Safer Neighbourhoods.........
Posted by Stephen Timms, MP for East Ham, at 09:25, Wed 13 September 2006:
"Boys come into the street and fight with bars and sticks. They have started repairing cars out in the road; just yesterday, they left an abandoned car in the street."
On Tuesday night I went out on patrol with Police Sergeant Richard Martin and Police Community Support Officer (PCSO), Sharon Taylor. We met at Forest Gate police station at 7 and I was home by 11 – but they were on duty until 3 the following morning. We met Mrs Smith, whose comments, above, describe the months of aggravation that she has suffered from low level crime committed by young people congregating in her street.
Mrs Smith’s problems are not unique. Last March, Safer Neighbourhood Teams were introduced to solve problems like this – putting police officers back out on the beat, giving them the chance to become really familiar with an area. In Newham, 5 or 6 officers are dedicated to each ward. They patrol the ward on foot and bicycle – not car – getting to know the community and working out solutions to the local problems with Anti Social Behaviour and crime.
Sergeant Martin leads the new Safer Neighbourhoods Team which patrols the streets of Green Street East ward. He and PCSO Taylor took me on their regular beat, between Green Street and Katherine Road, checking out places where anti-social behaviour is common, and introducing me to some of those who have been in touch with them. Sergeant Martin has recently been successful in obtaining a dispersal order for Mrs Smith’s street. It means the Police can order any person to leave the area – with the power of arrest if they refuse. The dispersal order is one of the new tools introduced by the Government to help tackle anti-social behaviour. Richard is confident the order will improve the situation for Mrs Smith and the other residents.
Patrolling the streets of Green Street East with Richard and Sharon, I could see the difference their presence was making. The team’s dedication to a specific area means that they build up a relationship with local people. Richard and Sharon took me into one residential property which used to be a hangout for drug takers; since the team have started patrolling the building the problem has stopped. On another corner, a resident who recognised them told them where he thought they could find some stolen property.
A visible Police presence is exactly what we have been asking for in Newham. I am delighted that the Government’s investment in tackling anti-social behaviour has made it possible. With a big increase in the number of police officers, and officers being a much more common site on local streets, it means we have a chance to get on top of the problems.
But we can’t leave it all to the police. Tackling crime successfully will still mean all of us working together to make the most of the new resources – and new powers – which the police have available. Details of how to contact your Safer Neighbourhoods Team are on the Metropolitan Police website.
Commenting on this message is now disabled.