Forum topic: PG Ward Panel (CAPE) 18th June 2024

18th June’s Palmers Green Panel (CAPE) was a mixed bag of news but evidenced positive progress

On the downside we saw upward blips in burglary and car theft, still small but worse than none. In both situations there was entry via unlocked doors. Phone snatching and some wallet / purse theft continued in what seems to be a borough wide issue. Better personal care of possessions would have a real impact on these numbers.

With the closures of Southgate police station, PG SNT, and other ward teams, moved to Edmonton. A consequence has been the significant travel time to get from there to here, so less time to police. Efforts from CAPE, supported by the business association, our councillors and Bambos have tried for ages to source a local site in PG where our SNT could be based.  There were many constraints, not least there’s no budget. We finally cracked it but heard at the meeting that fit out costs to achieve the required level of security – which needs to be of police station standard – saw police seniors put an end to the idea.

Coincidently todays Standard looks at police station closures across London, blaming Cameron / austerity and later PM Johnson, while concluding the impact is universally negative, a “false economy”. Who would have thought?

https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/london-disappearing-police-stations-36-how-many-sadiq-khan-boris-johnson-b1165039.html  

A couple of specific local issues were brough up which will see remedial police action over the next period.

Earlier issues, broadly in the shoplifting / drugs / ASB space have seen targeted police action with a consensus that the result has been noticeable and positive. The effort is not expected to stop as yet.

This is all, hopefully understandably, secret squirrel stuff but our local team and up their line are showing great PG focus. More and even broader positive local policing news will hopefully be available for a subsequent update.

We’ve an extensive high street – Yasir Halem to Starfish is the same distance as Oxford Circus to Marble Arch - with 200+ retail outlets. This time we set ourselves the task to assess the issues and benefits of the area becoming a Business Improvement District (BID). Early work, which has the support of senior police, as well as a core of traders, has much going for it. Initially crime prevention focused, such schemes can also have traders focusing on improving the general area – much as the Action Team undertake now. The agreed funds, which would come from and be managed by the traders themselves, could be utilised for e.g. street wardens, crime reporting apps or whatever best fits the position. If anyone has experience or is bored feel free to make yourself known.

Finally, the CHIPs street refuge scheme I’ve previously mentioned engaged with our high street the other week and to date 19 outlets are going through an implementation process. That’s a serious number in borough terms.

Keep reporting, speaking to our councillors with issues, hang onto your phones, volunteer and such. It all makes a difference.

To update the secret squirrel element mentioned in my earlier CAPE post - a Closure Order has been granted to a PG address known for drug use and Anti Social Behaviour. The address was vacated and will be permanently closed until the end of the order. One for the good news bucket.