Author: Johanna Kaschke

Borough commander news

I want to express a thank you to our former BCU Commander Mr Mike Hamer, who left service yesterday. He spent a long time in Central East BCU, concluding his long career as borough commander for Hackney and Tower Hamlets. Under his command Tower Hamlets managed to reduce the rating of the borough from worst for ASB to third worst in the national context.

Many thanks also for mentioning the volunteer involvement in the boroughs, this includes us, the members of Neighbourhood Watch in Tower Hamlets. Our new watch signs, show the Met Police logo as well as the Council logo.

Hopefully Mr Hamer will consider joining Neighbourhood Watch with an active role at his place of residence. Neighbourhood Watch – Ourwatch is a national organisation, and you can join wherever you live and transfer membership to a new borough by simply changing your address on the system. We’d also encourage all residents, councillors and business operators to join Neighbourhood Watch to get a bigger impact.

Welcome to the interim Commander, Det. Supt Dan Rutland, who fills in until the new Borough Commander James Conway will take over this post. As he is from Special Operations, we will have a person in charge who is well equipped to deal with the many types of problems we encounter in our vicinity including routine interrupting demonstrations and criminal gangs who try to operate in our borough.

I display the final message from Mr Mike Hamer below for your kind attention.

Neighbourhood Crime and ASB Board

The Tower Hamlets Community Safety Partnership (CSP) is a statutory requirement of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

The Neighbourhood Crime & ASB Board is a strategic subgroup of the Community Safety Partnership. Here Tower Hamlets Council work with partners to look at how we collectively tackle low level crime and ASB across the borough.

We are very happy to accept a place on this board to represent Neighbourhood Watch in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.

There is the Neighbourhood Management Pilot project going on.

The board meets on a quarterly basis and includes representation from

Tower Hamlets Council
Metropolitan Police
Safer Neighbourhood Board
London Fire Brigade
Poplar Harca
Tower Hamlets Homes
Voluntary Community Sector
Neighbourhood Watch

Tower Hamlets Neighbourhood Watch Association has accepted the invitation to represent Neighbourhood Watch in the borough from next year 2023.

Safer Neighbourhood Team 2022

The Metropolitan Police’s prestigious Safer Neighbourhood Team of the year award went to Tower Hamlets Safer Neighbourhoods in 2022.

Safer Neighbourhoods Tower Hamlets includes many agencies including

Tower Hamlets Council
Tower Hamlets Homes ASB Team
Parkguard
Tower Hamlets Safer Neighbourhoods Policing Teams
Tower Hamlets Neighbourhood Watch Association
All schools, landlords, agencies, who participated

Safer Neighbourhoods Team of the Year Award

For those who make a significant and sustained contribution to policing in their local communities.

Tower Hamlets suffered an increase in anti-social behaviour (ASB) and drug offending, which had a negative impact on local communities. The team made it their mission to improve the situation and connect with those hard-to-teach communities, in the densely populated borough that is within five percent of the most deprived areas nationally.

In 2021, the Tower Hamlets Homes Policing Team developed and led on several operations including Operation Mizuna, which used data to identify hotspots and drive action. They chaired multi-agency partnership and residents’ meetings, initiated numerous diversionary schemes for young people with partners, and piloted modern technology to improve information sharing pathways.

With partners, the team provided housing for the homeless and support to drug addicts. Their efforts over six months saw 50% reduction in ASB and in 2021 they seized £108,000 total value of drugs and cash, obtained 12 civil inunctions, made 231 arrests and seized 80 offensive weapons. Their action improved public confidence and the quality of life for others.

Their methods are now being adopted across Hackney and Tower Hamlets and beyond!

For the general public the engagement bus is most prominent to see in Neighbourhoods.

Public engagement event at Cambridge Heath Road in the summer of 2022.

Open evening

Networking, meeting others, ask questions, talk to partners.

Friday, 28. October 2022, 19:00 – 21:00, Glasshouse Community Centre

light refreshments provided, welcome to bring and share. Calendar

confirmed attendees

Representative from Met Police Community Volunteers recruitment
Ward Panel members and chairs from various areas
Trustees from the Tower Hamlets Neighbourhood Watch Association

invited

Chris Weavers, Chair of Safer Neighbourhood Board
All councillors
All residents of Tower Hamlets

National hate crime awareness week

Organised by NationalHCAW from 8. to 15. October 2022

See the events planned for the whole week nationally and locally

Become a Hate crime Champion with Tower Hamlets Council
Sign up for the Hate Crime pledge
Sign up for the Community Safety Charter
Read our Hate crime page

Report Hate Crime

What is a hate crime?

Hate crimes are any crimes that are targeted at a person because of hostility or prejudice towards that person’s:

disability
race or ethnicity
religion or belief
sexual orientation
transgender identity

They can be committed against a person or property. A victim does not have to be a member of the group at which the hostility is targeted. In fact, anyone could be a victim of a hate crime.

What is a hate incident?

Hate Incidents can feel like crimes to those who suffer them and often escalate to crimes or tension in a community.

For this reason the police are concerned about incidents and you can use the True Vision website to report non-crime hate incidents.

The police can only prosecute when the law is broken but can work with partners to try and prevent any escalation in seriousness.

Why should I report hate crime?

Hate crimes and incidents hurt; they can be confusing and frightening.

By reporting them when they happen to you, you may be able to prevent these incidents from happening to someone else. You will also help the police understand the extent of hate crime in your local area so they can better respond to it.

Reporting makes a difference – to you, your friends, and your life.

How can I report Hate Crime?

There are several ways you can report a hate crime, whether you have been a victim, a witness, or you are reporting on behalf of someone else:

In an emergency

call 999 or 112.
If you cannot make voice calls, you can now contact the 999 emergency services by SMS text from your mobile phone. However, you will only be able to use this service if you have registered with emergencySMS first. See the emergencySMS website for details(opens in new window).

2. Contact the police

Who you can speak to in confidence. You do not have to give your personal details, but please be aware the investigation and ability to prosecute the offender(s) is severely limited if the police cannot contact you. Contact your local police force, either by telephone or by visiting your local police station. Details on how to contact your local police force can be found at www.police.uk (opens in new window).

3. Report online

You can report online using the facility on this website. Go to the ‘Reporting online’ page (opens in new window).

4. Self-reporting form

You can download the self reporting form and send this to your local police force. The forms, including an Easy Read version, can be found on the ‘Report a hate crime’ page (opens in new window).

5. Third party reporting centres

Local agencies such as the Citizens Advice Bureau, Community Voluntary Services etc can also report the incident on your behalf and provide you with advice and support. The ‘Organisations that can help’ page has a list of those organisations that may be able to help you (opens in new window).

6. Crimestoppers

If you do not want to talk to the police or fill in the reporting forms, you can still report a hate crime by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their website at www.crimestoppers-uk.org. Tell them what you know 100% anonymously. Always. Speak up. Stop crime. Stay safe.

More information listed on the police funded True Vision website.

www.report-it.org.uk

Safeguarding adults

please watch this video

Civic Memorial Service

The Tower Hamlets Civic Memorial Service to give thanks for the life of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

All Saints Church, Poplar

Thursday, 15. September 2022

beginning with a procession from outside

The Idea Store in Chrisp Street Market at 5:30pm

All are welcome

A Book of Condolence will be open for signing

Flowers may be laid on the church steps

I believe that Tower Hamlets Mayor Lutfur Rahman is taking part.

Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was a supporter of Neighbourhood Watch and awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service to volunteers see here.

The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Volunteering Award 2012 was given to James Maddan, when he was the chair of the former London Neighbourhood Watch Association. He was awarded an OBE in 2015 when he was chair of the National Neighbourhood Watch Network.

Please attend if you can.

Today is the Tower Hamlets Proclamation at 3pm, which will be broadcast live on this web player. Please tune in if you can.

Community Safety Charter

COMMUNITY SAFETY CHARTER launched to tackle crimes in public spaces

The Community Safety Charter, encourages everyone from individuals, Neighbourhood Watch groups, businesses, and organisations to take an active stance against crimes in public spaces, such as harassment, hate crime, and antisocial behaviour.

The Charter tagline is #BETHECHANGE, focusing on the role of active bystanders in leading the change within their communities. The Charter supports greater understanding about how we recognise and deal with community safety issues and support victims by knowing where to get help, how and who to report to, enabling a more positive, proactive approach by the whole community when witnessing or experiencing confrontation, hostility, or harassment.

Get this post card to give to your neighbours and friends, contact us

Do I need to make a pledge? We are delighted to invite you to sign up to the Charter. By signing up individuals, businesses, organisations, and groups pledge to four actions:

· PROMOTE – promote a culture that does not tolerate harmful language, antisocial behaviour and hostility toward others

· ENABLE – enable others to identify and take an active stance to prevent harassment, antisocial behaviour and intimidation within their community

· REPORT – actively encourage and support others to report harassment, antisocial behaviour and intimidation and share intelligence about these crimes with the relevant authorities

· SUPPORT – support those affected by harassment, antisocial behaviour and intimidation and refer victims to the appropriate support agency

What will I receive when I sign up? You will receive a printable poster, individual pledges to share on social media, and a comprehensive information pack on a specific topic or crime every two months which you can share with your staff/volunteers/colleagues/friends. The topics covered in the first year are:

· harassment
· hate crime
· antisocial behaviour
· being an active bystander
· dealing with confrontation
· leading the change in our communities

Where can I find out more?

· Watch an interactive presentation here
How do I sign up? Simply complete the online form on ourwatch.org.uk/charter. Once you have signed up, we will contact you with you within 5 working days to share the first information pack and other resources. Please share the details of the Charter with your networks and encourage them also to sign up and share it. #BeTheChange Central Support Team | NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH NETWORK
Follow us… ourwatch.org.uk / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / LinkedIn
Neighbourhood Watch Network is a charity registered in England & Wales, CIO no: 1173349 CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF CREATING SAFER, CONNECTED AND ACTIVE COMMUNITIES Please note: This email has been sent to all Neighbourhood Watch supporters within our network

Are you Okay?

Our latest campaign asks you to become an active bystander when you feel safe to do so.

Street harassment is on the rise and is often not an isolated incident. We know the long-term impact can harm mental health and change people’s behaviour. Victims often feel guilty, ashamed, and blame themselves.

Witnessing street harassment and not safely intervening sends the message to those experiencing it that it’s okay and society normalises it. Ongoing acceptance of street harassment contributes to a toxic culture. We want to change this, but we need your help.

Our campaign targets bystanders (those who witness street harassment), be those Neighbourhood Watch members or not.

The campaign encourages those who see someone being harassed in public to ask the victim if they are okay when they feel safe doing so. Those three little words let them know that they stand by them and that street harassment is never okay.

‘This simple action is a delay technique and part of the 5Ds of bystander intervention developed by Right to Be. By asking, ‘Are you okay?’ we become active bystanders and send the message that harassment is not okay. There are further actions that people can take, but our campaign focuses on the simplest step everyone can take.’ Deborah Waller, Head of Communications and Digital, Neighbourhood Watch Network

Watch this short video, or learn more about what we mean by street harassment, what else can be done about it, and reporting and support for victims by visiting ourwatch.org.uk/streetharassment.

Visit ourwatch.org.uk/areyouokay to download all the resources you might need to support our campaign and share this message far and wide.

ASB Awareness week 2022

We participated in many of the events, including:

Community engagement
weapon sweeps
safety patrols
leaflets
stalls

Tower Hamlets Council kindly agreed to pay for Neighbourhood Watch signs in the borough. Signs will be given to existing Neighbourhood Watch schemes, where there is a verified co-ordinator. Please see the slides from the events.