Residents and business owners along Kilburn High Road in North London say the street has been neglected and is plagued by crime, including phone snatchings, shoplifting, and knife attacks. They are calling for a makeover to compete with the more affluent neighbouring areas of West Hampstead and Queen's Park.
Omri Chetrit, who has run Folkies Music, an instrument store and repair workshop, since 2008, says he is increasingly interrupted by crime outside his shop. The 47-year-old luthier, who has worked with stars such as Matty Healy of The 1975 and Chrissy Hynde of The Pretenders, said: 'I've seen three people robbed with my own eyes in the last few months. These guys on scooters or electric motorbikes go on the pavement and then speed off.'
He added that Tesco staff are abused and shoplifted from daily, and drug addicts mill around. 'It's happening on a daily basis,' he said.
Kilburn's History and Decline
Kilburn has long been considered the vibrant outsider between Queen's Park and West Hampstead. The high road was once known as the 'Musical Mile' due to its numerous pubs, dance halls, and live venues. The Beatles, Frank Sinatra, Black Sabbath, and David Bowie all performed at the former Gaumont State Theatre in the 1960s and 1970s. The area also earned the nickname 'County Kilburn' from the post-war migration of Irish workers.
Omri said: 'There's just not been a lot of development or support for people, especially since the pandemic. They focused on King's Cross, Tottenham Court Road, Holborn, and well, Kilburn was at the bottom of the list. The problem now is that people from other areas don't want to come down here.'
Police Crackdown
In April, the Metropolitan Police arrested more than 40 people and seized 74 illegal e-bikes during a week-long operation to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour on the high street. Officers also recovered at least 1,000 suspected stolen mobile phones, two machetes, and nitrous oxide canisters worth over £3,000.
Inspector Yu Zhang, who led the crackdown, said: 'We know these offences are ones that our communities care about, and they want to see officers taking robust action. We have done exactly that; this week-long operation will disrupt the criminal networks in Kilburn, ensuring the area is undoubtedly safer for the community.'
However, resident Alex Crogle, 32, says the temporary action is not enough to stop the pattern of 'commit and release'. He has seen shoplifters taken into custody only to reoffend days later. 'It's a good thing they've put more officers down the road, but it's only the start. The problem is not the police. They arrested two people in Cash Converters across the street, and the day after they were here again.'
The Italian native has lived and worked in the area for two years but says he would move if given the opportunity, ideally 20 minutes north, to be in a 'completely different world'. He noted an increase in crime over the past 12 months, including a stabbing on Oxford Road, a residential street adjacent to Kilburn High Road, three weeks ago.
Ongoing Violence
MyLondon has reported on nine stabbings on or immediately next to Kilburn High Road in the last 12 months, including an incident that left a 19-year-old man fighting for his life. MP Tulip Siddiq previously said constituents were 'living in fear' amid the crime wave.
Despite this, Alex remains hopeful. 'The council has been doing a lot of jobs around. It seems like they've put a lot of money into it. They've done up the pavement, the park, to renew the area. I don't know if it will make a difference, but we just need to wait and see.'
Council Investment
Camden Council, in partnership with Brent and Westminster, secured more than £8 million in funding in 2025 to launch the Better, Safer Kilburn scheme. Councillor Adam Harrison said the project aims to provide a 'more inviting and accessible experience for everyone' who visits the high road. Projects include wider pavements, protected cycle crossings, pocket parks, and upgraded street furniture to improve road safety and restore pride in the area.
Hamid Mir, who runs café Sweet and Savoury, sees both good and bad points of Kilburn since launching his business two years ago. 'The rich side does not come to the main road because there are too many drugs, too many robberies. We see it here every day. But I'm not concerned about knives as I try to stay inside if people are arguing.'
He believes that more families walking around would reduce crime. 'It would benefit everyone. But if there's people smoking, drinking, I'm not going to bring my children here.' He also noted that traffic issues from roadworks are pushing people away, reducing footfall.
