Mapesbury Ward Panel meeting: Monday 17 February 2020. 6pm at Ashford Place

Present: PC Edward Clements, PC Damen Khanna, PCSO Ajay Dhokia, Cllr Tariq Dar, Sapna Chadha, Eris Cliff, Su Fernando, Marie Hancock, Steve Iliffe, Vinay Kelly, Niall Mcginley, Jacob Sam, Belinda Syme, Gerry Weston (Chair)

Apologies: Anne Birane, Steve McCormack A/PS Anne Collyer, Angela Payne, Priscilla Mo, Shaheen Mufti

1. Mapesbury SNT team members: No changes on team members: Inspector Forster (covering 21 wards), A/PS Anne Collyer (covering Mapesbury, Dollis Hill and Kilburn), PC Edward Clements (Mapesbury Ward officer), PCSO Ajay Dhokia plus PC Dhamen Khanna who has now been with the ward for six months, and will be with us for at least two years.

2. Ward Crime Summary

Burglary.  Trending lower since last summer. Good figures given the size of the ward and no of residential properties. Compared to 2018, burglaries for 2019 were down by 27% overall. Lot of burglaries identified and dealt with. Chichele Road is a hot spot.

Motor Vehicle Crime. Residents are still leaving cars unlocked, with ‘valuables’ inside. The theft of catalytic converters was raised, but there’s not really anything that can be done by the police unless someone is caught in the act.

Why we can’t catch these people, as residents have lots of CCTV footage/ stills of it taking place. The police receive many calls, and they need to prioritise. In any case, unless the individuals can be clearly identified and named, the footage/stills do not really help.

Footage/stills circulated among residents needs to be kept to private What’s App groups, for example, and not made publicly available on apps like Facebook. This is in the interests of data protection.

Drug Offences/Anti Social Behaviour.  Still drug issue especially on Broadway; “William Hill and Paddy Power do not help the situation”. The bookmakers attract drug users and dealers, and groups of men gather outside to smoke etc. in between betting. Not pleasant for women walking past. But difficult to close down bookmakers.

All Crime at end of Jan 2020. Down on crime overall. A total of 345 incidents for Nov ’19 -Jan ‘20, which is the second consecutive quarterly drop (down 7.5% over the previous quarter).

Top 3 Most Reported Crimes (Feb 2019)

  • Residential Burglary – 19 incidents, and once again, Chichele Road is the hotspot. Numerous HMOs at this location.
  • 13 incidents – Neighbour disputes, ‘domestics’. Two properties in particular on Chichele Road a problem. Not considered an issue to be duly concerned with currently with respect to the wider community.
  • Theft From a Vehicle – 16 incidents. Sports equipment (esp. golf clubs) and clothing the favoured targets.
  • SNT capacity: The presence of our police team on the ward is often curtailed by them needing to be on duty at big events in other parts of London. For example, they were pulled away for duty at the Notting Hill Carnival and at Brexit and Extinction Rebellion marches/demonstrations in central London.

3. Team Activity.

  • On 05/02/20 a Misuse of Drugs Act warrant was executed on an address on Cricklewood Broadway near the junction with Anson Road. Cash, drugs and large knives were recovered during the operation. Man being charged for 3 burglaries.
  • Landlord at address on Chichele Road has been working with the police and council to stop drug related activity, resulting in a metal gate being installed, and evictions.
  • Ongoing work with landlords to stop criminal activity in and around their properties. Does the HMO certification help? If Landlords break it, that is registered London wide with councils.
  • Youths hanging around in the car park at Watling Gardens have been issued with Community Protection Warnings. Seems to have solved the problem.
  • An address in Sylvan Grove was raided, but no evidence of drug dealing activity was found.

4. Other Business

  • A ‘massage parlour’ has been opened at 297 Cricklewood Broadway. After enquiring with the council, it appears they do not have a ‘Special Treatment’ license. PCSO Ajay Dhokia will investigate further.
  • Drug users at 20 Sheldon Road, a recently refurbished house. Taking place in front garden only, apparently.
  • Alley off Anson Road at back of Broadway, drug dealing. Police aware. A lock could be added by residents if the Landlord(s) does not respond.
  • Oman Avenue building boarded up.
  • Police advise not to give money to beggars. They can move them on but will re-appear; regarded as low priority. Also moving them on can break the link between the council out-reach workers and the person begging, which could make their situation worse.

5. Communication summary

  • 999 for high level crime in progress.
  • Use Crime-stoppers – 0800 555 111 – to anonymously submit crimes and incidents.
  • Need people to be specific in reporting addresses / vehicles – not helpful to say just street name.  Make sure add details of address when reporting
  • SNT online – Email to SNT is the best form of contact: mapesbury.snt@met.police.uk
  • To report various crimes as well as anti-social behaviour can be done online at https://www.met.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/. Put as much detail as possible when reporting ASB or crime online and the exact circumstances and location.

6. SNT Priorities for next 3 months. Retained as:

  • Burglary
  • Motor Vehicle crime
  • Anti-Social Behaviour / Drugs

Next meeting:  Monday 18 May – 6pm at Ashford Place.  .