Bexley police have established a new unit of neighbourhood officers to respond quickly to reports of anti-social behaviour, as the borough grapples with a rise in incidents. Local MP Louie French, who represents Old Bexley and Sidcup, has been working with Superintendent Chris Jones and local neighbourhood teams to find solutions to the growing problem.
Rising Anti-Social Behaviour in Bexley
Despite Bexley being one of the safest boroughs in London, anti-social behaviour is on the rise. French said he has witnessed first-hand the aggressive and disrespectful behaviour of a group of teenagers at The Oval, where he met with concerned businesses and residents. The youths swarmed the area despite police presence and directed abuse towards officers and residents.
While some dismiss anti-social behaviour as 'low-level' crime, French emphasised the significant impact on community safety. He noted that what some teenagers consider fun, such as wearing balaclavas, intimidates people, harms businesses, and damages communities. Although these youths are a small minority, they are causing considerable grief in parts of Bexley.
Police Response and New Measures
Local police teams are now patrolling anti-social behaviour hotspots across the borough. In addition to the new neighbourhood officer unit, officers are also working to crack down on illegal e-bikes that have been rigged to travel at unsafe speeds, which are often linked to other crimes.
French, who is a proud patron of the Bexley Borough Neighbourhood Watch Association, supports local communities in reporting issues and taking action to feel safer. He stressed that everyone can help tackle anti-social behaviour by reporting incidents to the police, rather than just posting about them on Facebook.
Importance of Reporting Incidents
Reports help police catch offenders in the act, build intelligence, and target resources effectively. French highlighted that too often communities are up in arms and residents say they feel unsafe, but there are few or no police reports. He urged residents to report threatening, offensive, or abusive behaviour, drug dealing, vandalism, vehicle theft, speeding, and dangerous driving.
For crimes in progress or immediate danger, residents should always phone 999. For non-emergencies or to report incidents after the fact, the non-emergency number 101 is available. Bexley's neighbourhood teams will take action on reports, and each report could make a difference.
Funding Concerns and Political Context
French is also battling what he describes as Sadiq Khan's police cuts in Parliament. Under Labour, more than £260 million is being cut from the Metropolitan police, which French says is why police numbers are plummeting, specialist teams are being disbanded, and Bexleyheath Police Station's front counter was closed overnight.
He argued that reporting crimes like anti-social behaviour is essential to protect policing funding in Bexley. If every shop reported shoplifting, it would make it easier to secure funding to catch thieves locally. The same applies to every crime. French concluded that Bexley residents are fortunate to live in a relatively safe corner of London, and reporting issues will help keep it that way as local police teams crack down on anti-social behaviour.
