Local Policing-Covid 19 Briefing Note – 28/08/2020

Dear residents and community members, we receive updates on COVID 19 from BCU Commander Colin Wingrove, which we publish below.

Neighbourhood policing and proactive work in your community is continuing as normal with the exception of postponing non-essential public meetings. Your locals teams are out on patrol dealing with anti-social behaviour and criminality in their wards. 

If you have any concerns, please contact your local team. If a crime needs reporting or you need police to deal with an issue then and there, please call 101 or report online at www.met.police.uk. In an emergency always call 999.

Your continued support is greatly appreciated in this challenging time.

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Dear all,

This is a very focused message ahead of the August bank holiday weekend to share with you Met-wide policing plans, and some of our local activity in Southwark and Lambeth. 

We anticipate a number of different events taking place across the weekend, in different parts of London, and have appropriate resources in place to deal with this. 

Traditionally this would be carnival weekend, however, the Notting Hill Carnival Trust made a decision, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, to celebrate the event in a digital first, and host videos and playlists all online at https://nhcarnival.org/

Whilst there is no organised event in Notting Hill, we anticipate that people will still want to attend the traditional carnival location.

We also expect a number of unlicensed music events (UMEs) or gatherings to take place, and a number of demonstrations and marches. 

The pan London policing operation will begin from Friday, 28 August through to Tuesday, 1 September with an experienced command team under Commander Jane Connors, the Gold Strategic Commander, with T/Commander Ade Adelekan as Silver Tactical Commander.

The policing operation will divide London into five sectors, with sector one being the traditional carnival location. An experienced public order commander will be designated to each area to support the work of the local boroughs who will engage with the local community.

Locally we continue to work very closely with Lambeth and Southwark Councils with our ongoing plans and activities to engage with residents and visitors, provide visible policing and reassurance, patrolling in areas where crime and anti-social behaviour occur, and where necessary take action to deal. Our officers will also be patrolling alongside licensing and other staff from both councils.

Throughout the pandemic, the Met’s policing approach has been the 4 E’s – engage, explain, encourage and as a last resort, enforce. This approach will continue across the weekend and we will do everything possible to engage, explain and encourage the public not to participate in protests or other public gatherings.

This week, officers have been travelling in the MPS Engagement Bus across London, (made a stop in Windrush Square https://twitter.com/MayorofLondon/status/1298220845635174400 ) working in conjunction with local authorities, other blue light services to meet with communities, reminding them of the Government health restrictions, and explaining our policing style and operation. Locally our Safer Neighbourhood Teams have taken part in local community events in Lambeth and Southwark, and this continues over the weekend. – We will also be looking to invite the Engagement Bus back to make more appearances across Southwark and Lambeth.

Our communications will be sent out via our social media platforms, and the @MetPoliceEvents account will be the main account for updates over the weekend – please may we ask that you retweet our call to action for communities to report any information on UMEs to police, and not to attend Notting Hill as there are no events taking place, the celebration is all online so please watch those from the comfort of your home. You can also keep up to date locally as always via @LambethMPS and @MPSSouthwark.

We would also be very grateful if you could use your influence to remind the public of the health risk and the Government health restrictions. By doing so you would be helping us to keep London safer for everyone.

Thank you for your support.

Kind regards,

Colin Wingrove, Chief Superintendent, BCU Commander – Central South

AS – Central South / COVID19 – 2 – 1903/2020

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