The shocking killing of a 16-year-old boy in West Ham Park on July 9 just days before London’s police chief issued a new strategy for public safety has highlighted Newham’s continuing crisis of violent crime.

By Dean Armond

Newham is among the top 10 most dangerous boroughs in London according to the criminal activity data project CrimeRate and the latest tragedy underlines the need for a new approach in combating violence which have in recent years been the highest proportion of all crimes in the Borough.

The new Metropolitan Police strategy outlines a new approach and puts the focus on community-policing with more police officers to be deployed in local neighbourhoods.

The strategy aims to rebuild public confidence after the independent report by Louise Casey earlier this year condemned institutional sexism, racism and homophobia in the force.

The West Ham tragedy, which took place in broad daylight in the rose garden of one of Newham’s most popular parks and for which another teenager has been charged with murder, underlines the need for a new approach.

Recent changes in the leadership of policing in Newham and across London may give grounds to hope for improvement.

The most significant change has been the appointment of Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley to replace Dame Cressida Dick who resigned in 2022 in the midst of controversy over shortcomings which had seen the Metropolitan Police Service placed in ‘Special Measures’ and put under increased public scrutiny.

Last year the North East (NE) Basic Command Unit (BCU) which covers Newham and Waltham Forest also saw the appointment of Commander Simon Crick to replace Richard Tucker.

And, in Newham, the new Cabinet appointments in May this year saw Councillor Amar Virdee given the Community Safety and Crime portfolio.

Commissioner Rowley made his position clear with the publication on July 17 of the Metropolitan Police Service strategy A New Met for London 2023-25 days after the West Ham killing with the emphasis on three priorities: “… community crime-fighting, culture change and fixing our foundations.”

Rowley is recruiting an additional 500 Police Community Support Officers and assigning more officers and PCSOs to local neighbourhoods.

The local police chief BCU Commander Simon Crick started his police career in Newham and is a firm believer in neighbourhood policing. He outlined his plans at a ‘Police Service’ event to discuss the new strategy in June at the Excel Centre.

At council level, Councillor Virdee is working closely with Council officers in various departments including housing services to create a consistent and coherent Community Safety and Policing policy. He has also reached out to other organisations via the Newham Community Safety Partnership to ensure the council is aligned effectively with the police, probation, health, and fire services.

Central to the strategy for change are ward panels, a group of community members and partner agencies that meet with a representative of the Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) at least every three months to set local ward priorities for policing within the community.

All three new appointments agree that ward panels are essential in public building trust and confidence. These panels – there are 24 of them in Newham – will help the Met get community information about neighbourhood crime, and give the police an opportunity to inform residents about their activities.

In the shadow of a horrifying and brutal murder these new appointments, a fresh strategy to crackdown on crime and a commitment to focus on neighbourhood policing are timely.

www.met.police.uk/notices/met/anew-met-for-london

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