Migrant camp returns to heart of London's most affluent area as residents fear pickpockets and thieves

A migrant camp has returned to the heart of London's most affluent area as residents are now fearing a rise in pickpocketing and theft around their homes.

The "professional beggars", who said they have "no documents", are said to fly in from Romania every year during peak tourist season in the capital, pitching tents along Park Lane on the corner of Hyde Park.

The gang of eastern Europeans spend their days lounging across some of the city's busiest streets, including Oxford Street, guzzling beers and dawdling outside lavish stores smoking.

This year, they have elected to set up shop by Marble Arch, where the average property goes for £1.3million, and is filled with tourists everyday.

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With summer holidays underway in the UK, the number of people joining the gaggle of thieves has started to rise again - while workers in the busy area are well-acquainted with the group, The Daily Mail revealed.

Oxford Street, which Sir Sadiq Khan is attempting to pedestrianise, welcomes up to 500,000 visitors everyday, from tourists and locals to workers and police officers.

But the group is understood to be a far slicker operation than thought at first glance.

A barista who works at Pret A Manger along Oxford Street told the Mail that the group works according to a rota, and even has "managers" to control the workers.

"What you have to understand is that these are professionals. They each know their role, whether that's as a beggar, a pickpocket, or a shoplifter," he told the paper.

The barista said there was usually a woman outside his workplace begging for money before another person rocks up a bit later to take over the "very well-organised" street shift.

"They will come in each morning very early to get a coffee, sometimes be a bit cheeky and try to get one for free, but they don't steal from here anymore. Other places get ransacked," the worker added.

Over the years, small groups have pitched tents and established encampments, which has triggered Westminster City Council and Transport for London (TfL) to spend thousands of British taxpayers' pounds to remove the returning characters.

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TfL spent £37,000 for bailiffs and lawyers to boot out the foreigners over the past two summers.

The group is banned from M&S's flagship store along Oxford Street, which prohibited the group from entering after they stole hordes of vodka and steak.

"We often have standoffs, I have to tell them, 'You're not coming in'," one of the store's security guards said, adding that he has witnessed the "beggars" become violent.

It is said that the most recent group arrived around a month ago, having amassed a group the size of around 20.

They all sleep outside the supermarket store, where the employees have made the "empathetic" decision to let them cover the entrance in duvets overnight.

David Harvey, the council's housing cabinet member, confirmed his team was "actively responding to the situation".

He said: "Public spaces cannot become places for long-term encampments, nor can we accept behaviour that causes distress to residents, businesses and visitors.

"Where people refuse repeated offers of support, or where anti-social behaviour and public safety concerns arise, we will take appropriate enforcement action alongside our partners.

"While we will continue to help those who are vulnerable, we are determined to keep Westminster’s streets, parks and public spaces safe, accessible and welcoming for everyone."

A TfL spokesman said: "No one should be faced with sleeping rough on London’s streets. This a busy part of the TfL road network that is not a safe place for people to sleep rough.

"People who have previously been sleeping rough at this site have been made aware that returning to the site is not an option and that they will be removed.

"We continue to work with Westminster City Council whose outreach teams can connect people to the support available to them and continue to monitor the area."

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