Police team joint best in London (From News Shopper)

Police team joint best in London

11:11am Thursday 13th December 2007

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A SAFER Neighbourhood Team has been named joint best by the Met.

The Crystal Palace Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) in Bromley was named as joint winners of the Met's award for Best Safer Neighbourhood Team 2007.

The award, which is shared with the Hackney team, will be presented at a ceremony by the Met Commissioner Sir Ian Blair next month.

The team identified and targeted individuals in the ward who caused a significant and disproportionate amount of anti social behaviour.

Officers visited these individuals regularly in their homes and gathered evidence from residents building up their trust so that they felt comfortable giving statements to police and housing officers.

This resulted in ASBOs and Acceptable Behaviour Contracts being obtained and the problem people being evicted.

The team also brought young people together with youth service providers in schemes to give the young people in the ward something to do in the evening and at the weekend.

This lead young people becoming involved in leisure and activities such as sports programmes at the National Sports Centre and Crystal Place football Club.

Led by Sergeant Richard Horne the team also cracked down on crime by targeting gangs travelling into the area to buy and sell drugs and commit street robberies.

Chairman of Crystal Palace Safer Neighbourhood's Team ward panel Jo Christie-Smith said: "Sergeant Horne and members of his team have sought and implemented best practice ideas.

"They have really got to grips with the nitty gritty of neighbourhood policing, ensuring that he and his team are visible out on the beat.

"They are focusing on solving problems in specific areas and pulling together a variety of different agencies to make people's lives feel safer."

Head of Bromley's Safer Neighbourhoods teams, Chief Inspector Marshall Kent said: "The team have taken the process of community engagement and prioritising local issues to the next level.

"They are committed to delivering excellence in this model of policing, with the local community having a real say on local policing issues and directing their teams to tackle the problems that matter most to local people".

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