MLB on Building a Safer Acton
The Bobbies. Together we can do more.
Written by Your Acton BID’s MLB Security Officer, Abdul Lasebai
After having worked as a Bobby in Acton since August 2023 I can say that we have absolutely had an impact in the reduction of crime in the area. This has been achieved through daily patrols, intel gathering and sharing of that intel with local business stakeholders and support from our friends in the Safer Neighbourhoods Team.
However, there are days when that isn’t enough. There are days when we don’t get support from the MET Police due to the constraints on their budget and manpower availability. There are days where after we detain a prolific shoplifter we then have to let them go with a finger wagging and a warning not to do it again. Obviously this only goes so far in deterring them from repeating their actions in the future and when they do, the question is always the same from businesses and people alike;
“Why aren’t the Police doing anything about them?”
Needless to say if I had a pound for ever time I’ve heard this question, I would have retired to my own private island after only 3 months of walking my beat.
The question does carry weight and does need an answer.
The Police prioritise more serious crimes than shoplifting. Even though we have been in the midst of a shoplifting epidemic for a while, their priorities are correct. We want them to be dealing with stabbings, with drug dealers, with break ins into people’s homes. And so that we can free them up to deal with these more serious crimes, My Local Bobby (MLB) and their sister company the Prolific Crimes Team (PCT) can take on these shoplifters by prosecuting them on your behalf.
Whilst being a visual deterrent, the Bobbies are effective. With the ability to also prosecute shoplifters as another option, I believe this will show them that we are capable of much more than just looking and acting tough.
To do this though we need the businesses’ undivided support. We need to gather the evidence in the same way that the Police do which means gathering the CCTV evidence, a witness statement and a void receipt of the goods that have been stolen
I know that this sounds like a lot to do when I personally know that most businesses are understaffed themselves and are busy more often than not. I ask that you think about the outcomes though for the little amount of work that goes into supporting a prosecution. The Bobbies can support with this however and do some of the legwork for you. The only thing that they can’t source directly themselves is the footage of the crime being committed which is why we need business support. We want as much as you to provide a safe space for you to work in without the fear.
We want to adhere to our business tag line which is Creating Safer Communities. It is important to note that a community needs to come together and support each other in times of need. We all work for individual businesses, but we are the people that work in those businesses. We need to help each other out as much as we can to ensure each other’s safety.
With us supporting each other, we can stop these repeat offenders, we can create a safer community together and we need to do so to show that we are united against them.
I’ll be looking to enact this procedure in the new year. At the moment I’m working with the PCT in order to streamline the process to ensure it is fair, balanced and fool proof. A senior member of the PCT will be presenting at the next Shopwatch meeting on the 5th of February so please do turn up if you can so you can be more informed about what the process entails in more detail.
I nearly forgot to mention the best part of this. There is no monetary cost to the business willing to push for a prosecution. Something to consider before it goes live.
