Issue

Community Safety

24 stories · discussed at 29 council meetings · 22 councils

Wandsworth Council is investing £3.1 million in new police officers and enforcement, while Southwark Council funds night patrols to address safety concerns.

Wandsworth Council is investing £3.1 million in 25 dedicated Metropolitan Police officers and an Integrated Enforcement Team to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour, a proposal approved in October 2026. In September 2026, Southwark Council invested £600,000 in Night Time Patrols after data showed 41% of residents feel unsafe at night, with Neighbourhood Watch Southwark highlighting knife crime and violence against women and girls. Merton Council's Cabinet also approved £235,000 in September 2026 for community safety initiatives targeting untidy land.

Councils are also reviewing strategies and performance. In July 2026, Lambeth Council noted that community safety indicators were the weakest performing ambition, with only one meeting its target. Harrow Council's Cabinet approved recommissioning domestic abuse services with a £2.395 million contract over five years, starting in April 2027. Earlier, in March 2026, Enfield reported a 6.4% reduction in knife crime, attributed to preventative work across youth services.

In March 2026, Southwark Council's Cabinet accepted recommendations to enhance community safety, including improving crime reporting and staff training. Barnet Council launched a new strategy to tackle serious youth violence in March 2026. Havering Council adopted a new policy for its CCTV and Body Worn Video systems in January 2026 to enhance compliance and administration of surveillance technology.

Key facts

  1. Wandsworth Council is investing £3.1 million in 25 dedicated Metropolitan Police officers and an Integrated Enforcement Team. Source 1 Source 2 Source 3
  2. Southwark Council invested £600,000 in Night Time Patrols in September 2026. Source
  3. Merton Council's Cabinet approved £235,000 for Community Safety Untidy Land action in September 2026. Source
  4. In July 2026, Lambeth Council found only one community safety indicator met its target, with three rated 'red'. Source
  5. Enfield experienced a 6.4% decrease in knife crime over 12 months, with a 23.2% drop in injury cases, reported in March 2026. Source
About this summary

This summary was written automatically from our published stories and the council meeting records they draw on. It describes what councils have discussed and decided; it does not take a view on any decision. Each key fact links to the story it comes from. Updated 7 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.

Stories, page 2

  1. Lewisham Council Overview and Scrutiny Committee Sets 2026-27 Priorities for Select Committees Lewisham Council's Overview and Scrutiny Committee has established the priorities for its select committees for the 2026-27 municipal year, with a broad remit covering health... Lewisham 17 July 2026
  2. Harrow Council to recommission domestic abuse services Harrow Council's Cabinet has approved plans to recommission domestic abuse services, with a new contract set to begin on April 1, 2027. The service will be split into two... Harrow 11 July 2026
  3. Lambeth Council Faces Concerns Over Community Safety Indicators Lambeth's community safety performance is under scrutiny, with a recent council meeting revealing several key indicators are failing to meet targets. The Lambeth Cabinet... Lambeth 3 July 2026
  4. Councillor Anthony Okereke Re-elected Leader of Greenwich Council Councillor Anthony Okereke has been re-elected as Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich Council at the authority's annual meeting, securing a significant majority for the... Greenwich 30 May 2026
  5. Enfield Reports Significant Drop in Knife Crime, Especially Among Young People Enfield has experienced a significant reduction in knife crime, with a 6.4% decrease in offences over the past 12 months. This positive trend is particularly notable in knife... Enfield 25 March 2026
  6. Community safety partnership recommendations accepted Southwark Council's Cabinet has accepted a series of recommendations from the Housing, Community Safety and Community Engagement Scrutiny Commission aimed at enhancing community... Southwark 20 March 2026
  7. Barnet Council Launches New Strategy to Combat Serious Youth Violence Barnet Council has launched a new strategy to tackle serious youth violence, building on existing efforts to enhance community safety across the borough. The strategy was... Barnet 17 March 2026
  8. New CCTV policy adopted by Havering Council Havering Council's Cabinet has adopted a new policy governing the use of its CCTV and Body Worn Video (BWV) systems, aiming to enhance compliance with regulations and improve... Havering 16 January 2026