St Mary Cray, Bromley

Current local priorities

• Shoplifting offences account for the largest proportion of all crime recorded on the ward. The Nugent Retail Park in SMC is known as a hotpot for shoplifting offences and is a significant crime generator. With a large number of retail outlets, the area is frequented by prolific, priority offenders, known to police to be drug dependent who often offend to fund their addiction. Items stolen include cosmetics, meat, alcohol and certain medium to high value clothing. The area is also known for persons approaching shoppers, asking for money in the street, or when standing at cashpoints. They can be verbally aggressive with members of the public who decline to give them money. These crimes and ASB place additional demand on local policing and discourages members of the public from shopping at the location, which in turn has a negative effect upon trade.
• Star Lane and its environs are known as a hot spot for a number of issues namely drug use/supply and associated ASB. The area is also known for the offences of going equipped, vehicle interference and theft of/from motor vehicles.
• "Cuckooing" is defined as the criminal exploitation of vulnerable people, involving the use of their homes as a base for criminal activities, through intimidation, or in exchange for drugs. The impact of persons being cuckooed can be extremely harmful, not just to those directly involved, but to the wider community, through increased drug use/supply and ASB.