First meeting of the new PG Ward Panel: Town centre problems require a holistic response

Following last year's radical reconfiguration of local council wards, the first meeting of the Palmers Green Ward Panel was held on 21st March, chaired by Karl Brown. Below, Karl gives his thoughts about the discussions that took place and how to make progress in tackling crime, anti-social behaviour and other issues that were raised at the meeting.

Map showing boundaries of the new Palmers Green ward

At last week's Ward Panel meeting there was good news, as reported in the most recent Safer Neighbourhood Team's newsletter: residential burglary at nil and motor vehicle crime noticeably improved on the month. But it was not all roses, and having assessed a range of data this community panel, comprising traders, residents and various local groups, addressed the current problem set: all focused on the town centre.

We concluded there was a holistic problem requiring a holistic response. In no particular order we explored unacceptable issues in:

• Shoplifting
• Pickpocketing
• Traffic - speeding / red light hopping / zebra crossing priority
• Parking – on pavements, cycle lanes, double yellow lines, junctions, plus double parking
• Litter - both wind borne from bins plus irresponsible discarding of eg cigarette butts
• Begging
• Plus widespread discomfort amongst female attendees in particular to male gatherings on or near pavement areas.

This is a police-centric panel, but many of the issue require more and better enforcement from the council, hence the need for a holistic approach to our problems.

The police intend to visit traders to better understand their issues and increase their (walking) visibility in the town centre. Here I have some sympathy, hearing how PG's own dedicated team is not so dedicated due to the need to also cover gaps elsewhere. The austerity-driven loss of 20,000 police officers included a reduction from 6,000 PCSOs to only 1,000. Realistically that could not do other than impact on availability, visibility and crime response.

PG traders already have a communication system to warn-ahead of issues. Coming out of this session, a team will now work on enhancing their IT capability via an app and / or other bespoke IT development to ease crime reporting and better identification of common suspects.

For residents there’s an ongoing feed of crime prevention advice on sources highlighted in the PG SNT Newsletter. You may get to hear the latest emerging car crime technique and if particular models (yours?) are more prone to targeting.

Crucially, it's vital that crime is reported. Again, how to do so is included in the newsletter. Whatever else they can and can’t do, the police certainly can’t respond to crime they know nothing about.

I think it worth adding that the compact nature of the new PG ward appeared to focus the commonality of experience and also the willingness of all to work together in solutionising. Very much a big win. How this panel sits with and amplifies the PG Ward Forum, which will inevitably hear a similar range of issues, looks like a positive problem to have.