Safer Westminster

Safer Westminster Keeping our city’s streets safe

Westminster City Council Westminster City Hall 64 Victoria Street London SW1E 6QP

020 7641 6000 westminster.gov.uk

Useful Numbers Police In an emergency, always dial 999.

For non-emergency calls, or if you would like to speak to your local police, call 101.

Safer Neighbourhoods You can find your local Safer Neighbourhoods Team at www.met. police.uk/saferneighbourhoods

Other useful numbers 34501_Met_101_Magnet-Sticker.indd 1

Environmental Action Line: 020 7641 2000

26/05/2011 17:03

Neighbourhood Watch: 020 7641 2117 Council switchboard: 020 7641 6000 Victim Support: 020 7828 4142 Crimestoppers: 0800 555 111

Contents Your Choice................................. 04 Young people in Westminster........................... 06 Facts and figures...................... 08 Stay Safe in the city................. 09 Make a difference..................... 10 Domestic Abuse....................... 12 Looking after Your Streets.... 14 Safer Soho................................... 16 02

Safer Westminster booklet 2011

Foreword Welcome to this edition of the Safer Westminster mini-magazine. The unrest we witnessed across London in August and the rise in serious youth violence we have unfortunately seen in some areas of Westminster have led to an unprecedented response from the community.

The council has responded.

The Your Choice Gang programme forms a key part of our response. In a very short space of time Westminster has understood that there is a serious problem that needs addressing and we have done so swiftly, in partnership with the communities most affected by serious youth crime. On Friday 4th November we held, jointly with the police, a serious youth violence summit to launch the Your Choice programme.

Built on the principles of early intervention, targeted interventions and swift enforcement, the Your Choice programme will make our communities safer and give our children and young people a real choice.

The programme, as well as other youth engagement and diversion projects running in the city, is explained in this booklet. In addition, we’ve gathered together examples of what we do, in partnership with the police and community and voluntary organisations in Westminster, to help those affected by domestic abuse, to get Westminster residents involved in keeping their local communities safe, and to highlight the importance of personal responsibility when staying safe and enjoying this wonderful city.

Westminster is a unique and incredible city, and it’s important to us that those who live, work and visit here feel safe and secure.

We hope you find the Safer Westminster magazine useful, interesting and inspiring.

Councillor Nickie Aiken Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Community Protection Safer Westminster booklet 2011

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Your Choice – the headlines • Serious youth violence and gang crime will not be tolerated in Westminster.

• We will offer young people who are at risk of involvement in gangs and serious youth violence support from an early age, in order to discourage their involvement in gangs and ensure they receive the right support from the right people at the right stage in their life.

• Young people, and their families and schools, will be made aware that they are known offenders and gang members and will be given the choice to cease their involvement (in exchange for specific, tailored help and support).

• If young people continue to engage in gang related offending and serious youth violence, all possible police and council enforcement options will be pursued against them.

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Safer Westminster booklet 2011

Your Choice Youth crime and gangs in Westminster In Westminster, youth violence and gangs are a relatively new issue. Over the last couple of years, the frequency and nature of serious youth violence has escalated in certain areas of the city and, as a result, there has been an impact on residents’ feelings of safety, as well as disruption in local communities.

We’re committed to making sure we address this, by doing everything we can to keep all children safe from crime and bullying, and to make sure that they grow up in a healthy and safe environment.

So we’ve developed the ‘Your Choice’ programme, which aims to work with: • Young people at risk of gangs and serious youth violence offending • Young people who commit serious youth violence and gang related offences and offer them and their families real choices: n To take the services on offer and become reintegrated into the community, or to face the consequences. n To either desist from gangs, with support from the council, voluntary sector and partners who will provide support, or otherwise all enforcement options will be explored in order to put a stop to their gang involvement.

By getting involved with our young people early, involving the whole family and offering a clear life choice, we hope that this programme will see the lives of some of the most vulnerable families in society turned around.

The Choice Positive intervention: • improved identification of gang members through information sharing between the police, the council and other services.

This will be managed through setting up a Gangs Information Desk • targeted prevention programmes to stop young people from becoming involved in gangs in the first place, e.g. n through work in schools with year 6 and 7 pupils n through targeted employment and training support aimed to get young people not yet in work, education or training and those at risk of offending into sustained employment • activity to divert young people from gangs, through cross-border gang mediation, gang exit support up to the age of 24 and support for parents in dealing with their children’s involvement in gang activity.

Enforcement: With choices come consequences and young people who choose to continue to associate with gangs will be subject to enforcement, led by the police and council working in partnership.

In addition, those who join the ‘Your Choice’ programme will be subjected to possible sanctions if they repeatedly refuse to co-operate in the programme, e.g.

• anti-social behaviour orders • parenting orders • the possibility of eviction or appropriate action against their tenancy .

Working with young people in Westminster Earlier this year, John*, aged 18, attended a NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training) Law & Order course, over three days. These courses involve young people attending a Magistrates Court, a Crown Court and Police Station, to give them an insight into working within the Criminal Justice System.

When John came to the course in March, he was homeless and had low

aspirations. He was not engaged with young people’s services in the city, and his local Youth Worker had concerns about where he was headed.

As a direct result of attending the course John has decided to choose a different path. He has attended the Volunteer Police Cadets, is in supported accommodation and has enrolled on a Public Services course at Tottenham College with a view to joining the Emergency Services.

It is these kinds of positive choices which the council and police are keen to promote in Westminster. *Name changed to protect anonymity

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Young people in Westminster Getting involved to help make communities safer

Police Cadets The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) Volunteer Police Cadets (VPC) is a youth diversion and engagement programme for young people living in the 32 London boroughs.

The VPC offers fantastic opportunities for young people through a wide range of activities designed to enhance their lives and citizenship skills.

Year 8 pupils from Quintin Kynasten school taking part in a youth Timebanking project Over last summer, the rioting and disorder in central London highlighted the importance of making sure that our young people are as involved as possible in community activities in the city. Westminster was fortunate to experience minimal disorder and escaped with relatively little damage compared to other parts of London and major cities.

We’re committed to making sure our young people understand the importance of caring for their community, getting involved in their local area and making a difference where they live, and the vast majority of Westminster’s young people were rightly outraged at the actions of a few, which could be used to stigmatise the many.

Westminster’s young people have a lot to celebrate and be proud of, and there are lots of ways in which young people in the city contribute to what makes Westminster great.

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Cadet Units meet on one evening a week. Meetings usually include drill, a physical activity, a guest speaker and input on a police related topic.

Cadet competitions are also held during the year, which test the skills developed within VPC Units.

To get involved, call Westminster’s VPC Coordinator on 0207 641 6004 or 07795256759 or visit www.met.police.uk/cadets

Youth Hubs Westminster’s Youth Hubs throughout the city, run by the council and Youth Crime Prevention teams, offer young people the opportunity to do something positive, and get help, advice and support on a number of issues including: • training and education • careers

Nadja El-Hammoud is 15 years old, and joined the Westminster Volunteer Police Cadets in July 2011.

What made you want to join the Volunteer Police Cadets?

“By joining the VPCs, you can get qualifications like the Duke of Edinburgh Award, and also work towards a BTEC in Public Services. You learn about the police and get to make friends with people you wouldn’t normally come across.

For me, the best thing about being a Cadet is going on camps and the inter-VPC competitions. These help you really get to know each other as you have to work together and rely on each other. Cadets is like family because other cadets and staff are always there for you to turn to.

I found VPC on the internet – none of my friends do it – it sounded fun and it really is. It sounds quite strict at first but if you follow a few simple rules and do what you are asked to do, it is easy to get used to and I really like it.

I think it’s important for young people to get involved in things like VPC because ‘the youth’ are not really well presented normally - it’s good to do activities out of school to show everybody that youth are not all bad and do a lot of things that are positive in society.”

• health • dealing with stress • safety • drugs and alcohol advice • sexual health • activities • volunteering • personal problems.

Hub locations The Stowe Centre, 258 Harrow Road, W2 5ES. Tel: 020 7266 8230.

Opening times: Daily from 10.30am – 4.30 pm 131 Lupus Street, SW1V 3EN. Tel: 020 7641 2069.

Email: youthhub-lupus@westminster.gov.uk.

Tube: Pimlico/Victoria. Bus: C10, 24, 360 Church Street Library, Church Street, NW8 8EU. Tel: 020 7641 8587.

Tube: Edgware Road Safer Westminster booklet 2011

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Facts and figures What’s the real picture?

We all hear about crime and anti-social behaviour in the news and it can be hard to know what the real situation is. We want to make it all a bit clearer for you.

Key stats The good news is that crime figures overall in the city are decreasing. According to police figures, compared to last year1, the number of offences occurring across Westminster has decreased by almost 4% . There’s a huge drop in the number of cars and other vehicles which were stolen – down 20% compared to last year, and there have been 9% fewer incidents of residential burglary.

April – October 2010 compared to April – October 2011

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And what do you think?

We survey 500 residents, every three months, to find out what you think about Westminster.

In the last survey, only a third of you said you think young people drinking in the street/public places is a problem in your area; however, nearly 40% of you are worried about violence among young people – and this is something we’re working on (see page 4 – 5). Some of you are also worried that there is a lack of things for young people to do in the city – see page 6 – 7 to find out what’s available, and hear from one of Westminster’s inspirational young people.

Stay Safe in the city Christmas is coming – and it’s the perfect time to enjoy being in the heart of London and enjoying everything that the wonderful West End has to offer.

From theatre and comedy, to art galleries and exhibitions; from music and cocktails to dinner and dancing, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Be aware The city is an amazing place, and we want you to enjoy it – don’t let ‘hugger muggers’ ruin your night.

‘Hugger muggers’ will pretend to befriend you when you’re out on the town, and give you a ‘hug’ in order to get close to you and steal your personal belongings such as wallets, phones and watches: • Keep aware of your surroundings, your belongings and your safety • Be careful when you’re approached by people you don’t know • Don’t let people you don’t know invade your personal space – even if they seem really friendly!

Many bars and restaurants in the city provide bag hooks for you to keep your belongings close and safe. Use them wherever possible and make sure you’re always aware of where your things are: • Don’t hang your bag on the back of your chair and keep it with you at all times • Don’t leave mobiles and wallets lying out on tables on display.

Get home safely Make sure you plan your route before you leave home, and that you know how you can get back, even if it’s late at night.

• There are a number of Night Buses which depart from central London throughout the night.

Visit www.westminster. gov.uk/gethomesafe to find out more.

• Text CAB to 60835 to get the numbers of three local, licensed mincab firms sent to your phone (never get in an unmarked or unbooked minicab).

shopping, entertainment & culture

like nowhere else Safer Westminster booklet 2011

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Make a difference Get involved in your local community There are many ways to help the police and council tackle crime and anti-social behaviour in your local area, from answering surveys through to volunteering as a police officer.

Tell us what you think It is always useful to know what your concerns are, and one way in which we do this is by sending out ‘Westminster Voice’ surveys. These are anonymous surveys specific to local areas which ask two simple questions about your concerns.

They are very quick to complete and help us quickly get a picture of what matters most to you.

To receive a survey from your local team, please contact neighbourhoodcrime reduction@westminster. gov.uk. All we will need is your e-mail address and postcode (as our surveys are different depending on which part of Westminster you live in).

Talk to your local police

Become a Special Constable

Each local police team holds surgeries with members of the public where you can raise concerns and ask what the local team has been working on. Details of surgeries are available on www.met.police. uk/saferneighbourhoods where you can enter your postcode. Some areas may also have spaces on their ward panel, a regular meeting where community members work with the police to identify priorities. You can ask if there are spaces on yours by contacting your local Safer Neighbourhoods Team.

If you want to get involved in the heart of policing, another option is to consider becoming a Special Constable. ‘Specials’ are volunteer police officers who have the same duties and powers as full-time police officers.

You will be expected to commit at least sixteen hours a month, during which you will be used for a variety of policing duties including: • foot or vehicle patrols • assisting at accidents • providing security at public events • taking part in ‘hotspot’ operations

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Although you won’t be paid, your training and duties will give you unique experiences, new and valuable skills, plus a tremendous sense of achievement of doing something worthwhile for your community. To find out more, visit www.metpolicecareers.co.uk/specials

Neighbourhood Watch Neighbourhood Watch brings neighbours together to tackle crime and promote a sense of co-operation in their local community. Each Watch is led by a co-ordinator whose role it is to arrange meetings and act as a point of contact for the council and police. If you would like to find out if your street has a Watch, or would like information about setting one up, please contact us on 020 7641 2117 or neighbourhoodwatch@westminster.gov.uk

Adam Taylor is a Special Constable in Westminster.

“As a volunteer ‘Special’, I’m involved in almost everything you’d expect a regular police officer to be involved in. I’m currently attached to the Westminster Task Force and I tend to patrol on foot alongside regular officers in and around the West End late at night and into the early morning when the area is at its busiest. We help to provide a visible presence and hopefully to spot potential flashpoints before they become serious.

I’ve spent most of my working life doing desk jobs where it’s difficult to see how what you do makes a difference to people’s lives.

Being a Special Constable allows me to make a direct impact on things that really matter to people.

I think the recent disorder really showed how important the Special Constables are. When the Met needed everyone out on patrol we were out in numbers and hopefully that enabled some of the regular officers who may have been working for two weeks or more without a day off to take a well earned break! We’re not there to replace regular officers but to work alongside and in addition to them when it’s needed most.

The best thing about being a Special Constable is the feeling you get just from being there to help, whether that’s helping a member of the public get home safely, helping fellow officers deal with difficult situations or helping the duty Sergeant have more resources to deal with everything that goes on in the city.

There’s a great sense of pride in representing the Met Police and contributing to a safer city.”

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Domestic Abuse Support and advice in Westminster If you or someone you know is suffering, we can help Domestic abuse is power control of one person over another. Domestic abuse can take many forms.

Domestic abuse includes: • Physical abuse – shoving, hitting etc.

• Financial abuse – control of money, taking your benefits • Verbal abuse – swearing, name calling • Sexual abuse • Psychological/emotional abuse – putting you down, saying you’re useless

If you are in an abusive relationship, remember: • you are not alone • you are not to blame • you cannot change someone else’s behaviour • ignoring violence is dangerous • domestic violence affects children too • there is life after an abusive relationship • it is your right to be free from violence.

Here to help There are a number of ways that the council and our partners can help you to get advice, support and assistance in dealing with domestic abuse.

ADVANCE is an independent charity that specialises in helping women who have experienced emotional, physical, psychological, financial or sexual abuse from their partners, ex partners or family members.

ADVANCE also supports women who have experienced so-called ‘honour-based’ violence or forced marriage. ADVANCE offers a confidential, non-judgemental service supporting women with their options and choices, using specially qualified Independent Domestic Violence Advocates (IDVAs) who work with women aged 15+ in heterosexual or same sex relationships.

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Safer Westminster booklet 2011

Local authorities, the police and the health services in Westminster work closely with ADVANCE to make sure that women who are experiencing abuse can get the help and support that they need, so that they can fully understand the options and choices available to them.

Useful numbers National 24-hour Domestic Violence Helpline 0808 2000 247

Forced marriage and honour violence helpline 0800 5999 247

If you are in immediate danger, dial 999

Childline 0800 11 11

Victim Support Westminster 020 7828 4142 Police Community Safety Unit 020 7321 9382 / 020 7321 9318 Domestic Violence Intervention Programme 020 7633 9181

Broken Rainbow (helpline for lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender people) 08452 60 44 60 Rape Crisis Centre 0207 619 1369 Forced Marriage Unit 0207 008 0151

Men can also be the victim of domestic violence, for help contact the Men’s Advice Line 0808 801 0327

ADVANCE can: • support you directly or direct you to another appropriate service • carry out risk assessment, safety planning and crisis intervention, to help you get and stay safe • provide, or direct you towards, information about housing options like refuge spaces, emergency housing and home security • liaise with different agencies (Housing, Children’s Services, police and criminal courts) on your behalf • help direct you to advice on a wide range of other issues i.e. divorce, child contact, injunction, finance and debt, immigration and counselling • support you through the court process and be with you at every stage.

You can refer yourself to ADVANCE – visit www.advance advocacyproject.org.uk to find out more.

The service also accepts referrals from other organisations, on behalf of women experiencing abuse • the police • the Housing Options Service • Children’s Services • family health care professionals • other statutory, voluntary and community organisations.

Safer Westminster booklet 2011

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Looking after Your Streets The council is committed to keeping your streets clean, safe and pleasant. It’s important for communities to take pride in their local area, and to get involved in helping to keep their local streets in good condition.

What happens to people who damage your streets?

Environmental disorder is anything which damages the environment in which we live.

It includes graffiti, dumped rubbish, abandoned cars, noise nuisance, illegal street traders, and dog mess. These seemingly minor crimes can have a devastating effect on the people who live in affected communities.

People who commit some types of environmental disorder can be fined £80 (reduced to £50 if paid within ten days). Some offences have even greater penalties and can result in a maximum fine of £2,500 on conviction.

Dog nuisance is a particular issue for Westminster residents. Dog control orders place responsibilities on dog owners to keep their pets under control and clean up after them.

If you are a dog owner and want to know more, visit www.westminster.gov.uk/dogdisorder

Finding solutions and improving areas that suffer from environmental disorder are the responsibility of Westminster Wardens and Neighbourhood Crime Reduction Officers.

Neighbourhood Crime Reduction Officers co-ordinate long-term solutions and sustainable partnership responses to community concerns about crime, anti-social behaviour and environmental disorder.

Westminster Wardens are street-based uniformed officers who each look after a local community and work with local people to keep it clean and safe.

So what can you do to help?

In the short-term, the best thing for you to do is to report any environmental problems to the council on 020 7641 2000.

Officers will respond to the issue as quickly as possible.

Windsor Gardens before Local Warden removes flytipping, secures the area and

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Help us keep Your Streets clean and pleasant: • Don’t drop litter • Use your local rubbish and recycling bins.

To find out when your collection times are, visit www.westminster. gov.uk/rubbish • If you have a dog, clear up after it • Be considerate of your neighbours, and don’t make unreasonable noise which could disturb them • Report any graffiti, vandalism, noise nuisance or abandoned cars to the council on 020 7641 2000 as soon as you can.

Following recent concerns over the amount of street performing and illegal street trading taking place in central Westminster, council officers have been working with partners to tackle these problems.

Some of the successes of this work include noise abatement notices being issued by our noise team and over 50 performers being warned by our local Westminster Wardens.

In the Westminster Bridge area we have been working with the police to deal with gambling on the street and illegal street trading. So far there have been at least eight arrests made for gambling and two for wilful obstruction of the highway.

These operations have also resulted in the seizure of 6 ice cream vans, more than 20 hotdog or peanut trolleys and a large quantity of property from other unlicensed street vendors. Plans for future operations are being developed with both Lambeth and Westminster police to deal with crime and disorder issues on Westminster Bridge.

Windsor Gardens after improves lighting on Windsor Gardens Safer Westminster booklet 2011

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No more excuses, no more cautions.

A no tolerance approach to drugs in Soho Soho, at the heart of London’s West End, is a colourful, vibrant and unique part of the city, home to restaurants, bars and shops and hosting thousands of residents, businesses and other visitors every day.

All this means that, sadly, it is also an area which attracts certain types of crime, including drug-related activity.

We know that this is an issue that causes concern for local residents, and it’s important to us that we make sure that the selling of illegal drugs, and antisocial and criminal behaviour that can occur as a result of illegal drug use, are tackled head-on, to make sure residents, businesses and visitors in the city are not negatively affected by the actions of a small minority of people who choose to disregard the law.

In Soho, that means we’re working hard with local residents and businesses to crack down on drug-related activity, whilst still preserving the unique character which has made the area so famous.

As part of the crackdown on the open drugs market in Soho local police operate a positive charge policy to discourage those people who come to the area for the purpose of recreational drug use.

This means that anyone caught in possession of Class A drugs in the area will automatically be arrested and charged with an offence, as opposed to being given a caution:

No more excuses, no more cautions.

If you get caught, you’ll get nicked.

westminster.gov.uk/safersoho