The Ealing Safer Neighbourhood Board's meeting on Tuesday 24 March 2026 was scheduled to include updates on ongoing projects and a report from the Metropolitan Police Service. The board was also due to confirm the minutes from its previous meeting and discuss any other business.

Projects Update

The report pack indicated that an update on the Ealing Safer Neighbourhood Board's (ENSB) current projects was scheduled. In the previous meeting on 20 January 2026, it was noted that all three active ENSB projects had received their proforma invoices and were proceeding with submitting them to the council for payment.

The report pack also highlighted a significant shift in the operational approach and expectations of Safer Neighbourhood Boards (SNBs) by the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC). Previously, MOPAC had a more hands-off approach, but it was expected to seek greater accountability and scrutiny of SNB work. Projects, once approved by an SNB, would now also require MOPAC approval. Furthermore, SNBs were to receive only the exact funding requested for projects, and MOPAC was facing a budget shortfall, leading to the potential cessation of all funding for projects and administration from SNBs from the 2026-2027 financial year. SNBs were expected to continue their role but under the auspices of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS). MOPAC was also planning to establish a network of Public Scrutiny panels with an expanded remit.

During the previous meeting, it was mentioned that SNB leaders, including those from Ealing, intended to push back against MOPAC's decision to remove funding and that further conversations with MOPAC administration were planned. Clarification was also provided that the admin fee received by the Board goes to Ealing Council for administration, but the council chooses to return this fee to the Board.

Police Update and Q&A

A general update from the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) was scheduled, with Superintendent Sean Lynch and Acting Inspector Matt Buckland expected to present. In the previous meeting, it was noted that police leadership was in ongoing consultation with the Mayor's Office regarding the future structure of SNBs. Assurances were given that the opportunity to scrutinise the police would continue through a board or panel, and the Met Commissioner's accountability at the London Policing Board was also mentioned.

The New Met for London 2 initiative, launched on 9 December 2025, was expected to be a focus. Its priorities included the continued reduction of serious violence, tackling neighbourhood crime and anti-social behaviour, addressing offenders causing harm to women and children, and improving service to victims and the public. Additional areas of focus for the Met were stated as allocating resources to crime rather than non-crime matters, boosting productivity through automation and AI, and working in partnership for better outcomes. Ealing's contribution to the previous New Met for London project, accounting for 18.4% of total responses for London, was acknowledged as having a positive impact on future strategies.

A new Neighbourhood Policing blueprint, involving Town Centre Team Officers and Designated Ward Officers, was released, outlining changes in configuration, removal of some dedicated roles, and upskilling of officers in areas such as anti-social behaviour and licensing. The government's Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee Commitment was expected to lead to increased funding for local policing, potentially strengthening Ealing's Neighbourhood Teams and increasing the number of Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs). The embedding of a dedicated Faith Officer into Southall teams was also noted as a measure to aid policing in that area. The imminent launch of the Town Centre Team for Ealing Broadway, with an additional sergeant and seven officers, was anticipated.

The Met and local officers were expected to continue working with Ealing Council's Safer Neighbourhood Teams on the new Estates Strategy for London. Superintendent Lynch had previously thanked Paul Murphy and the Ealing Safer Neighbourhood Teams for their engagement and assistance. Ealing was also scheduled to receive Live Facial Recognition camera deployments, which Superintendent Lynch considered a useful deployment of police time with a positive community impact. Grant agreements from the government were expected, with Ealing set to be a beneficiary. Southall was identified as an area of ongoing concern.

The report pack mentioned that Met Engage was intended to bridge the gap when police attend a premises and do not obtain CCTV on their initial visit, allowing them to identify and receive copies of relevant footage. Recent police activity related to festivals such as Halloween, Nagar Kirtan, and New Year's Eve was also detailed, with the latter employing a data-led approach. Met Engage had 4,953 members, with Hanwell Broadway being the top ward, and sign-ups were being driven by PCSOs and victims of crime. Ealing officers were reported to be fully compliant with the Home Office's Policing Guarantee, which includes having named ward officers with available contact details, responding to inquiries within 72 hours, listing and reviewing ward priorities, and planning ward meetings. Further action was planned to improve policing around burglary and make greater use of private CCTV as evidence, with Met Engage being a tool for this. While most wards had a full ward panel, some faced recruitment and retention issues.

In response to questions during the previous meeting, it was clarified that the use of face coverings presented a challenge for policing, and while some councils were considering Public Space Protection Orders, Ealing was not at that time. Operation BEAT was described as police investigations into persons of interest regarding sexual offences for safeguarding purposes, involving visits to check compliance with prevention orders and court conditions.

The Board had previously thanked the Police Officers and noted the update.

Any Other Business and Date of Next Meeting

There was no other business scheduled to be discussed. The date of the next meeting was set for 28 April 2026.