The Mount and fact finding- an update and an explanation

The Mount and fact finding- an update and an explanation

While no one has access to emails here at the Met, I have some time to discuss where I am at with the situation on the Mount.

The issue was raised this time, because I was contacted by the surgery and told they were having a big issue with rough sleepers who were blocking access to the surgery and refusing to move for the staff when they arrived in the morning. So this was the reason for engaging with this issue.

I committed to doing two weeks of earlies to see what is happening and to ensure the women who work at the surgery are arriving safely to work. 

Obviously, at the same time we have seen a horrible cold snap. Whether this has meant no one is sleeping rough because it is too cold, or it is just a coincidence that they are not sleeping rough there this week, remains to be seen.

So it is not that I am trying to disrupt the people partying at night by arriving at 7am to catch them. 

Prior to this week I was on the Mount, I was dealing with the drinkers on the Mount and the group that were out on Crown Street. So i was a presence. The issue with me being on the Mount is that I see a lot of drug users- many of whom are probably thinking about meeting friends at the doctors surgery. The fact is they don't set up for a party when I am there.

Hopefully that explains the issue from my point.

So to the solution - and this is probably the most frustrating thing for you…

It would be easy for me to just to put lots of police officers on the Mount at the times where we have the issues. That would solve it. I can't explain it any clearer.  We would not need to discuss this issue ever again.

The issue is my current team is me. 

This kind of Anti-social behaviour does not come under any category that I can find that would allow me to bid for additional teams to come here and patrol the Mount for us.

We are not a violent town centre and have little gang or knife activity. This limits the resources available to us. 

So we are in a situation where I need to find a long term solution. I will continue to attend the Mount. They don't go there when I am about. I only work 4 days a week and 10 hours a day. I can also get officers to help when I am not here. What I can't do is find cover from 11pm to 7am because we do not work nights. Only the 999 team, who respond to 999 calls across the whole of West Area, and a skeleton CID team work nights in Acton.

So my idea as it stands is to view the CCTV and see who is making the noise and then try dealing with the key offenders. If you recognise any of them or have photos or footage of them then please send them. I have access to some CCTV and will be viewing it next week. 

I will then target them. 

Hopefully that is clear and makes sense. You aren't alone and I am working on getting more help. We have a new Inspector who has just joined us and he is really switched on and knows a lot. So hopefully he can help.

Keep the information coming. We also have plans around the area itself that will relieve this situation.