The Overview and Scrutiny Committee met to receive an update from the Metropolitan Police on their work within the borough, focusing on reforms, tackling violence against women and girls, and local neighbourhood policing efforts. The committee also reviewed the council's work programme.

Metropolitan Police Update

Chief Superintendent Stuart Bell, BCU Commander for East Area BCU, and Superintendent David Rhodes, Barking and Dagenham Neighbourhood Lead, presented an update on the Metropolitan Police's activities. They outlined the ongoing reform of the Metropolitan Police, aiming to increase public trust, reduce crime, and improve standards. A significant focus of this reform is the New Met for London plan, which includes ten commitments specifically addressing Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). These commitments cover areas such as eliminating police-perpetrated abuse, improving engagement with victims, tackling perpetrators, and identifying high-risk locations.

Superintendent Rhodes detailed the local neighbourhood policing strategy, including a new structure with additional inspectors, sergeants, and PCSOs. He highlighted a focus on enforcement and engagement, with increased arrests and successful operations targeting drug dealing and weapon possession. The introduction of a new app for frontline responders was also discussed, designed to gather instant feedback from victims of crime to improve service delivery and hold officers accountable.

Councillors raised several concerns and questions, including the impact of officer abstractions on local policing, the effectiveness of communication between the police and councillors, and the rise in anti-social behaviour on public transport. The police representatives explained the challenges of resource allocation, particularly during large-scale events in central London, and assured the committee that efforts were being made to improve communication and engagement with the community. They also discussed initiatives to tackle domestic violence, improve child protection services, and address hate crimes.

Regarding the potential impact of council financial pressures on the funding for nine extra police officers and one sergeant, it was confirmed that discussions were ongoing with the Metropolitan Police, but no formal decision had yet been made. The committee was also informed about the ongoing efforts to rebuild trust with the public, particularly in light of past failings, and the importance of community partnership in achieving this.

Work Programme

The committee reviewed the current work programme for 2023/24. It was noted that the next meeting would commence at an earlier time of 6:00 pm. The committee also requested that the Metropolitan Police return in six months to provide an update on their progress.