1 February - At last, The Metropolitan Police Show

The Places webcast was belatedly restored and my copy appears to be missing only the Chairman’s opening remarks; as such it opened with a presentation from the Metropolitan Police, The Police had broken with tradition and sent someone who appeared to be on top of his brief in the shape of Chief Inspector James Hendrick.

He reported that his priorities were shoplifting, theft of and from motor vehicles, violence, particularly against females, and anti-social behaviour. Shoplifting offences rose sharply at the beginning of last year and retailers are encouraged to report them. Reports have subsequently reduced by about 20% following a number of new initiatives but the Inspector is not confidant that all offences are reported. “We are not there yet.” The initiatives include being able to download shop video directly. Major retailers only at present.

Vehicle thefts are down by 26%. Things were very bad last year and foreign based criminal groups have been targeted by a team of specialists.

Violence with injury is down by only 2·5% but hides a 19% reduction in knife crime. Convictions are up. There have been about 2,500 Stop & Searches in Bexley in the current financial year of which 846 were positive as of the middle of January. The majority was drugs related with weapons and stolen property being some way behind.

Drug dealers and users were being targeted and a lot of work goes on around Transport Hubs. Dogs. arches and behavioural specialists have been placed at stations etc. especially in the North of the borough.

Plain clothes officers have been placed in robbery hotspots and Bexleyheath’s nightlife has been visibly policed to make people feel safe there.

Councillor Sally Hinkley (Labour, Belvedere) as is so often the case was first to ask a question. It was about facial recognition. The police officer said it has been used on Broadway and a notable success was picking up a woman who had been on the run from prison for eight years. Councillor John Davey (Conservative, West Wickham) said that the team who used to patrol the school children who too often make a nuisance of themselves in Broadway had been disbanded and officers moved to Safer Neighbourhood Teams. His ward had missed out on any benefits. He moved on to traffic offences, speeding etc. about which his residents make many complaints,

It was confirmed that the Safer Transport Team had moved to Safer Neighbourhoods and may be deployed more widely. Twelve officers previously based in schools have been relocated, four each to Thamesmead, Bexleyheath and Sidcup to tackle troublesome children there and nearby whenever necessary.

Traffic offences are monitored, more so in Bexley and its Borough Command Unit, than anywhere else in London. There are five officers for Bexley but North Greenwich is the busiest traffic area and warrants more and may occasionally ‘borrow’ Bexley officers.

3,154 Bexley residents are signed up for Met Engage which is 14th highest in London.

Councillor Mabel Ogundayo (Labour, Thamesmead East) said there are very few shops in her ward but shoplifting always takes up a lot of time at Ward Panel Meetings. “What has caused the reduction?”

Sending small time offenders to Court is not very rewarding so prolific offenders have their crimes bundled together and maybe given Criminal Behaviour Orders which together might persuade a Court to take more effective action. When “certain people are in prison” shoplifting reduces noticeably.

Councillor June Slaughter (Conservative, Sidcup) asked if speed checks are carried out where residents or Councillors report them. It was admitted that speed traps were few. Some on the A2 but not many. Probably it is the only road in the borough where speeding is a real possibility.

Chairman Cameron Smith asked about Dangerous Driving. There had been four fatalities in five years in Bexley Village. It was not felt that it was not an area that would benefit from speed guns but number plate recognition might deter criminals going there for its nightlife.

Councillor Rags Sandhu (Conservative, Bexleyheath) asked about shoplifting numbers in the Broadway specifically, which was perhaps pushing his luck somewhat. Unlike most visitors at meetings, Chief Inspector Hendrick had most numbers at his fingertips and did not constantly resort to “I will get back to you later” - and the public never gets to know - but this one had him stumped.