Short listed projects announced for 2010 Safer London Problem Oriented Partnership Awards

07/10
3 February 2010

Eight successful projects to promote community safety across London have been short listed to compete for the top prizes in London’s fifth annual Safer London Problem Oriented Partnership awards.

Four projects have been short listed for both the Safer Communities and the Safer Travel awards and the winners will be announced at an event on 22 February.

The annual Safer London Problem Oriented Partnership awards celebrate initiatives that develop problem oriented policing techniques – in essence projects that are responsive to local needs, are people focused and address the causes of crime, not just the consequences. The projects are conceived and put into practice in partnership between local police, the communities they serve and local authorities, the fire service and other agencies whose job it is to make communities safer and feel safer.

The awards are a collaboration between the Metropolitan Police Authority, the Metropolitan Police Service, Transport for London and the Safer London Foundation (SLF). The SLF is the Metropolitan Police Charity, whose aims are to reduce crime, promote community cohesion and develop safer neighbourhoods through innovative community led crime reduction projects.

Among the short listed entries are projects that: work to reduce incidents of residential burglaries; tackle gang and knife crime; reduce crime on the transport system; and bring new thinking to tackle cycle theft.

Kit Malthouse, chair designate of the MPA, said:

“Just as all politics is local, all policing is local too. For Londoners to have confidence in the Met, they must feel and see that the police are concerned about the local problems that concern us all and, more to the point, are doing something to solve those problems.

“But the Met cannot do this alone and that is why the Problem Oriented Partnerships are so important. Through working together they help the police help communities. This year we had over thirty entries, eight of which made it to the short list. This is a record number and a good indication that more boroughs are reaping the benefit of greater partnership involvement in problem solving.

"This approach is a key part of our new strategic plan Met Forward, which is designed to focus everyone involved on fighting and preventing crime, and that is why we strongly support the Problem Oriented Partnerships.”

Notes to editors

1. The annual Safer London Problem Orientated Partnership awards were formerly known as the annual ‘Problem Solving and Safer Travel Awards’

2. The projects short listed for the 2010 Safer London Problem Orientated Partnership awards (listed alphabetically by borough).

Safer Communities award short listed project

Bexley - Burglary Reduction in Erith Ward
The burglary rate in Erith Ward, one of the most deprived in Bexley, was higher than anywhere else in the borough. In October 2008 development of this long-term problem orientated partnership began with research which established that five roads within Erith Ward were most affected, there was a common modus operandi and possible links to a previous series of crimes in 2007: in all ten potential burglary suspects were identified. A partnership including the Youth Offending Teams, Probation Service, HM Prison Service, Registered Social Landlords, local Council and Neighbourhood Services, Special Constabulary and Police Volunteers worked together on a range of interventions including innovative use of the Itemiser 3 Drug Trace Detection Device to obtain evidence for warrants on burglars’ addresses. Also, SMARTWATER (property identification liquid) was used to mark property within 493 homes. An on-line Community Safety Survey was developed and installed on public computers in Erith library. Over 300 residents took the time to complete the survey at the conclusion of the operation and the residents ranked burglary as their ninth most important policing priority which underlined the success of the operation. The results showed a drop from 27 burglaries in five roads in the first six months, to just one burglary in the same area over the next six months.

Haringey - Reduction in burglary in the Haringey ‘Ladder’
Residential burglary has been a perennial issue for a number of years on Haringey. The corporate expectation to significantly reduce burglary on borough by 8.3% emphasised the urgent requirement for significant long-term improvement. The Acquisitive Crime Partnership Board (ACPB), (a stakeholder partnership including the police and local authority) produced an analytical burglary profile for Haringey. Analysis concluded that a majority of the burglaries in the ‘Ladder’ were of an opportunist nature, taking advantage of poor security. One of the most successful schemes identified was Met Care and Repair (MCR), providing a service to victims. MCR was commissioned to provide a service that would focus on individual streets, the ‘ladder’, and would be available to all residents, not just the victims of burglary, supported by the Safer Neighbourhoods Team. It was decided the top ten streets across the borough would be selected based on the volume increase in residential burglary offence. The ACPB designed and implemented a management framework that established formal performance indicators to measure the success of the scheme across three financial years. The first six months of the 2009-2010 financial year clearly indicate the impact of the scheme, demonstrating a 35% reduction up to and including September 2009.

Southwark - Talking the hardest - Taking on Peckham Gang Culture
Survey work indicated 35% of residents in Peckham town centre and the surrounding housing estates felt unsafe due to gang and knife crime. Research and analysis identified that the ‘Peckham Young Guns’ gang were the main culprits involved in robberies, running drugs and gang fights. People were not reporting crimes or acting as witnesses due to intimidation, while youth courts (supervision orders etc.) were not curtailing gang activity. A number of actions were taken: key gang members were identified and targeted; specialist ‘Gang Anti-Social Behaviour Orders’ (ASBOs) were obtained to disrupt gang activity; Individual Support Orders and Parenting Orders were used to ensure parental participation; and an early intervention strategy for youths on the fringe of gangs was implemented. A new ‘Gangs Problem Solver’ police post was introduced to coordinate the partnership and fortnightly multi-agency meetings held to review gang related crime and task partnership agencies. The project successfully tackled gang activity in one of London’s major crime hotspots. The results showed a 59.3% reduction in youth crime, 66% reduction in robberies, 50% reduction in violent crime, and a 51% reduction in youth victims of crime. Public attitude surveys showed 100% satisfaction with police / council performance, 92% of people stated that Peckham is now a safer place, 92% noticed a reduction in gang related anti-social behaviour and 71% of youths stated they now feel safe in Peckham.

Wandsworth - Improving the lives of residents in Strathan Close, Putney
The residents of Strathan Close were living with constant and frightening levels of anti-social behaviour by a gang of youths, ranging from threatening behaviour, small fires, climbing on garages, setting off fireworks, graffiti, throwing items into the road and riding motorcycles dangerously to noise and general litter problems. Community engagement, research and analysis revealed a small group of ‘ring leaders’ who could be targeted. To foster a greater sense of security, a residents association and a neighbourhood watch were formed and a number of changes were made to the area including bollards around the garages and the removal of an enclosed area where the youths were congregating. An underpass heavily covered in graffiti was redecorated, better lighting was installed and rubbish cleared. The parents of offenders were contacted and became involved in the ABC and ASBO process. While Youth Offending Teams worked with each young person, Housing Officers reminded the families of their tenancy agreements and that anti-social behaviour itself could lead to legal action. Other offenders were enrolled into Youth Outreach projects. Residents have reported a noticeable difference in the atmosphere on the estate. As a measure of success, calls about ASB have dropped from an average of approximately one per day to just one per month.

Safer Travel award short listed projects

Bexley - Reducing the crime on the transport system
London bus companies, their staff and the public across Bexley had become the victims of escalating incidents of crime and disorder and associated visually intimidating damage: all top deck bus windows were so heavily damaged passengers could not see through them, while the fear of crime was increasing. In early 2007 Bexley Safer Transport Team (STT) was introduced to provide a high visible presence, reassure the public and deter offenders. Research of the daily Driver Incident Reports (DIR) identified criminal damage to the buses, fraud and forgery by young people and disturbance, predominately by young people, as the highest reported crimes, and identified the most problematic areas. The team identified key partners who could help to challenge this behaviour and a close working relationship was established with the Bustag unit. Between 1 September 2008 and 31 August 2009, bus related crime has fallen by 38%. Broadway bus related crimes have reduced by 53% over the same period, and by 2009 the public were reporting fewer complaints on the buses. Targeting offenders of criminal damage through effective partnership working was the key to success, achieving a more comfortable environment, while the presence of the team instilled confidence back in the community.

Croydon - West Croydon Bus Station
The project focused on the transport interchange around West Croydon Bus Station, a major transport hub linking bus, tram and rail services throughout South London, and addressed commuters’ feelings of safety and perceptions of serious crime when using the station. The majority of problems concerned the large numbers of young people using the location legitimately, coupled with the criminal and anti social behaviour of a minority which resulted in a disproportionate fear of crime amongst young people, service providers who feared fights and disorder, and older members of the community who avoided the area. Research and analysis showed that the main issues were shouting and swearing, aggressive ‘play fighting’, loud music, litter, storming buses and non-use of Oyster cards. A partnership of agencies identified peak times for trouble and the main culprits. A series of short, medium and long term initiatives were designed: in the short term increased police visibility, Environmental Visual Audits (EVAs), regular visits to victims and surgeries were arranged; in the medium term options included Antisocial Behaviour Agreement (ABAs), letters to parents, truancy patrols, schools involvement, and weapon sweeps took place: and in the long term improved feedback, the creation of a dedicated Metropolitan Special Constabulary (MSC) team, school visits, better education, and redesigned bus shelters were enacted. As the result of the project, 89.5% users of the bus station said they felt safer and bus-related crime has dropped by 46.5%.

Haringey - Bus Stop Showdown
On High Road N22 there is a cluster of bus stops which has traditionally served local schools and residents travelling towards the centre of Wood Green. Gang issues have been increasing in the area and anti-social behaviour has been an issue at the bus stops for some time as has overcrowding due to the presence of large numbers of school children. This has been a concern for an elderly woman’s group using the stops at a similar time to the school children. Problems were identified by using Driver Incident Reports, CRIS information and an EVA: these included ASB by the school children and young people, vulnerable school children preyed upon by active robbers attending the school, gang-related violence and recruitment, criminal damage of bus stops whilst waiting for buses, overcrowding and a lack of regular buses to clear the people from the location. A multi-agency approach was set up with Haringey Council, Arriva London Buses, ‘I Can Care Ladies Group’ and St Thomas More School to discuss tactics to improve the quality of life for residents. Work was carried out to decrease the overcrowding and anti-social behaviour, including providing extra bus services at specific times, splitting the bus stop cluster, and using the Dial-a-Ride service. Police action included patrolling the stops daily and monitoring the location with use of the borough CCTV vehicle. The result has been reduced calls, deterred anti-social behaviour and gang related behaviour at the location and a 33% reduction in robberies. The success has encouraged the introduction of similar tactics at other schools on the borough.

Southwark - Rotherhithe Pedal Cycle Thefts
In the summer of 2007, Southwark had the highest level of bicycle theft in London. Historically the response to cycle theft has been reactive and police-led, with limited problem-solving undertaken to address the cause of the problem. Research and analysis showed that there was under-reporting of cycle theft, that victims had a lack of awareness of crime reduction measures, there was a lack of security in the hotspot areas together with a lack of intelligence regarding cycle theft offenders, and that offenders were opportunists. A three strand approach of enforcement, awareness and prevention was implemented utilising the following responses: a decoy bicycle equipped with tracking equipment was used to identify and bring the offenders to justice; increased patrols of the hotspot areas to act as a deterrent and increase surveillance; and partnership cycle theft awareness days to distribute crime reduction advice and enter the details of bicycles onto Immobilise.com (a national property register database). These also included a ‘Dr. Bike’ to service a bicycle for free, with local stores helping to raise awareness by distributing cycle theft leaflets to customers. A security grading system was used to tag bikes locked at the hotspots according to their security and to advise cyclists to call for crime reduction advice, while situational crime prevention measures were taken to improve the security of the bike locking areas and new bike racks were installed as well as CCTV and improved lighting. The result has been a significant increase in the number of persistent cycle thieves arrested and a reduction of cycle thefts of 35% within Rotherhithe ward. Feedback was positive from the community and local businesses who noticed fewer people congregating around the cycle stand areas. The project has subsequently been rolled out for use to tackle cycle theft in other areas within Southwark.

3. This is the fifth annual Problem Solving Award to be held specifically for London’s police.

4. The awards will be presented as part of a one day ‘Safer London Problem Solving Conference’ on 22 February 2010.

5. The Safer London Foundation, the Metropolitan Police charity, was launched in 2005 to support the Safer Neighbourhoods programme in making London a safer place. The Foundation works towards this goal by supporting community-led crime prevention/reduction projects with grant funding and volunteers, its community engagement programme which works with the Safer Neighbourhoods Panels and its mentoring programmes supporting people such as police officers and staff in their jobs and ex-offenders into work. More information about the Safer London Foundation is available at: www.saferlondonfoundation.org.uk

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