Operation Broad Oak Launched to Tackle Anti-Social Behaviour in Acton

Dear Residents, 

I’m pleased to share that this week we have launched Operation Broad Oak across the Acton area. As your local policing team, we know how important it is that residents feel safe and able to enjoy their local parks and open spaces, and we’ve been listening carefully to the concerns raised over recent months, some of which you have spoken to me directly about. 

Anti-social behaviour has been a persistent issue locally, particularly in relation to drug use, drug dealing, and alcohol-related behaviour. Over the past year, Acton has seen the highest number of reported ASB incidents in the borough, and it’s clear that a coordinated, long-term approach is needed to address these problems properly as policing can not tackle these complex issues alone. 

🔍 Taking Action

Operation Broad Oak is based on the Clear, Hold, Build approach, which has been successfully used in other areas to reduce crime and improve community safety.

We are currently in the Clear phase, which focuses on targeted enforcement in the areas most affected. You will see more officers on patrol, particularly during the evening, providing a visible presence to deter offending and reassure the community. Officers continue to balance this work along with other commitments on the ward and requirements for occasional pan-London deployments. 

Officers are using a range of powers to deal with anti-social behaviour, including issuing Community Protection Warnings (CPWs) and, where necessary, pursuing stronger measures such as Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOs) for persistent offenders.

At the same time, we are committed to taking a balanced and supportive approach. Where individuals are struggling with substance misuse, we are working with partners to ensure they are offered appropriate support and referral pathways.

✅ Early Results

In the first two days of activity, we have already seen some positive outcomes:

🔄 Looking Ahead

The Clear phase will continue over the coming months, with officers maintaining a strong presence in key locations.

We will then move into the Hold phase, ensuring that improvements are sustained, before progressing to the Build phase, where we will work closely with residents, community groups, and partners to create lasting positive change.

It’s really encouraging that local community groups have already started to come forward wanting to get involved in this next stage. That partnership with the community will be key to long-term success and if anyone is interested in getting involved, please do reach out to us directly. We hope to provide more information around this phase in the coming months. 

I will keep you all updated with the project as we go through the phases via Met Engage. 

Kind regards, 

George