Ealing Liberal Democrat Councillor Connie Hersch says keeping our neighbourhoods safe is a shared responsibility and urges residents across Ealing to get involved in local safety initiatives.
“Feeling safe where we live, work and want to enjoy ourselves, is a fundamental need. I have made it my business as a local councillor to get involved how we make our borough safer for all. Safety is core to creating thriving communities which flourish, grow and support each other.
“We often think of safety as a purely police matter, although I would make the case that we all have a part to play.
“Our local police team is in better shape than it has been for some time. Despite this they will always want your local knowledge and input to know where trouble is bubbling up. It is you, the people living or working in an area who know it better than anyone else.
“Reporting crimes and anti-social behaviour will make all the difference to the community and is available via multiple channels and routes. It is this information which drives official reports and determines where the local police focus their efforts through a crime map of incidents and ASB hot spots.
“I participate in police panels regularly and we review these maps to focus resources.
“There are various ways to report crimes, you can do so on line via https://www.met.police.uk or https://www.met.police.uk/ro/resport/asb or on ‘X’ (twitter) @MettCC or phone (999 for urgent immediate danger or 101 for not immediately dangerous issues eg observation of drug dealing/ASB.
“We have in Ealing only one open police station left (which is in Acton) where you can report in person. Ealing Council’s Safer Communities Team will also provide guidance and advice about antisocial behaviour at safercommunities@ealing.gov.uk or at 020 8825 5994 Mon-Fri 9am to 5pm.
“Sadly in a large urban environment, like London, phone snatching and car break ins are a fact of life. What else can we do to protect ourselves and our valuables? Do not leave valuables on display near windows at home or in your car, keep your phone safe and raise awareness with younger people who are often a target.
“As a local Liberal Democrat councillor connected with my community, I regularly get updates from our police ward panel and engage with our senior police officers in the region. If you are curious and want to hear more or get involved why not attend the next panel – the information is on the Met Police Website, browse to find your ward and then click through and select the meetings & events tab to find you ward events.
“Ensuring the safety of our communities is a top priority. The Metropolitan Police is undergoing significant changes and our local team is open to scrutiny and has demonstrated improvements. Your contribution can help the direction of the police so that they can become a fully trusted force for good.”
