Community safety

Police Commander's Report

This week has proved a challenging one for the Metropolitan Police. While NATO leaders meet in Wales, national threat levels have been raised, Islamist State have claimed the beheading of a second American hostage and most recently we have seen the tragic murder of an 82 year-old lady in Edmonton as well as a fatal firearms incident in Islington.   While these incidents are a long way from Merton’s borders, I am sure that many of you will have concerns.   Please let me reassure you that as a police service we have a strong operational plan to deal with all contingencies and we are well supported by specialist resources. We have enhanced policing levels locally and across London and this will continue for the foreseeable future.  These extra officers will work to provide reassurance to our communities, provide security advice to businesses and partners and deliver security measures to safeguard Londoners. London remains one of the safest major cities in the world and Merton one of the safest boroughs within it. However, while the risk locally is low, we cannot be complacent. I urge you all to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the police. If any communities and families are concerned that anyone they know may be vulnerable or is in danger of escalating towards terrorism, we need this information brought to our attention. This can be done by ringing the Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789321. 

Meanwhile, day to day policing across Merton continues unabated as we work assiduously to bring offenders to justice, reduce the numbers of victims of crime in Merton and work to tackle anti-social behaviour. Our recent drive to increase our policing presence across Mitcham in particular is starting to pay real dividends. On Monday this week two of our newly posted PCSOs spotted a drugs deal taking place in Mitcham Town Centre. Their excellent work led to the arrest of both the dealer and buyer. You may have also seen pictures of our new probationary constables in the Wimbledon Guardian this week proudly parading the many cans and bottles of alcohol they have seized from drinkers causing a nuisance in Mitcham. Learning their trade in Mitcham over the last three weeks our new officers have used the powers provided by the Controlled Drinking Zone on over thirty occasions.   On Wednesday good work from response team officers from E Team in reacting to suspicious males loitering by a cash machine in Mitcham, saw two males arrested and a car seized containing a skimming device used to commit fraud.  And lastly this week, our Neighbourhood Teams continued their fight against drugs supply in Merton, executing four more drugs warrants in Mitcham resulting in arrests for intent to supply drugs, burglary and money laundering.   

Looking forward, MPS Commissioner, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe will be coming to Merton at 6.30 p.m. on 22nd October for an audience with residents and communities from Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth. This will be your chance to hear the Commissioner talk about the challenges facing the MPS and for you to ask questions about policing in Merton and across London. Sir Bernard will be joined by the Borough Commander and the event will be chaired by London Assembly Member for Merton and Wandsworth, Richard Tracey. The event will be held at Wimbledon High School. Watch this space for further detail.  We hope to see as many of you there as we can. 

This week’s crime prevention advice is simple. You can help us prevent crime by giving us information that will help us take criminals off the street. If you have any information about criminal behaviour in your area, whether it relates to drugs, burglary, theft, violence or other crime, we would love to hear from you. 

Help us stop crime by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 1111

Mark Lawrence, Chief Inspector