More accountable policing launched in the Bush

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More accountable policing launched in the Bush

Monday January 16, 2012


L-R: Mayor of London Boris Johnson and Metropolitan Police Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe

The Mayor of London visited the elite squad of council-funded beat bobbies in Shepherds Bush Green today to launch a new era of more accountable policing.

The borough that pioneered zero-tolerance style policing in UK, crime summits and enhanced town centre squads of beat bobbies was chosen as the ideal place to announce the replacement of the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA), which used to oversee the performance of the Met.

London is leading the way by making the Mayor responsible for supervising the Met Police and replacing the MPA with the new Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPC).

Hammersmith & Fulham (H&F) Council is spending £1.3million a year for three enhanced town centre squads of beat bobbies, including Shepherds Bush town centre, meaning the borough has 44 more police officers than it would do otherwise.

The extra beat police have helped tackle historic crime hotspots, like Shepherds Bush Green, and the ward has remained safe and secure - despite the opening of Westfield shopping centre, which is Europe’s largest inner city mall, and can attract around 160,000 visitors a day.

Mayor Johnson was flanked by Nick Herbert MP, the Minister for Policing & Criminal Justice; Bernard Hogan-Howe, the Met Commissioner; Kit Malthouse, the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime and Cllr Greg Smith, H&F Council Cabinet Member for Residents Services.

“This is the dawn of a new era for British policing and it is fitting that the borough that pioneered the idea of the police being more accountable to residents - through initiatives like the crime summit - was chosen for the launch,” says Cllr Smith. “Hammersmith & Fulham has made great strides in promoting innovative crime fighting solutions and this morning’s announcement is likely to be the most significant democratic reform of policing in our lifetime. It is absolutely right that the police should become even more responsive to the will of the people they serve.”

Latest Metropolitan Police figures show a 3.8% decrease in total reported crimes in H&F, between April 11- Nov 11, compared to the previous year - equating to 632 fewer crimes borough-wide. If this decrease is maintained up to April 2012 it would be one of the best crime performances locally since records began. Of the 32 different crime types, 23 have seen a decrease.

This impressive decrease was achieved despite the fact that large parts of London were affected by violent disorder and looting in August. The council’s close working with the local police saw H&F emerge virtually unscathed from the 2011 summer riots with just 10 disorder offences in H&F compared to 279 in Ealing and 150 in Wandsworth (August 6-11).

The number of ‘violence against the person’ crimes is down 13% (451 fewer crimes) between April 11 and November 11 with burglary in a dwelling down 4.8%. Theft of pedal cycles was down 12.2%, criminal damage went down 13.4% and sexual offences were down 16.0% in the same time frame.

In Shepherds Bush Green ward, total crime is down 1.2% (April 11- November 11), violence against the person has tumbled by 5%, ABH has fallen by 23.1% and harassment was down 9.3%.

Cllr Smith concludes: “Beat bobbies beat crime and, despite the nationwide spending squeeze, we have found a way to improve our town centre squads by putting more PCs onto the frontline than ever before. We are proud to have some of the best policed town centres in Britain.

“Our no nonsense approach is reaping dividends. Getting more warranted officers onto our town centre streets has been the centrepiece of the council’s successful crime fighting approach. Combined with strong and determined zero-tolerance style policing the results speak for themselves. The council is continuing to do its bit by finding the cash to pay for extra beat bobbies and we expect the local police to keep the pressure up on the criminal minority so these impressive results continue.”

41 elected police and crime commissioners in England and Wales will take office from November 2012.


L-R: Sergeant Stephen Gilbert, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe and Special Constable Dave Pitman

» Send us your comments now

This is positive news. Although the police station on the Uxbridge Road remains an eye sore at the front of the building and irks me every time I walk past. It would be positive if the police saw this as an opportunity to invest a small amount of energy into this space — lift a few of the concrete slabs to create a small green space and erect a couple of benches for people to rest. This small effort may possibly break down what is currently a rather bleak building which unwittingly acts as a strong metaphor for a potential divide between the police and community in the area. Creating this bijou green space in this current disused and unnecessary bleak space would be a positive step in the right direction and benefit many.
From by_claire on 20/01/2012 at 16:17
I was recently a victim of a burglary , we were home when the intrudrs came in during the night and stole Jackets that were hanging up with our car keys in it and stole our car. The Police did not come out until the following day, and no finger prints were taken.
If we are to stop this kind of crime how are we going to do it if the police do not take this sort crime seriously. surely if they at least do finger printing this would stop, maybe the next person/family won't be as lucky as we were, they may hurt the next victim.
From Valerie on 20/01/2012 at 15:27

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