Bow West Ward Panel Meeting - Thursday 13th April, 6.30PM

 

Next Thursday is our local Police Ward Panel Meeting for the Bow West area. It usually lasts for under an hour and is your opportunity to report any local crime/ASB concerns to the local neighbourhood police and Tower Hamlets Council. 

At the last meeting the following were set as the local policing priorities:

Violence Related Priority - Concerns have been raised by the community about drug dealing, drug taking and youths with weapons within the corridors of WHITTON WALK . In response to this officers will perform a number of targeted patrols over the next 3 months.

Tredegar Square E3 - ASB Residents of Tredegar Square have reported Anti Social behaviour and noise nuisance due to large groups congregating in the park late at night. Officers plan to increase patrols in and around the vicinity of the park.

Clinton Road ASB - Concerns have been raised by residents about drug taking and nitrous oxide consumption along with in considerate parking Anti social behaviour and noise toward the end of Clinton Road . Officers will work with Tower Hamlets council to reduce the issues raised.

The police will give an update on the above three policing priorities and the public present choose priorities for the next  period. Do you have any concerns relating to our area? Please pop along and pass them on directly to the police; or if you can't make the meeting then email us and we will pass them on for you.

Location: The meeting is in the church hall in Lichfield Road at 6.30PM

Bow West Police Survey

 

Our local borough Safer Neighbourhoods Team for Bow West Ward currently has an online survey available. The "Bow West October 2022 Virtual Ward Survey" only takes a minute or two to fill out and is an excellent opportunity for you to let the local police know about issues affecting you here in Bow.

Whilst completing the survey you have the opportunity to detail particular issues and can give very granular details such as the street name, times etc. I would really encourage you to do this. Such data is used to set local policing priorities.

CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE THE TWO MINUTE SURVEY

Bow West Police Ward Panel - Get Involved!

Safer Neighbourhood Teams in London aim to hold quarterly "ward panel meetings".These meetings allow residents to talk directly with the police, councillors, and other key parties such as Tower Hamlets Homes about local issues. Importantly, local policing priorities are set at these meetings.

Unfortunately due to COVID, staffing, volunteer and other issues our own Bow West Panel hasn't been meeting as often as it should. Meotra, together with our two local councillors Asma Begum and Nathalie Bienfait, and Alex and Barny from the local police, having been working behind the scenes to get these useful meetings going again.

Meotra always sends a representative (indeed Roshan, a MEOTRA committee member, has chaired the meeting for many years), but we are really keen to encourage fresh faces to come along. If you'd be interested in attending then please put your contact details in the MPS survey, and/or get in touch with us via info@meotra.org.uk for more info.

Be Kept Informed About Local Policing Issues.

You might also want to sign up to be kept informed via the following social media platforms:

Twitter: @MPSBowWest | @MPSTowerHam | @metpoliceuk

You can get in touch with the Bow West police via email: CEMailbox.BowWest@met.police.uk

Monthly Crime Data is available on the MPS Crime Dashboard and here. It is highly searchable right down to the ward level. It is extremely detailed - it even lists the number of fish stolen in May 2022 in Bow West (four).

Mobile Phone Theft in Tower Hamlets

Bow West Police Ward Panel Meeting

Every three months or so the local community have a chance to meet up with the local Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) for our Bow West Ward. Last Friday MEOTRA attended the meeting. It was online, lasted around 45 minutes and there was plenty of time for everyone to raise any concerns with police officers. 

What is a Police Ward Panel and what does it do?

A ward panel sets local SNT ward priorities and hold the SNT to account for issues affecting the community. It feeds information and emerging issues directly to local officers, helping to shape and deliver local priorities and inform supervisors. Ward panel decisions must be evidence-based and inform, influence and involve both the community and police officers as part of a continuous cycle of feedback, review and action.

Last Friday's meeting was pretty poorly attended with just myself, Cllr Val Whitehead, Roshan (a Meotra resident) as Chair, two police officers and a rep from Malmesbury Estate. We discussed:

• Anti-social Behaviour (ASB) and possible drug dealing  along the Roman Road which looks to be linked to a vape shop.
• Meotra fed back that many residents were concerned about speeding, jumping red lights and illegal U-turns along Grove Road. Also cyclists are jumping the red lights at the crossing by the railway bridge. It might be tempting to think this isn't a police matter, but all agreed it certainly was and results in a significant number of deaths.
• The large number of car windows smashed overnight (including the filmed on on Tredegar Road). The police didn't seem to know about this mini-epidemic.
• The police brought up ASB within Tredegar Square. The gardens have seen an increase in ASB, littering, loitering, drug use, NOX (aka Happy Crack cannisters); as well as speeding around the Square. There is a feeling these issues have increased since the Parks Department stopped locking the Gardens overnight (during Covid).
• Priorities are evidence based: if issues aren't logged then they can't be prioritised. This is why it is important to obtain a crime reference number.

The meeting resulted in three ward priorities being set:

1. ASB in and around Tredegar Square.
2. Issues centred on Whitton Walk/ Howcroft House (Malmesbury Estate)
3. ASB around Driffield/Roman  Road

Why not get involved?

There are only 3-4 meetings a year, they only take up around 45 minutes and are currently online so no travelling time is involved and they do make a difference. So around four hours commitment a year.

If you'd like to find out more then please contact  Roshan (via me) or PC Aisha Miller (Aisha.Miller@met.police.uk) or 0208 649 3521

Other online Crime and Policing Resources

Look at the Bow West section of the Metropolitan Police website

The Crime Data Dashboard (look at Borough and Ward-level data)

The Ward Panel Handbook (don't be put off - this handbook covers all eventualities. The meetings are much more straightforward!).

Tower Hamlets Council info on policing