Round the clock cops halve crime

by Hammersmith and Fulham Press Office
30/04/2008

Crime in Fulham and Shepherds Bush has fallen dramatically since a multi-million pound round-the-clock neighbourhood beat policing trial was introduced in April 2007.

Last figures prove that the two pilot schemes, in the west London borough of Hammersmith & Fulham, have seen big falls in key crimes especially burglaries and robberies. 

In Shepherds Bush, thefts from a person, or ‘snatches’, are down 51 per cent and in Fulham thefts from a vehicle have tumbled 28 per cent. There have also been huge increases in the number of drug pushers taken off the streets.

“Residents want protection and they want it round the clock,” says Councillor Greg Smith, Cabinet Member for Crime & Anti-Social Behaviour. “After 12 months of having local beat Bobbies patrolling the streets, day and night, every day of the year we have seen a 41 per cent drop in robberies in Shepherds Bush and a phenomenal 188 per increase in drug arrests in Fulham.”

The end of year figures from the Met show that, in Fulham, common assault is down by 25 per cent and woundings are down 20 per cent. Theft and handling is down by 21 per cent falling from 704 crimes last year to 553.

Meanwhile, in Shepherds Bush, there were 19 per cent fewer thefts from a vehicle and common assault is down 16 per cent. The number of drugs arrests are also up by 96 per cent.

Cllr Smith continues, “It’s not rocket science – beat Bobbies beat crime and these results prove that the streets of Shepherds Bush and Fulham are now much safer than they were this time last year.”

The impressive results mark the halfway point in the £4 million, two year scheme which is being paid for by local taxpayers and businesses. The two 24/7 squads are made up of one inspector, five sergeants, ten police constables and fifteen police community support officers.

Cllr Smith concludes, “We know that the Home Office and other Police forces and local authorities are watching our progress intently. We are half way through our trial and, thus far, the results have been hugely impressive. We now need to build on this performance in our second year.”

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Effect of 24/7 neighbourhood beat Policing patrols

Source: Met Police. Periods covered April 06-March 07 and April 07-March 08

The latest overall borough crime figures show that there were 2,115 fewer victims of crime than this time last year. The official end-of-year report card proves that in the 12 months to March 2008 there were 23,219 crimes in the borough – 2,115 fewer than the same time last year.