Local Policing Summary: Tower Hamlets 2008-09

Introductory message from Boris Johnson, Mayor of London and Chair of the MPA

I promised Londoners that I would work tirelessly to make their city and their local communities safer. This is what I have set about doing - working with the police to tackle knife crime, putting more police on the transport network, and working to boost the number of special constables.

Crime is now at an all-time low, but there is still much more to be done. Working with the Commissioner we will go further - addressing the complex long-term causes of youth crime, ending violence against women, and giving Londoners back confidence in their day-to-day safety.

It is important that Londoners can know how well their local police service is performing and what the priorities are in the coming year. This annual local police summary sets this out, providing you with information about policing in your borough. I hope it will help to improve your confidence in the police, show you the activity that is taking place, and help to reduce the fear of crime.

Crime is at a ten year low in London

Primarily, the MPA exists to:

• hold the Commissioner rigorously to account for improving the operational performance of the MPS
• transform community engagement to help Londoners secure more responsive policing
• work with the MPS to achieve cultural change throughout the service so that everyone in London can gain and retain confidence in policing
• drive the MPS to make the most effective, efficient and cost conscious use of all its resources

Metropolitan Police Authority

The MPA sets and monitors the police budget, annual priorities and targets for the police and we hold them to account for their performance against these.

Policing London Business Plan 2009/12

The three year business plan sets out how the MPS will deliver against the policing priorities of government, the Mayor of London and the people who live and work in London. Targets are set and monitored throughout the year to ensure the MPS continues to reduce crime and increase public safety.

The strategic priorities in the plan are to:

• make our service more accessible and improve people’s experience of their contact with us, especially victims and witnesses
• make our neighbourhoods safer through local and city-wide problem solving and partnership working to reduce crime, ASB and road casualties
• disrupt more criminal networks and reduce the harm caused by drugs
• reduce serious violence and protect young people
• enhance our counter terrorism capability and capacity
• plan for and effectively police major events in London and prepare for the 2012 Olympics
• lead and manage our Service to ensure the most efficient, effective and economic use of all the resources entrusted to us

For more information please visit: www.mpa.gov.uk/publications/policingplans

Looking back on 2008/09

Summary performance achievements

The MPS has achieved a number of successes against the objectives and targets set for 2008/09. The majority of the priorities and targets set by the MPA were met, particularly in terms of tackling serious violence, reducing serious acquisitive crime and disrupting criminal networks.

Some of the performance achievements between April 2008 and March 2009:

• the MPS achieved a reduction in gun crime of 25.8% or 753 fewer crimes. This exceeded the 3% reduction target;
• the MPS achieved a reduction in youth violence of 9.8% or 2209 fewer victims. This exceeded the 6% reduction target.
• the MPS achieved a reduction in serious acquisitive crime (residential burglary, robbery and motor vehicle crime) of 7.7% or 17,000 fewer crimes. This exceeded the 4% reduction target.

However, some targets were not met, most notably:

• public satisfaction across the MPS was 77.7% against a 78.9% target;
• the gap between the satisfaction of White victims (78.6%) and Black and Minority Ethnic victims (74.0%) was 4.7 percentage points. This missed the target of a 3.8 percentage point gap.

Tower Hamlets: local information

Message from Borough Commander Paul Rickett

“Thank you to all of you who live and work in Tower Hamlets. It has been working together with your support that has helped us to reduce crime. You rang us, you gave us information, you supported prosecutions and with your help we will be looking to make 2009/10 even safer.

“We have reduced crime and increased the number of offenders brought to justice because of your support.

“Some of our successes include burglary down by 31.9%, the biggest reduction in London. This is 505 fewer victims. Robbery down by 21.8%, which is 298 fewer victims. Gun crime is down by 29.2% and youth violence is down by 22.2%. Finally, 82.8% of all domestic violence offenders were arrested at the scene.

“Across London total crime fell by 3178 offences. A staggering 17% of London's reduction in crime was in Tower Hamlets alone.”

How did Tower Hamlets perform during 2008/09?

Offence	Up or down?	Change in number of recorded offences	Percentage change in number of recorded offences	Target
Residential burglary		505	-31.9%	Target achieved
Total robbery		298	-21.8%	Target achieved
Theft from vehicles		563	-18.7%	Target achieved
Theft or taking of vehicles		252	-21.8%	Target achieved
Youth violence		179	-22.2%	Target achieved
Knife crime		75	-13.5%	Target achieved
Gun crime		19	-29.2%	Target achieved

Looking forward

Borough priorities are set through consultation with the public (Safer Neighbourhoods events, ‘Have your say’ public survey), the police, and other agencies involved in crime reduction in your area.

Priorities for 2009/10

• 1.8% reduction in serious acquisitive crime
• 3.0% reduction in most serious violence, 4.0% reduction in serious youth violence
• 5.0% reduction in gun crime, 5.0% reduction in knife crime
• challenging targets for sanction detection rates across specific crime types

Tower Hamlets: local police initiatives

A 16 year old youth has been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment at the Old Bailey for an unprovoked attack in Tower Hamlets in August 2008 that left the 20 year old victim with life changing injuries. The victim still remains seriously ill in hospital and is permanently paralysed from the neck down.

Detective Supt Sandra Looby - Head of Tower Hamlets CID said,

"This was a despicable attack on a young man, whose future ambitions and life was dramatically changed. I wish to personally thank the victim’s family for their patience and support during the investigation, and subsequent criminal proceedings. The last eight months has also changed their lives significantly.”

Have your say on policing in London

Public consultation plays an important part in setting the policing priorities for London.

The MPA is considering the priorities for 2011/12 and would like to know what you think the police in London should be focusing on.

Have your say on policing in London by taking part in this year’s consultation questionnaire - log on to the MPA website www.mpa.gov.uk/publications/policingplans to complete an online questionnaire or call 020 7202 0063 to leave your contact details and we will post you a paper copy.

Partnership working: CPEGs

Help us to understand the community’s views on policing in your area

The MPA has a statutory duty to consult and engage with the communities of London and to give a voice to local people on policing priorities, concerns and the future direction of the MPS. To this end Community Police Engagement Groups (CPEGs) exist in each of the 32 London boroughs (in some boroughs these groups are known as Community Safety Boards (CSBs) or Community Police Consultative Groups (CPCGs)). The primary aims of the CPEGs are to consult with local police, Safer Neighbourhoods Panels, the MPA and key stakeholders in Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships about strategic policing. This can include consultation on developing the annual policing plan, implementation of Neighbourhood Policing, and crime and disorder reduction.

CPEGs are intended to be representative of the local population, especially those groups that interact with the police in disproportionate numbers. Their activities include active community engagement in neighbourhoods and with local groups.

If you would like to get involved in your local CPEG you can find out more information at www.mpa.gov.uk/partnerships

Partnership working: Stop and Search

Stop and Search Community Monitoring Network

Stop and Search measures are useful in the fight against crime, but they are also controversial powers for many people. The MPA supports Stop and Search Monitoring Groups in all 32 boroughs and facilitates a London wide Community Monitoring Network as a means of building and sustaining trust and confidence in the appropriate exercise of Stop and Search powers.

The work of these groups is crucial and they rely on the input and involvement of volunteers.

If you would like to get involved in a local or pan-London group to monitor and influence the way Stop and Search is used in London, please call 020 7202 0233 or email stopandsearch@mpa.gov.uk for more information.

Partnership working: ICVs

Independent Custody Visitors (ICVs) are members of the local community appointed to make sure that the welfare of people detained in police stations is maintained. They call at police stations unannounced, speak to detainees and write short reports about their visit. Their recommendations can require the police to make improvements in this area. ICVs play a valuable role in maintaining public confidence in this important aspect of policing. They volunteer their time with others as part of a local panel and help the MPA, which oversees custody visiting in London, to make sure that detainees are treated appropriately and that their rights are respected.

As part of its commitment to community engagement, the MPA is keen to ensure that Londoners are aware of the existence of the ICV Scheme. In 2008/09 a range of awareness raising activities took place including information evenings for the general public, redevelopment of the ICV webs pages to provide broader information on the scheme, including visual images and the airing of a specially commissioned radio ad on Choice FM. Further developments, including the use of social networking, are planned for 2009.

ICVs must be aged 18 or over. If you would like to find out more about how you can get involved, please visit www.mpa.gov.uk/partnerships/icv/get-involved or call free phone 0808 100 1036.

Useful contacts

In an emergency always dial 999
Non-emergency dial 0300 123 1212

Metropolitan Police Authority
Tel: 020 7202 0202
Minicom. 020 7202 0173
www.mpa.gov.uk

Metropolitan Police Service
Tower Hamlets police stations
Tel: 0300 123 1212
www.met.police.uk/towerhamlets

Safer Neighbourhoods info
www.met.police.uk/saferneighbourhoods

Victim Support
Tel: 0845 303 0900
www.victimsupport.org.uk

Crimestoppers
Tel: 0800 555111
www.crimestoppers-uk.org

Talk to Frank
Tel: (Drug abuse helpline) 0800 776 600
www.talktoFRANK.com

Anti-Social Behaviour Actionline
Tel: 0845 605 2222

National Domestic Violence helpline
Tel: 0808 200 0247
www.nationaldomesticviolencehelpline.org.uk

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