Untitled - Westminster City Council

Introduction
Crime is one of the biggest concerns for people living in Westminster.
In our most recent survey, 36% of you said it was the most important
issue for your local area.
Because of this, we’ve introduced a number of new initiatives over recent years,
which are already helping to reduce crime and disorder. However, we also
thought it would be useful to tell you what we’re doing and how you can help.
The fear of crime can sometimes overshadow the problem of crime itself. Some
people, particularly the vulnerable and elderly, may feel unsafe leaving their home
which can really affect their quality of life. By giving people the facts behind the
myth and hype surrounding crime and correcting some popular misconceptions,
we hope to help you understand and reassure you about this important issue.
In this booklet, we’ve included information on:
• the main causes of crime and what’s being done to tackle them
• how you can help prevent crime and report it
• the most frequently asked questions about crime
• details on the level of crime in your local area
• what to do if you’ve been a victim of crime
• useful contact details and addresses.
We hope you’ll fi nd it useful.
Simon Bray
Metropolitan Police
Borough Commander
Daniel Astaire
Cabinet Member for
Community Safety
2

Crime. An introduction
Firstly, the most important fact you need to know about crime in Westminster
is that it has been going down. In fact, crime has dropped by almost a quarter
over the last 8 years, as the graph below shows.
100,000
90,000
80,000
70,000
60,000
50,000
40,000
30,000
20,000
10,000
0
2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10
Total offences in Westminster per year
Source: Metropolitan Police
At the time this guide was printed:
• there were on average only 5 personal
robberies each day among a daytime
population of 1.2 million people
• last year there were 1,484 burglaries
for the 120,000 households in
Westminster
• there was one reported violent
incident per 42,600 people per day.
So, as you can see, crime takes place
more rarely than you might think.
However, we’re not saying that crime
doesn’t happen. And when it does, it can
be extremely traumatic. If you’ve been a
victim of crime, we’ve included contact
details on page 15 explaining where to
seek support.
To see the most up to date crime fi gures for Westminster
throughout the year and compare them with other parts of
London, visit met.police.uk/crimefigures.
3

The causes of crime
To parrot a well-known phrase, crime-fighting isn’t just about being tough on
crime but also tough on the causes of crime. But what are these causes of crime
Naturally, the reasons for crime vary
depending on the type of offence and
the relationship is often complex. For
example, when the economy declines,
you might expect to see a rise in credit
card fraud, whereas assault is more
closely linked to alcohol consumption.
Drug abuse is also another wellpublicised
factor, as is lack of education
and unemployment.
the Family Recovery Programme,
where Westminster City Council identifi es
families struggling with social problems
and provides support to help them
achieve a better quality of life and avoid
falling into a persistent life of crime.
Other initiatives include ‘Westminster
Works’, whereby Westminster City
Council has helped people back into
work, as well as the ‘City Recovery’
programme where over £100 million is
being spent on projects to fund, support
and enhance economic development.
Also we have a number of schemes
to provide positive activities for young
people and help youth offenders get
back on track.
Many of these are deeply entrenched
social issues which require complex
solutions that don’t happen overnight.
Because of this, it’s very important that
both Westminster City Council and the
Metropolitan Police work together as,
although it’s the police’s duty to catch
criminals, it’s the council’s role to create
an environment which discourages crime
in the fi rst place.
A number of projects are being carried
out to deal with these deeper underlying
issues. One of the most prominent is
It’s the council’s role to
create an environment
which discourages crime
in the fi rst place.
Because solving these problems
involves co-operation between many
different local organisations, we’ve set
up the Safer Westminster Partnership to
ensure all the relevant people, including
the council, police, schools, social
workers and criminal justice system, are
working together to help stop crime.
4
To fi nd out about these programmes, simply visit
westminster.gov.uk and type ‘Family Recovery’,
‘City Recovery’ or ‘Westminster Works’ into the search box.

Family Recovery Programme
The Smith family have suffered from
problems including lack of home routine,
poor school attendance and domestic
violence as well as signifi cant debt and
issues with benefi ts. Their behaviour
has also had a serious impact on their
neighbours and the wider community.
The Family Recovery team built a plan
to specifi cally target these problems.
Included in the plan were:
• a behaviour reward system for
the children
• a parenting strategy to help improve
the children’s school performance
and behaviour at home
• domestic violence workers working
with family members
• debt support and advice about the
possibility of considering bankruptcy
proceedings
• agreed sanctions if they do not work
to improve their behaviour.
Measures such as these not only help
the family, but also reduce the risk of
crime and anti-social behaviour in the
local community.
Please note names have been changed
to protect the privacy of the family
involved.
The project’s fantastic
and the team’s been
really helpful. Things
have really changed for
us since we got involved
in the programme.
Jane Smith
For more information on the Family Recovery Programme,
contact the project team on 020 7641 5871/5847.
5

What’s being done
As mentioned earlier, one way to prevent crime is through broad economic and
social programmes, but there are practical things which can be done too. One of
the simplest is to make sure people know how to make it difficult for criminals to
commit a crime and easier for the police to investigate if a crime does take place.
We do this by sending specialist
teams around Westminster to help and
advise residents, focussing on specifi c
crimes. For example, a recent session
in Bayswater focused on residential
burglary. The teams marked property
Andy Rowell,
Chief Superintendent
such as mobile phones and MP3
players with ultraviolet pens, gave out
DNA smart water kits for residents and
gave demonstrations of how common
street crimes are perpetrated and how
to stop them.
We work around the clock to keep Westminster
safe, reducing and preventing crime as well as
working with the council to deal with community
problems and concerns. The local residents and
businesses play a vital role in helping us to target
the work we’re doing and ensure we’re tackling the
issues that matter to them.
6

Another simple way to keep crime
down is to make sure people can
get information when they need it.
Community Safe is a text and email
advice and information service on crime
reduction provided by the police and
local councils,that provide real time
details of incidents taking place in the
city which you may wish to avoid. You
can fi nd out how to receive updates
direct to your phone or email by visiting
communitysafe.gov.uk.
Catching criminals once a crime has
been committed is one thing, but it’s
better to intervene before the crime
takes place. CCTV helps us do this.
In Westminster, we have a state of the
art system, with cameras strategically
placed across the city and links to local
police and City Guardians to ensure we
can respond rapidly when we need to.
However, cameras aren’t a substitute
for good, solid information. So if you’re
concerned about a security issue in
your area, you can call the Community
Intelligence line on 020 7641 3000 or visit
westminster.gov.uk/streetproblems.
Since 2002, CCTV
operators have
monitored and recorded
over 24,000 separate
incidents, of which more
than 12,000 have led
to an immediate police
or council response.
More than 6000 of these
incidents have led to
intervention, injunction
or arrest.
7

What’s being done
Another successful scheme has been Community Payback. It gives offenders
the opportunity to “payback” the local community by carrying out unpaid work.
As well as improving local areas, the
initiative teaches offenders life skills to
help prevent them from re-offending.
Re-offending rates for offenders involved
in the scheme were down 15% between
2007/8 and 2008/9.
As well as the police offi cers who
regularly patrol throughout Westminster
and the specialist teams that support
them, there are also 26 borough Safer
Neighbourhoods Teams (SNTs). SNTs
comprise of a dedicated team of police
offi cers and community support offi cers
working closely with the local community.
These teams work to tackle issues
chosen by a ward panel made up of local
residents and businesses, as well as
regularly updating them on progress. This
helps you have a real say in what happens
in your area, and means that we can focus
on the problems that matter to you.
To fi nd out how to join your local ward panel,
visit met.police.uk/teams/westminster
Some are quite popular and space is limited, so you might have to wait.
Our apologies if this is the case.
8
Find contact details for your local Safer Neighbourhoods
Team on pages 12 and 13, or read more by visiting
met.police.uk/saferneighbourhoods
If you’d like to nominate a project for the Community
Payback Scheme to take on, call the Crime and Disorder
Reduction Service on 020 7641 1085.

There are 12 City Guardian teams who provide a visible, local service –
helping keep Westminster safer and cleaner by patrolling the street.
Interview with a City Guardian
from Pimlico
What is a City Guardian’s role
The main role of the City Guardians is
to provide a reassuring presence for
residents and reduce the effects of
anti-social behaviour. For example,
we work with schools and youth clubs
to deal with any potential anti-social
behaviour and tell them about the
sports and activities available across
the city. Because we work so closely
with the community, we are often
given information that is unavailable
to other agencies. This allows us to
intervene at an early stage and deal
with problems before they arise.
How can residents help
By reporting any problems you have
experienced concerning crime or antisocial
behaviour in your area.
How can residents get in touch
You can speak to us in person out on
the street, or visit westminster.gov.uk/
cityguardians to fi nd out more.
9

Ways to protect
yourself from crime
Remember most criminals are opportunists. Burglars don’t need a second
invitation to walk through an open door or window and take their chance.
So when you go out, lock all doors and windows, even if you’re only going
out for a few minutes.
• If you are installing new doors and
windows, get ones that are certifi ed to
British Standard BS7950 (windows) or
PAS 24-1 (doors)
• The fi rst place a criminal will check is
for spare keys in a garage, shed or
near the door. Make sure you do not
leave spare keys nearby and do not
assume they will not be found
• Think about having your car windows
etched with the registration number
or the last 7 digits of your Vehicle
Identifi cation Number (VIN)
• Register the serial numbers of
valuable property at immobilise.com.
This national database is used by
police and increases the chance of
your items being recovered
• If you get an abusive or threatening
phone call, do not respond to it.
The caller wants a strong reaction
from you. If you are receiving
abusive calls, contact your phone
company or the police for help
• Always carry your wallet in an inside
pocket, not an outside one where it
is in full view
• If there is a sudden commotion,
be extra vigilant. Incidents can
be staged to distract you while
a pickpocket is searching for
your wallet
• Don’t leave anything visible in
your car. Even a jacket can look
inviting to a thief. Leaving the
glovebox empty and open will
make it obvious to a criminal that
there is nothing worth taking
• Never store your car’s documents
in the car.
10

Frequently asked
questions
The media says crime is going up and
you say it’s going down. Who’s right
Pretty much everyone gets their
information from the newspapers or
television. However, because the media
tend to focus on big one-off stories,
this can give the impression that lots
of crime is taking place when this isn’t
the case. Also, there may be a focus
on a particular type of crime, which
may obscure drops in crime levels
elsewhere. As mentioned on page 3,
you can decide for yourself by visiting
met.police.uk/crimefigures.
How does Westminster
compare to the rest of
the country
Very favourably. Although
overall volumes of some
crime types are high in
absolute terms, when you
take into account the million
visitors every day, it is still
one of the safest cities in
the world. The chances of
becoming a victim of crime
are low, especially if you
follow the precautions listed
on page 10.
How much crime is unreported
Evidence from the British Crime Survey
suggests that as much as 50% of all crime
goes unreported nationally. This differs
between crime types. Also some groups
of people seem more likely than others
to report a crime. However, the survey
does not include young people under 16
and only covers household and personal
crime, not commercial crime. We would
encourage anyone who has been a victim
of crime or antisocial behaviour to report it
using the contacts on page 16.
Can you trust crime statistics
Yes. The statisticians who compile the
information do so with honesty and
integrity. However, no single indicator
can ever tell the whole story and this
complexity is often ignored in people’s
search for straightforward answers.
Unsurprisingly, this often leads to public
confusion. We try to use a rounded
selection of information on which to base
decisions, including public engagement
through Safer Neighbourhoods Ward
Panels, to ensure we focus on the priorities
that really matter to local people. To see
how you can get involved see page 8.
11

Number of crimes
in Westminster
6
Regent’s
Park
3
5
4
7
Police Stations
1. Belgravia
202-206 Buckingham Palace
Road SW1W 9SX
2. Charing Cross
Agar Street WC2N 4JP
3. Harrow Road Police Station
325 Harrow Road W9 3RD
4. Marylebone
1-9 Seymour Street W1H 7BA
5. Paddington Green
2-4 Harrow Road W2 IXJ
6. St John’s Wood
20 Newcourt Street NW8 7AA
(Only open 9-5)
7. West End
27 Savile Row W1S 2EX
Kensington
Gardens
Hyde
Park
1
12

Total number
of crimes
517 – 723
724 – 1318
1319 – 2028
2029 – 3435
3436 – 6011
6012 – 9060*
2
SNT Landline Mobile
Abbey Road 020 8721 2462 07920 233897
Bayswater 020 8721 2412 07920 233948
Bryanston and
Dorset Square
020 8721 2461 07920 233898
Cavendish Square
and Oxford Market
020 8721 2414 07920 233946
Church Street 020 8721 2098 07843 065924
Churchill 020 8721 2805 07810 834698
Covent Garden 020 8721 2416 07920 233944
Harrow Road 020 8721 2739 07768 178175
Hyde Park 020 7321 9313 07768 178187
Knightsbridge and
Belgravia
020 8721 2422 07920 233938
Lancaster Gate 020 7321 9383 07768 178152
Little Venice 020 8721 2411 07920 233949
Maida Vale 020 8721 2410 07920 233950
Marylebone
High Street
020 7321 8797 07920 233899
Mayfair and St James’s 020 8721 2419 07920 233941
Oxford Street, Regent’s
St and Bond Street
020 8721 2413 07920 233947
Queen’s Park 020 8721 2410 07920 233950
Regent’s Park 020 8721 2463 07920 233896
Soho 020 8721 2418 07920 233942
Strand and Whitehall 020 8721 2415 07920 233945
Tachbrook 020 8721 2421 07920 233939
Victoria Business 020 7321 6916 (dual purpose)
Vincent Square 020 8721 2876 07810 857227
Warwick 020 8721 2420 07920 233940
West End and
China Town
020 7321 7726 07920 233943
Westbourne 020 8649 3602 07843 065925
*Please note: The level of crime in the centre of the city is due to
the high volume of visitors. With over a million people visiting the
centre of London a day, it is expected that crime fi gures will be
proportionately higher than in a residential area.
13

Reporting crime
If you see or want to report a crime,
the relevant numbers are included on
the back of this booklet. However,
if you don’t need an urgent response,
some crimes can be reported via the
net. Visit https://online.met.police.uk
for details.
However, some crime is less obvious
and happens beind closed doors. This
often takes the form of vulnerable adults
or children suffering abuse or neglect.
Because these people may not be
able to leave their house, this can be
exceptionally diffi cult to identify. As the
crime is often very serious, any help you
can provide is critical. Even something
as simple as keeping an eye on your
neighbours can make a big difference.
14
If you suspect a child
or young person is being
harmed through abuse
or neglect, contact
020 7641 7560 or visit
westminster.gov.uk/
safeguardingchildren.
If you suspect an adult is
suffering through abuse or
neglect, call 020 7641 2176
or visit westminster.gov.uk/
safeguarding.

You can get involved directly in tackling crime in your local area, either through
the CivicWatch Citizens or Neighbourhood Watch programme, as well as the
ward panels mentioned on page 8.
Neighbourhood
Watch
Neighbourhood Watch is about
neighbours joining together to:
• support local crime prevention
initiatives
• distribute local crime information
and advice
• provide intelligence to the police on
criminal and anti-social activities
• lobby councils and other local
agencies for improvements to
their area.
If you are interested in getting involved
with your local Neighbourhood Watch
group, call 020 7641 2117.
CivicWatch
The CivicWatch Citizens project
encourages residents to report anything
from youth disorder, street drinking
and begging to more environmental
concerns such as graffi ti, noise
nuisance, fl y tipping and dog fouling.
Monthly feedback is sent to update
people on action that has been taken
to deal with their concerns.
For more information on how
to become a CivicWatch Citizen,
call 020 7614 1007 or email
CivicWatchCitizen@westminster.gov.uk.
Victim Support
If you are unfortunate enough to be
a victim of crime, Victim Support
Westminster helps people who have
been affected by crime, through
providing confi dential support and
information to victims and to witnesses
attending courts. This service is free,
independent of the courts and police
and is available to anyone.
You can call the National Support
Line 0845 303 0900, Victim Support
Westminster 020 7828 4142 or email
general@vswestminster.org.
15

Contact numbers
Metropolitan
Police numbers
Emergencies
999 in the case of an emergency
18000 (text phone) if you are deaf
or have a speech impairment
Remember 999 is only for real
emergencies. Seven out of 10 calls it
gets are non-emergency, so please
use the number below where possible.
Non-emergency situations
0300 123 1212 for Metropolitan
Police non-emergency support
18001 0300 123 1242
(text phone) if you are deaf or
have a speech impairment
Local policing issues
Call your Safer Neighbourhoods Team
using the numbers on pages 12 and 13
Westminster City
Council numbers
Environmental Action Line
020 7641 2000 to report concerns over
noise, graffi ti, dumping of waste or
damage to pavements or street lighting
Crime and Disorder Reduction
Service
020 7641 1085 for general queries
about the council’s community
protection activities
Westminster City Council
020 7641 6000 for the council’s main
switchboard service
Family Information Service
020 7641 7929 for details of services
and support for parents, carers,
families, children and young people
Other numbers
Victim Support Westminster
020 7828 4142 for confi dential support
and advice for victims of crime
Crimestoppers
To offer information anonymously, call
free on 0800 555 111
Please visit the Westminster website at westminster.gov.uk to fi nd out more about
the council and its activities. You’ll fi nd detailed and up-to-date information and
any documents you might need, such as anti-social behaviour reporting forms.
We hope you’ve found this guide useful. If you’d like to comment on it,
email Civicwatch@westminster.gov.uk