has raged at ‘lawless London‘ after yobs smashed the rear windscreen of his car in broad daylight.
Martin, 52, who hosts James Martin’s Saturday Morning on ITV every week, took to Instagram to hit out at crime rates in the capital after he and several friends were all targeted in the space of a week.
He said two friends had had their cars stolen and another was mugged.
He wrote: ‘So in a week two of my friends cars got stolen, one other mate got mugged and now I had this happen all in broad daylight all in central London.
‘London is broken big time… next time I’m bringing the Malis.’
Martin was referring to his two pet dogs, who are Belgian Malinoises.
He previously gushed about his beloved animals in a post in 2022, when he said: ‘I have to say I have had dogs all my life but these two are unbelievably clever. Thanks to the trainer for doing all the work.’
Martin did not mention the incident on this morning’s show, but it comes as Labour announced new plans this week to free up spaces in the UK’s overcrowded prisons.
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Martin, who hosts James Martin’s Saturday Morning on ITV every week, took to Instagram to hit out at crime rates in the capital
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A photo on his Instagram showed how thieves broke into his car by smashing the rear window
Martin is a car hothead with an extensive collection of vintage vehicles alongside newer models too.
The quaint car village is housed in pretty hand-painted garages, which he showed off during a 2022 appearance on Jodie Kidd’s show, Kidd in a Sweet Shop.
It is thought he first fell in love with motors when he was given a toy Ferrari 288 GTO as a young boy.
Martin now owns a real Ferrari, the 275 model from 1965 in silver, which underwent a a huge restoration, which included the installation of a new engine.
Elsewhere in his collection is a beautiful Ford GT40 which he partnered alongside three-time British Touring Car champion Jason Plato.
Another in his collection is a BMW 760Li, a Ford Escort which finished second in the 1969 Acropolis Rally and a rare Mini Cooper which was previously driven by rally stars Paddy Hopkirk and Rauno Aaltonen.
He also owns an Alfa Romeo ATL which is currently being restored.
Martin’s claim that London is ‘broken’ is a familiar call for many activists in the capital, who have decried the scourges of theft, shoplifting and knife crime – among other offences – which frequently blight the capital’s streets.
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As well as being famous for his abilities in the kitchen, Martin is also known for his love of cars, which he keeps in a garage at his Hampshire home
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He owns a Ferrari 275 from 1965 in silver, which underwent a a huge restoration
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James brought this Shelby GT500 (left) over from Florida to join his extensive collection
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He also owns a beautiful Ford GT40 which he partnered alongside three-time British Touring Car champion Jason Plato
Earlier this month, campaigners called for mandatory five-year sentences for adults caught carrying blades on the street, and three years for youths.
County lines drugs gangs and rival cartels are warring in city streets while youngsters in towns are carrying knives into school and slaughtering children in parks.
Norman Brennan, a former police officer and director of the Law and Order Foundation – which campaigns for victims – said the ‘tsunami’ of bloodshed washing over Britain had now reached apocalyptic levels.
Mr Brennan – who was almost stabbed to death tackling a burglar during his time as a London cop – has teamed up with publican influencer Adam Brooks, whose father was murdered by a machete gang, to call for tougher sentences.
‘This is a national crisis. It is an emergency like I’ve never seen. We are heading to the abyss,’ he said.
‘We have slipped into a tide of anarchy. There’s no police on the streets. The public don’t feel safe. Criminals walk around now feeling untouchable.
‘I predicted this knife crime epidemic 20 years ago. I’ve been warning governments of all political colours of the perfect storm that was coming – and now it’s here. It’s a tsunami… it’s a tide of bloodshed.’
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Appearing on his show this morning on ITV, James Martin did not mention the incident
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Martin appeared on James Martin’s Saturday Morning with a host of guests including chef John Hooker (left) and baker Richard Bertinet (second left)
The pair have launched a petition calling for change. In a matter of days, more than 32,000 people signed it. It needs 100,000 to be debated in parliament.
But the idea is unlikely to gain traction in government due to the major problem of prison overcrowding and a lack of spaces.
This week Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood took to the Commons to announce new plans to tackle the issue, including letting some criminals out on the streets after serving just a third of their sentence.
Other suggestions to free up spaces involve avoiding sending people to prison if they would have received a sentence under 12 months and chemically castrating sex offenders.
It followed a report by former Conservative Justice Secretary David Gauke, who made a series of recommendations ton free up 9,800 jail spaces by 2028.
