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The head of the Metropolitan Police has apologised to Selina Scottfor the lack of response by his officers after the star was mugged by a gang in central London.

The 74-year-old was surrounded by a group of thieves near Waterstones bookshop on Piccadilly who hit her on the back of the leg and stole her purse. She said she could not find a police officer to help her in one of the busiest areas of the capital after the nearby West End Central police station was closed four years ago.

The day after the mugging officers failed to go to her home for a planned appointment because there was no available police car.

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During a call-in on Nick Ferrari's show on LBC, Met Chief Sir Mark Rowley said on Tuesday that the force could have given the broadcaster a better service. "I can feel for her. She's obviously very upset. She's a 70-odd-year-old lady who had a very frightening experience," he said. "The officers weren't able to give the service that we would expect on that day. I'm sorry about that."

Sir Mark was played a voice message from the former news anchorin which she said: "I was mugged by a gang who hit me with a metal object at the back of my leg, before ripping open my bag and taking all my debit cards and cash, they sauntered off in the direction of the Ritz, and there was nothing I could do about it.

"There were too many of them and there were no police anywhere. So, I'm feeling today humiliated and angry, but most of all fearful for all those who are listening to Nick's show and feel that they can walk the streets of London safely, because I'm telling you, they can't.

"So, here's my question, why when you can put police on the streets whenever anyone wants to shout their head off on a march, yet you can't patrol the centre of London to protect 1000s of people like me? And don't tell me you rely on CCTV, because I understand the camera outside Waterstones where I got mugged not only wasn't functioning, it had been out of order for over a year."

Scott wrote previously in a newspaper that "seven or eight men and women of East Asian origin" surrounded her and started tugging on her Tumi backpack.

"The events of the next few seconds were so swift and practised that it was clear it was a coordinated assault," she said. "Shock and instinct made me hold on to the bag with a tight grip, as another member of the group barged into me," she wrote.

"I realised, with growing alarm, that I was being attacked from both sides at the same time."

Scott fought back but felt "battered, confused and a little humiliated" and sought refuge in Fortnum & Mason.

She then noticed that her bag was unzipped and her purse, containing bank cards and cash, was missing.

Scott said the "brazen way" in which she was attacked showed that muggers in London "can attack anyone". She said the lack of police on the streets meant there was no deterrent.