Key dates in the fight against muggers

October 2001: After months of sustained increase, robbery rates jump 20 per cent post-11 September as 1,500 police are diverted from borough duties to central London to cope with the terrorist threat.

February 2002: Met launches Operation Safer Streets and boosts anti-robbery squads by diverting 250 traffic officers to the battle against muggers.

Evening Standard starts its Fight Street Crime campaign and David Blunkett responds with his "six months" ultimatum to Scotland Yard. He tells the Met: "We need over this next six months to clamp down on the visible signs of violence and street robbery. And on this occasion, it's not my head that's on the block, it's all our heads."

March 2002: Tony Blair takes personal charge of the new anti-robbery taskforce, making schools, courts, prosecutors and police adopt a tougher line. Sir John Stevens praises the "political support from the very highest level".

August 2002: New figures published on 15 August reveal 31 per cent fall in street robbery since Home Secretary's ultimatum.