A resident of one London neighborhood says police gave him strange advice about deterring drug dealers, car break-ins and threats. The Met Police, who cover all of Greater London, suggested he play some classical music, but not too loudly.
According to the British tabloid The Sun, the exchange took place via email, which followed months of car break-ins and a resident saying a dealer threatened them.
The issues are unfolding in St. John’s Wood, a northwest London neighborhood known for its multimillion-dollar houses. It also has the iconic crosswalk where The Beatles photographed the cover of their album “Abbey Road.”
In response to a resident sending pictures of some offenses, the Sun says a Met Police constable suggested the resident ask the local housing authority to play classical music, which is “proven to deter and prevent crimes.”
The London cop added that the resident should not play the music too loudly “as that can cause other complaints.”
A group of 7-Eleven stores in Canada reportedly succeeded with the practice. It has since been adopted in places such as the London Underground and Los Angeles and New York transit stations.
However, a 2018 analysis by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette found that “there are no published studies that indicate that classical music alone deters loitering and crime.”
A Met Police spokesperson told The Sun that the advice in the email doesn’t reflect the agency’s policy.