An initiative by the Rushey Green Safer Neighbourhood Police Team (SNT), in partnership with Lewisham Council and other agencies, has been shortlisted for a Safer London problem-solving award.
The team has successfully achieved a significant reduction in anti-social behaviour by young people in the Rushey Green area.
Sergeant Dan Waller of Rushey Green SNT said: “My team have worked hard along with a number of our partners to engage youths in Rushey Green, with the aim of reducing the amount of anti-social behaviour locally. Using an innovative approach, away from traditional police enforcement methods, we’ve been successful in achieving our goal. But there’s still work to be done.”
Last year the team noticed there was a particular problem around Rushey Green’s central transport hub. Young people were congregating there after school, committing public order offences and generally causing a nuisance. In consultation with the Council, the team sent out letters to the parents of young people they had stopped. The letter notified the parents that their children had been involved in anti-social behaviour and warned them that if their children were caught again further action would be taken.
As a result of this action a 75 per cent decrease in anti-social behaviour committed by those young people whose parents had received the warning letter, was recorded.
Geeta Subramaniam, Head of Crime Reduction at Lewisham Council, commented: “This is a major step forward in our efforts to stamp out anti-social behaviour throughout the borough. It demonstrates the important role that parents of young people can play in helping to reduce this type of behaviour. I’m really delighted that all the great work put in by the Rushey Green SNT in partnership with the Council has been officially recognised.”
The initiative is continuing, with input from the police, partner agencies and outside agencies, including Eco-Actif and Foundation 4 Life (external websites) who are both looking at developing opportunities for young people in the Rushey Green area.
The final of the awards takes place on 23 February at the Park Plaza Hotel, Victoria.