The Culture and Environment Scrutiny Committee of Camden Council is scheduled to convene on Thursday, 5 November 2026. The meeting's agenda is expected to include discussions on the state of the borough as reported by the Metropolitan Police Service, the annual report from the Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, and the council's approach to community cohesion and responding to community tensions. Additionally, the committee is expected to review its work programme and track actions from previous meetings.

State of the Borough

The committee is expected to consider a report from the Metropolitan Police Service's Central North Borough Command Unit. This report is anticipated to provide an overview of crime trends and policing efforts within Camden. It is expected to detail the Met's strategy for 2025-2028, outlining key focus areas such as community crime-fighting, culture change, and fixing foundations. The report may also present data on Camden Borough crime performance, including neighbourhood crimes and retail crime, and discuss the Neighbourhoods Policing Model. Specific priorities for the Borough Command Unit in 2026/27 are also expected to be outlined, including measures for Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), Two-Wheel Enabled Offending (2WE), Retail Crime, and Wanted Arrests. The report may also touch upon abstractions from neighbourhood duties and precision crime-fighting tactics.

Annual Report of the Cabinet Member for Safer Communities

Councillor Adam Harrison, Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, is expected to present his annual report for discussion. The report is anticipated to highlight the council's commitment to keeping Camden's communities safe and secure, with a focus on early intervention, reducing harm, and rapid response to incidents. Key achievements mentioned may include the launch of Town Centre Teams, supported by an investment of £1 million for fifty Community Safety Enforcement Officers, operating seven days a week in key areas. The report may also detail efforts to tackle anti-social behaviour through improved CCTV infrastructure and Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs), as well as work on drug and alcohol use. Specific attention may be given to protecting vulnerable groups, addressing rough sleeping, and combating hate crime through the No Place for Hate initiative. The report may also outline progress on tackling Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), including community engagement, Safe Havens, and the Camden Safety Bus, with a new VAWG Strategy 2026-2029 planned.

The Council's Approach to Community Cohesion and Responding to Community Tensions

This report, from the Director of Recreation and Public Safety and the Director of Participation, Partnerships and Communications, is expected to provide an overview of Camden's strategy for fostering community cohesion. It is anticipated to detail how the council, in collaboration with the police, voluntary and community organisations, and faith networks, builds relationships between communities, monitors emerging tensions, offers reassurance, and coordinates responses to incidents. The report may outline a four-pronged approach: monitoring, supporting, reassuring, and responding. It may also provide an update on hate crime trends, noting a decrease in overall recorded offences between September 2025 and August 2026, though antisemitic offences decreased while Islamophobic offences increased. The report may also detail investment in community-led activities, the work of the Camden Interfaith Network, and communications strategies, including the Safe and Strong, Together campaign.

Culture and Environment Scrutiny Committee Work Programme

The committee is expected to review its proposed work programme for the 2026/27 municipal year and track actions from previous meetings. The report from the Executive Director Investment Place and Opportunity is expected to outline the committee's terms of reference and the criteria used for prioritising agenda items. It may also detail forthcoming key Cabinet decisions relevant to the committee's remit. The report may include appendices detailing the proposed work programme, forward plan items, the structure chart for relevant directorates, and the action tracker. Notably, the Climate Action Plan report, originally scheduled for February 2027, is indicated as being delayed to allow for more time to gather accurate data and produce a high-quality report.

The meeting is also expected to include a report on the State of the Borough from the Metropolitan Police Service – Central North Borough Command Unit, which will offer an overview of crime trends and policing efforts in Camden.