The Sanderstead Police Ward Panel met on Thursday at All Saints Church Hall.
It was good to hear that incidents of burglary and car crime are generally down. Therefore priorities around this area have been amended from reducing to maintaining a low level of such crime. In addressing the priority to engage with young people, officers have attended childcare settings. As a member of the Councils Scrutiny Children and Young People, I have heard how officers are attempting to engage with youths, by which time they may have an impression of the Police Force. Meeting children at a young age will help in forming that trust.
Personally I would like to see a priority that seeks to reduce domestic abuse, or at least for us to see data around this area. Sadly the Panel did not think that this was an area that could be a priority on the basis that the Panel only deals with local issues and data does not appear to be available on a ward level; I have since been advised that the primary focus of ward panels is anti-social behaviour and the reduction of acquisitive crime. However, the Met Police does have a priority to focus on what matters to Londoners. Their strategy states that "violent crime tops the public’s concerns and tackling it is our top priority. This includes terrorism, knife and gun crime, sexual offending, domestic abuse and safeguarding vulnerable people from predatory behaviour."
I agreed with the Police Officers after the meeting that they would ask a senior officer to contact me so that he can help me understand what can be done in our ward. I would like to be sure that everything that can be done is being done to help our vulnerable neighbours.
Do remember that if you would like to help to shape our local Police team's priorities, the Police Ward Panel is open to all Sanderstead residents.
More information about the support available to victims of domestic abuse can be accessed here: Domestic abuse | Croydon Council
*This article was amended on 29 March 2023 at the request of a third party.
