Times Square is such a model of crime-fighting success that London police recently flew two of their most senior supervisors to the Big Apple to learn the NYPD’s secrets, sources told The Post.
The Metropolitan Police force across The Pond was battling a scourge of muggers and pickpockets in London’s touristy West End areas, such as Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus, the law-enforcement sources said.
So a few months ago, the London department — famed for its helmeted bobbies — sent two supervisors to meet with NYPD officials for pointers on how to control crime.
The NYPD’s secret was not complicated — flood the area with high-profile officers, the sources said.
The Metropolitan Police started blanketing London’s crime-magnet tourist areas with around 100 officers about six weeks ago, with many of the cops standing on sidewalk platforms to be more visible.
The results have been astounding, according to two bobbies.
“This used to be the most crime-ridden area in the United Kingdom,” one officer said. “Now, there’s no crime at all.”
The London cops said they now spend much of their day mugging for cameras with tourists.
“All the criminals have moved out of the area because of our presence,” the second officer said.