Since 2014, the Metropolitan Police Service had identified a significant increase in violent crimes committed by offenders riding mopeds and other vehicles such as motorised scooters in London. In recent years, crime in London had been falling. However, since 2016 London has witnessed a reversal of the trend, with violent crime rates increasing considerably since 2014. In April 2017 the Financial Times reported that gun crime increased by 42 per cent, knife crime by 24 per cent, theft from the person was up by nearly 12 per cent and instances of theft of a motor vehicle increased by 26 per cent over the previous financial year. One particular trend identified by police and the media has been robberies committed by gangs on mopeds. In October 2016 a man was sentenced after stealing 21 mobile phones in one hour. Offences on mopeds have been reported across London with the offenders threatening victims in Battersea with machetes and wielding hammers during daylight robberies in Great Portland Street near Broadcasting House.
Statistics
In May 2017 the London Evening Standard revealed that at least 50,000 crimes had been committed by gangs using stolen scooters, mopeds, motorcycles and bikes. The Metropolitan Police stated that the vehicles were often hijacked in Outer London boroughs such as Barking and Dagenham and used to commit robberies in the West End of London. Statistics released by the Metropolitan Police revealed that 1,500 scooters or motorcycles are being stolen in London every month. In the previous twelve months 13,005 thefts were reported, a 41 per cent increase over the previous period.
Thursday 13 July 2017: At least five people in Central London boroughs were attacked with sulphuric acid during a 72-minute period. The victims were riding mopeds, one as a delivery driver for Deliveroo and another for Uber Eats, before being attacked with the acid and having their mopeds hijacked. One victim suffered "life-changing" injuries.
Friday 14 July 2017: A man riding a moped had a "noxious substance", also believed to be acid, thrown at him by two males on another moped in Dagenham.
Saturday 15 July 2017: A man was stabbed to death, with gunshots also being fired, by attackers on mopeds who demanded his phone in King William Walk, Greenwich.
Sunday 16 July 2017: A teenager, riding a stolen moped, was critically injured after a collision involving a police car in Wimbledon. Two other teenagers who were also riding the moped were injured, one seriously. Police had been following the moped with the assistance of the National Police Air Service after earlier reports of an attempted robbery. Police allegedly discovered two knives at the scene. The teenager who was critically injured subsequently died.
Response
On Tuesday 18 July 2017 moped and motorcycle delivery drivers held a protest in Parliament Square concerning the recent rise in attacks on riders; including hijackings and acid attacks.
