Chief Superintendent Steve Wallace, Acting Borough Commander, announced that the new Borough Commander, Chief Superintendent Theresa Breen, would start around 17 October. He drew members’ attention to recent developments, including a successful covert drug operation that resulted in 40 individuals being charged; the challenging nature of scooter crime; targeted work on burglary, seasonal anti-social behaviour and knife crime; and the fact that Merton is now able to access more resources from the Met to tackle gang violence.

Chief Superintendent Steve Wallace highlighted key trends in the crime figures set out in the appendix to the report – overall total notifiable offences are up 4%, mobile phone theft has decreased, car and moped theft has increased and rape and sexual offences have increased. He said that the robust partnership work on domestic abuse would continue to tackle offenders and support victims.

Chief Superintendent Steve Wallace provided an answer to each of the questions that had been sent to him in advance of the meeting (these questions are set out in the agenda):

a)    Reports of hate crime in Merton have doubled in the past two years. He receives a weekly report on hate crime and has seen a marked increase since the Brexit referendum, with an average of 7 cases per week, though in August this has reduced to 5 per week which is comparable to last August. Around 80% of hate crimes are racially motivated.

b)    The number of dedicated ward officers has not reduced. He asked whether a particular concern had prompted this question and then, in response to information given regarding policing of the Armed Forces Day Parade, he said he would use that to plan ahead for next year.

c)    The second dedicated PC in each ward, as announced by the Mayor of London, will not be additional officers but will be recruited from existing borough personnel. The first six will be in place shortly.

d)   There will still be flexibility locally and a call on other forces as at present as well as an expectation that Merton officers will assist other MPS operations as required.

e)    The work that would be required to compile data showing the number of officers deployed elsewhere would be considerable. The numbers vary from day to day. Merton benefits from being able to call on officers from other forces, particularly during Wimbledon Fortnight.

f)     Data is not held on home location of officers. Cost of accommodation and transport costs are an issue for officers.

g)    He described some of the work that is being done in partnership locally to protect vulnerable girls and women from FGM, sexual exploitation and forced marriage.

h)   No formal complaints have been received from Raynes Park residents in relation to speeding. If councillors pass these on they will be addressed.

i)     Traffic speed enforcement is carried out proportionately, drawing on road traffic accident data to identify priority areas.

j)      There are teams in the town centres. Social media, particular Twitter feeds, are being used by police officers to communicate successful action on local issues to residents.

k)    The borough wide controlled drinking zone is enforced regularly. Interventions are not always recorded, especially when people are co-operative. Police also take enforcement action against selling premises as well as individuals. In Mitcham alone recently there have been 45 warnings and 13 community protection notices, and 4 convictions for breaches and hundreds of alcohol seizures.

The Acting Borough Commander welcomed positive feedback from a member of the Commission regarding Merton police’s social media presence and provided further information in response to additional questions:

• The police are operationally independent and listens to the public and local councillors on local priorities as well as implementing the Mayor’s police and crime plan.
• Officers are well experienced in dealing with mental health issues. There is an anticipation that the community MARAC will also increasingly work on these issues in future.

The Chair thanked the Acting Borough Commander for attending and answering the Commission’s questions.