Learnings from London on combatting antisocial behaviour through collaboration
Blog by Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Kingscote
Last week, I was hosted by the Safer Business Network to see how they leverage the power of partnership working to tackle antisocial behaviour (ASB) in London. Joined by members from my office involved in the Street Focus: Torquay project, we were keen to learn what innovative tactics could be deployed in Castle Circus. The police were also well represented with the Torquay inspector, neighbourhood sergeant and beat manager in attendance, alongside a crime reduction lead for Devon & Cornwall Police and a sergeant from the diverse communities team.
The day began by meeting the New West End Company, the Business Improvement District (BID) for Bond Street, Oxford Street and Regent Street. They work with over 600 businesses, including some of the most iconic shops in the world. Despite being a destination for millions of visitors each year, the area faces many of the same issues as Torquay. ASB is a daily problem with many agencies working together to keep the area safe. Shoplifting is rife and more aggressive than what we face in Torbay with organised crime groups and armed offenders.
We were fortunate to attend a security briefing from the New West End Company’s dedicated street team who are on duty 24/7. While working to deter crime, they also play a big role in reassuring the businesses through frequent engagement. The team work closely with the police and other partners but are often first on the scene at incidents and as such go above and beyond their remit by carrying major incident kits and torniquets. With temperatures dropping, they also carried gloves and foil blankets on the day of our visit to assist vulnerable people on the streets.
With the introduction of town centre officers and street marshals in Torquay earlier this year, we can provide a similar service, although on a much smaller scale. This is in part due to the Home Office funding we secured for hotspot policing and further match funding by the Commissioner for street marshal patrols. This has enabled 13 towns and cities across Devon and Cornwall to benefit from targeted foot patrols and the additional reassurance that street marshals provide to communities.
Knowledge is power and something I found really useful was how the Business Crime Partnership, established by the Safer Business Network, facilitates the sharing of information. They bring together the BID, police and businesses to effectively address crime.
The business crime reporting system used by the Business Crime Partnership to log incidents and share intel with partners helps to build up a case against persistent offenders. Good news is also shared on this system to update businesses, for example when a Criminal Behaviour Order has been issued or an arrest made. A monthly meeting is run alongside this to keep the businesses engaged and encourage reporting.
A lot of excellent partnership work is already underway across the peninsula but I can see the value of a system like this. It can take many months for a resolution and this helps to close the loop, communicating the outcomes as a result of businesses taking the time to report crimes.
After a joint patrol through central London, we arrived at Leicester Square to see the Community Safety & Crime Prevention events for ASB Awareness Week. Supported by police, businesses, street marshals and residents, it was a great opportunity to discuss key strategies to boost community safety and address ASB.
The Westminster City Night Stars were also in attendance, a volunteer-led service to help people out at night in the West End. They offer support with everything from phone chargers to victims of crime. It was fantastic to speak with them and learn that a high percentage of people who have been helped by the service go onto become volunteers themselves.
The visit provided fantastic insight into how multiple partners are coming together in London to address very complex issues of ASB and tackle business crime. I think I speak for everyone when I say that we came away feeling motivated about implementing some of the ideas locally. Thank you to the Safer Business Network for hosting us and keep an eye on the Street Focus website to see some of our ideas come to fruition over the coming months.
