Agenda item

This item provides an update on the work of the Law Enforcement Team between April 2025 and December 2025. This is provided for information only.

Mo Basith (Law Enforcement Manager) presented the report on the work of the Law Enforcement Team (LET) between April and December 2025. He highlighted the impact of an inhouse built “LET App” on service delivery including faster response times, greater ground coverage, improved resident experience, enhanced data accuracy and operational efficiency. He also gave a performance analysis for the said period.

Councillor Sally Taylor asked whether all officers on patrol carried Naloxone, a medication that reversed opioid overdoses. Mo Basith said the life-saving medication were kept safe on the vehicles around the patrolling areas. Sometimes, the LET worked in partnership with the CCTV team and Police in administering Naloxone.

Councillor Lucy Richardson noted that there was a lot of crimes near the area of Charing Cross Hospital and Margravine Cemetery, some of which were associated with individuals who worked in the area having mental health problems and/or substance use issues.  She asked whether the LET would act according to the crime demographic and target the specific area in question.

Mo Basith acknowledged the situation and added that students from a nearby college were seen congregating in the cemetery vaping/smoking, with some said to be taking drugs. The LET, upon receiving reports, had spoken to the students, the head teachers and teachers at the school. As regards handling individuals with mental health issues, the LET’s community safety officers, similar to the Police, would refer those adults to the safeguarding team of adult social care. 

On Councillor Victoria Brocklebank-Fowler’s question about staff strength in each ward, Mo Basith noted the varying levels of service demand among the 21 wards, so staff would be moved around to provide the required support while there was always one named officer for every ward. 

Councillor Brocklebank-Fowler was concerned that the South had recorded the fastest growth (+27.9%) of anti-social behaviour (ASB).  Neil Thurlow (Assistant Director of Community Safety, Resilience and CCTV) said the design of the LET was to build trust and confidence in the community. It was a positive sign to see an increase in reports to the service of ASB which was one of the LET’s core pillars at the start.  The increase might mean that residents were comfortable and confident to reach out to the LET. Neil noted that in line with the nature of 24/7 services, the LET would move resources around to help areas in need. He added that the night teams were not ward specific and could be moved around.

As regards the changes in the budget for the LET over the years, Mark Raisbeck (Director of Public Realm) said he understood the budget was sufficient to fully fund the 72 full-time equivalent officers.  He undertook to provide the relevant figures after the meeting.

ACTION: Mark Raisbeck

Questions from the floor

Casey Abaraonye (Resident) asked about the installation of a defibrillator outside his work premises. Mo Basith agreed to contact him after speaking with the council’s first aid team.

ACTION: Mo Basith

Councillor Rebecca Harvey (Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion and Community Safety) noted about a defibrillator-like life-saving device called EpiPen were put in key places like streets/shops and schools.  It was an emergency rescue devise for severe allergic reactions.  The Committee then discussed about the ways in locating the devices and promotion on its use. At the suggestion of Casey Abaraony, the Chair agreed that the council should consider consolidating the apps it was using for different purposes, including parking and health.

Casey Abaraonye invited interested members to attend the Cycle Crime Conference to be held in the summer. Mark Raisbeck said his team aimed at reducing all kinds of crime and would be very interested in receiving more information about the conference.

ACTION: Mo Basith