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‘Best practice’ policing
• CAMDEN Town Unlimited, the Business Improvement District representing over 300 businesses in Camden Town, is delighted that Camden Borough Police have been recognised for the successful implementation of the Safer Neighbourhoods teams, and believes that the success of the scheme is a much better barometer for measuring their performance than the report mentioned in your article (‘Them and us’ police are failing to tackle robbery and burglary, November 15).
The number one policing priority for Camden Town businesses and residents remains the highly visible drug dealing on Camden High Street, and the perception of crime after dark, yet this is “off the radar” for the government.
The police in Camden have been given the difficult brief to deliver on national targets (by which they are measured) and answer the very particular and resource-intensive requirements of the local area (on which they are not).
It has taken real leadership from Commander Mark Heath and his team to take the bold decision to staff Safer Neighbourhoods teams with experienced, senior officers and we feel that this decision has been vindicated in the quality of their performance since launched. We welcome the fact that Commander Heath has attributed such a high priority to the local needs and feel that he and his team have managed balancing national targets and local responsibilities with skill and sound judgment.
We feel that the Home Office should look at the performance of the Camden Borough Police team as a “best practice” example of engaging with the local community.
Although there is still much work to be done to tackle the drug dealing, particularly in the late afternoon and evening, we feel confident that this remains a top priority for the Camden Police team.
We also believe that continuing partnership work of the police, London Borough of Camden and ourselves at CTU demonstrates the real commitment by all partners to deliver sustainable, long-term improvements to Camden Town for the benefit of all that live, work and visit here. CTU look forward to achieving this aim.
MATTHEW McMILLAN
Camden Town Unlimited
Closure fear
• THE Metropolitan Police’s estates strategy will very shortly be reporting on its specific plans for Hampstead and Kentish Town Police stations.
It seems clear from speaking to people who are involved in this process that there is a very strong likelihood that there will be a reduction in the level of service from these two police stations, and although no concrete details have yet emerged, some people have been suggesting the possibility of closure.
It is important for policing to stay close to the local community – as evidenced by the success of Safer Neighbourhoods teams. I believe that it is vital to ensure that we have a substantive physical police presence close to the areas that are being served. It generates a feeling of public safety, a visible presence deters crime and it makes contacting the police easier.
If the police stations are used to dispatch response teams, then the time taken to reach crime scenes will also be lower. A more centralised service based in some distant part of the borough in the south would mean that officers had less familiarity with the problems and people in NW3, NW5 and NW6 and would be less able to respond to issues here.
A proper local police presence in fully functioning police stations is vital to keeping the police close to the community and readily available to protect the public.
I will be watching this issue very closely, and will campaign vigorously against any adverse change to policing provision in the Hampstead area.
CLLR CHRIS PHILIP
Conservative,
Gospel Oak Ward
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