Forum topic: Palmers Green Ward Panel (previously CAPE) 1 October 2024

After a longer than normal delay due to police diary pressure around the Notting Hill Carnival and the summer riots, our newly named group met earlier this month.

The SNT’s latest newsletter was published recently and is available on this site. It outlines core data, as well as giving detail of some crimes - useful to make you consider your own prevention measures. You can sign up to receive them direct via the SNT e mail address.

The Panel itself focused mainly on local shoplifting, where we have seen an unwelcome rise of late. This is not only affecting the business potential of many of our traders but is causing real mental distress to some shopkeepers, particularly female ones whose outlets receive above average attention.

As with so much else, a small minority is responsible for most of it – the 80/20 rule or Pareto effect. These faces are increasingly known and various strands of action are underway to counter.Their impact bleeds beyond retail viability and shopkeeper fear to impacting the nature of our town. Several residents have commented to me they witness nontrivial retail crime on the high street. That affects what resident, and visitors feel about our place, so it must be stopped.

One result of shoplifting, beyond personal consumption, is what becomes of the goods? Well, they get bought and some of the purchasers may surprise you. They may also be surprised soon enough, and in appropriate cases may see difficulties with their licenses.

What can we all do? Basically, don’t stay silent. The importance of reporting matters cannot be overestimated. Crudely, no report means there’s been no crime in the eyes of the police. Conversely, the more reports being made will mean the widest possible picture of an individual’s troublesome impact is available, and that can lead to focused police action and stronger sanctions. Posting on social media or chatting to friends what you’ve seen / heard etc carries no value, more likely can be counterproductive either because its simple incorrect (I hear enough of that) or it raises worry levels without any mitigation.

Beyond crime reports is there is also real benefit in reporting information. Is there a property in your street where things simply don’t appear normal? Might it seem strange that such and such a shop is selling goods branded from another? And so forth. It’s clear to me that as a community many have huge volumes of information on the who / where / what but only tiny amounts are being put forward. That’s what needed now – we need to identify then stop these people, identify and stop their outlets and put town back. That’s everyone’s job. If you have information, don’t keep it to yourself.

PG SNT can be contacted on 0208 721 2835 (leave a message if no answer – name, number, address and short message) or the e mail above. Crime reports via the usual channels – www.met.police.uk and clicking the Report button, calling 101, or Crimestoppers (confidential).

The Panel also discussed traffic speed, which has been a recurring issue over many meetings constantly being brought forward by residents and traders alike. The constant worry areas are Aldemans Hill and the stretch of Green Lanes from The Fox to Hedge Lane. No outcome at this stage but the police are now working with our council, checking data, facts and such as the first steps in a process which is being positioned as “hard” changes to make a difference rather than seeking features such as an automatic speed warning sign. Early days but we should have some indication by the next session in December.