Weekly Update

Reducing Drug Activity

• Police seized a significant amount of cannabis found on an estate in Tollington along with scales and two knives.
• Police warrant at an address in the Archway area, where a large amount of Class A drugs was seized. Believed to be linked to the increase drug use in the Tollington area. Two other warrants planned in the Tollington area.
• Daily tasking by Parkguard on Blenheim Court gathering intelligence, which has been shared with police who are planning police action in response to this.
• Police have reviewed all calls in the Tollington area for the past 3 months and used it to direct hot-spot patrolling. Police resources have been increased in the area and more officers have been tasked across the day.
• Daily tasking by Parks Patrol at Everleigh Green Space. Sharing intelligence with support agencies and police to take action.

Supporting Vulnerable People

• Supported a vulnerable tenant, whose property had been taken over, into temporary accommodation whilst we look for a new permanent option. Allocated a Housing Navigator to support the tenant and secured old property.
• Daily visits to the Tollington area by outreach teams, including joint shifts with drug, alcohol and health services. Teams have been engaging with vulnerable residents across the Tollington area to understand their support needs and working with them around these.  

Engaging with the community

• Ongoing work with St. Mellitus Church to discuss a plan for tackling drug related activity within the church grounds and the wider area. 
• Police meeting with Pine Grove residents. 

Local Improvements

• Following up after an environmental visual audit on Bennett Court. Temporary CCTV has been requested and Islington Council are in the process of identifying funding to carry out other security improvements.
• Working with Greenspace to improve Evershot Road Gardens. 

Reducing Drug Activity

• Joint police patrols with Parkguard planned in the Tollington area hot spots issuing ASB Warnings when ASB witnessed.
• On 27^th September there were joint police patrols with Community Safety Officer for the north. Visiting hot spot locations and engaging with residents.
• Daily tasking by Parkguard on Blenheim Court and a new tasking at Bennett Court, where they have been gathering intelligence and issuing ASB Warnings.
• Police continuing to review reports to direct hot-spot patrolling. Police resources have been increased in the area and more officers have been tasked across the day.
• Tasking by Parks Patrol at Everleigh Green Space, Wray Crescent Park and Evershot Road Gardens. Sharing intelligence with support agencies and with police to take action.

Supporting Vulnerable People

• Daily visits to the Tollington area by outreach teams, including joint shifts with drug, alcohol and health services. Teams have been engaging with vulnerable residents across the Tollington area to understand their support needs and working with them around these.  

Engaging with the community

• Police and Community Safety to be based some days at the new Access Islington Hub at Manor Gardens. Dates will be published shortly. Residents can report incidents and raise concerns, which will be followed up by officers.

Local Improvements

• Environmental Visual Audit planned in Hercules Place following reports of crime and anti-social behaviour and visit with police Design Out Crime Officer to Pine Grove to assess shutter on Wednesday 2^nd October 2024.  

Reducing Drug Activity

• Joint police patrols with Parkguard planned in the Tollington area hot spots issuing ASB Warnings when ASB witnessed.
• Daily tasking by Parkguard on Blenheim Court and at Bennett Court, where they have been gathering intelligence and issuing ASB Warnings.
• Police continuing to review reports to direct hot-spot patrolling. Police resources have been increased in the area and more officers have been tasked across the day.
• Tasking by Parks Patrol at Everleigh Green Space, Wray Crescent Park and Evershot Road Gardens. Sharing intelligence with support agencies and with police to take action.

Supporting Vulnerable People

• Well being Event in Archway for Street Population on 7 November 2024 at 11am.
• Daily visits to the Tollington area by outreach teams, including joint shifts with drug, alcohol and health services. Teams have been engaging with vulnerable residents across the Tollington area to understand their support needs and working with them around these.  

Engaging with the community

• Police and Community Safety to be based at the new Access Islington Hub at Manor Gardens (9 Manor Gardens, London N7 6LA) on the following dates. Residents can report incidents and raise concerns, which will be followed up by officers.
  • Friday 11th October 2024 (from 9am until 4pm)
  • Tuesday 15th October 2024 (from 9am until 4pm)
  • Thursday 17th October 2024 (from 9am until 4pm)

Local Improvements

• Joint operation planned for November in relation to identified Fly Tipping hot spots.
• Visit took place on 2 October to Pine Grove with Design Out Crime Officer to complete an assessment of the security of the shutter. Report will be sent to Clarion to follow up on the recommendations.

Reducing Drug Activity

• Warrant executed by police at a problematic address in Tollington to disrupt drug related activity.
• Meeting planned next week to discuss action around a problematic address linked to drug use and dealing in the Bennett Court Estate area. We will agree a partnership plan for tackling this.
• Daily tasking by Parkguard on Blenheim Court and at Bennett Court, where they have been gathering intelligence and issued ASB Warnings.
• Police continuing to review reports to direct hot-spot patrolling. Police resources have been increased in the area and more officers have been tasked across the day. Intelligence informing police who the most problematic individuals are, where they will be focusing resources on.
• Tasking by Parks Patrol at Everleigh Green Space, Wray Crescent Park and Evershot Road Gardens. Sharing intelligence with support agencies and with police to take action.

Supporting Vulnerable People

• Wellbeing Event in Archway for Street Population on 7 November 2024 at 11am.
• Daily visits to the Tollington area by outreach teams, including joint shifts with drug, alcohol and health services. Teams have been engaging with vulnerable residents across the Tollington area to understand their support needs and working with them around these.  

Engaging with the community

• Police and Community Safety will be at the new Access Islington Hub at Manor Gardens (9 Manor Gardens, London N7 6LA) on the following dates this week. Residents can report incidents and raise concerns, which will be followed up by officers.
  • Tuesday 15th October 2024 (from 10am until 4pm) – Police
  • Thursday 17th October 2024 (from 10am until 4pm) – Police
  • Friday 18th October 2024 (from 10am until 12pm) – Community Safety

Local Improvements

• Islington Council Compliance Team issued a fine for fly tipping on Birnham Road last week along with words of advice to the perpetrators (see photo below). Several fines have been issued in the area where evidence has been found. There is a joint operation planned with other council and police teams in November in relation to identified Fly Tipping hot spots.

Reducing Drug Activity

• A multi agency meeting was facilitated to agree action around a problematic address linked to drug use and dealing around the Bennett Court Estate area. Community Safety have identified environmental improvements and have requested CCTV.
• Continued daily tasking by Parkguard on Blenheim Court where they have been gathering intelligence and issued ASB Warnings. 
• Police continuing to review reports to direct hot-spot patrolling. Police resources have been increased in the area and more officers have been tasked across the day. 
• Tasking  by Parks Patrol at Everleigh Green Space, Wray Crescent Park and Evershot Road Gardens. Sharing intelligence with support agencies and with police to take action.
• The Safer Business Network are supporting the police with intelligence identifying shoplifters and individuals involved in drug related activity. The police are using this information to carry out arrests. 

• Over the past week Officers from Tollington Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) have been conducting directed patrols in the areas highlighted as being of concern. Officers have patrolled on front and engaged with a number of people in the following areas, Birnam Road, St Marys with St Anne’s Church, Wray Crescent, Bennett Court and the area surrounding Grafton School. 
• Officers from SNT have conducted operations to target named suspects. Over the past week there have been a number of operations to arrest known shoplifters, and suspects involved in drug related crime in Tollington and the surrounding wards. As a result there have been  6 arrests in the North of Islington over the past week and a number of other enquiries conducted. 

 Supporting Vulnerable People

• Well being Event in Archway for Street Population on 7 November 2024 at 11am.
• Daily visits to the Tollington area by outreach teams, including joint shifts with drug, alcohol and health services. Teams have been engaging with vulnerable residents across the Tollington area to understand their support needs and working with them around these.  
• This week, a resident alerted the council to someone rough sleeping outside of Athol Court. Outreach attended the area and supported the individual back to their accommodation.

Engaging with the community

• This week was National Hate Crime Week. The Community Safety Team and the police attended many events across the borough to discuss what hate crime is, how to report it and how you can volunteer as a Hate Crime Champion. For more information, see Hate Crime | Islington Council
• Parkguard have been speaking to residents about car safety in Athol Court as there has been an increase in blue badge and electric charging cable thefts. We are planning to release an update shortly on how you can keep your vehicles safe. 
• Tollington Ward councillors, Community Safety, Tenancy services, Parkguard an the Police  will be attending the Ward Partnership Event @ Brickworks on Saturday 26^th October between 12:45pm and 16:20pm.
• Community Safety will also be attending the Elthorne Estate Fun Day on Saturday 26^th October between 2pm – 6pm.
• Police and Community Safety will be at the new Access Islington Hub at Manor Gardens (9 Manor Gardens, London N7 6LA) on the following dates this week. 
  • Wednesday 23^rd October 2024 (from 12pm) – Police
  • Monday 28^th October 2024 (from 12pm) – Police
  • Thursday 24th October 2024 (from 3pm until 5pm) – Community Safety

Please note, we will not have the ability to record crimes or ASB issues, we can only offer advice. 

Local Improvements

• There is a joint operation planned with other council and police teams in November in relation to identified Fly Tipping hot spots.
• Community Safety have met with the Design Out Crime Officer and Clarion to discuss the shutter at Athol Court. A report has been shared with Clarion.
• Community Safety are conducting Environmental Visual Audits in the borough to improve the safety of residents and to reduce crime. We have four upcoming ‘EVA’s’ with more scheduled in November in various areas of the borough. 

Week Commencing 21^st October 2024.

Drug Activity

• Meeting occurred to discuss action around a problematic address linked to drug use and dealing in the Bennett Court Estate area. Community Safety are working on Environmental Changes and have requested CCTV.
• Continued daily tasking by Parkguard on Blenheim Court where they have been gathering intelligence and issued ASB Warnings. 
• Parks Patrol continue to attend parks and green spaces to share intelligence with support agencies and the police to take action.

Supporting Vulnerable People

• Wellbeing Event in Archway for Street Population on 7 November 2024 at 11am.
• We have secured funding for a new intervention hub in the area to support the Street Population. This will enhance the outreach offer in Tollington. We are working with services to plan the next stage of delivery. 
• Daily visits to the Tollington area by outreach teams, including joint shifts with drug, alcohol and health services. Teams have been engaging with vulnerable residents across the Tollington area to understand their support needs and working with them around these. A total of 11 joint shifts take place per week with more individual shifts taking place around the borough.

Engaging with the community

• 5 patrols were conducted in Tollington by the Out of Hours Response and Patrol Team this week with more taking place around the borough.
• Community Safety, Street Population Outreach Services, Better lives, Police and Parkguard attended the Ward Partnership Event @ Brickworks on Saturday 26^th October between 12:45pm and 16:20pm.
• Community Safety and Safer Neighbourhood Police also attend the Elthorne Estate Fun Day on Saturday 26^th October between 2pm – 6pm.
• Police and Community Safety will be at the new Access Islington Hub at Manor Gardens (9 Manor Gardens, London N7 6LA) on the following dates this week. 
  • Monday 28^th October 2024 (from 12pm) – Police
  • Every Wednesday (from 3pm until 5pm) – Community Safety

Please note, we will not have the ability to record crimes or ASB issues, we can only offer advice. 

Local Improvements

• There is a joint operation planned with other council and police teams in November in relation to identified Fly Tipping hot spots.
• Community Safety are conducting Environmental Visual Audits in the borough to improve the safety of residents and to reduce crime. We have four upcoming ‘EVA’s’ with more scheduled in November in various areas of the borough. 
• This week we would like to focus on a reminder on how to keep your Blue Badges safe from theft, please see below for more information: 
• To keep your electrical car charging devices safe from theft install your charger in a discreet place, securing your cable when not in use and storing it safely, to consider marking the cable with a forensic marking system.

Drug Activity

• Continued daily tasking by Parkguard on Blenheim Court and Bennett Court where they have been gathering intelligence and issued ASB Warnings. 
• Tollington SNT and our Police Street Population officer are conducting joint patrols In locations where activity is identified.

Supporting Vulnerable People

• Outreach teams engaged with a rough sleeper and have supported them into housing. They are managing well in their tenancy.

 Engaging with the community:

• This week, the Community Safety Team will be attending a Wellbeing Event in Archway for Street Population on 7^th November 2024 at 11am.

• On Tuesday 12^th November, there will be a drop-in session for residents to attend to discuss any improvements that can be made to Blenheim Court. Counsellors, Community Safety and the Police will be attending. This is taking place at Cornwallis Adventure Play 44 Cornwallis Rd, London N19 4LT between 6-8pm.
• Police and Community Safety will be at the new Access Islington Hub at Manor Gardens (9 Manor Gardens, London, N7 6LA) on the following dates this week:

• Every Wednesday (from 3pm until 5pm) – Community Safety

Please note, we will not have the ability to record crimes or ASB issues, we can only offer advice. 

Local Improvements:

• Community Safety working with Concierge Team to identify temporary CCTV locations for Bennet court. Joint visit planned with Concierge, SNT and Parkguard to share intel. Estimated date for fitting in January.  

Reminder for Blue Badge Holders:

For times when you do need to display your blue badge, we recommend you use a locking device to secure your badge. If you don’t already have one, we have secured a 15% discount when you purchase a locking device from www.bluebadgeprotector.co.uk/collections You will need to enter the code ISLINGTONLA15 at checkout. Please note Islington Council are not affiliated to this company and do not receive any money from the sale of these devices, which you can also purchase from other retailers.

Blue Badge Holders can also apply for a Free Resident Permit which would allow a Blue Badge holder to park their nominated vehicle in their Controlled Parking Zone without having to display the Blue Badge. This is supposed to stop the overnight thefts.

The Free Residents Permit also provides access to the Resident Roamer scheme, where Blue Badge Holders can park anywhere in Islington without displaying the Blue Badge between the hours of 11am and 3pm on weekdays. 

Blue Badge Holders can apply for the Free Residents Permit here: Free resident parking permit online form | Islington Council

Drug Activity

• Parkguard have spent 7 hours of patrol time at Bennett Court this week. This resulted in 2 warnings being provided, 2 persons displaced believed to be class A users and 1 address was identified as committing ASB. 

Supporting Vulnerable People

• A wellbeing event in Archway took place to support our street population on 7 November 2024 at 11am. We had a wide range of services attending such as mental health teams, substance misuse teams’ employment and benefit advice as well as community safety, Street kitchen and outreach services. A community kitchen provided food. The event was well attended, and we spoke to many people and conducted referrals for people who are rough sleeping in the borough.
• Parkguard engaged with a homeless person in Bennett Court this week and referred them to outreach services for support.

Local Improvements

• A part-closure order has been placed onto a problematic address in the borough which was being used by drug users. The Community Safety team conducted a door knocking exercise to update residents, as well as a newsletter to advise on the outcome. A multi-agency meeting is being held this week to ensure all services are working together on next steps with the aim of preventing further ASB at the property.  
• This coming week Community Safety team will be conducting a site visit to Bennet Court with our Concierge Police and Parkguard partners to identify locations for CCTV. 
• This week we can provide a newsletter from the Finsbury Park Safer Neighbourhood team on the work they are doing to tackle crime in that ward. Find details here.

Engaging with the community

• Police and Community Safety will be at the new Access Islington Hub at Manor Gardens (9 Manor Gardens, London N7 6LA) on the following dates this coming week. 
  • 14^th and 15^th November – Police attendance
  • Every Wednesday (from 3pm until 5pm) – Community Safety

Please note, we will not have the ability to record crimes or ASB issues, we can only offer advice. 

Drug Activity

• Parkguard and the Police are teaming together to conduct patrols around Bennett Court over the next two weeks to provide support to the individuals, whilst also insuring that ASB warnings are issued and appropriate enforcement action is taken.

Supporting Vulnerable People

• Outreach teams will be conducting joint patrols around Bennett Court with the Police and Parkguard. The purpose of this will be to signpost and provide support to vulnerable individuals, such as housing advice and substance misuse support.
• Whilst at a resident drop-in session for Blenheim Court, the Police were called away to assist a vulnerable woman reported in the stairwells of Blenheim Court.

Local Improvements

• We have been advised by residents that the part-closure order on a problematic address near Blenheim Court has greatly reduced the amount of ASB and crime in the surrounding area.
• Temporary CCTV locations and other physical measures are being looked into at Bennett Court to design out crime.
• Residents attended a drop-in session regarding design changes to Blenheim Court. Residents engaged with relevant teams and saw the potential designs for gates that will be installed around the estate.

Engaging with the community

• Police and Community Safety will be at the new Access Islington Hub at Manor Gardens (9 Manor Gardens, London N7 6LA) on the following dates this coming week. 
  • Community safety every Wednesday (from 3pm until 5pm) – Community Safety

Drug Activity

• Parkguard and the Police are continuing to patrol Bennett Court over providing support to the individuals, whilst also insuring that ASB warnings are issued and appropriate enforcement action is taken.

Supporting Vulnerable People

• Outreach teams will be conducting joint patrols around Bennett Court with the Police and Parkguard. The purpose of this will be to signpost and provide support to vulnerable individuals, such as housing advice and substance misuse support.
• Outreach have also been focusing regular shifts in the area surrounding St Mellitus Church.
• Outreach have housed three people in the Finsbury Park area.

Local Improvements

• Temporary CCTV locations and other physical measures are being looked into at Bennett Court to design out crime.

Engaging with the community

• Police and Community Safety will be at the new Access Islington Hub at Manor Gardens (9 Manor Gardens, London N7 6LA) on the following dates this coming week. 
• Community safety every Wednesday (from 3pm until 5pm) – Community Safety

Drug Activity

• Parkguard and the Police are continuing to patrol Bennett Court over providing support to the individuals, whilst also insuring that ASB warnings are issued and appropriate enforcement action is taken.
• Tollington officers are currently jointly patrolling with officers from Op Adder and are working with the Street population team to offer outreach support and will be working in the Tollington park area this week.
• Over the past two weeks there has been an increased presence in the Bennett court area with an additional 110 hours of police time dedicated to tackling ASB. During this period there has been a number of arrests, stops and ASB warning issued.

Supporting Vulnerable People

• Outreach teams will be conducting joint patrols around Bennett Court with the Police and Parkguard. The purpose of this will be to signpost and provide support to vulnerable individuals, such as housing advice and substance misuse support.
• Outreach have also been focusing regular shifts in the area surrounding St Mellitus Church.
• Outreach have housed three people in the Finsbury Park area.

Local Improvements

• Temporary CCTV locations and other physical measures are being looked into at Bennett Court to design out crime.

Engaging with the community

• Police and Community Safety will be at the new Access Islington Hub at Manor Gardens (9 Manor Gardens, London N7 6LA) on the following dates this coming week. 
• Community safety every Wednesday (from 3pm until 5pm) – Community Safety

Drug Activity

• Parkguard and the Police are continuing to patrol Bennett Court providing support to the individuals, whilst also insuring that ASB warnings are issued and appropriate enforcement action is taken.
• Tollington Safer Neighbourhood Team have been supported by the Territorial Support Group (TSG) met operations Unit. These increased patrols have resulted in a number of arrests, stops and ASB warnings issued.

Supporting Vulnerable People

• Outreach teams are targeting Tollington ward daily responding to information provided by residents, caretakers, Parkguard and all other reports received.
• Outreach engage with vulnerable residents through joint shifts with outreach, drug, alcohol, and health services teams. There are 11 joint shifts per week between the outreach teams, with more individual shifts occurring each day

Local Improvements

• Temporary CCTV locations and other physical measures are being looked into at Bennett Court to design out crime.

Engaging with the community

• Police and Community Safety will be at the new Access Islington Hub at Manor Gardens (9 Manor Gardens, London N7 6LA) on the following dates this coming week. 
• Community safety every Wednesday (from 3pm until 5pm) – Community Safety

Drug Activity

• Parkguard and the Police are continuing to patrol Bennett Court providing support to the individuals, whilst also insuring that ASB warnings are issued and appropriate enforcement action is taken. 
• Since the 1st of December Parkguard assisted 2 members of the public, give warnings to two individuals and directed two people to leave the estate. 
• Tollington Safer Neighbourhood Team have been supported by the Territorial Support Group (TSG) met operations Unit. These increased patrols have resulted in a number of arrests, stops and ASB warnings issued.
• TSG have been in the area for the past two weeks and they have made 30 arrests in this time, in the past week they have made  thirteen arrests for drugs related incidents. 

Supporting Vulnerable People

• Outreach teams are targeting Tollington ward daily responding to information provided by residents, caretakers, Parkguard and all other reports received.
• Outreach engage with vulnerable residents through joint shifts with outreach, drug, alcohol, and health services teams. There are 11 joint shifts per week between the outreach teams, with more individual shifts occurring each day

Local Improvements

• Temporary CCTV locations and other physical measures are being looked into at Bennett Court to design out crime.
• Tollington councillors have committed funding to redesign Evershot Road Gardens with a focus on security.
• Funding has been secured for a hub to support the Street Population. More details to follow in the new year.

Engaging with the community

• Police and Community Safety will be at the new Access Islington Hub at Manor Gardens (9 Manor Gardens, London N7 6LA) on the following dates this coming week. 
• Community safety every Wednesday (from 3pm until 5pm) – Community Safety

Drug Activity

• Tollington Safer Neighbourhood Team have been supported by the Territorial Support Group (TSG) met operations Unit. These increased patrols have resulted in a number of arrests, stops and ASB warnings issued.
• TSG have made eight arrests this week four for robbery two for drugs related incidents and two individuals were arrested for burglary. 

Supporting Vulnerable People

• Outreach teams are targeting Tollington ward daily responding to information provided by residents, caretakers, Parkguard and all other reports received.
• Outreach engage with vulnerable residents through joint shifts with outreach, drug, alcohol, and health services teams. There are 11 joint shifts per week between the outreach teams, with more individual shifts occurring each day

Local Improvements

• Temporary CCTV locations and other physical measures are being looked into at Bennett Court to design out crime.
• Tollington councillors have committed funding to redesign Evershot Road Gardens with a focus on security.
• Funding has been secured for a hub to support the Street Population. More details to follow in the new year.

Engaging with the community

• Police and Community Safety will be at the new Access Islington Hub at Manor Gardens (9 Manor Gardens, London N7 6LA) on the following dates this coming week. 
• Community safety every Wednesday (from 3pm until 5pm) – Community Safety

This will be our last update of this year. Our next update will be for week 6th January - 12th of January.