The External Scrutiny Committee of Redbridge Council met on Monday 4 September 2023 to discuss crime statistics, public transport updates, and future meeting agendas. Key discussions included a significant decrease in domestic burglaries, an update on Transport for London's services, and plans for upcoming committee business.

Crime Update from the Metropolitan Police

The committee received a detailed update from Chief Superintendent Lisa Butterworth of the Metropolitan Police regarding crime in Redbridge. A significant positive development reported was a 24.6% reduction in domestic burglaries over the last 12 months, equating to 273 fewer offences compared to the previous year. This reduction was attributed to proactive patrols, neighbourhood engagement, and the use of tools like MetMaps2 to identify crime hotspots. Operation Hargrave, a strategic operation targeting late-night crimes including burglary and vehicle crime, has also been initiated, leading to arrests and seizures.

Concerns were raised by committee members about the sufficiency of resources in light of recommendations from the Casey Review¹, which examined the Metropolitan Police's standards and culture. The Chief Superintendent assured members that available resources are deployed effectively, and while additional resources are always welcome, the focus is on maximising their impact. Public confidence was also discussed, with the Chief Superintendent acknowledging that improved confidence levels will take time to be reflected.

The committee also heard that theft from motor vehicles has decreased, although theft of high-value cars has increased. In response to concerns about shoplifting and attacks on staff, a meeting was scheduled to discuss how businesses can be better supported.

The Operational Director of Community Safety, Digital and Customer Services, John Richards, and Head of Community Safety, added that the Borough Community Safety Plan is being reformed to enhance partnership working. They highlighted the refresh of the Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) plan and the deployment of tools such as Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) to support enforcement and resident engagement. A new database is also being implemented to provide partners with consolidated information on individuals.

Regarding CCTV, the Operations Director of Civic Pride, Sarah Foster, provided an update on the work of her enforcement teams. She explained the rigorous process for camera placement and encouraged councillors to continue making requests for their wards. Mobile CCTV cameras are available for hotspot areas, and camera placement is reviewed every three months to assess their effectiveness in deterring crime and gathering intelligence. The Community Protection Task Force works in partnership with the Met Police, providing a visible presence. The importance of the public using the online Report It form to alert the council to issues was reiterated.

The committee resolved to note the presentations and discussions.

Public Transport Update from Transport for London (TfL)

A representative from Transport for London (TfL) provided a supplementary update on various services affecting Redbridge. Key points included the proposed SuperLoop bus route SL2, which would connect Walthamstow Central to North Woolwich, with stops in South Woodford, Gants Hill, and Ilford.

Improvements to the Gants Hill subway were also highlighted, with the cleaning frequency increased from annually to quarterly. The first clean took place in April, with subsequent cleans in August and scheduled cleans in November and March 2024.

Regarding the Central Line, a temporary weekday timetable introduced in June aims to improve reliability, with an average of 26.3 trains per hour during the evening peak. TfL is investing £500 million to overhaul the Central Line fleet, with refurbished trains expected to enter service later this year.

The Elizabeth Line has seen over 200 million journeys since its opening in May 2022, exceeding predictions. Its Public Performance Measure (PPM) scores have consistently been over 87%, and customer satisfaction levels are among the highest in the country.

In response to queries about subway clean-ups in Redbridge, the TfL representative committed to logging these as casework. The committee requested an update on the W Routes bus consultation and the Superloop consultation to be brought back to the April 2024 meeting, with a specific focus on Redbridge bus routes for that presentation.

The committee resolved to note the presentations, to focus TfL's April 2024 presentation on Redbridge bus routes, and to provide members with contact details for the TfL representative.

Future Meetings and Indicative Items

The committee discussed and noted the dates for future meetings and indicative items of business. For the meeting on 6 November 2023, updates will include the Metropolitan Police on Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and the Community Safety Partnership, as well as the Vision Annual Report, which will include a section on City of London Green Spaces. The meeting on 17 January 2024 will cover updates on street violence and flooding mitigation from the Environment Agency and Thames Water. The meeting on 16 April 2024 will include a Youth Parliament Annual Update and a focus on bus services from Public Transport Providers.

The committee resolved to note the dates of future meetings and asked that the Vision Update include a section on City of London Green Spaces.