"Yesterday we put an enormous amount of extra patrols on the streets of Hammersmith and Fulham. To name but a few this included Community Support Officers, Safer Transport Officers and officers from the CID, Crime Squad, Drug Squad, Intelligence Unit, Football Officers etc etc. We were also supported by a number of Specials who came in in their own time to support us and I would like to publicly thank them for their support. You will probably have seen officers in plain clothes with hi-visibility baseball caps these are your Borough Detectives.
The police presence on the streets of Hammersmith and Fulham yesterday was very impressive. Several groups came into the Borough but were immediately stopped with many also being searched. I am also pleased to say that we charged 10 individuals last night with violent disorder and some other with other offences from Monday. They will be before the courts this morning.
I would like to use this opportunity to raise a note of caution around some of the social media that is circulating at the moment. There is some information being put out by people which is untrue and unhelpful. I have been shocked by how wide this information circulates and I cannot understand why people find it necessary to put out such factually incorrect information that will achieve nothing except make local communities fearful. Please can you use your influence to try and bring this under control locally.
Myself and Lyn Carpenter, who is a Director from the Local Authority, met with a number of people from a variety of Businesses across the Borough yesterday. We gave out a handy sheet around how to make premises safe. I have attached it to this message. I also met with some members of the community yesterday who gave me a good understanding of local feeling. Can I also say a huge thank you to those of you have written in with your support and comments it has been overwhelming and a very humbling experience. I am providing this feedback to my officers. The feedback has been really useful in framing the policing plan for the Borough.
We will continue to have a strong presence across Hammersmith and Fulham today and into this evening. We will ensure that officers are in the right place at the right time to have maximum effect. You will see local community officers on patrols please talk with them and let them know of your concerns and feelings.
I thought it may be helpful for you to view the following link which demonstrates the joint firm approach by the police and Local Authority. http://www.lbhf.gov.uk/Directory/News/London_disorder_local_update.asp
Like you, I remain proud of my officers and staff. Their commitment has been tremendous. Your local officers feel passionate about Hammersmith and Fulham and want to maintain your safety and ensure that the Borough remains a great place to live, work and socialise".
The London Wide Picture
776 - total number of arrests since Saturday
81 - arrests over night (since 21:00 hrs on Tuesday 9th August)
216 - total number of charges since Saturday
109 - total number of cases heard at court
40 of those remanded in custody
"I remain saddened by people who remain intent on causing harm and devastation to their own communities and putting residents in fear. If you have any information/intelligence however small then please contact police.
It remains my intention to ensure that we work with you and the Local Authority to keep local communities safe".
Lucy
Chief Superintendent Lucy D'Orsi Hammersmith & Fulham Borough Commander
Good communication from the police, particularly this bit:
ReplyDeleteThere is some information being put out by people which is untrue and unhelpful. I have been shocked by how wide this information circulates and I cannot understand why people find it necessary to put out such factually incorrect information that will achieve nothing except make local communities fearful. Please can you use your influence to try and bring this under control locally.
Yes, it was a marked comment with which I couldn't agree more
ReplyDeleteI had every faith in H&F Borough Police and knew that they wouldnt stand for any similar behaviour in our areas. Also had quietly hoped that local youths here respect our community not to copycat. The threat from outsiders was quickly and swiftly dealt with, everyone involved should feel immensley proud of themselves, I know a lot of people feel that way about the list of groups who ensured peace. Thank-you and well done!
ReplyDeleteI know this is totally ignoring the bit about untrue information, however from what I heard on twitter (which corroborated with the helicopters flying overhead, which was mentioned in tweets) it sounds like the few teens in Hammersmith were swiftly and effectively dealt with by H&F Police. They seem to have done a stirling job.
ReplyDeleteIt's also worth pointing out that things could have been much worse had it not been for the proactiveness of Westfield. Erecting barriers and putting on a large security presence must have acted as a fairly good deterrent I think. Since Westfield was evidently so well protected, that probably helped keep the kids away from the entire area and saved much of the rest of the Bush from trouble.
BTW: the twitter info was also backed up with pictures. It seems that the police were using the Broadway as a base, and lines of riot police were shown on the ramps to the upper bus station. It seems like the perfect place to lie in wait, really.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're running this blog and dispelling all of the rumours. There has been a lot of false information posted on Twitter describing various places as 'kicking off'. My flatemate was calling me on my way home from work telling me buildings were getting smashed up and they simply weren't.
ReplyDeletePeople seem willing to believe anything they hear from completely unreliable sources - it creates drama for the sake of drama and as Lucy so eloquently put, makes communities fearful.
I saw nothing last night aside from our local authorities performing an excellent job with no fuss. Thank you for keeping our area so well protected and safe.
Thanks to all authorities and local people feeding back real info. Thanks to this blog and Chris and his ties within the area and community. We are glad and happy that our people from the area have united and remain strong against opportunists who prey on the weak. We share our strength and send this out to friends and families UK wide as some of us know many in each of the boroughs affected. Peace
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone have any idea why they're putting speedbumps on the Southern Terrace at Westfield?
ReplyDelete