Queens Gate Ward Police Panel Committee Meeting 28th October 2025

The police panel met at the end of October and it was attended by four members of the public and eight police officers led by Sergeant Robin Lambert-Singer.

The wide range of topics discussed were:

Suspicious businesses premises

As a result of previous discussions, the police actively monitored the suspected restaurant in the Gloucester Road area over many weeks and agreed that the premises were very unlikely to be commercial based on the ostensible trade.  A further two premises on Gloucester Road (a café and another premises) were considered to likely also be operating as fronts for illegal businesses including money laundering.  The police have escalated the matter to the appropriate government authority.

Begging

The beggars by the church and the rear exit of Waitrose were successfully moved on in the summer.  Recently however fresh faces have appeared at Sainsburys and Waitrose ostensibly selling the Big Issue.  These are not licenced Big Issue sellers (who should only be selling copies of Big Issue) but are individuals brought over from EU countries like Romania by people-smuggling gangs and literally "dressed-up" in a Big Issue parka with someone else's badge and old dated copies of the magazine.  These individuals beg and pass their proceeds onto their minders (often standing close-by) whereas real licensed Big Issue sellers need to account for their sales and magazine copies and do not beg.  The beggars take about £100/day which is then passed on to those running the operation.  As you might have read they have recently set up camp again on Park Lane.  The police are doing everything they can to move these people along but the real task is finding and arresting the organisers.

Crime Statistics

The latest crime statistics are attached, and they show a downward trend in our area.  The recent operations in our area (like Operation Marshall) and more broadly in London are perceived to be behind this.  Recent work on the Kings Road and in Earls Court resulted in 6 out of 60 stops of fast food drivers being found to have committed an immigration offence.  A further individual was found to being required for immediate deportation to India.

Mobile Phone, Handbag Theft & Shoplifting

A handbag was recently stolen off a pavement chair at Paul on Gloucester Road.  It goes without saying that wherever one is in London not putting your phone on the table or you bag over the back of your chair / under your chair (especially at an outside table) remains excellent advice.  Phone thefts are still prevalent although down on the previous summer peak.  The advice remains: do not walk with your phone in your hand, put it in your pocket and use earphones.  Seek a safe space if you need to look at the screen.  At Waitrose the police have advised the store to move wine and other tempting items away from the very open front of the store but, we are advised,  the wine promoters / Waitrose management have refused to do so as this would impact sales.  So it seems that the theft preventative measures would impact sales to such an extent that cost of lower sales /profits would be greater than the shoplifting losses.  A local resident had been targeted in the queue at the baskets-only counter in Waitrose Gloucester Road.  The other person in the queue insisted the resident, who was much older, went before him.  When the resident came to pay by credit card, he discovered the other person had made off with it as a result of deception through distraction.  The bank swiftly put a stop on the card after it had been reported and the amount stolen refunded to the resident.  To prevent this happening, customers are advised not to put their cards or phones on the counter whilst they are packing their shopping into their carriers.

Short Sublets and Unlawful Activities

Some homeowners have fallen victim to a scam whereby an unsuspecting Landlord grants a Tenant an Assured Shorthold Tenancy.  The Tenant stops paying the rent, moves out and advertises the property on holiday letting websites and pockets the proceeds.  Such short sublets, as well as other letting arrangements, often lead to criminal and anti-social behaviour requiring intervention by the Police, RBKC and/or the Building Owner and Flat Owner. Operation Moon Twist has resulted in the closure of pop-up brothels in our area and prosecutions for criminal offences, including possession with intent to supply.  More recently, suspicious activity in certain properties has been reported by residents in and around Cornwall Gardens.  This is under investigation.   

Supercars

Please see the attached press release.  There has been considerable noise at night from supercars revving along Cromwell Road between Earls Court and the South Kensington museums.  Exhibition Road and Sloane Street are also hot spots – apparently videos of the organised meets are posted on Instagram and TikTok. The suggestion is that we bid for a noise camera from RBKC using CIL (Community Infrastructure Levy) monies.  Second offenders within 12 months (car used or the driver caught) can have the cars taken under Section 59 of the Police Reform Act 2002.

Drugs

A flat on the Worlds End Estate was recently busted for drugs.  The occupier had smashed 12 cameras on the estate in order to try and keep his operations private.  This will hopefully have a positive impact on crime in Earls Court and surrounding areas.

Theft from Vehicles

A Range Rover was broken into on De Vere Gardens on Monday 27th October by a rider of an electric Lime bike, dressed all in black, who smashed a rear window and took a laptop lying on the back seat.  Never leave anything visible on the seats, in the centre console etc!

Burglaries

It is that time of year when it gets darker earlier.  The most likely time for burglaries is still 3-5pm, so dusk when people have not yet got home from work.  The usual advice applies: Do not leave parcels on doorsteps, advise a safe place.  Lock side gates.  Put out a dog bowl with water to put off burglars.   Keep your front hedges low.  Install flimsy trellises that are hard to scramble over and break.

Many thanks again to the police for their efforts & their successes and to Andrew Wylie for chairing and Alan Lester for again hosting the meeting.