The local delivery level police and community consultative policing forum operating within the City of Westminster is known as a Sector Working Group (SWG) whose aims are well established and comply within the UK's Metropolitan Police Service (The MET) operating structure for SWGs. The Paddington Hyde Park/Bayswater Group is based in central London at the major Divisional police station of Paddington Green. This group was the first of its type in The MET and celebrates more than ten years working in partnership with police, Westminster City Council and other multi-agencies, in order to reduce crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour within the multi cultural Paddington Police Division of inner London.
The Paddington Hyde Park Sector Working Group (SWG) appreciate and have developed the ethos in Sir Ian's speech. The SWG is an innovative public-private partnership comprising the Metropolitan Police, representatives of the local community (residents, business & voluntary associations) and department representatives from multi agencies, policing partners such as British Transport and Royal Parks Police, Westminster City Council including their Crime & Disorder Unit.
The METs high security Paddington Green Police Station, is home to the Paddington Hyde Park Police/Community Sector Working Group
The SWG forum has a Constitution and a set of key criteria Principles. (See MET Police SWG Key Principles) The SWG supports that policing is enhanced across the Paddington community through respect and tolerance of diversity of opinion and lifestyle. For true success, it matters to all its representatives and members what its goals are. It also matters to the SWG how they go about attaining them. The means are as important as the ends. How the SWG get there is as important to its membership and partners as where it goes.
The SWG holds members of the community accountable for specific areas causing concern - e.g. youth crime, prostitution, aggressive begging, hotel /retail burglaries, street disorder, quality of life issues & the fear of crime etc. These individuals represent traders, visitors, businesses and residents across this part of London. This is reflected in its Principles and Constitution.
The Paddington Hyde Park Sector Working Group (SWG) is a key strategic communications interface between the forces of law and order, the community, and local government. Serving as a high-level forum for stakeholders on issues of law enforcement that are central to the building of a civil society, the SWG plays an important role in defining objectives, developing action plans, providing intelligence, and assessing feedback. Over the last 10 years the partnership has been an innovative prototype for managing the plethora of challenges present in a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual inner city, functioning effectively in one of the world's great metropolitan centres.
The Group contributes to the City of Westminster Crime and Disorder Reduction Strategy.
Policing and Performance Plan 2004/05
The Paddington Hyde Park Ward SWG also contributes to, and works towards, the objectives of the annual Policing and Performance Plan. The publication of the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) Policing and Performance Plan 2004/05 provides details of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) corporate priorities, objectives, measures and targets set by the MPA for the coming year.
The corporate priorities have been set against a complex range of considerations including the National Policing Plan, an extensive public consultation process, 'Towards the Safest City '- MPS strategy plan, local crime and disorder strategies, Mayoral priorities and for the first time - a Corporate Strategic Assessment.
In addition to the usual statutory requirements, the full plan details how all these various strands combined have identified the following priority areas:
- Protecting the Capital against Terrorism
- Reducing Serious Crime
- Promoting Reassurance
The Sector Working Group across Paddington Hyde Park Ward, through its principles, partnership, people and priorites, (see http://www.padpolice.com/keycriteria&principles) will continue to work with both its local and Borough-based police, support teams, multi-agencies and others to contribute towards a safer London. We are currently involved in the consultation process for the policing priorities for the Capital for 2005/6.
View a summary of the current annual policing Plan in PDF format at http://www.met.police.uk/about/documents/summary_2004-05.pdf
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