Selina Scott mugged by organized gang in central London

In a shocking incident on a Tuesday afternoon, veteran broadcaster Selina Scott, aged 74, was assaulted and robbed in broad daylight on London's bustling Piccadilly. The incident occurred as Ms. Scott was leaving a Waterstones store, where she suddenly felt a significant blow to her right knee, described as akin to being stabbed. This force caused her to stumble, making her vulnerable to a gang of thieves who seemed to be organized and practiced in their attack. The gang, consisting of around seven or eight individuals appearing well-dressed, attempted to grab her backpack. While Ms. Scott managed to hold onto her bag, they unzipped it and successfully stole her purse, which contained her bank cards, cash, and driving license. As a result of the assault, she suffered bruising but did not require medical attention. She expressed feelings of humiliation and anger over the incident, emphasizing how this experience left her feeling embarrassed and vulnerable, admitting that if it could happen to her, it could happen to anyone. After the attack, she sought refuge in a nearby store, Fortnum and Mason, and was forced to walk three miles home, as she had lost her bank cards and cash. Her frustration grew as she searched for a police officer to report the crime but was unable to find one in such a crowded area, despite reports of police patrolling London. The nearby West End Central police station, she noted, had been closed four years prior, which further compounded her sense of insecurity and distress. In a subsequent media appearance, she conveyed her feelings of anger and fear for the safety of others in London, questioning the effectiveness of police presence in deterring crime. She also noted the failure of a nearby CCTV camera, which had not been functioning for over a year, highlighting systemic issues in public safety and crime response in the city. Following the incident, Mark Rowley, the Chief of the Metropolitan Police, publicly apologized to Ms. Scott for the lack of police response and acknowledged that the service she received was not adequate. He expressed empathy for her distress, noting that the police had a duty to protect citizens and improve responses to such crimes.