New Police Team Announced for Ealing Town Centre
One of six high-crime areas to see boost in neighbourhood resources
The Met says that the new team will give them a more visible presence. Picture: Met Police
August 1, 2025
Ealing is set to receive a dedicated new Town Centre police team as part of a wider Metropolitan Police initiative to intensify neighbourhood policing across London’s busiest areas.
The new team will focus on targeting prolific offenders, increasing visibility, and engaging with the public to deter crime and rebuild trust. It forms part of a broader £32 million investment announced by the Met to strengthen policing in high-crime areas, including six town centres with Brixton, Kingston, Finsbury Park, Southwark, and Spitalfields benefitting as well as Ealing.
Ealing Council has welcomed the move, citing the importance of sustained investment in public safety and visible policing. The new team is expected to begin operations later this summer.
The Met’s Commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, said the force is “getting smaller but more capable,” with a “laser-like focus” on placing officers where they can have the greatest impact. “We’re adding up to 170 additional officers, split between the West End and town centres across London,” he said.
“Neighbourhood crime has already fallen by almost a fifth over the last year, and moving these officers to the frontline will make sure we are a more visible presence.”
In Ealing specifically, over the last year knife crime is down by 16.7%, violence against the person down by 11.4% and theft from person down by 41.8%
The new Town Centre team is expected to build on these improvements by focusing on antisocial behaviour, phone theft, and shoplifting—issues that remain priorities for residents and businesses.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said the expansion of Safer Neighbourhood Teams reflects a commitment to “high visibility policing” and is part of a wider strategy to rebuild community confidence. “Despite years of austerity by the previous government, this is the latest example of the Met Police and I prioritising what Londoners want,” he said.
The announcement coincides with the launch of the Met’s new three-year strategy, A New Met for London: Phase 2, which is currently open for public consultation. Residents are encouraged to share their views via an online survey.
The Met has also recruited over 300 additional PCSOs and more than 300 officers across ranks to support neighbourhood policing, with a target of 500 PCSOs in total. These efforts are part of a broader partnership approach involving local authorities, businesses, and community groups to tackle crime in London’s high streets and town centres.
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