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The SWG partnership 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 Paddington Hyde Park Sector Working Group (SWG) in 2004-5 is an innovative public-private partnership comprised of the Metropolitan Police (The MET), representatives of the local community (residents, business & voluntary associations) and department representatives from Westminster City Council including their Crime & Disorder Unit and other multi agency partners. The SWG serves as a high-level forum for stakeholders on issues of law enforcement that are central to the building of a civil society and it steers its principles and practices towards meeting both current police partnership policies and future policing plans
The Sector Working Group (SWG) plays an important role in defining objectives, developing action plans, providing intelligence, and assessing feedback. It operates within the current MET Police criteria for the establishment of Sector Working Groups (see our SWG Police/Community Safety Strategy Plan page). In 2004-5 the partnership is a key strategic communications interface between the forces of law and order, the community and local government supportive of the Metropolitan Police Service's SAFER NEIGHBOURHOODS
The SWG is committed to working with the MET Police to providing the best possible policing to our community across Paddington Hyde Park and Bayswater Ward. 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, and has gained 'best practice' status, especially for its portfolio approach to working.
For details on how The Paddington Green Division Hyde Park - Bayswater Sector Working Group operates and its detailed structure please visit http://www.lyndakingtaylor.com/swg_principles.htm
Problem-solving approach as a successful method of combating crime and disorder
The SWG forum (See MET Police SWG Principles) hold 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.
Leslie Robert is a 'portfolio' holder with responsibility for vice-related crime across the Wards for the SWG and who work closely with Westminster City Council and Inspector Paula Light and her Paddington Police team. Leslie's portfolio follows an approach of 'engagement and enforcement' working with agencies to have aggressive vice, drugs and street prostitution removed from neighbourhoods. This requires a broad strategic approach towards reducing anti-social behaviour.
The above are known as 'portfolio holders' and they work with Council, agencies and the police to problem-solve crime issues, which are of concern to the community. They feed into a local and Borough wide Community Safety Plan (Also see our SWG Police/Community Safety Strategy Plan page)
An example of a successful portfolio approach and activity is the SWG Youth Diversion initiatives. Youth crime reduction and diversion is one of four areas of focus in the Community Safety Strategy for 2004-5, alongside vice & prostitution, street crime and aggressive begging. The portfolio holder with accountability for youth diversion, truancy and school issues is SWG deputy chair, Eric Coody. An example of the action portfolio approach and the work of Youth Diversion can be viewed here.
Paddington Hyde Park SWG also consider it vital commercial organisations play their role with the local police/community partnership. As such prominent local business representatives sit on the SWG committee as Portfolio holders including the Hotels Association, the Paddington Waterside and the Paddington Business Improvement District.” (see http://www.paddingtonbid.co.uk )
The involvement of business representatives is a bright bonus, as businesses invariably have members of the local multi-culture community as customers, staff and stakeholders. Their membership on the SWG has developed diversity debates and decisions, in working with police and 'hard to reach' communities to reduce crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour issues.
The Sector Working Group welcomes on board business representatives from right across Paddington, including the Edgware Road areas, Praed Street, Bayswater & Harrow Roads plus the new Paddington Waterside developments. If you or a member of your staff could contribute to policing and the local community please call our community action team on 020 7321 8365 or email our SWG Chair at LKTLondon@aol.com
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