Crime is down in London neighbourhoods with local police teams, the Met said today.

Robbery dropped by 15% in wards patrolled by Safer Neigbourhood (SN) teams, compared to a 6% robbery decrease in non-SN areas.

Since April dedicated teams of one police sergeant, two constables and three police community support officers (PCSOs) have guarded three wards in every borough. The scheme is due to be rolled out to all wards in the next few years.

Overall, crime in these wards dropped by 3.2%, as opposed to 1.8% across London, concluded a report by Scotland Yard released today.

While criminal damage in non-SN areas increased by 1%, community policing saw it fall by 4%. Drug dealing and using in London rose by 4%, but in SN areas it is down by 3%. Less serious crimes like these form the focus of local police teams, as they make the public feel unsafe.

Crime type SN areas Elsewhere Burglary -13% -9% Criminal damage -4% +1% Drugs -3% +4% Robbery -15% -6% Theft/handling -5% -1% Violence against the person +12% +7% Sex offences +18% +9%

Burglary, theft and the handling of stolen goods also decreased more in SN wards than elsewhere.

The 18% rise in violence reflects a higher number of police interventions as part of the drive to curb anti-social behaviour.

The jump in sex offences is due to a wider range of offences now being classified as sex offences, the report said. "It is likely that increased reporting reflects an increased confidence in local policing."

Other gains of neighbourhood policing include:

  • BT phone box vandalism in Walton North, Surrey, fell by 50% since the arrival of the SN team.
  • In Upper Edmonton alcohol-related ambulance call-outs were halved. The annual hospital vandalism bill dropped by a third, saving around £7,000.
  • Attendance at community meetings shot up. In Upper Edmonton it doubled to 150.