KEEPING NEWHAM SAFE:
Tackling Alcohol Related Violent Crime
Newham After Dark:
Engaging Eastern European
Communities to Tackle
Problems in the Night Time
Economy
Detective Inspector John Cushion
Violent Crime Unit
Metropolitan Police: Newham
KEEPING NEWHAM SAFE:
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Tackling Alcohol Related Violent Crime
Newham: Who we are and what’s it like there?
Introduction: What is Newham After Dark?
Problematic Premises.
Problematic Drinkers – Identification of specific
groups of problematic and violent drinkers.
KEEPING NEWHAM SAFE:
Tackling Alcohol Related Violent Crime
Newham
• East-end of London
•Olympic 2012 Borough
•Ethnically Diverse
•Numerous social problems, alcohol is just one of them!
•Numerous Pubs and Many Fast food outlets and Night Clubs
•Major Transport Hub through Stratford, links Docklands with London
and London with Essex and East Anglia.
•Previously had highest Alcohol related Hospital Admissions rate in
London, perceptions of crime 2nd highest in the UK (Blackpool beat
us!)
KEEPING NEWHAM SAFE:
Tackling Alcohol Related Violent Crime
• Key activities:
– Licensing Database and Policy Reviews
– Increased police presence on a weekend
night
– Arrest days – including fast food outlets!
– Links with the Traffic team for drink driving
– Leaflets Translated into Lithuanian
– Overt Videoing
– Proactive Licensing Team to tackle poor
performance, license regulation problems,
door staff, environmental issues (eg…. Space
for drinkers)
KEEPING NEWHAM SAFE:
Tackling Alcohol Related Violent Crime
Lithuanians In Newham
• Statistics have shown that the second highest population of those
people attending ED for assault were from Eastern Europe, a large
number of these were Lithuanian.
• Pattern of drinking in the culture is that of drinking strong spirits with
a suggestion of binge drinking in Lithuania.
• This has carried on in Newham
• Large population situated in the Borough, including Lithuanian
Church and newspapers.
• Engagement vital to control the drinking habits.
KEEPING NEWHAM SAFE:
Tackling Alcohol Related Violent Crime
What we did:
• Engaged the local Lithuanian Community Groups;
• Developed stronger links between British police and the community;
• Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting lead by a Lithuanian Resident
specifically for members of that community;
• Kickz programme with Basketball as this is the main sport in
Lithuania, linking with the drugs teams and police service;
• Working with Lithuanian Press in London to reduce advertising of
squats and illegal activities;
• Engaging with the Lithuanian police force and Europol;
• Employ officers from the Lithuanian community;
• Engage the local church to develop Lithuanian Street Pastors Team.
KEEPING NEWHAM SAFE:
Tackling Alcohol Related Violent Crime
Cumulative Impact Assessment
Work continues to make Newham safer for
all, and this week have had the Cumulative
Impact Assessment Authorised and put
through, allowing us to cut down on the
number of off licenses operating in the
borough.