The Culture and Environment Scrutiny Committee is scheduled to discuss the state of the borough, the annual report of the Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, and the council's approach to community cohesion. The committee will also review its work programme for the upcoming year.

State of the Borough

The committee is scheduled to receive a report from the Metropolitan Police Service's Central North Borough Command Unit, which will provide an overview of crime trends and policing efforts in Camden. The report outlines the Met's strategy for 2025-2028, focusing on improving service quality, creating a culture of safety, and protecting communities. Key priorities for the Central North BCU in 2026/27 include tackling Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), two-wheel enabled offending, retail crime, and apprehending wanted offenders. The report also details Camden's Neighbourhood Policing Model and provides crime data for the borough, showing trends in various crime categories such as anti-social incidents, personal robbery, residential burglary, and shoplifting.

Annual Report of the Cabinet Member for Safer Communities

Councillor Adam Harrison, Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, will present his annual report. The report highlights the council's commitment to keeping Camden's communities safe and secure, with a focus on early intervention, reducing harm, and rapid response to incidents. Key achievements include the launch of Town Centre Teams, supported by an investment of £1 million and fifty Community Safety Enforcement Officers, operating seven days a week in Holborn & Bloomsbury, Camden Town, and Kilburn. The report also details efforts to tackle anti-social behaviour, improve CCTV infrastructure, and develop approaches to enforcement through Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs). It addresses the council's work on hate crime and community cohesion, as well as its commitment to protecting young people from harm and exploitation. The report also outlines progress in tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG), with initiatives such as Safe Havens and the Camden Safety Bus.

The Council's Approach to Community Cohesion and Responding to Community Tensions

This report details Camden's strategy for building safe, strong, and open communities where everyone feels they belong. It outlines how the council, in collaboration with the police, voluntary and community organisations, and faith networks, works to foster positive relationships between diverse communities. The approach is structured around four key areas: monitoring community tensions and hate crime through intelligence and community insight; supporting communities through ongoing engagement and investment; reassuring communities during periods of concern; and coordinating responses when tensions escalate into incidents. The report highlights the work of the Tension Monitoring Group (TMG) and provides data on hate crime trends, noting a decrease in overall recorded offences but an increase in Islamophobic offences. It also details investment in the voluntary and community sector, the activities of the Camden Interfaith Network, and the council's Safe and Strong, Together campaign.

Culture and Environment Scrutiny Committee Work Programme

The committee will review its proposed work programme for the 2026/27 municipal year. This paper provides an outline of planned discussions, including updates on the Annual Report of the Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, the Police Borough Commander Update, Hate Crime and Community Resilience, and the committee's own work programme. Future planned discussions include the Clean Air Action Plan, the Camden Transport Strategy, and updates on major transport projects. The report also includes an action tracker, detailing the progress of actions from previous meetings.

The committee is also scheduled to discuss the State of the Borough report from the Metropolitan Police Service's Central North Borough Command Unit, which will provide an overview of crime trends and policing efforts in Camden. Additionally, the annual report of the Cabinet Member for Safer Communities will be presented, detailing the council's work in areas such as anti-social behaviour, community safety, and tackling violence against women and girls. The committee will also review its work programme for the upcoming year.