"Inspector Paula Light of MET Police Paddington and Lynda King Taylor SWG Chair - working together with their respective teams towards safer neighbourhoods for those who live, work and visit north Westminster"
Paddington Hyde Park Sector Working Group (SWG) is often asked to contribute their views from their multi cultural police/community representation to dialogues and debates on community policing relations and police reform. This is sometimes undertaken through sharing best practice. On other occasions our experience is discussed with visiting guests to our SWG meetings in Paddington, and by invitation to Home Office and other policing events such as the recent participation by SWG Chair, Lynda King Taylor, on a House of Lords committee discussing policing and building safer communities. The SWG are usually selected because of the anticipated value that our local knowledge, experience and community relations rapport brings to the consultative and conference commitment.
The SWG are currently contributing to the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) and Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) Annual Policing Priorities for 2005/6 which allows our community to influence the policing priorities that affect us the most. During 2004-6 the SWG look forward to continuing to contribute to consultative documents such as below and to sharing our views on policing reform initiatives and Inquiries.
Communities Together
The Metropolitan Police Service now offer the opportunity for Londoners to receive Community Information Bulletins and other information the Police broadcast. This is part of the Communities Together Strategy providing information and reassurance to London's Communities. Bulletins are currently produced twice weekly and offer the opportunity for Communities to return information to the Police in an electronic format. For more information visit the police site at http://www.met.police.uk/communities_together/
Communities Together leaflets
A leaflet has also been produced to give you details of organisations that can help you if you have been a victim of prejudice or hate. The leaflet has been made available in multiple languages.
If you wish to speak to a member of the Community Reassurance Team Call 0800 028 2390.
The Home Office has recently released a Consultation document 'Policing: Building Safer Communities Together'.
This document outlines the direction a second wave of UK police reform will take and it is well worth reading for all those with an interest in local policing. A copy of 'Policing: Building Safer Communities Together' can be found in detail via the following link: http://www.policereform.gov.uk/docs/consultation2003.html
Citizen-focused Policing
Citizen-focused policing has been highlighted by Home Office Ministers as fundamental to the future direction of police reform. It is also a key priority for the service in the National Policing Plan 2004 - 2007. What exactly does it mean for the police service and our community representatives across Westminster?
It is about improving the way police forces understand, communicate with and engage with their communities, whether that be as direct users of services or as members of the wider public. In keeping with the principles of the wider reform of public services - standards, flexibility, accountability and choice - the ultimate aim is to embed greater citizen perspective into all aspects of policing in order to increase the public's confidence and satisfaction in the police.
Sir Ian Blair QPM Deputy Commissioner
of the Metropolitan Police Service London
Sir Ian responded to the release of the 'Policing: Building Safer Communities Together' document, and supporting partnership. He said that "Community engagement in policing is at the heart of this consultation paper and we recognise that the local dimension of policing can be enhanced through improved accountability at a local level and the delivery of local reassurance-based community policing".
To view the Metropolitan Police Response to the above document click here. For a full copy of the Deputy Commissioner's speech given at the Future of Policing Conference in Winter 2003 (see our Future Policing Plans).
UK Minister of State for crime reduction, policing and community safety, Hazel Blears MP, stressed at the launch of 'Building Safer Communities Together' that the Government wanted to move beyond policing by consent to 'policing through co-operation' and that she wants community engagement to be part of the police's day to day business.
On accountability, Hazel Blears added "We want everybody to be more visible, more accessible and for people to know who is in charge. We have got to make sure we deal with anti-social behaviour, organised crime that doesn't recognise boundaries and the international issue of terrorism. A golden thread of accountability must run through the service from frontline patrol officers to chief constables to Ministers."
Stakeholders In Sector Working Group Community Engagement
Mostafa Ragab Chair of the Westminster BME and Head of the Egyptian UK Assoc helping to build safer neighbourhoods with other community leaders such as Daniel Geller Head of an Amenity Group in Paddington
Policing through consent and co-operation through diverse community engagement needs to be continuous. This has always been part of the SWG Constitution
The SWG plays an important role in building safer communities together with Westminster City Council, the Police and other public services, agencies and business representatives across Paddington and Hyde Park Ward. Community engagement is viewed as part of local officers' daily work role. Seen above with police and community representatives at a recent Hyde Park SWG event, is Westminster City Councillor Colin Barrow and on his left Chief Inspector Partnership Paddington Division Police Gareth Hughes, both strong supporters of the SWG. Adding their stronger voice in shaping the services that affect crime reduction and quality of life on the SWG are Ibrahim El-Nour, above on left, a member on the Metropolitan Police Independent Advisory Group and Mostapha Ragab Chair of the EgyptianUK Association who represent 800+ members on the SWG. The SWG are committed to the Home Office 'Building Safer Communities Together' initiative and consultation.
Lynda King Taylor, chair of the Paddington police/community Hyde Park Sector Working Group (SWG), said on the new initiative "Policing: Building Safer Communities Together is a trend setting initiative. The way forward is to give the people close to the policing problem the ability to come up with the solution. In keeping with the MET Police, we believe that true community engagement in policing must include the identification of neighbourhood priorities and the building of capacity and capability, in both the community and the police service, to work together in identifying and tackling those priorities and building safer communities together."
Pulling together
Simultaneous with above, 2004 saw the UK Government's crackdown on anti-social behaviour receiving a boost with the launch of the TOGETHER ActionLine and Academy to ensure that anti-social behaviour is tackled, not tolerated.
The TOGETHER Academy and TOGETHER ActionLine - 0870 220 2000 - funded by the Home Office, will provide expert advice and support to help offer solutions to anti-social behaviour problems.
Following the first wave of tough new powers to tackle anti-social behaviour earlier in 2004, the launch of the Academy and ActionLine by the Home Office marked the next phase in the campaign. Frontline staff across Britain from the police, local councils and others will attend the Academy, which, with the ActionLine, will provide them with the knowledge and support to deal with antisocial behaviour.
"The combination of the ActionLine, Academy and new powers will renew the determination of those on the frontline to respond more effectively to those who need their help," said Home Office.
THE POLICE SUPERINTENDENTS' ASSOCIATION
of England & Wales have also given a response to Policing: Building Safer Communities Together which would interest SWG members and others visiting our site. This can be viewed here.
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