Real estate mogul Nick Candy: London's crime is yielding to Dubai.

BUILDER-DEVELOPER NICK CANDY FEARS LONDON IS LOSING OPPORTUNITIES TO CRIME

A builder-developer of luxuryreal estateNick Candy, born and raised in London, says the British capital is missing out on opportunities because of crime, which is undermining its reputation. Safe places such as the UAE can take advantage of the new “portable” wealth-generating business world, while London suffers from its inability to cope with problems such as knife crime, he told The National.

BILLIONAIRE DEVELOPER COMES UP WITH SIMPLE SOLUTIONS

The billionaire developer, who as a frequent visitor explores potential projects in the UAE, believes there are simple solutions, which include stricter policing. He favors increased powers to conduct searches and searches, a tactic that has sparked counter-versions over accusations that police are unnecessarily targeting ethnic minorities.

KNIFE CRIME IN LONDON

Since the 2022 pandemic, knife crime has skyrocketed in the capital, with a 21 percent increase in the 12 months between July 2022 and June 2023 alone, with a total of 13,503 recorded incidents over the period.

AN INCREASE IN LUXURY WATCH THEFTS

Incidents of luxury watch theft are also on the rise in London. According to the latest available statistics, there were almost 2,000 watch robberies in Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, Hammersmith and Fulham between April and September 2022, a 4 percent increase on the previous six months.