Lambeth Police’s most senior police officer, Borough Commander, Chief Superintendent Nick Ephgrave is to visit Weir Estate and Thornton Ward at the beginning of July, in order to see first hand the working partnership between one of his Safer Neighbourhood Teams and the Community.

Chief Supt Ephgrave will visit Weir Estate and other areas of Thornton Ward to see how the work of his officers in the area has dramatically reduced crime in the area, making the area one of the safest in the borough as well as throughout London.

The Safer Neighbourhood team which is made up of three police officers consisting of a Police Sergeant, two Police Constables and three PCSO’s was recognised for their efforts at working with the community earlier in the year to reduce crime by Weir Estate Residents Association. The team was presented with a framed certificate of achievement and now their most senior officer in Lambeth has been invited to visit to hear for himself what impact the partnership has had in reducing crime as well as the excellent strategies put into place to engage with community groups and local individuals such as a designated liaison officer for each estate to share concerns and issues as well as discussing problems. This has proved invaluable according to WERA Chair Dave McEvoy “Our SNT have worked incredibly hard alongside us to hear our concerns and take on board our criticisms in what have been at times difficult circumstances, their support and active policing has proven that such partnerships between the local police and the community has a tremendous impact on reducing crime and making our residents feel safer in and around their homes.”

The Borough Commander will be accompanied on the walkabout by members of the SNT and local councillors where areas of success will be pointed out as well as being told how the team have achieved good response times to crime when it’s arisen as well leading the way with new schemes in the community such Message in a bottle.

WERA’s Chair, Mr McEvoy will give the Borough Commander a tour of Weir Estate and surrounding areas which have benefited from the reduction in crime as a result of the hard work of the local team and the working relationship with members of the community.

Local residents are welcome to join in the visit as well as putting questions to the Lambeth Borough Chief. Dave added “We are very excited about Commander Ephgrave’s impending visit and to be able to show him the work we have undertaken together. I believe he will be suitable impressed and I hope he may take away something which can be implanted elsewhere.

Consistently, Weir Estate has remained one of the lowest for any crime in Lambeth, with Thornton seeing another ten per cent (10%) drop in crime compared to the same time last year following figures provided to the area’s Safer Neighbourhood Panel, earlier this month.

The visit is due to take place on Thursday, 1st July 2010, from 2:30pm outside, leaving from outside the Weir Link.

This will be the Borough Commander’s first visit to the area and will hopefully go further to highlighting the work of a hard working team and their engagement with the community.

You can find the details for your SNT here and by clicking here