Minutes
Date: 15 September 2026
Venue: Woodmansterne Primary School, Stockport Road, SW16 5XE
Present:
Richard Laidlaw – Chair
Ann Proctor – Secretary
Councillor – Danny Adilypour
Councillor – Sarah Cole
Michael Anderson – Lambeth Public Protection Team
Lee-Ann Jordan – Metropolitan Police
Jai Patel – Metropolitan Police
Marcello Stingo – Metropolitan Police
Rabeea Salik – Metropolitan Police
Richard Johnson – Metropolitan Police
Introduction:
Richard Laidlaw, Chair, opened the meeting, made introductions, outlined discussion points and,
explained the role and purpose of Safer Neighbourhood Ward Panels.
Jai Patel, Metropolitan Police, reported last quarters Crime Statistics and gave updates on the
work the police team have been doing in and around the area.
Crime update
A property on Hopton Road, known to police for many instances of Drug Dealing/ASB has now
been closed by the Council. Mopeds & 36 Bikes were seized. Police are trying to identify property
and return to owners. The presence of officers at various times of the day at the location has now
resulted in a reduction in ASB offences.
The tent reported on Streatham Common has been removed. It was believed to be a potential
gathering place for drug users. Police are working with the Council & Outreach.
Rocky Express Convenience Store – concerns re this location raised at previous meetings.
Streatham Common & Vale SNT Officers together with Trading Standard Officers & Licensing
Officers made visits. The owner is believed to have allowed the selling of alcohol outside permitted
hours. Licensing Officers requested CCTV for the past two to three weeks. These premises are
now being regularly monitored, progressing towards their alcohol licence being revoked.
Drug dealing on Greyhound Lane, – police are aware and working together with the council to
resolve.
Elfbar MVG, Greyhound Lane -Trading Standard Officers seized approx 400 illegal vapes that
could potentially be environmentally harmful. Premises continues to be monitored.
A successful Facial Recognition Operation was carried out outside Streatham Station, resulting in
several arrests. Another is planned for late September.
Theft & motor vehicle crime increased. In and around Streatham Lodge particularly an increase in
theft from vehicles.
Councillors Update:
Councillors Danny Adilypour, Sarah Coles gave updates at the meeting
HMO’s
Article 4 Direction on HMOs has been in place for a year now the effects are now beginning to be
seen.
In the past month four planning applications for HMO conversions have been rejected by the
council – 2 on Glencairn Road, 1 on Abercairn Road and 1 on Bodiam Road.
The council is assessing whether there is a saturation of HMOs on streets and rejecting
applications for new HMOs when this is the case.
ResidentsUpdates:
Residents raised issues on the Crime Statistics presented. They did not believe they were a true
reflection of crimes they see taking place daily. The Police Team explained the difficulties they
experience with the crime statistics being truly accurate. The various crime categories, plus where
and how crimes are logged. i.e. Shoplifting – businesses often choose not to report. They also
explained intelligence and suspicious activity are not included, only crimes allocated a crime
number will appear on the statistics report.
Residents suggested a more joined up policing approach should be taken, particularly in the area
of the Streatham Common and the High Road. Three wards cover the area, Streatham Common
& Vale, St. Leonards & Streatham Wells. The three Police Teams should work more closely
together exchanging intelligence, This would be a more efficient approach to crime and would
result in the crime figures reported being a more accurate picture of the crime residents see taking
place.
Organised crime has now moved into the area, they are active there because there is no police
presence, no CCTV and therefore no police action being taken. There is an urgent need for
regular 24 hour police patrols on the common and the installation of CCTV. Residents were
unanimous that criminal activity is now blatant in the area. They want night patrols and police plain
clothes undercover operations to be undertaken.
Streatham Lodge – report an increase in burglaries recently. Residents around Streatham Lodge
raised the subject of drug activity, and drug related issues in the area. The importance of reporting
suspected drug dealing to police was highlighted, as residents are not always reporting incidents.
Intelligence and reports of suspicious behaviour from the community assist the police to identify
patterns.
Streatham Lodge were very unhappy at the loss of the direct police contact via their WhatsApp
Group. The difficulties of monitoring the group were explained. Although residents thought it a
more efficient way of reporting, the use the app by residents did not result in the crime being
reported, though residents thought it did. If the police officer in the group was off duty or on leave,
often messages took far longer than they should have to be actioned and responded to.
Reporting Crime:
Residents reported many issues and difficulties encountered reporting crime via 101, MetEngage
and the Metropolitan Police ‘Reporting a Crime’ website.
Residents want clarification on the best way to ensure their reported crimes resulted in police
action, also that their crime reports were included in the police crime statistics. They were
reporting crime, supplying CCTV footage of drug dealing and ASB but despite these reports, action
was not being taken, plus these crimes were not reflected in the crime figures presented.
Crimes Reported:
Questions were raised on what happens with crimes reported via 101, i.e. how they reach the
Safer Neighbourhood team, how and what crimes should be reported through Met Engage and,
what reports should go through email to the Streatham Common & Vale Neighbourhood Team
mailbox.
Police Team outlined ways to make contact:-
Met Engage – use to report, intelligence – i.e. suspicious activity.
Metropolitan Police ‘Report A Crime Website – report a crime that has taken place,
or a non violent crime that has taken place, or dial 101
Email direct to StreathamCommon@met.police.uk.
used to report a crime or suspicious behaviour in Streatham Common & Vale.
When making a report give as much detail as possible, date, time, location, description of
perpetrator,& frequency.
In an emergency always dial 999
Residents again urged to continue to report crime incidents & suspicious activity, to keep a log of
incidents they report. This will help the Police Team and Councillors have the evidence they need
to request more Patrols and Traffic Operations to be undertaken, plus CCTV to be installed in the
area.
Residents who have not already signed up to Met Engage, advised to do so asap via the Met
Engage website. They will then receive email updates from our police team on local crime
prevention initiatives and actions taking place.
Although not raised at the meeting – there is a new police initiative:-
Walk,Talk & Do:
Walk, talk and do is an initiative for woman to walk through areas where they feel unsafe with the
local police team to highlight their areas of concern. To arrange a ‘Walk,Talk & Do with our team,
go to Walk,Talk and Do website, this will take you to Met Engage. Where indicated, type in your
postcode, then the use ‘Contact Us tab’. This will give access to our local team. Complete your
details and outline your areas of concern, our team will then contact you to arrange.
Ward Panel Priorities
Ward Panel priorities were agreed for the next quarter.
- Violence against Women and Girls – Metropolitan Police nationwide priority.
- Drug Dealing/Drug Use & ASB
- ASB – Aggressive Street Begging.
- Car Theft
Date of next meeting: Tuesday 15 December 2026
Woodmansterne Primary School, Stockport Road, SW16 5XE
6.30pm