups, and various public services. Feedback from CSEB meetings has informed the strategy, and consultations were held with key partners, including victims, survivors, the voluntary sector, communities, and businesses, during the development of delivery plans. A specific consultation on the strategy was held in October 2025. The Safer Croydon Partnership (SCP) will provide updates and consult with relevant partnerships, recognising the need for flexibility and agility in engagement through new forums and linking into pre-existing boards.
Further details on the strategy can be found in the Public reports pack.
