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Please review the following update regarding Anti Social Behaviour which some members around this area have highlighted as an issue of concern on the Met Engage priority survey.
As we reach the end of the financial year 2025–2026, I want to reassure residents across the whole borough that keeping you safe remains our absolute priority.
Over the past year, we have seen reductions in the crimes that matter most to residents, including robbery, burglary, theft from the person, theft from vehicles, and shoplifting. These improvements reflect the continued hard work and dedication of local officers and staff who patrol, engage with communities, and respond to concerns across neighbourhoods throughout the borough.
The reduction in robbery is particularly encouraging. Earlier in the year, we experienced increases in some areas, especially involving young people during the after‑school period. In response, we increased patrols across neighbourhoods, focused on prevention alongside enforcement, and worked to identify both vulnerable individuals and those driving offending. This approach has helped reduce robbery and improve safety and reassurance for residents, families, and young people across the borough.
We have also made progress in tackling acquisitive crime, including shoplifting, burglary, and vehicle crime. Officers and PCSOs continue to work closely with local businesses, housing providers, and community groups, combining visible patrols with targeted action against repeat offenders.
Neighbourhood policing remains at the heart of what we do. Across the borough, teams have delivered high‑visibility patrols, local days of action, and problem‑solving activity in direct response to issues raised by residents. This includes regular engagement on estates, high streets, transport hubs, and in residential areas.
Listening to residents continues to shape our priorities. Community engagement events, including the New Met for London Roadshow, allowed us to hear directly from people across the borough about what matters most to them. This feedback has helped guide local policing plans and ensures our activity reflects community concerns.
We have also continued our focus on early intervention and prevention, particularly through joint work with our partners to support young people via positive activities, mentoring, and diversion. We successfully secured and continued work with the West Ham United Foundation, the Local Authority, and the Home Office Prevention Panel. This work is vital to preventing harm, reducing victimisation, and keeping communities safe in the long term.
Getting Involved in Local Policing:
There are currently vacancies for Ward Chairs across the borough, offering residents a fantastic opportunity to shape local policing priorities directly in their area. Ward Chairs play a vital role in representing community concerns and working closely with neighbourhood teams to improve local safety.
If you are interested, please reach out and I will arrange for one of my inspectors to contact you personally to discuss the role in more detail.
We also offer a Ride‑Along Scheme, which allows residents to accompany their local policing team while they are on duty. This provides first‑hand insight into how officers respond to local challenges and the work they carry out every day. It is also a valuable opportunity for anyone from the community who may be considering the Metropolitan Police Service as a future career.
While the Metropolitan Police has experienced organisational changes this year, I want to reassure residents that we remain fully committed to making our communities safer in Barking and Dagenham.
Thank you for your continued support and for working with us. We remain committed to listening, taking action, and building on this progress so that communities across the borough feel safer and more confident in the year ahead.
Chief Inspector Mahmood
Barking and Dagenham Neighbourhoods
 Antisocial behaviour can come in many forms and can require support from more organisations than just the police. There are 13 different types of antisocial behaviour that we may be able to help with, including abandoned vehicles, littering or drugs paraphernalia and street drinking. A full list of what we categorise as antisocial behaviour is available on our website. If you have witnessed or experienced antisocial behaviour, you can report it online. If you ever experience this issue or have information regarding an incident, please report it using our online reporting tools at https://www.met.police.uk/, speak to an operator in our Force Communications Room via our online web chat or call the non-emergency number 101. Alternatively, you can stay 100% anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their untraceable online form at crimestoppers-uk.org. Get Involved We are working on our brand-new strategy for how we police London and we want your help. Our New Met for London: Phase 2 strategy will guide how we deliver on behalf of Londoners over the next three years. Please consider getting involved by registering for these messages, this will enable you to contribute to the local priority survey. We may be unaware of issues that you would like us to focus on. Take a few minutes to securely and privately register and have your say using the button below, this will mean we can focus on things that matter to you. 
Please click here to complete the survey
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