Reassuring results point to a better safer city life
Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) are now patrolling the streets in five wards, new mobile CCTV cameras are set to target trouble hotspots and a multi-agency crime-blitz around Notting Hill earlier in the year produced excellent results. But what is the role of PCSOs? And what is being done to reduce the fear of crime?
In 2003, Kensington and Chelsea became the first London borough to invest in extra
PCSOs. In a joint drive by the Council and police to cut crime and fear of crime, the Council invested heavily, with a budget of £500,000 in 2003/4. While most people will have noted their presence, many do not know their exact role and are unaware of the impact they have made in making the streets safer.
PCSOs are in fact a key weapon in the borough's crime-fighting arsenal. Their visible uniformed presence on the streets has already played a major part in crime reduction, with a focus on
antisocial behaviour. They have been involved in initiatives such as the recent Safer Surer operation and are expected to play a key role in the forthcoming Stay Safe Over 50s week.
They act as extra eyes and ears for the police, using their local knowledge to report suspicious activities. They also help in arrests by detaining offenders until a police officer arrives on the scene.
Although they are not a substitute for the existing police presence, they do enable a wider range of problems to be addressed as well as tackling anti-social behaviour.
After just one year on the streets the PCSOs have made a significant impact on
antisocial behaviour. In Colville alone PCSOs have spent 15,000 hours patrolling the area and received two borough commendations for exceptional work.
Since coming on board in April 2003 they have reported over 600 vehicles to the
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency for failing to display tax disks, detained over 50 people pending the arrival of a police officer and warned over 300 cyclists for riding on the pavement. They have also distributed approximately 30,000 crime prevention leaflets.
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Tackling the blight of crime and antisocial behaviour continues to be a
priority for the Council. It has already increased the uniformed presence on the
street with a £350,000 annual investment in 12 Police Community Support
Officers (PCSOs) and will ask local people whether to expand the scheme in 2004.
Complementing the PCSOs is the Council's focus on reducing crime involving
young people, through the use of Antisocial Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) and
schemes to divert young people away from crime.
Additionally, use of the Crack House Protocol to close down crack houses
within six weeks will spearhead efforts to reduce drug crime in the borough.
PCSOs played a big part too in the success of the borough's second 'Safer Surer' initiative as council officers and police conducted a two-day crime blitz in Notting Hill in February. In total 31 arrests were made, including one for a serious firearms offence.
Coming hot on the heels of last year's 'Safer Surer' operation, which led to over 40 arrests in the Earl's Court area, the latest initiative brought a range of agencies together to target priority locations. Their aim: to tackle both high and low level crime and
antisocial behaviour issues.
Council officers from Environmental Health, Benefit Fraud, Parking Services and Trading Standards were involved. Among the other organisations at the centre of the operation were the TMO, the police, Customs and Excise, Transport for London and the Department for Work and Pensions.
The two-day operation was followed by a community reassurance day, where police officers and PCSOs continued to patrol the streets, man the 'Reassurance Bus', distribute crime prevention advice and offer free mobile phone markings.
Throughout the highly visible operation there was only one reported crime of theft in the target area and crime across the whole borough fell dramatically.
In one dramatic incident, a driver found with live ammunition in his pocket was arrested and a house search later uncovered an illegal firearm. One man was also arrested for indecent assault. On a lower but no less significant level, over 150 motorists were found to have no tax disk. Tube and bus fare evaders were also hunted down.
From May the community will have the reassuring presence of four new mobile CCTV cameras, enabling the police and Council to target trouble hotspots.
The Council and police are currently assessing locations and carrying out feasibility testing on the borough's light-columns. The cameras will deal with a particular problem before being moved on to the next location.
The borough has a fixed network of 60 CCTV cameras. The current CCTV system has been in operation in the borough for seven years, mainly in North Kensington and Earl's Court and has had a significant impact on reducing street crime and
antisocial behaviour.
It has proved an asset to both police and the Council in the detection and prevention of all crimes, most notably dealing with drug offences and crack houses. The cameras are monitored 24 hours a day and all tapes are kept on record for 56 days.
Some key facts…
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By August 2004 the wards of Cremorne, Earl's Court,
Campden, St Charles and
Colville will each be patrolled by ten PCSOs, while nine PCSOs will have licence
to roam the borough.
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PCSOs have confiscated around 70 batches of alcohol as a result of the Earl's
Court street drinking ban
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Two borough commendations for exceptional work have been given to
PCSOs
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