The demise of Oxford Street is fuelling a rise in crime in the famous shopping area, a Marks & Spencer boss has said.
The street - one of Europe’s most well-known shopping areas - has been blighted in recent years by a proliferation of “eyesore” American-style sweetshops and vacant stores.
Meanwhile, Met Police data shows crime in the area has risen by 40 per cent in the last year - following a rise of more than 120 per cent in the 12 months before that.
M&S operations director Sacha Berendji said in a letter to the Telegraph that while the area was once “the jewel in London’s shopping crown”, it now comprised “empty shops, littered streets and fewer visitors”.
His comments came after M&S was last month refused permission to tear down and rebiuild its flagship Oxford Street store, which it said would have helped boost the area.
Westminster Council had approved plans to let the retailer demolish the Art Deco building near Marble Arch and build a new shop, along with offices, a cafe and a gym.
But after significant opposition from heritage and environmental campaigners, Housing Secretary Michael Gove launched an inquiry and eventually rejected the proposal over concerns the public benefits did not outweigh the harm to nearby landmarks.
Mr Berendji criticised Mr Gove’s decision in his letter, saying the M&S redevelopment “would have regenerated the area” and “attracted new investment”.
On Wednesday, police descended on Oxford Street, arresting at least nine people and handing out 34 dispersal orders after social media posts suggested a mass looting was planned in the area.
Officers are continuing to provide a reassuring presence within the Oxford Street area.
— MPS Westminster (@MPSWestminster) August 9, 2023
We have issued 24 dispersal orders and arrested five people. pic.twitter.com/OVmi1WDHvB
Home Secretary Suella Braverman said the youths responsible for the chaotic scenes must be “hunted down” by police and “locked up”.
Mr Berendji said the incident was “another reminder of how bad things are”, writing in his letter: “The street was practically locked down by police to prevent major unrest planned on social media.
“Londoners know that something must be done to save Oxford Street.”
Oxford Street, Regent Street and Bond Street were hit by nearly 18,500 crimes in the 12 months to July this year - rising from 13,200 in the previous 12 months - according to Met Police data.
More than 82 per cent of the area’s crimes in the last year were thefts, while 5 per cent were ‘violence against the person’ and 4.5 per cent were robberies.
As the fight goes on against American sweet shops and business closures, hope appears to be on the horizon.
Plans were unveiled this week for a major new modern art museum, Moco Museum, which hopes to take over a sprawling 1920s building opposite Marble Arch for its third European gallery.
Meanwhile small businesses are being offered six months’ free rent to take up a shop in Oxford Street, in a bid by Westminster City Council to restore pride to its beleagured high street.
Westminster council has been contacted for comment.
