Amid complaints about perceived police inaction towards antisocial behaviour, August saw the Metropolitan Police receive 23 formal reports in Waltham Forest, up from ten the previous month, reports Sebastian Mann, Local Democracy Reporter
There were more than 40 incidents of antisocial behaviour (ASB) in Waltham Forest over the summer, though residents feel improvements to reporting and report handling are needed.
August saw the Metropolitan Police receive 23 formal reports, up from ten the previous month. Nine incidents were reported in September, bringing the total to 42.
Summer always sees a spike in such reports, owing to the hot weather and longer days, and crime has fallen by 5% over the past twelve months.
But Philip Herilhy, chair of the borough’s crime panel, said the reporting of crime was presenting a problem for residents.
He said: “ASB, particularly the nuisance behaviours fuelled by alcohol and drug abuse, are widely complained about in local meetings, conversations and social media. Yet the number of formal reports shown in police briefings to ward panels don’t reflect this at all.
“Many residents feel that the effort of making a formal report is not reflected in changes they see, and many say it’s a waste of time.
“If only a few people are reporting a continuing problem, it’s unlikely to attract police attention, and that becomes a vicious circle where reports dry up – and the problem continues, with associated dissatisfaction.
“It’s only by inducing residents to persist with reporting that anything’s going to change.”
A spokesperson said the Met recognised the concerns that residents have raised regarding the reporting of ASB.
It’s understood the Met will be organising targeted operations over the coming months to tackle pockets of repeat anti-social behaviour in Waltham Forest.
The crime chair added that residents’ expectations “needed to be managed,” and they should know their reports are “principally contributing to an intelligence picture which may lead to action down the line”.
There is also “too much friction” when it comes to making reports through the Met’s main channels: by phone, on the website, and through social media.
He said: “Ultimately, if we can’t make it feel easier and more ‘satisfying’ to make formal reports the numbers of reports won’t begin to reflect actual levels of concern about some issues, and that has an impact on confidence in the police, which is itself a driver both of perceived safety and intolerance of crime.
“It matters. It needs attention.”
A spokesperson for the Met said: “We’re committed to tackling the priorities that matter most to people, including anti-social behaviour. We recognise that being able to report incidents to the police is critical to maintaining people’s confidence in policing.”
The spokesperson added: “We are focused on improving our reporting services – reducing wait times, improving answer rates and making it easier for the public to contact us. That focus is paying off, with average 101 wait times falling by almost half in the last six months.
“Local authorities are responsible for addressing certain anti-social behaviour matters, like noise nuisance and fly-tipping. The Met works closely with the council to take action against anti-social behaviour and ensure concerns are directed to the organisation best placed to resolve them.”
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