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‘Nine-to-five’ claim is unfair to police team
• I WOULD like to emphasise it is absolutely not the case that the Safer Neighbourhoods team for Caledonian ward works nine to five (Please leave a message, June 1).
All our Safer Neighbourhoods teams work a three-week roster that includes early and late shifts as well as weekends. This system is flexible so if there is an operational need they will adapt the shift pattern accordingly.
The teams were never intended to give 24-hour cover, which continues to be provided by our response teams, and by the very nature of the Safer Neighbourhoods team it would be impossible for it to cover a 24-hour period.
Altogether, there are 100 officers working on Safer Neighbourhoods teams in Islington. As an example of their flexibility, in April these officers worked a total of 97 of their rest days, in response to intelligence.
I have looked into the specific issue raised by resident Gloria Johnson, from the Bemerton estate, who reported an allegation of criminal damage on Sunday, May 27. I am truly sorry that no one was deployed that evening, as a response team officer should have been assigned to this call by the police telephone operator.
One of my superintendents has already been to see Mrs Johnson to apologise in person. We are now investigating this matter to ascertain exactly what happened. Should any inappropriate action be revealed, we will act swiftly to deal with it. It is absolutely clear to me, however, that this is not a failing of the Safer Neighbourhoods team.
I would like to point out some of the positive things provided by the team:
They regularly patrol on the Bemerton estate.
They monitor and follow up activity which has taken place when they have been off duty.
They have executed a number of drugs warrants on Bemerton estate and elsewhere on the ward, recovering drugs such as heroin and crack cocaine.
They have supported covert filming with Homes for Islington and have run a private witness scheme alongside this, ensuring that witnesses feel comfortable in coming forward and reporting anti-social behaviour.
They have worked in partnership to obtain a fixed CCTV camera through the multi-agency geographical panel. They have made numerous arrests for a variety of offences on the ward.
They have undertaken an injunction against a ringleader that prevents him from visiting the estate.
They have secured anti-social behaviour contracts against people committing anti-social behaviour on the estate.
It is fair to say that none of the above would have happened prior to the advent of Safer Neighbourhoods. The vast majority of people in Islington are hugely supportive of their teams.
I believe the article wrongly maligns Safer Neighbourhoods teams which have been a huge asset for the people of Islington.
Islington police will continue to listen to the concerns of residents and take action to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour on the Bemerton estate.
However, this is not something which can be achieved overnight but will take time and we are grateful for the continued support and co-operation of residents.
BOB CARR
Borough Commander, Islington Police
• I WOULD like to stress to Chief Inspector Jane Johnson, head of neighbourhood policing, that the public have a right to say how we would like our estates and streets policed.
She has a nerve to say that on the three days the police team had off she would have sent in the response team when youths smoked drugs and smashed glass.
If other London boroughs have seven-day cover, with supposedly the same money, why can’t Caledonian ward have it? Police and councillors are supposed to hold a public meeting at Jean Stokes Hall on the second week in the month. In May, I went to complain to the police but only Councillor Lisa Spall turned up. There were no police.
Bring back the friendly bobby. As an older person I can see where police go wrong with the youth of today and why there is no respect for the police. They should be more friendly – it goes a long way.
GLORIA JOHNSON
(Address supplied) N7
• VANDALISM, street theft and aggressive anti-social behaviour are the top problems affecting the quality of life for everyone in and around Caledonian Road.
When the local police team is not rostered, we are at the mercy of a centralised response system which does not appreciate that anti-social behaviour is a priority. Many residents have told me that 999 callers are told to wait until the local police team comes back on duty, often the next day
I firmly support our local police teams. This is high-visibility policing by officers who know their beat and have a good understanding of residents’ priorities.
But these police teams make up just one in eight of all the officers under the borough command. In Caledonian ward, we have a sergeant, two constables and nine support officers covering an area stretching from King’s Cross up to Holloway.
And we are not unique – places like Canonbury, St Peter’s and Finsbury Park all have similar problems with small teams of officers who simply cannot cover the patch and certainly cannot ensure continuous seven-day and evening cover.
I was astonished to read the statement by Inspector Jane Johnson that “we have no plans to apply for additional funding to increase weekend cover”. Why not?
For the last 18 months, the Caledonian ward Safer Neighbourhoods panel has been asking for additional funding to provide more coverage, so I am staggered that nothing seems to have come of this.
Already, our London Assembly member, Jennette Arnold, has convened an urgent meeting with the Borough Commander. But more needs to be done, long term.
We have to persuade Mayor Ken Livingstone and Scotland Yard’s top brass that neighbourhood policing should become the basic model for policing most of London. Get officers out of the Tolpuddle Street fortress, out of their cars and back onto the streets.
We also need a massive expansion of sports and other youth activities to give young people a positive alternative to gangs, drugs and anti-social behaviour. In Caledonian ward, we have excellent youth groups but they suffer from inadequate and erratic funding from Islington Council.
Caledonian Ward Safer Neighbourhoods panel meets on Wednesday, June 21, when the public will demand to know how the Met Police and council are prepared to help combat vandalism and aggressive behaviour.
CLLR PAUL CONVERY
Labour, Caledonian ward |
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