The Safer London Problem Solving Awards

ps/14/06
07 March 2006
MPA briefing paper

Author: Guy Beattie, MPA

This briefing paper has been prepared to inform members and staff. It is not a committee report and no decisions are required.

Summary

This paper reports on the successful Safer London Problem Solving Awards competition that was run by the MPA in partnership with the Metropolitan Police Service and the Safer London Foundation.

The MPA scrutiny on CDRPs (2003) sought to promote the use of problem orientated policing. Recommendation 28 proposed that “the MPA recommends the problem oriented policing model as good practice for boroughs and CDRPs”. Since then, Safer Neighbourhoods policing has been introduced and is now being rolled out across London. Multi-agency problem-solving policing will lie at the heart of the success of the Safer Neighbourhoods programme.

The MPA Partnerships Team has taken a lead role in the development of the Safer London Problem Solving Awards. It worked in partnership with the Metropolitan Police Service and the Safer London Foundation to set up this year’s competition, the first of its kind in London. Each partner contributed £4,000 to this initiative. Additionally, the MPS funded £5,000 towards the production of films showing the work of the top two entries and the MPA sponsored the first prize.

The competition sought examples of effective problem solving projects that have been delivered through Safer Neighbourhoods. 14 boroughs entered submissions. The judges’ panel commended all entries for their very high standard. (See Appendix 1 for a précis of each of the eight shortlisted entries).

And the winner is:

Southwark’s Camberwell Safer Neighbourhoods Team won the Award with their street drinker campaign

A trophy and a prize of £10,000 towards further problem-solving projects in the borough was awarded to the Camberwell team at the Safer Neighbourhoods Conference in February 2006. Furthermore, the winning entry will be nominated to represent the MPS’ entry at the national “Tilley” Problem-Solving Awards competition, which is run by the Home Office. Since the standard of other entries was so high, other MPS entries may also be submitted to the Tilley Awards.

The DVDs documenting the winning projects are available to view on the MPA web site. (from 10 March 2006)

Conclusion

The first year of the London’s Problem Solving Awards has helped to:

• Celebrate the success of the Safer Neighbourhood teams;
• Recognise the impact that problem-solving has on community policing;
• Share the good practice and promote what works;
• Raise the standard of the MPS entries to the Tilley Awards and demonstrate, nationally, its commitment to problem-solving policing; and
• Raise the profile of the MPA and SLF in the arena of crime and disorder reduction.

Following this year’s success, it is intended to repeat this event on an annual basis. The scope and funding of this will be reviewed to help ensure the ‘Safer London Problem Solving Awards’ becomes an annual highlight in the MPA year.

Boroughs that submitted an entry to the Safer London Problem Solving Awards 2006

• Bexley
• Brent
• Croydon
• Enfield
• Hackney
• Havering
• Haringey
• Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
• Royal Borough of Kingston
• Islington
• Redbridge
• Southwark
• Tower Hamlets
• Wandsworth

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