London pickpocket hunter rejects Sadiq Khan’s claim vigilantes have no impact on crime
London’s resident pickpocket hunter has hit back at Sadiq Khan who said the work of vigilantes has done nothing to help lower crime in the capital.
Diego Galdino said he was ‘disappointed but not surprised’ the Mayor of London did not recognise his crime-fighting skills while revealing offences including theft have dropped dramatically by 14%.
Mr Khan praised the work of the Metropolitan Police for bringing the rate of phone snatching down, but told Metro vigilantes have ‘not played any role in this’.
He said: ‘I think it is important to be an active bystander as long as you don’t cause any risk to yourself. I don’t think we should is groups of vigilantes going about city.’
But Diego strongly disagrees. The pickpocket hunter, who has hundreds of thousands of followers across his social media went viral when Metro first joined him on patrol in July last year.
His following has only grown since then, and he has even been able to quit his day job as a delivery driver.
He told Metro: ‘Victims come to us, we find the pickpocket and we give all the details to the police. And since I started two years ago, I have noticed a difference.’
Just patrolling Westminster’s shops, Diego has seen pickpockets spot him and fearing his iconic red spray paint, they leave.
Diego has also caught them in the act, and says he has seen around 25 of them arrested, including two who were later deported.
He said: ‘I know the Mayor will never want to recognise vigilantes, and that’s okay, because I know we have had a good impact and I wish him all the best.’
But the frustration lies in seeing those arrested back on the streets in just a matter of hours, with many not showing up for court hearings.
‘As they give their name and address to police, I tell them they are giving them fake names but they don’t really listen,’ Diego said.
‘Which means they are getting away with not showing up for court hearings, as well as being released from custody after just a few hours.’
Court delays and early release is something Mr Khan agrees with. When asked if the early release scheme was ‘undoing’ all of the hard work in reducing London’s crime rates, he admitted it was ‘frustrating’.
He said: ‘I’m frustrated when I speak to victims who tell me they’ve been told it’s going to be three years before the trial happens.
‘I’m frustrated when the police work incredibly hard to arrest somebody and they’re released the next day because of a decision made by a magistrate or judge.’
In the year to June, ‘neighbourhood’ offences, including theft, personal robbery and vehicle offences, fell 14%. There are also 13,000 fewer victims of phone theft.
Sir Mark Rowley, the Met commissioner, said: ‘The figures are clear, London is safe and getting safer each year. Neighbourhood policing is the foundation of what we do and neighbourhood crime is down 14 per cent across the capital.
‘This reduction is a reflection of a wider policing approach and the dedication and hard work of local officers, working with specialist colleagues across the Met and using cutting-edge technology to bring more criminals to justice.’
Deputy Editor
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