The Ealing Safer Neighbourhood Board convened to review police reports and ward panel updates, and to discuss ongoing project funding. The board approved the minutes from the previous meeting on 8 July 2025 and noted updates on community safety initiatives and project statuses. The next meeting is scheduled for 20 January 2026.

Ward Panel Updates

Chief Inspector James Herring and Acting Inspector Matthew Buckland of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) provided updates on the Ward Panels, including the introduction of a new community engagement tool called Met Engage. Met Engage is designed to allow two-way public engagement, gather feedback on local issues, and enable community members to report crime and antisocial behaviour hotspots.

Key features of Met Engage include:

• Focused email alerts to specific neighbourhoods or interested groups.
• Survey tools to understand local issues.
• A platform for reporting crime and anti-social behaviour hotspots.
• The ability to focus reassurance patrols and identify gaps in engagement.
• A translation tool.
• Mapping of private CCTV and other surveillance devices.
• A platform for crime-fighting appeals and circulation of information on missing persons and wanted individuals.
• Updates on crime prevention and investigation.

The police representatives clarified that Met Engage is not a crime reporting service and that residents should still call 999 or 101 in the event of a crime or the need for police assistance. They also noted that the platform would be replacing the previous neighbourhoods service, Online Watch Link (OWL).

Chief Inspector James Herring and Acting Inspector Matthew Buckland also updated the board on the Home Office initiative, 'Keeping Our Town Centres Safe This Summer', which aims to prevent crime and antisocial behaviour in town centres. Ealing Town Centre has been classified as a Tier One location under this initiative, which allows for further crime prevention options for neighbourhood teams.

Additionally, the MPS has introduced Operation Martello, a follow-up to Operation Nightingale, incorporating feedback and changes to its implementation.

In response to questions, Chief Inspector James Herring and Acting Inspector Matthew Buckland noted that budget cuts would not currently affect Safer Neighbourhood Teams, although resourcing was under review. They also stated that Met Engage has seen 1,053 sign-ups in Ealing.

Project Updates

Mr John Martin, the Vice Chair, provided an update on the projects funded by the board. He confirmed that all five projects had been submitted, approved by MOCAP¹, and fit within its outlined criteria.

The projects are:

• The Gauntlet Flight Academy.
• Znaniye Foundation.
• Sev Necati Training.
• EASE.
• Our Moving Stories (OMS) in Southall.

Mr John Martin reminded the board of their responsibility to ensure that funding for the projects was being spent appropriately and invited board members to request visits to the projects once completed.

The board approved the five projects outlined by Mr John Martin to proceed.

Other Business

The minutes of the meeting held on 8 July 2025 were approved. The chair had no updates of note to inform the Board. The next meeting was scheduled for 20 January 2026.