Islington residents meet the Metropolitan Police Service via a live web chat

Published: 24th June, 2011
by PETER GRUNER

IN a first for the Metropolitan Police Service, officers from Islington have teamed up with a local community-run website to hold a live web chat.

More than 40 people took part in the “virtual” Caledonian ward surgery, held from 7pm to 8pm last Thursday via the King’s Cross Environment website.

Chief Inspector Claire Clark and Caledonian Safer Neighbourhood Team Sergeant Michael Atkinson discussed a range of topics including knife crime, anti-social behaviour, road and driving issues, ward panels and provisions for young people.

Sergeant Atkinson wanted to organise the web chat to access a wider audience and reach people who are unable or disinclined to attend public meetings.

He thought that www.kingscrossenvironment.com with its 500 regular site visitors would be a good starting point.

The website’s founder, William Perrin, agreed to provide a great deal of technical assistance as well as host the live web chat and spread the message on his blog, Twitter and Facebook sites.

• If you would like to view the web chat visit: http://www.kingscrossenvironment.com/2011/06/kings-cross-police-web-chat.html