The Enfield Safer Neighbourhood Board met on Monday, 23rd June, 2025, to discuss policing and community safety issues in the borough. The board agreed the minutes of the previous meeting, heard updates from Chief Inspector Rob Gibbs on policing strategy, and discussed MOPAC funding. Ward chairs also provided updates on local issues.

Police Presentation

Chief Inspector Rob Gibbs gave an overview of the police presentation, covering changes to the schools and youth approach, the focus on town centres, retail crime, and overall crime trends.

• Schools and Youth: A new approach to schools and youth engagement, agreed six months prior, will see officers working more closely with ward teams, including weekends and evenings. Staffing levels remain unchanged, with officers deployed geographically based on risk, particularly in Enfield Town, Bullsmoor and Ponders End. The main change is that officers will report to the ward sergeant if schools are within their ward.
• Town Centres: The Home Office is prioritising town centres during the summer, with a focus on tackling anti-social behaviour in non-traditional town centres like Southgate and Palmers Green.
• Retail Crime: Retail crime, particularly shoplifting, is now a higher priority for the police.
• Crime Trends: Crime trends up to May showed a reduction of approximately 400 crimes compared to the same period last year, driven by work in Edmonton and targeted operations across the borough. A heatmap indicated that Edmonton, Enfield Town and Ponders End were crime hotspots.
• Operation Pisces: Operation Pisces, targeting crime hotspots in Enfield and Haringey, is in the hold phase of the Clear, Hold, Build (CHB) strategy, with Enfield Council taking the lead. The clear phase continues with council support for police overtime and resources.
• Partnership Working: Enfield Council Chief Executive Perry Scott chairs the Strategic Oversight Board, with directors from across the council participating. A similar board exists in Haringey, and the two boroughs have formed an Executive Oversight Board, chaired by Detective Chief Superintendent Caroline Haines, to address cross-border crime.

Inspector Andy Cover highlighted work in the EN3 cluster of wards:

• Ponders End: Retail crime and anti-social behaviour are the main issues. Focus is around Ponders End Park, with CCTV, street furniture, and tree trimming improvements. Operation Pisces has provided additional staffing for proactive policing. Days of action have been carried out at Morrisons, Tesco, Sainsburys and the A10 retail park, addressing issues affecting customers. Two prosecutions have been carried out against individuals involved in car meets causing anti-social behaviour, and Community Protection Notices¹ (CPNs) are being issued.
• Enfield Lock: The police are working with the ASB Team to improve CCTV coverage and increase patrols. A scheme to tackle knife crime is underway, working with shops to ensure knife sales are challenged. Police cadets and Trading Standards are conducting test purchases, resulting in a prosecution.

MOPAC Funding 2025/26

The board is awaiting feedback from MOPAC² on funding proposals. Councillor Dionne John, Vice-Chair of the Board, indicated that no updates had been received from MOPAC and that implementation of projects should take place at the back end of the year.

Concerns were raised that not all ward chairs were notified of the meeting to discuss the proposals. Councillor Glenn Breslin, Chair of the Board, explained that the short notice from MOPAC made communication challenging and recommended that everyone join the WhatsApp group to stay informed.

Councillor Dionne John, Vice-Chair of the Board, stated that the Terms of Reference³ (TOR) helps to clarify the roles and responsibilities for chairs.

Ward Updates

• Arnos Grove: A recruitment drive using social media has successfully attracted new members, including owners of small independent businesses. However, the ward has experienced three new safer neighbourhood policing teams in less than a year. Chief Inspector Rob Gibbs acknowledged staffing issues due to illness and job changes, committing to greater stability going forward.
• Enfield Lock: Policing in the ward is considered good, with an excellent acting sergeant and PCSO. However, councillors rarely attend ward meetings. Residents near Albany Park, which falls under Brimsdown but is surrounded by Enfield Lock, are unhappy with the lack of action taken. Chief Inspector Rob Gibbs stated that analysis has been carried out across all parks regarding the risk of crime and ASB. Albany Park is on the list, and joint trials funded by the council are happening every weekend throughout the summer.
• New Southgate: There is a perceived lack of support for officers when they are sent on training courses, and the attitude of officers is considered poor and not proactive. Chief Inspector Rob Gibbs stated he would address these concerns.
• Edmonton Green: An increase in surgeries on estates with resident walkabouts and Operation Nightingale, focused on police visibility to record crimes, have been successful. Weapon sweeps in high crime areas have also been effective, with weapons seized.

Other Business

The board agreed to reimplement the Chairs Update on the agenda. Councillor Dionne John, Vice-Chair of the Board, recommended that council staff attend and provide a presentation to update the board, which can then be fed back to each ward.

Councillor Glenn Breslin, Chair of the Board, advised that funding for the board's website has been received and the website is in development. The website will be available to all ward chairs, and there is an allowance in the budget for ward chairs to complete training courses.

Councillor Dionne John, Vice-Chair of the Board, stated that the board will be given a feedback form to complete to assess the current standings, similar to the previous year, which will then be discussed with Chief Inspector Rob Gibbs to address areas of concern.