Save our Community Police PCSO`s

We have been informed that on the 29th of September, the Metropolitan Police will be deciding the future of our PCSOs throughout London.  There is a strong possibility that Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) will be removed completely, with no alternative to replace them in any shape or form.

PCSOs play a key role not only in reassuring communities through a strong visible presence, but also in greatly increasing community intelligence through being “eyes and ears” on the ground.

Losing them will negatively impact on our ability to engage with communities and also to understand the risks and threats facing them.


If you feel strongly about this there are two things you can do:

1) Sign the online petition against the drastic police cuts here: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/save-neighbourhood-policing-in-london

2) Email the Police Commissioner (bernard.hogan-howe@met.pnn.police.uk) and Mayor Boris Johnson (boris.johnson.mp@parliament.uk) with the text below:

Dear Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe and Mayor Boris Johnson

I am a Brent resident living in Fryent Ward, Kingsbury and object to the removal of any PCSOs or police resources for the borough of Brent. Brent has high crime levels and serious social problems that are well documented in police crime statistics and publicised by the counter terrorism team.

We seek reassurance that existing resources will not be removed from Brent including any reduction in the number of PCSOs and police officers. In addition I now formerly request that additional resources be allocated to this multi-cultural borough that has diverse and complex crime patters that require skilled community engagement and policing on the streets to protect what is a vulnerable community.

Yours sincerely,

Name & Address


This is your opportunity to make sure that the PCSOs are saved, and that our community does not lose this valuable resource that works so hard towards securing a safer and crime free area for us all.

Please take a couple of minutes to do this.  Imagine life without PCSO on the streets of Fryent, answering our calls, and making our area a safer place to live.

Fryent Councillors

The future of School Crossing Patrols in Brent

The Future of School Crossing Patrols

Brent Council has recently announced a review of the School Crossing Patrol service (SCP), sometimes referred to as Lollipop attendants, due to the shaped coloured banner they hold.

Brent has one of the largest School Crossing Patrol services in London. There are 47 sites covered by SCP,s two of which are in Fryent. One at Fryent School in Church Lane and one at St Robert Southwell School in Slough Lane.

In recent years Brent has been successful in reducing road casualties, especially children. Children killed or seriously injured have reduced from 40+ per annum in the late 1990’s to 11 per annum in 2009, sadly still to many but below both national and London targets. It has to be said that it is difficult to identify any direct contribution of the (SCP) to this reduction. Road casualty reduction has been the result of a combination of activities and initiatives.

RISK EVALUATION

Brent council has devised a model for “risk evaluation” and assessed each SCP location. Some schools may be close to Pelican crossings, be in a 20MPH zone, or simply have a traffic refuge outside the school. 

The results of the evaluation risk model in Fryent would mean that the SCP outside Fryent School would be removed and the SCP outside St Robert Southwell School would be retained.

An alternative option would be for the school to “buy back” the service and cover the annual cost of the SCP, approximately £6000 per annum.

CONSULTATION

Schools are being invited to share the proposals with the wider community, parents and carers. A report will go to the Council Executive in mid July. Details of the proposals will be available on Brent Council website.

The Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984 provides that London Boroughs may make arrangements for patrolling school crossings but there is no duty to do so.

So what do residents think? Should your Council Tax pay for School Crossing Patrols? Should the Council only provide for the most risky sites? Be part of the debate.( You can click on  comment or sign in).