Petition details
Install CCTV and increase police patrols in Spey Street
Spey Street is made up of a wonderful community of people who are
hardworking, caring and ambitious. It is not fair on the residents
to feel unsafe and insecure in their homes, especially when they
are spending a significant amount of money to live here.
We would like to start this petition to increase levels of safety in this area and to deter criminals from viewing Spey Street as a haven to commit their crimes, whether it be ASB, drug dealing or robbery. The solutions that would be the most useful have been listed below. We would greatly appreciate it if our request can be considered and are anticipating a good response.
Listed solutions;
1. To install CCTV in the parts of Spey Street with the highest footfall - This would not just capture these areas, but due to the numerous tunnels connecting Spey Street, will ensure that any criminal who attempts to get away with a crime has their image captured before they leave Spey Street by one of these cameras.
2. Improve lighting - Currently, there is adequate lighting in the tunnels, with the rest of Spey Street being dimly lit. If a crime were to take place, it would be difficult to identify the faces of people involved as the street lighting is very poor. There is also just a general feeling of unsafety because of the dimly lit streets.
3. Install turnstiles in the tunnels - Some of the dealers / their customers use bikes to move freely through the tunnels in Spey Street. Installing these turnstiles will in the very least slow them down and inconvenience them, and hopefully deter them from conducting their crimes in the area.
4. Increase police patrols - The residents of Spey Street, as well as Zetland and Ullin Street have not seen the presence of police officers or police cars in the area. We are aware that there is a Safer Neighbourhoods team, but have not seen them around and would not be able to identify them by name/face if we saw them in other parts of Poplar. It would be appreciated and welcomed by residents if the team were to do frequent patrols, as well as introduce themselves.
This Petition ran from 31/05/2024 to 14/06/2024 and has now finished.
Nobody signed this Petition.
Council response
Thank you for submitting your petition to the Council. Firstly I am very sorry to hear about the incidents that you are experiencing. We acknowledge and understand the negative impacts that crime and ASB can have on your well-being, and the overall quality of your neighbourhood. I want to assure you that the Council and our partners take these matters very seriously.
Tackling anti-social behaviour (ASB) and improving the quality of life for residents is a key strategic priority for the Council, and the wider Community Safety Partnership. ASB is tackled robustly throughout the borough. All reported incidents of ASB to the Council are reviewed by our ASB & Community Safety Service. This is to ensure that appropriate and proportionate responses are put in place and victims are supported. We also work closely with the Metropolitan Police as a number of these incidents are often criminal offences and as such require a policing response.
In response to your petition - all the information reported has been recorded on our Anti-Social Behaviour database. An investigation has been set up and an investigator appointed. Darren Priest, ASB and Community Safety Officer, is your dedicated point of contact in the Service. Darren will support the investigation, liaise with you and help co-ordinate additional resources and get partners to support action in your neighbourhood.
Based on our initial review of your petition and the concerns you raised we have identified that Poplar Harca Housing are responsible for some of the areas that you are concerned about. We work in close partnership with Poplar Harca Housing. We contacted them about the concerns that you have raised with the Council. They advised us that they welcome and actively encourage the reporting of crime and ASB to them. However, they also advised us that on review of their data that they have not received a high level of reports or concerns with regard to ASB in this area.
For both ASB, or general estate related matters Poplar Harca can be contacted by email at info@poplarharca.co.uk You may also visit their office at: 155 East India Dock Road, London, E14 6DA or by telephone on 0800 035 1991.
We are advised that the regeneration work in the Teviot Estate will lead to wider improvements. This however is subject to planning permission and consultation. We are advised that the proposed work does includes CCTV and lighting. Further information is available at Teviot | Poplar HARCA.
We have conducted our own analysis of ASB incidents and crimes formally reported to the police and the council during the three-month period between February and April 2024. We considered all formal reports within a 100-metre radius of the Spey Street. This analysis demonstrates that there were: 5 ASB reports submitted to the police for various ASB, including noise nuisance, vehicle related ASB, drugs and rowdy/nuisance neighbours.
Since your petition we have been tasking our patrol officers to your area and liaising with the police on residents behalf. Our services were made aware of one knife point robbery that took place by the A12 underpass. In response to this Tower Hamlets Enforcement Officers (THEOs) and our special Dog Patrol Unit were tasked to carry out high visibility patrols within the Teviot Estate, Aberfeldy, and surrounding areas.
We understand Transport For London (TFL) manage the pedestrian areas and underpass by the A12. We would not recommend turnstiles at this location given access requirements, as this would prevent wheelchair users and people pushing prams from being able to use them.
Your Local Police Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNT) are carrying
out patrols within the Teviot Estate/Lansbury Ward. You can contact
them via their email address which is.
CEMailbox.Lansbury@met.police.uk
If you require an immediate response, please call 101 or 999 in an
emergency. Crime and ASB can be reported also online in
non-emergency situations at http://www.met.police.uk/report.
Working closely with the police SNT we have decided to hold a residents local Ward Panel Meeting. This is an excellent opportunity for residents to meet with and speak to their local police and council officers about their key concerns and priorities for their Ward. Once a date is set, we will circulate the information to as many residents and businesses as possible within the Lansbury Ward. We would really encourage attendance at this panel meeting.
I hope this offers some reassurance that the Council remains
committed to addressing the issues raised in your petition in and
around Spey Street.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you need any further
clarification.
Yours sincerely,
Simon Baxter
Corporate Director - Communities