Verbal abuse
Lewisham Council is addressing a significant rise in reported incidents, with verbal abuse identified as the primary concern.
Lewisham Council reported a 21% rise in incidents across its services in the six months to May 2026 compared to the previous year, with verbal abuse, defined as offensive or insulting language directed at individuals, accounting for 54% of cases. The Housing and Place directorates saw the largest increases, with specific measures being implemented.
The council's Health and Safety Committee noted a corporate health and safety report on 9 July 2026, which highlighted verbal abuse as a leading cause of corporate incidents. No further meetings are currently scheduled to discuss this topic.
Key facts
- Lewisham Council reported a 21% rise in incidents in the six months to May 2026. Source
- Verbal abuse accounted for 54% of reported incidents at Lewisham Council. Source
- The Health and Safety Committee noted the corporate health and safety report on 9 July 2026. Source
- Lewisham's Housing directorate saw a 48% rise in incidents, and Place saw a 31% surge. 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 1 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.