Oxford Street decline fuels crime surge, says Marks & Spencer

Police arrested nine people in Oxford Street on Wednesday and issued 34 dispersal orders. Photo: ALISHIA ABODUNDE/REUTERS

Crime on London's Oxford Street has risen as the former flagship shopping center has fallen into disrepair, Marks & Spencer said the chief executive.

In a letter to The Telegraph, Sascha Berengi, M&S's chief operating officer, said the area was once «the jewel in London's shopping crown» but now consisted of «empty shops». , littered streets and fewer visitors.”

His comments were in response to an op-ed by Nicholas Boyce Smith in that newspaper praising the decision by Housing Secretary Michael Gove to block M&S's plans to demolish its Marble Arch flagship store and rebuild it as part of a multi-million dollar home. sterling regeneration.

Mr Berengi said Wednesday's Oxford Street incident, in which police arrested nine people and issued 34 dispersal orders, was «another reminder of how bad things are» for the future of the county.< /p>

Retailers were forced to close the blinds of their stores, where shoppers were still inside, after batons-wielding police officers clashed with dozens of young people following rumors on social media of planned riots.

Suella Braverman, the home secretary, has since said those responsible should be «hunted down and jailed.»

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Mr Berengi said: «The street is practically closed off by the police to prevent mass riots planned on social networks.»

«Londoners know that something needs to be done, to save Oxford Street.»

M&S decides whether to abandon its Oxford Street flagship after Michael Gove blocked redevelopment plans. Photo: Geoff Pugh for Telegraph

M&S is currently considering whether to close its Oxford Street flagship store following Mr Gove's planned decision.

Mr. Gove blocked the retailer's proposals on the grounds that it «couldn't support the transition to a low-carbon future» by demolishing the building rather than repurposing it.

Stuart Machin, chief executive of Marks & Spencer criticized Mr Gove's decision at the time as «anti-business», accusing the government of acting as an environmental «pressure group».

M&S's plans have received support from Westminster Council and local authorities. businesses, including Selfridges.

Mr Berengi said: «With the support of Westminster Council, the Greater London Authority and many of our retail neighbors, M&S wanted to fight back.»

«To reverse the failures of Oxford Street by renovating our store to create a modern sustainable building that would regenerate the site, create thousands of jobs, drastically reduce current carbon emissions and attract new investment.

However, he said Mr Gove's decision meant Oxford Street «remains in in limbo».

In recent years, Oxford Street has been flooded with American-style candy stores. Photo: Carl Court/Getty Images Europe

Added Mr. Berengi: “Even more worryingly, developers across the country have stalled for fear of moving ahead with major regeneration schemes in case they are faced with similar top-down solutions that should be adopted by the local planners best suited to identify the needs of the community.”

In recent years, Oxford Street has been flooded with American-style patisserie shops, some of which have been the subject of an investigation by Westminster City Council for tax evasion.

The council claims 30 shops have failed to pay taxes of $7 £.9 million, indicating a situation where tenants are setting up shell companies that quickly fall apart and make it difficult to recover through bailiffs or insolvency.

Meanwhile, in recent years the street has been affected by the closure of a number of major department stores, including Debenhams and House of Fraser, leaving large spaces empty.

Other major retailers in the Oxford Street area have closed. expressed dissatisfaction with the demise of the shopping area.

Heal's, a furniture retailer whose main store is on Tottenham Court Road, said in April that the West End had been affected by a number of policies, including Sadiq Khan's (Ulez) ultra-low emission zone and congestion charge.

Hamish Mansbridge, chief executive of Heal's, said at the time that the policy had created «ghost towns in central London». .

He added: “I don’t hide it, we are seeing significantly lower attendance than before the pandemic, and this is a problem. You have congestion fees, parking difficulties, subway strikes, train strikes, a cost-of-living crisis, and then Ulez.

«You call it like they're actively trying to discourage people coming downtown London.