In a new report, Caroline Russell AM lays out the alarming rise in hit and run casualties across London over the past two decades.

Using new data revealed by the London Assembly member, the new report highlights how widespread hit and run casualties have become in the capital.

The number of hit and run casualties varies considerably across London's boroughs. For the year 2021, Tower Hamlets had the most hit and run casualties (457), followed by Lambeth (409), Westminster (363), Newham (353) and Southwark (351).

According to research from the Green Party member, Hounslow had 196 hit and run causalities in the area in 2021. Before the pandemic the borough had a similar number accidents with 192 in 2019.

The data available from 2017-2021 shows a 10% increase in hit and run causalities in Hounslow, lower than the London average of 14% during that time.

While the upward trend of casualties is worrying on its own, the report also points out the glaring inconsistencies in the Mayor's reporting of the data, ranging from failing to include nearly 80 per cent of the hit and run data in 2016, all the way to omitting the borough of Bexley and its 246,500 people entirely in 2020.

The Mayor's own team acknowledged the shortcoming in the quality of its data, advising Russell that although it is the "best currently available" data, it is likely not accurate on its own.

Russell said: "Hit and run is a crime with sometimes devastating consequences, so it is shocking that the number of victims continues to rise.

"In 2021 there were 7,708 hit and run casualties recorded. That's more than 21 people each day being injured on our roads by people without the decency to stop to check for their well-being, and the Mayor does not even properly record it.

"Every Londoner should be concerned that the number of victims of hit and run crashes has more than doubled since 2009 when the first data was collated.

"I hope my new report will serve as a much-needed reminder of exactly how widespread the hit and run problem is, and motivate the Mayor, TfL and the Met to tackle this escalating crisis."

Caroline Russell AM's recommendations:

1. The Mayor to introduce an action plan and set a target to reduce hit and run collisions as part of his Vision Zero strategy.
2. The MPS and TfL to improve both the quality of the data they capture on hit and run collisions in London, and the way that data is stored, analysed, and shared with the public in future.
3. The MPS and MOPAC to respond to written questions within the agreed timeframe and to a consistent standard
4. The MPS and TfL to address all data inconsistencies and provide a validated set of data showing the number of hit and run collisions each year since 2010, recording victim mode of travel, severity of injury and mode of travel of person failing to stop, so that trends can be accurately tracked. They should also analyse changes in hit and run since 2010 and report their findings and proposed action to Londoners.

To read Caroline Russell AM's full report, click here.

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