Wandsworth Council Approves Funding for 25 New Police Officers to Boost Community Safety

Wandsworth Council Approves Funding for 25 New Police Officers to Boost Community Safety

Wandsworth Council has approved plans to fund 25 new police officers to enhance community safety across the borough. The decision will see an investment of £3.1 million in the first year for 22 Police Constables and 3 Sergeants. These officers will be deployed under the council's tactical direction, working alongside existing council enforcement services and a new Integrated Enforcement Team (IET).

The initiative aims to increase visible policing and create a more coordinated, intelligence-led approach to tackling crime and anti-social behaviour. The proposal aligns with the administration's manifesto pledge to invest in policing and address residents' concerns about crime.

Tackling Specific Issues

The 25 new police officers will be tasked with tackling anti-social behaviour, low-level crime, local hotspot issues and early intervention support. They will also focus on ASB, drug-related harm, e-bike misuse, violence against women and girls, and other matters affecting residents' sense of safety.

Investing in a Dedicated Policing Team

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the proposal to invest in these dedicated Metropolitan Police officers. The funding for these officers will primarily come from Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) receipts, with a legal basis for its use in law enforcement confirmed.

Councillors expressed general support for the investment, with questions focusing on how improvements would be tracked and the integration of these new officers with existing Safe Neighbourhood Teams. Concerns were raised about potential disproportionality in policing and the need for robust key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure impact.

Integrated Enforcement Team and Deployment

The IET will combine police and council powers, aiming for a visible, intelligence-led, and community-focused service. Discussions also touched upon the previous Balham Wardens pilot scheme, with officers noting its limited tangible enforcement outcomes, contrasting it with the broader powers and scope of the proposed IET.

First deployment of the new officers is anticipated in the fourth quarter of the current financial year. The establishment of the IET is considered the next phase of enforcement transformation, with its rapid delivery expected to maximise the benefit of the policing uplift.

While the officers will remain under Metropolitan Police command and employment terms, their day-to-day tasking will be managed collaboratively. An Interactive Affordment Manager, acting as the local authority's lead tasking manager, will work with chief inspectors and inspectors to ensure officers are deployed effectively based on intelligence and tasking meetings.

Measuring Impact and Ensuring Fairness

To measure the impact of these new officers and the IET, a robust range of KPIs will be implemented. These will track metrics such as the number of service requests, fines issued, patrols conducted, and arrests made. The council is currently developing this full suite of KPIs.

To address concerns about potential disproportionality in policing, the council will implement clear initial priorities, regular engagement with communities that have lower confidence in policing, accessible information about the officers' roles, and clear feedback and complaint routes. Regular reviews of deployment outcomes and resident feedback will help identify and address any unintended impacts.

Funding and Future Plans

The estimated cost for the first year is £3.1 million, with potential for extension for a further 24 months. Future ongoing costs have been incorporated within the Spending Review analysis, though specific total costs for a 3-5 year period are not yet detailed.

For more details on the Enforcement Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee meeting, refer to the Agenda frontsheet and the Public reports pack.