"London's communities will be the real winners": Police Officers prepare for 2007 Problem Solving Award

66/06
20 October 2006

For the second year running an award to recognize the achievements of partnership projects between the police and local communities to reduce crime and disorder is being staged.

The annual Problem Solving Award is a collaboration between the MPA, the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and the Safer London Foundation (SLF), the independent charity that aims to reduce crime, promote community cohesion and develop safer neighbourhoods through innovative community led crime reduction projects.

The award celebrates initiatives that develop problem oriented policing techniques - in essence projects that are responsive to local needs, are people-focused and importantly address the causes of crime, not just the consequences. The projects are conceived and put into practice in partnership between local police and communities.

The awards process began this week when the MPA hosted an event to offer potential entrants advice on their submissions for the award which is to be presented next February.

Richard Sumray, MPA member leading on problem oriented policing, said:

“The whole point of problem oriented policing is that it focuses on addressing the causes of crime rather than just the symptoms, stressing a partnership approach, and so it is a more holistic approach to solving local crime and disorder problems.

“The MPA has long recommended the MPS adopt this innovative, proactive approach to tackling crime in partnership. And we are pleased to demonstrate a true partnership approach by staging this annual award in collaboration with London’s police service and the Safer London Foundation which is doing much innovative work across the capital to reduce crime through inventive community led crime reduction projects.

“It’s London’s communities who will be the true winners as we see local crime and disorder problems tackled in new, innovative ways that make a real difference.”

Tony Shepherd, Chief executive of the Safer London Foundation, said:

“We wholly support the concept of local problem solving activity to make London’s neighbourhoods safer. The Safer London Foundation works in true partnership with local people, local authorities and police to help reduce crime and the fear of crime in London’s 624 neighbourhoods.

“In the last year, the SLF has distributed over £1/2m in grants and in kind support between 21 local, inspiring projects and our volunteers and mentors have provided them with over 3,000 hours in free support and advice.

“We firmly believe that Londoners deserve a safe city. But fighting crime and the fear of crime doesn’t have to be a battle if local problems are tackled and solved through real partnership activity.”

Tim Godwin, Assistant Commissioner Territorial Policing MPS, said:

"The Problem Solving Awards are a unique way to highlight the variety of measures the Met undertakes to reduce crime in London. The MPS continues to adopt new initiatives to tackle those people who act in an anti-social manner.

“Safer Neighbourhoods teams are a perfect example of how working in partnership with other agencies and residents can lead to the resolution of long-term concerns in order to make London safer."

Notes to editors

1. This will be the second annual Problem Solving Award to be held specifically for London’s police. The inaugural awards were presented on 7 February 2006 at the ‘Safer Neighbourhoods: the future of policing’ conference jointly organised by the MPA and MPS. The 2006 winner was the Camberwell Safer Neighbourhoods team in Southwark for an innovative scheme to tackle street drinking.

The Camberwell team went on to win third prize at the national Tilley Awards organised by the Home Office and were asked to present their project at the Goldstein Award for Excellence in Problem-Oriented Policing in the United States.

2. A short list of finalists for the 2007 award will be submitted to the judging panel in early December 2006 and the awards will be presented as part of a one day MPS ‘Safer London Problem Solving Conference’ on 21 February 2007.

3. The MPA Scrutiny on Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs), published in January 2003, included a recommendation to develop the use of problem orientated policing across London (Recommendation 28:The MPA recommends the problem oriented policing model as good practice for boroughs and CDRPs. It recommends that the MPS evaluate how the model works in those boroughs where it has been implemented and considers how it can be developed for use in all London boroughs). The scrutiny report is available at: www.mpa.gov.uk/reports/cdrpscrutiny.htm

4. Formed in 2005, the Safer London Foundation helps to reduce crime in London by supporting and funding innovative community-based crime reduction projects. It works in partnership with the police, government and business to make London's neighbourhoods safer places to live, work and visit. SLF volunteers and mentors work across the capital's diverse communities, providing a unique and valuable link between the people of London and its businesses. More information about the Safer London Foundation is available at: www.saferlondonfoundation.org.uk

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