Tag Archives: police
No more crime briefings
After over 18 months I’ve been told by the Metropolitan Police to stop producing my crime maps. I was told by a slightly convoluted route (I understand a complaint by Harrow Council prompted a chain of communication that hopped along at least three intermediaries to me) but I understand that the Met’s issues are mainly [...]
Crime mapping and reassurance
It is a while since I droned on about crime mapping, but came across an interesting blog by a PhD student (who happens to be a retired police officer). The site has a fairly lengthy post (actually a republishing of a paper) covering some of the problems with mapping, as well as some potential future [...]
Operation Liberal
I spent yesterday morning out with the police and trading standards as part of the national day of action for Operation Liberal. Operation Liberal is the national doorstep crime intelligence unit, targeting things like things like rogue traders and distraction burglars. Doorstep crime is a real problem, with many of the criminals sharing information and [...]
Safer Citizens
I’m currently doing some work in a local authority elsewhere in the country, hopefully helping them improve their (already good) community safety function. Inevitably you draw comparisons with your own experiences and the quality of what you provide. Of course, it’s impossible to do, because each partnership has different needs and priorities – what might [...]
The point of councils (and politics): 1. Making a difference
With all the negativity around politics at the moment I can easily forgive people who think we’re all as bad as each other and in it for ourselves. And with that attitude, it’s easy to start wondering why on earth I still persist in my politician-lite role as a councillor – unlike Stephen Byers it [...]
Congratulations to East Putney
The council and police won the Metropolitan Police’s snappily titled Problem Oriented Partnership Award last night for their work talking problems in Strathan Close, Putney. A great example of how effective targeted work can be in solving, rather than just moving a problem, the area has seen reports of anti-social behaviour drop from one per [...]
Weekly wrap-up, 22 January
I seem to have stopped taking photos this year – so the cup of tea is getting a few outings – not that photos of meetings or a fairly damp and dreary London are any more exciting. Councillor Awards I started the week off acting as a judge for the Local Government Information Unit’s first [...]
Crime reduction budget cuts
Labour again shows its commitment to fighting crime by slashing the budget. The Local Government Chronicle is reporting on the Conservative leak of Labour’s plans to slash Safer and Stronger Communities funding by 50%. And yes, Wandsworth got the letter a couple of days ago, explaining in the most hand-wringing terms, that our grant was [...]
Weekly wrap-up, 11 December
Although I usually use this last post of the week to witter on about the past week I’m going start off with an event two weeks ago. Battersea Police Ball I can’t believe I forgot to mention this last week, but on Saturday 28 November I attended, along with about 1,500 other people, the Battersea [...]
Council & Police Utd 1 – Con men 0
I don’t often (if I ever have) republish council press releases on here, but the one below is – I think – a great story and worth repeating. There’s something particularly callous about this type of crime, where the vulnerable are conned out of huge sums of money by criminals who are pretending to help. [...]
