Elephant and Castle and Walworth will see an increased police presence with the introduction of a team of 16 officers, called the Town Centre Team.
The launch is part of the Met’s commitment to drive down neighbourhood crime and target the issues that impact local residents and businesses.
Their main focus is reducing phone snatching, violence against women and girls and anti-social behaviour.
The Town Centre Team has already built relationships with bars and clubs in Elephant and Castle, to help them strengthen safety measures and provide a more visible presence after dark.
Once a month, the team lead ‘Operation Vigilant’ to identify predatory behaviour. During a recent outing, officers arrested a domestic violence suspect inside a local bar.
Staff at the venue have personally thanked the team for their swift response, which was only possible because of their proximity to and knowledge of the area.
Officers are also targeting anti-social behaviour by partnering with council wardens and support services.
On 14 January, the team arrested four people and two others were issued with a Community Protection Notice.
Inspector Samantha Honeyball, leading the Met’s new Southwark Town Centre Team, said: “Elephant & Castle and Walworth Road are some of the busiest parts of Southwark, and people deserve to feel safe whether they’re working, shopping or enjoying a night out.
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“Because we’re dedicated to this patch, we’re able to respond quickly, build strong relationships with local businesses, and take meaningful action against the offenders causing the most harm.
“We’re proud of the early results and even more determined to keep driving down crime and antisocial behaviour in the months ahead.”
Learn more about the Met’s approach to tackling crime here: https://news.met.police.uk/news/met-prioritises-neighbourhoods-in-new-community-crime-fighting-strategy-504097
