“My son was followed home by two boys last November, and they came into our flat and stole from him,” remarked Sinead Masterson.
Ms. Masterson, representing Islington Concerned Parents UK, is one of many parents in the north London borough alarmed by a surge in after-school robberies.
She joined other parents in a march through Islington on Saturday, expressing concerns about insufficient police support for children who are being victimized.
The Metropolitan Police stated that they had boosted patrols as students returned to school in January, while Islington Council announced its collaboration with the police.
After her son was mugged at knifepoint for his phone, Ms. Masterson organized a meeting with other worried parents and local officials.
“We saw a strong police presence in that vicinity for about a week, but then it quickly faded,” she noted.
“Since the new year began, the situation hasn’t improved.
“Robberies continue to occur, and kids now feel unsafe walking to school.”
One mother at Saturday’s march shared with BBC London: “Children, in particular, are being targeted on their journey home. They’re being robbed and are starting to feel insecure.”
A man at the event expressed: “We don’t believe the police and authorities are doing enough.”
“It’s turning into a regular occurrence, and it’s frightening,” another woman commented.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed they are actively investigating the robberies reported in Islington.
Supt Jack May-Robinson stated: “Over the past four weeks, we have seen a 34.3% drop in robbery incidents in Islington compared to the prior four weeks.
“We intensified police patrols when children returned to school in January and utilized powers under Section 35 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act to allow officers to disperse individuals as part of our efforts to protect children from robbery.”
Islington Council mentioned it is working alongside the Met, indicating that their “targeted operations in response to these robberies have led to a notable decrease in offences in the area”.
They further added: “We have also secured funds to assist vulnerable children at risk of robbery during the critical hours between 3 PM and 6 PM.
“We understand the physical and emotional impact these crimes impose on victims and their families, and it’s encouraging to witness our community’s resolve to confront this issue directly.
“While challenges persist, it is crucial that we continue collaborating.”
