Christian Action Housing attends a Community Crime Fighting Event
Vanessa Garwood, our Young Person Operations Manager, shares her experience of the day............
Elaine, Sabrina, Juvanne and I had the opportunity to attend the Enfield Community Crime Fighting Event in Edmonton — an area where we provide general needs, supported, and independent living housing, and where we have a strong community interest.
The session formed part of the Metropolitan Police’s A New Met for London strategy; a two-year plan aimed at improving policing across the capital. The event was designed as a community conversation, bringing together residents, senior police officers, and local partners to share views and discuss how the police intend to tackle crime in London over the coming years.
The Metropolitan Police outlined their key priorities: reducing neighbourhood crime and antisocial behaviour, tackling violence against women and girls, and addressing robbery and theft. It was encouraging to hear directly from the Met about the strategies being implemented to combat organised crime and improve community safety. The event gave us valuable insight into how targeted enforcement, local partnerships, and active engagement are making a difference.
We also had the chance to meet our local ward police teams, which was a great opportunity to discuss neighbourhood issues directly and strengthen local relationships. We learned more about Met Engage, an initiative designed to enhance collaboration between the police and local communities through outreach activities, awareness campaigns, and proactive communication.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley spoke candidly about the challenges facing the force, particularly the impact of government funding cuts and the resulting pressures on staffing and retention. Looking ahead, he highlighted key priorities for the future — including reducing discrimination, promoting equality, diversity and inclusion within the force, and developing alternative front-facing services following the closure of police counters and stations. His openness offered a clear perspective on both the progress achieved and the work still ahead.
Overall, we found the event highly informative and it provided a valuable insight into how the Metropolitan Police are reshaping their approach to crime prevention, partnership working, and community engagement under their new strategy.
We look forward to continuing to build on these local partnerships and playing our part in keeping our communities safe and supported.