The meeting primarily focused on reviewing reports from the Metropolitan Police Service, including updates on crime trends, initiatives like A New Met for London, and the use of facial recognition technology. The committee also discussed and noted Councillor Patricia Callaghan's annual report as the Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, covering a wide array of issues within her portfolio.

Policing in Camden

The committee reviewed two reports from the Metropolitan Police Service. The first, State of the Borough - Metropolitan Police Service - CE Scrutiny Committee FINAL - October 2024, provided an overview of crime trends in the borough. It showed that while knife crime and certain types of theft had risen, personal robbery and violence with injury had decreased compared to the previous year. The report also detailed the allocation of £210,000 from the Camden Late Night Levy to support police efforts in addressing crime and antisocial behaviour related to the borough's Night Time Economy (NTE). The second report, A New Met for London and Camden's Local Action Plan - Metropolitan Police Service - CE Committee FI, outlined the Met's broader plan to improve public safety and trust in the police, with a focus on community engagement, professionalism, and targeted crime fighting strategies.

During discussions, members raised concerns about the impact of police abstractions on local policing, the increase in shoplifting, particularly on Tottenham Court Road, and the need for increased community engagement. The police representatives acknowledged these concerns, highlighting efforts to address them, such as targeted operations against prolific shoplifters, collaboration with businesses to improve crime prevention, and initiatives to enhance community engagement and communication.

Facial Recognition Technology

A dedicated report, Facial Recognition - Metropolitan Police Service - CE Scrutiny Committee FINAL - October 2024, addressed the use of facial recognition technology (FRT). The police highlighted FRT's effectiveness in identifying wanted individuals, with 350 arrests attributed to it in 2024. They emphasized the technology's accuracy, citing a study that showed a high correct match rate and a low false positive rate.

However, committee members expressed concerns about potential biases in the technology and public perception surrounding its use. They requested more detailed data on arrests by race, age, and gender and suggested that the police be more proactive in educating the public about FRT's capabilities and safeguards. The police representatives agreed to provide this data and invited members to observe the technology in action during future deployments in Camden.

Annual Report of the Cabinet Member for Safer Communities

The committee considered Councillor Patricia Callaghan's FINAL Safer Communities Annual Report 2024. The report covered a wide range of initiatives within her portfolio, including efforts to combat antisocial behaviour, promote youth safety, address hate crime, tackle drug misuse, support rough sleepers, and combat violence against women and girls.

Councillor Callaghan highlighted the successful pilot program of the Anti-Social Behaviour Taskforce, which focused on addressing challenging behaviours on 12 housing estates. She also spoke about the Council's commitment to addressing youth violence and exploitation through preventative programmes like the Camden Summer University and the Regent's Park Community Guardianship Project. The report also detailed the Council's efforts to tackle cuckooing¹, a practice where vulnerable residents' homes are taken over by criminals, often for drug-related activities.

During the discussion, members raised questions about the effectiveness of the Anti-Social Behaviour Taskforce, the metrics used to measure its success, and the need for increased support for vulnerable young people. They also sought clarity on the impact of the Right Care Right Person initiative, which aims to ensure that individuals in need receive appropriate support from the right agencies. The committee agreed to invite representatives from other relevant agencies, including mental health services and the London Ambulance Service, to future meetings to discuss the initiative's impact in more detail.