Inside the UK's crime-ridden 'sin city' flooded by tourists where locals live in fear

A neighbourhood known for its diverse culture and vibrant markets has become plagued with crime in recent years. Opportunistic criminals have preyed on the surge of tourists, with around 100,000 visiting per week, while some locals feel unsafe leaving their own homes.

Camden has the second-highest crime rate of any area in London, behind Westminster. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), there are 195 crimes for every 1,000 residents in the North London borough. The popular Camden Market has become a hotbed for crime, with masked thieves capitalising on the crowds of tourists to steal phones and bags.

As reported by The Sun, some Camden locals are now calling the area "sin city" as the situation is getting so bad. According to residents, the most common issue in the borough is phone theft.

Thieves are often spotted dressed in all black and riding ebikes. They ride up behind pedestrians before grabbing their phones and wizzing away.

Ahmed Gholami, a 21-year-old who works at the market, said: "There's a lot of crime here, someone stole my stuff just a few weeks ago. I was working at the stall here and they just took my stuff."

The issue of phone-snatching has become so common that most locals avoid holding their devices while walking around. Anna Sabben, a mother of one, said the rise in crime has made her scared to leave her home.

She said that she doesn't "dare" to be on her phone when out.

As well as theft, the streets of Camden are plagued with issues of drug dealing and violence. One local, Sharon, said she "hears about stabbings a lot" in the area.

Shoplifting has also become a serious issue in the borough. Business owner JoJo Khan, 58, said he was afraid to confront thieves who raided his corner shop.

He said: "Of course it's all the time, smokers, drinkers, teenagers, they come in they pick stuff up put it in their pocket and they disappear."

The local council are now working with police to clamp down on crime in the area. According to one officer, total crime has decreased by 24% compared to the previous year, including a 29% drop in robberies and 27.5% fall in thefts.

A Camden Council spokesperson said: "We work closely with the Police to keep Camden residents safe and respond to issues in their communities. We're stepping up our response to anti-social behaviour, including putting on more patrols in hotspot areas.

"Every reported incident is investigated by our Community Safety team, so we urge residents to report non-emergency anti-social behaviour via our online reporting tool, or by calling 0207 974 4444."

Superintendent Matt Cox who leads neighbourhood policing in Camden said: "We are committed to addressing concerns raised by local residents.

"We have worked with partners, such as Camden council to reduce overall neighbourhood crime by 24%, robbery by 29%, theft by 27.5% and Anti-social behaviour by 5.5% compared to the previous year. We are arresting and charging more offenders as part of our initiative to tackle crime in the borough.

"We have recognised Camden Town Centre as one of our highest priorities in the borough and have an increased police presence within this area in order to identify issues, tackle crime including anti-social behaviour.

"Through effective policing, strong partnerships and working directly with communities we will continue to bring down crime rates throughout Camden."