Ritika Janiya
Billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, owner of Manchester United, expressed deep concern about rising crime in London. He has shared that he no longer wears a watch within the city due to fear of being mugged, and little prison space is available, with inadequate public service.
According to billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the owner of Manchester United, a new wave of crime hits London. Sir Jim, estimated to be worth £29.6 billion, says the city is not as safe as it used to be. In fact, he has become so scared for his safety that when he goes to London, he does not wear a watch anymore for fear of being attacked and robbed.
The 71-year-old entrepreneur, who also owns the chemical firm Ineos, recently spoke up about the city’s surge in robbery and shoplifting. He sees rising rates of both as symptomatic of something larger: a failure of public services—most notably, an inability to provide sufficient prison space for criminals.
He said he feels he has to be particularly careful when working in London. The billionaire relayed that he was stunned last year when he saw a man being stabbed to death outside his office in Knightsbridge. The man was attacked for his Rolex watch. “I can’t wear a watch in London, and I just need to be a bit wary, a bit careful,” Sir Jim said. He also described another harrowing moment when three men armed with machetes were seen right outside his office.
The year 2023-24 in London saw 116 murders, showing a slight increase from the 112 murders from the previous year. Knife crime has also risen sharply to 15,016 last year. It was the second highest figure on record, showing it surged from 12,786 recorded in the previous year.
It’s not only a question of crime that Sir Jim shows his concern for but also the public service. He mentions the prison space deficiency of the UK: “We don’t have enough prison space. I mean, this didn’t just fall on us from the sky. We’ve been telling the government that prisons are overcrowded for 10 years already.”
He expresses his concerns on crime, which spill over to other concerns on public service. He hit out at how Britain’s political leaders have allowed themselves to be driven by short-term election cycles, with the country lurching from crisis to crisis. Sir Jim’s anger also extended to the current political leadership. While he said he was a fan of the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, he joined the Tory assault on Labour’s decision to ban North Sea oil and gas exploration. He feels that, coupled with the closure of older nuclear power stations, this will eventually result in a squeeze and higher prices passed on to the public and slow economic growth.
He compared the energy prices of Britain to America: “Americans pay a third of what we do for gas, and a fifth for electricity.” In his view, one major reason their economy has taken off is lower energy costs in the U.S., while higher costs here are one of the significant factors causing our economic stagnation.
The billionaire’s comments reflect an increasing concern for many Londoners and Britons regarding safety and public services. With the figures for crime going up, and pressures on fundamental services have become so high, there are growing demands that something practical be done about the situation. With his personal experience and profile, the concerns expressed by Sir Jim bring this topic right to the forefront of urgent changes in how the city and the country handle safety and public resources.
In brief, Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s comments suggest that, at this moment, London is in bad odor. His personal experiences and observations render more the feeling of insecurity and dissatisfaction with the way public services are being managed. With rising crime rates and overstretched public resources in the city, calls for action by Sir Jim underline the need for effective solutions to ensure safety and bring confidence back to London.
