Ealing Police have announced that East Acton will be one of five to receive its own Safer Neighbourhood police team next year, joining South Acton whose team was set up earlier this year. Acton Central could be next, depending on the success of the Borough Commander's funding application.

Safer Neighbourhoods is a new policing style, which was introduced in April 2004. The programme gives you a team of police dedicated to your local area, including a Sergeant, two Constables and three Police Community Support Officers. The teams will tackle quality-of-life crimes and issues that affect the day-to-day lives of the public in each area, such issues as graffiti, abandoned cars, noisy neighbours, drunks and vandalism. They will also be working with the community and in partnership with local authorities to ensure other issues that affect the public's feeling of safety and security are tackled � for example poor lighting or truancy.

As well as working closely with local authorities, community groups, housing associations and other such organisations, Safer Neighbourhoods teams will be undertaking a variety of methods of consultation with the public. These could include public meetings or freepost questionnaires. People can also raise their concerns by phone, by e-mail, by visiting the officers at their bases or by talking to them as they patrol.

The first three wards (Dormers Wells, Ealing Broadway and South Acton) were selected last year by crime statistical information in consultation and partnership with Ealing Council alone. This year, concerned about the level of consultation and the criteria used to decide, the selection has been undertaken by a new Management Board that includes representatives from partners and the community, such as from the youth service, the housing department and the Neighbourhood Watch scheme. 

The Management Board considered:

1. Anti-Social Behaviour: disturbance (including in public and licensed premises, drunkenness), hate crime, harassment and environmental (incl. noise, abandoned vehicles, fly tipping, graffiti and vehicle related problems).

2. Signal (i.e. visible) Incidents/Crimes: criminal damage, domestic violence, public order, assault (including ABH & Common Assault), drugs supply, drug information, community problems.

3. Priority Crime: burglary, robbery (including snatch), theft of/from motor vehicles.

Whilst there will still be local residents who are disappointed that their area has not been selected, the Police hope that the new, transparent and inclusive selection system will be considered fair.

The Commander will be lobbying for additional funding and resources in order to support the introduction of extra wards in the next financial year. If successful the next three wards to receive Safer Neighbourhoods Teams will be Acton Central, Greenford Broadway and Elthorne.

If you reside on a ward, which has not yet received a Safer Neighbourhoods Team, and would like to find out more about the Project, then contact The Ealing Borough Safer Neighbourhoods Implementation Team at:

Borough Liaison Office

Ealing Police Station, 67-69 Uxbridge Road, Ealing, W5 5SJ

020 8246 9434

or see their web site:

www.met.police.uk/saferneighbourhoods