Safer Soho News

Week 18.03.11

Neighbourhood Crime Reduction Survey results

The latest Neighbourhood Crime Reduction Survey (Jan2011) results for the Soho Living City project showed:

• 94% of residents and businesses are satisfied with the local area.  This has exceeded the current target of 87%.
• 26% of residents and businesses say that drugs are among the top two or three ASB concerns in Soho. This exceeds the target of 35% or lower and is a decrease of 2% from the figures in October 2010.
• 58% of residents and businesses think that the police are doing a great/excellent job. This is just below our target is 60%, and we will continue to try to improve this measure
• 68% of residents and businesses think that the police and WCC are tackling anti-social behaviour and crime issues in Soho. This exceeds target of 60% for the period.

Drugs and Crime

• 29 arrests were made in Soho in February (down 19 from previous month ). Of these arrests,  13.8% were drug related (21.6% less compared to January).

• 183 stops were made in February (39 more than the previous month): Of these stops, 34.4% were drugs related, 35.5% were Stop & Accounts, 20.26% were related to stolen property and 8.9% related to other offences

Unlicensed Sex Premises 

• Two Closure Orders were granted on unlicensed sex shops this week.

• Five raids were undertaken on unlicensed Sex Shops with a total of 3,117 items seized.

Food premises:

The food team continues to inspect premises identified in the Soho Hygiene and Pest Control Project. Gradual improvements are being made.  To date, there are 13 premises with 4 stars, 25 premises with 3 stars, 18 premises are 2 stars and 9 premises that are 1 star. 

Week ending 18.02.11

Arrests

In January:

• 48 arrests were made in Soho (up 31 compared to December).  Of these arrests, 35.4% were drug related (18.4% up compared to November*)
• Arrest street hotspots were Dean Street, Cambridge Circus and Rupert Street.

*Please note the figure posted for November was low due to exceptionally heavy aid commitments and high visibility policing. 

Unlicensed Sex Premises

• Three Closure Notices were served on unlicensed sex shops in Soho.  Reports will now be sent to our Legal Department to arrange for court hearings, where we will apply for full Closure Orders on the properties.
• Four seizure operations took place in January at three unlicensed sex shops, at which a total of 981 items were seized

• Residential Environmental Health completed another nine site visits in the target area. A total of 28 dwellings have been improved so far

Week ending 04.02.11

Unlicensed sex establishments

On Wednesday 2nd February 2011, Licensing Inspectors entered and seized 228 items of property from an unlicensed sex shop ‘Euphoria’ at 6, Archer Street, W1, as part of the operation to close unlicensed sex shops in Soho.

Week ending 28.01.11

Search and seizure for unlicensed sex premises

Search and seizure operations were carried out at 28 Peter Street (Colt) and 16 Frith Street (Corniche) with a total of 372 items seized.

Closure notices were served on both establishments.

Week ending 21.01.11

Arrests, convictions, raids and inspection

17 arrests were made in Soho in December (down 23 from previous month in November) of which 18% were drug related (82% less compared to the previous month in November). There were no arrests made between the 12th and 31st of December. The low arrest figure for this month was due to exceptionally heavy aid commitments and high visibility policing.

One problematic drug user is currently in prison serving a 4-week sentence.

Search and Seizure operations were carried out at two unlicensed sex establishments seizing 790 illegal items

The food team continues to inspect premises identified in the Soho Hygiene and Pest Control Project. Gradual improvements are being made. To date 3- O stars, 12 – 1 star, 17 – 2 stars, 22 – 3 stars, 13 – 4 stars.

Perceptions of crime and anti-social behaviour in Soho

Results of the last quarter’s perception survey results showed the following:

• Residents/businesses who say that drugs are among top two or three ASB concerns in Soho have dropped to 28% from 41%. This has exceeded the target of 38% or lower.
• 68% of residents and businesses feel the police and local council are working in partnership to tackle anti-social behaviour and reduce crime in the Soho area. This is a 21% increase from the last quarter and has exceeded the 60% target.

Week ending 14.01.11

Westminster Wardens and SNTs - licensing update

Westminster Wardens have been working with the council's Licensing team to establish a list of premises with valid tables and chairs licenses in Soho. Work is ongoing to help premises obtain valid licenses where their current ones have lapsed and we will be taking enforcement action against those who continue to put chairs and tables on the pubic highway without the necessary permissions. This approach will also be taken with A-Boards in the pubic highway.

The safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNT) have been working with licensees to reduce theft in premises and establish a better standard procedure in relation to reporting items of lost property in their venues. By tracking IMEI numbers and making contact with those who have reported items stolen, we have been able to ensure property is given back to its rightful owners. This means we can deliver better customer service and reduce crime.

Week ending 07.01.2011

Sex shops to close

On 5 January, Closure Orders for two unlicensed sex shops were granted at the Westminster Magistrates Court.

Week ending 31.12.2010

Alcohol Recovery Centre hailed a success

A radical new scheme designed to free up hospital beds usually taken up by drunks has been hailed a great success after being introduced in London’s West End during the party season.

Operating from Friday 16th November up until New Year’s Eve, the Alcohol Recovery Centre provided a place for drunks to sober up and advice on alcohol abuse from trained staff for patients.

During the 18 nights the centre was open it treated 268 patients who were then collected by friends and family, freeing up the same number of beds in Accident and Emergency departments. The most number of patients were treated on New Year’s Eve when 34 were taken to the facility.

Drink-related calls represent six per cent of the total workload for the London Ambulance Service totalling 60, 686 call outs over the last year.

It is estimated 40 per cent of those taken to hospital could be dealt with elsewhere.

Westminster Council’s cabinet member for society, families and adult services, Cllr Daniel Astaire said: “It is just wrong that hospital beds are taken up by people who are there solely because they have become so intoxicated they require medical attention. In providing this facility in no way are we condoning drinking to excess but we want to free up space in accident and emergency units for those who genuinely need them.”

Week ending 03.12.2010

Soho Specials take Deputy Mayor on crime crackdown

A team of Specials, dedicated to tackling crime in the Soho area, took Deputy Mayor Kit Malthouse out on patrol on Friday night (26th November) to show him first hand the work they have been carrying out in the area since they began patrolling back in May.

The 40-strong team works alongside other Westminster officers from Safer Neighbourhoods and response teams to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour in the area, with a particular focus on priority crimes for Soho, such as drug use, alcohol related crime and sexual offences.

Since their launch in May, the team of special constables has netted over 40 arrests, responded to over 220 emergency calls and conducted more than 60 licensing visits in the area.

During his visit the Deputy Mayor presented four members of the team with their Independent Patrol Status (IPS) certificates, which mean they are qualified to patrol effectively on their own. Officers attain IPS after a period of post-attestation coaching and training, during which they must demonstrate competence in various aspects of policing, including stops and searches, dealing with offensive weapons and incidents like domestic disputes and assaults.

For more on this story, visit the Met Police website.

If you are interested in becoming a special constable with the Metropolitan Police Service, please visit the recruitment website at or call 0845 727 2212.

Week ending 19.11.2010

Arrests in Soho

40 arrests were made in Soho throughout October (up 13 from previous month in September), of which 42% were drug related (20% more compared to the previous month in September).

Street Arrest hotspots 

• Peter Street (4 arrests)
• Old Compton Street (5 arrests)
• Charing Cross Road (5 arrests)

Phone boxes

A Neighborhood Crime Reduction officer and a local Westminster Warden have agreed to run a monitoring program for a number of problematic phone boxes in Soho. The phone boxes in question have had issues with drug paraphernalia, prostitute carding and human fouling. The monitoring information will be used to support the removal of the most problematic boxes, and to ensure BT’s cleaning schedules are sufficient.

Food hygiene and pest control

The food team continues to inspect premises identified in the Soho Hygiene and Pest Control Project. The project aims to target all 0- and 1-star rated restaurants in Soho, rated under the ‘Score on the Doors’ scheme.  Improvements are being made by most premises. To date:

• three premises are 0-star
• 15 premises are 1-star
• 16 premises are 2-star
• 22 premises are 3-star
• 12 premises are 4-star.

One zero-star premises is subject to an ongoing prosecution investigation, for refusal to follow recommendations by the Food Team in order to improve hygiene practices.

Week ending 12.11.2010

Crime Prevention

The Soho Safer Neighbourhoods Team (SNT) has been working hard with bars and cafés to offer crime prevention advice.  With the help of the council, a number of crime prevention aids are being distributed free of charge in attempts to reduce theft offences. These include:  

• information stickers that can be placed on table tops
• Chelsea Clips that can be placed under tables for customers to secure their bags

These schemes will help premises in Soho to remind customers to be aware of their belongings. A number of venues in Soho are already taking part and we hope that this activity will have a significant impact on thefts in the area.

if you would like to join the scheme, please contact PC Allan Moloney or the team on 0208 7212418 / 07504 688112

Bike Marking Events

Officers from the SNT recently held a bike marking initiative in Broadwick Street, Soho. The scheme involves marking the frames of bikes with a unique serial number that is registered with Bike Safe. Using a special paint the number is printed on the frame and leaves a lasting impression even if the paint wears off or is washed off. Should the bike then be lost or stolen and subsequently recovered by police it can be checked and the owner identified.

These kits are available to purchase from Selectamark but with the help of Westminster City Council the SNT is able to offer this brilliant bike marking service free of charge. We will be holding more events in the future - check the Metropolitan Police Website for more details.

Week ending 05.11.2010 

Anti-social behaviour

An ASBO was successfully granted on 2nd November for a male who is known to rob and deal drugs in the area. He has been given a two year custodial sentence, and when he is released an ASBO which will come into effect for 5 years, excluding him from Soho and the West End area of Westminster.

Tackling burglary in the Soho area

Council officers have met with the crime prevention officer at Savile Row police station to analyse residential burglary over the past year and decide on a course of action for working together to tackle these issues in the future. The Crime & Disorder Reduction Team have been contacted for crime ‘hotspot’ statistics and planning for joint working to tackle burglary in the area continues.