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Businesses’ doubts on community cops
AN UNPUBLISHED report on the performance of Police Community Support Officers (PCSO) has raised questions over the success of the council’s £1.5million flagship project in Camden Town.
The council agreed in 2007 to pay the Metropolitan Police £400,000 a year to help maintain extra officers to quash what the Town Hall calls an “aggressive cannabis market” in Camden High Street and Chalk Farm Road.
A Town Hall publicity release this week boasted of “a successful two years” for the 18 additional PCSOs brought in.
Based on an unpublished survey of businesses and residents conducted for the police in August, crime chief Cllr James King claimed: “The PCSOs are doing a fantastic job in Camden Town, and have contributed greatly to the fall in crime in the wider area.”
But the detail of the survey, obtained by the New Journal, reveals a mixed picture which includes “worrying” and “negative” perceptions of the extra PCSOs that are at odds with the celebratory tone of the council’s official stance.
The surveyors found particular concerns among businesses. The report said: “The percentage difference of businesses feeling ‘very unsafe’ appears to have increased greatly... Businesses within Camden Town appear not to have a positive perception of the PCSOs... Worryingly, there has been an increase in business respondents who are ‘not confident at all’ in the PCSOs’ ability to reduce crime.”
Labour crime spokesman Cllr Abdul Hai said: “PCSOs must continue to do good work in Camden Town, but for this administration to claim that everything is wonderful is misleading. The council and police are putting massive resources into Camden Town and they need to work to make sure they are making it feel safer for residents, businesses, and commuters to Camden Town Tube.”
Yesterday (Wednesday), Cllr Moffitt defended the council’s claims. He said: “I am aware it is a mixed picture and we are not complacent, but we’re hearing from visitors to the area who are feeling safer.”
Simon Pitkeathley, the chief executive of business lobby Camden Town Unlimited, said: “Anyone who doesn’t feel that Camden is a better place in the last two years hasn’t been there for a while.” |
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