The Safer Stronger Communities Select Committee met on Tuesday 24 February 2026 to discuss policing updates, initiatives for an age-friendly borough, and the implementation of recommendations from the Disabled People's Commission. Key decisions included a commitment to improving public trust in the police through enhanced community engagement and a focus on developing co-production frameworks to ensure disabled residents have a greater say in policy and service design.

Policing Update

Chief Inspector Darren Cox and Inspector Duncan Jackson of the Metropolitan Police presented an update on policing in Lewisham, focusing on efforts to improve public trust and confidence. Despite a decrease in reported crime, a MOPAC survey indicated that confidence in the police in Lewisham remains lower than the London average. The committee discussed the drivers of this lack of trust, with a particular focus on police accountability, standards, local engagement, and treatment of residents.

Key areas of discussion included:

• Public Confidence: While trust has seen a recent uptick, Lewisham's figures remain below the MPS average. The committee noted that only 32% of Lewisham residents feel senior officers represent the community they serve, and just 33% believe local police have strong links with the community.
• Crime Priorities: Gun and knife crime was identified as the top priority for Lewisham residents, despite overall crime rates (excluding ASB and business robbery) decreasing. The committee explored the perception versus reality of knife crime, with police data showing a significant increase in knife possession arrests, while violence with injury and knife-related robbery have decreased.
• Community Engagement: Plans to improve engagement include utilising MPS volunteers, integrating community support officers, and establishing touchdown spaces in partner buildings to increase police visibility. Short-term actions involve prioritising Met Engage sign-ups in high-crime areas and working with local journalists to share positive news stories. Long-term plans include introducing additional community scrutiny panels and recruiting community champions.
• Stop and Search: The committee reviewed data on stop and search, noting the disproportionate representation of Black individuals. Inspector Jackson explained that while the data reflects victim and informant descriptions of suspects in violent offences and robberies, the police are actively investigating potential biases and the impact of policing in hotspot areas. The police highlighted a 40% criminal detection rate from stop and searches, which they consider to be a strong outcome. The upcoming implementation of Operation Orion will require officers to record ethnicity data for traffic stops, addressing a long-standing concern.
• Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB): Councillors expressed a strong desire for a more comprehensive approach to tackling ASB, including issues like street drinking, drug use, and persistent environmental problems. The committee discussed the need for clearer reporting mechanisms for residents and better feedback loops to demonstrate that action is being taken.

Becoming an Age-Friendly Council

Sakthi Suriyaprakasam, Head of Culture and Community Development, presented an update on the Positive Ageing Council (POSAC) and the broader efforts to make Lewisham an age-friendly borough. POSAC, established in 2011, serves as the voice of older people in Lewisham and has been instrumental in influencing council policies and services.

Key points from the discussion included:

• POSAC's Achievements: POSAC has successfully influenced housing strategy, advocated for dementia-friendly training for bus drivers, and raised awareness about issues such as the lack of public toilets and the heating and eating crisis. They also organise popular events like Age Without Limits and Silver Sunday.
• Age-Friendly Borough Status: While Lewisham has made progress, the review highlighted a lack of dedicated resources and a need for deeper, cross-council engagement to achieve formal age-friendly borough accreditation. Draft actions proposed include strengthening leadership, expanding community engagement, delivering low-cost initiatives, and embedding age-friendly perspectives across council services.
• Ageing Well Programme Board: This board oversees the Ageing Well Programme, which brings together health, social care, and voluntary sector partners to improve outcomes for older residents through a focus on prevention, independence, and inclusion.
• Voluntary and Community Sector Support: A significant portion of the report detailed the work of the wider voluntary and community sector in supporting older people, with many organisations funded through Lewisham Council's Main Grants and NCIL programmes.
• Neighbourhood Working: The new neighbourhood-focused model will provide grants to create infrastructure that delivers services closer to residents, with key workers linking to integrated neighbourhood teams to support vulnerable residents, including older people.
• Iris Till, Chair of POSAC, shared personal reflections on the importance of an age-friendly approach, emphasizing the need for accessible housing and reaching all older residents, particularly those experiencing isolation or financial hardship. She highlighted the success of POSAC's magazine and outreach efforts in connecting with the community.

Disabled People's Commission Implementation Update

Alex Glanz, Head of Policy, Strategy & the Chief Executive's Office, and Michael Holloway, Policy Officer for Disability and Co-production, provided an update on the implementation of recommendations from the Lewisham Disabled People's Commission Report 2023. The report aims to protect and advance the rights and inclusion of deaf and disabled people in Lewisham, with a core ethos of nothing about us without us.

Key developments discussed were:

• User-Led Organisation: A significant focus has been on developing a deaf and disabled people's user-led organisation (DDPULO). A £20,000 seed fund has been allocated, and a steering committee of four disabled residents has been selected to scope the development of this organisation. The aim is to build capability within the disabled community for them to self-organise and establish the organisation, fostering co-production and trust.
• Co-production Framework: The policy officer's role is to develop a cross-council disability co-production framework. This will involve a diagnostic of current engagement practices to identify strengths and limitations, leading to proposals for a framework that embeds disabled residents in policy and service design. This is a long-term process, with similar transformations taking a minimum of five years in other boroughs.
• Forum Theatre: The disabled people's steering committee, in collaboration with Ignite Me Workshop Theatre, created a forum theatre piece titled 'What does it mean to care?', which was performed for councillors and senior council staff. This innovative approach aimed to demonstrate barriers faced by disabled people and invite solutions.
• Cross-Council Updates:
  • Housing: Policies related to accessibility have been reviewed, including the Disabled Facilities Grant and Aids and Adaptations Policy. In 2024-25, 69 home adaptations were completed, with a total spend of over £1.1 million on adaptations. A new Resident Engagement Strategy for council housing aims to ensure residents' voices are central to service design.
  • Adult Social Care: Staff training on disability awareness is being enhanced, and client engagement is ongoing through a Working Together Group and a 100 Day Challenge focused on day centres. A new Deaf Support Service is being commissioned, with interim arrangements in place.
• Steering Committee Feedback: Members of the disabled people's steering committee expressed that while progress is being made, there is still significant work to do to restore trust among disabled residents. They highlighted issues with inconsistent access to services, the need for a systematic approach to understanding vulnerability, and ongoing daily challenges related to public spaces, housing, and social care.

End of Administration Work Programme

The committee reviewed its completed work programmes from 2022-2026 and discussed suggestions for the incoming committee's work programme. Councillors highlighted the importance of continuing scrutiny on issues such as anti-social behaviour, resident engagement, and the effectiveness of reporting mechanisms for community safety concerns. There was a strong emphasis on ensuring residents feel confident that their reports lead to visible action and positive change. The committee also acknowledged the contributions of departing members.