High Street SNT Ward Panel MINUTES 15th June 2021

Meeting held online

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Attendees:

• PC Ella Rose
• PC Alex Watkins
• PC Callum Welman

• Rev. Malcolm Patten (Chair)
• Philip Herlihy (Co-Chair, Minutes)
• James King (Waltham Forest Council ASB team)
• Helen Jackson
• Charlie Mutuku
• Jacquie Sheehy
• Alice Taylor-Rugman
• Mo Yusuf

Apologies for Absence

• PC Colm Gallagher
• The ward panel was sorry to learn that Sandra DaCosta will no longer be a member of this group, as she's moved out of our area. Sandra has made a massive contribution to the panel, and to the wider community, for many years, and she will be much missed. We wish her well in her new home.

Minutes

Helen Jackson was thanked for her diligent and timely work on the minutes for the last meeting.

Actions & Matters Arising

• Philip Herlihy had finally circulated the Met Police advice pages on Cybercrime mentioned in November's meeting. (Sorry folks!)
• The team had discussed the e-scooter problem with senior management. The requirement to convey seized e-scooters to the Met pound in Charlton remains a significant obstacle to enforcement, as it ties up officers for a considerable period. The meeting discussed possible options for making this process less time-consuming, but existing procedures don't allow this. Action: team to discuss options for streamlining with senior officers.
• It was noted that the London trial of e-scooters is still under way.
• Police were to obtain details of a persistent pavement rider from Sandra DC - this wasn't reported on during tonight's meeting: Action: team to confirm whether this was done.
• MY was to pass details of a problem address at Essex Close to the team - confirmed.
• PH and MP were to liaise with the team over the response of banks to the spate of robberies at their ATMs. This had been overlooked, and is carried forward (Action PH & MP).

Police Report & discussion

• You can download a PDF version of the team presentation here.
• The level of robberies at ATMs is now back to the fairly low level which prevailed before lockdown, possibly as more people are about to provide natural surveillance. Officers managed shifts as a "leave line" to ensure a uniformed and plain-clothes presence between 10:00 and 21:00 on team working days. Banks are still less than cooperative.
• Staffing: there are two teams currently of 3 and 4 officers working in shifts, with another PC due to join the smaller team.
• E-scooters are a continuing problem, and have been associate with ASB and attempts to evade officers. A mini-operation is planned to speak to users about the legality of using these vehicles, which are only legal on private land. Further work on e-scooters was identified as a team priority.
• Essex Close has been relatively quiet recently but there has been an uplift in Antisocial Behaviour. It is suggested that there is active recruitment/grooming going on, and that one or more residents there is facilitating those outsiders responsible. Further details are outside the scope of public meeting notes. This is also identified as a team priority. JK will request that L&Q circulate residents of Essex Close about the issues there (Action JK).
• PH reported participation in WF "Bystander Intervention" training designed to support victims of harassment. Further sessions are planned, focused on the perennial local problem of street harassment of women: details are on this page. It was reported that the Borough Commander had given vigorous assurances of action over this issue.
• MY drew the meeting's attention to the most recent report (October 2017) about evolution of local gang culture: "Postcodes to Profit".
• JK reported that the Council's team had cleared a rooftop encampment near St James St station, and obtained a closure order on premises used for "Cuckooing" (where a vulnerable person is cajoled or coerced into allowing a home to be used for ASB purposes). JK also canvassed to meeting about any issues they were aware of around Coppermill Lane - none reported at the meeting.
• The new Met handbook on the operation of Ward Panels was touched upon. This is quite recent, and most attendees had not had an opportunity to review it. "Ward Panel" priorities have come back into favour.
• Finally, there was a discussion about the frequency of meetings. The team agreed to check with senior officers whether a desire expressed by some members for more frequent meetings could be met (Action team.)

A note on ward panel priorities

Our ward panel has always recognised that the team is part of a disciplined service where activity is closely regulated. Ward Panel Priorities have come in and out of favour over the decades, though it's generally been recognised that some clear recording of those issues currently concerning residents is useful for everyone. Under the latest guidance, up to three priorities can be set by ward panel meetings. However, it should be understood that these priorities will be what the team turns to when other orders are satisfied and "discretionary" time is available.

Next meeting

23rd September 2021 at 18:30, online unless otherwise advised.

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