A partnership by Westminster City Council and the Metropolitan police has been hailed as a model example of how to tackle crime and disorder following high level visits to the London council.
Figures show that while police activity alone to tackle priority crime categories reduces those crimes by an average of 10 per cent, involving the local authority and other partner groups reduces crime by 16 per cent.
The shadow minister for police reform, David Ruffley MP, and the Deputy Mayor of London with responsibility for policing, Kit Malthouse, both praised CivicWatch where the council and police work closely to tackle concerns directly raised by residents. It is believed Westminster is the only local authority in the country with a team dedicated to such close partnership work at such a level, which culminates in a monthly CivicWatch Accountability meeting between senior council officers, emergency services, housing associations and development organisations to discuss community safety trends and priorities for the city.
Mr Ruffley, the MP for Bury St Edmonds, said afterwards: “The meeting gave me a great insight into how the police and councillors can work effectively whilst preserving police operational independence. I was very impressed.”
The meeting is one part of the work by Westminster’s CivicWatch team, which co-ordinates the council’s work with the police and other partner organisations to tackle crime and its root causes. Cllr Daniel Astaire, Westminster City Council’s cabinet member for community protection, said: “It is great to have our partnership work recognised in this way. We have long recognised in Westminster that the multi-agency approach is the best way to find solutions to problems. We work hard to ensure our residents are safe and feel safe and we are proud of the fact CivicWatch has achieved tangible results in reducing crime and the perception of crime.”
The CivicWatch programme began in October 2003 as a pilot but was rolled out across the city of Westminster in April 2006. The scheme is also successful in reducing the fear of crime with the number of residents concerned about alcohol disorder down by three per cent and those concerned with drugs issues down by nine per cent. Deputy London Mayor Kit Malthouse praised CivicWatch when he attended the council’s first crime and disorder policy and scrutiny meeting.
Mr Malthouse, who has responsibility for the police, said the council’s partnership work was a “model example” of how agencies should work
The new committee aims to look specifically at the council’s work to cut crime including CivicWatch activities and involves senior councillors and officers and Westminster Borough Commander Steve Allen.
Along with CivicWatch, Westminster also benefits from the experience of a former high ranking Metropolitan police officer who leads the council’s wider community protection department.
Dean Ingledew officially joined the council as director for community protection in January after serving 30 years with the Met where he achieved the rank of chief superintendent for Westminster Borough Police.
