"Meet your neighbours" Police ad campaign launched

‘Meet your neighbours’ is the strap line of the Metropolitan Police Service’s (MPS) new advertising campaign highlighting the excellent work of the Safer Neighbourhoods (SN) teams serving Londoners. You can read about my saturday night with our own Safer Neighbourhood team here to get an idea of the work they do on our streets.

Safer Neighbourhood officers in Hammersmith & Fulham borough continue to provide an engaging, visible and accessible service in the capital, working to increase confidence in the local communities, reassure the public and reduce crime.

The latest campaign - which includes posters on the underground and bus stops as well as a short radio advertisement - aims to encourage the public to find out more about their dedicated local Safer Neighbourhoods team.

To find out about your local team you can visit the MPS website, approach a SN officer in the street, or even join a neighbourhood ward panel to oversee and influence local policing in your area.

The ad campaign is also reminding Londoners to make full use of the MPS’ new contact number, 101, which was launched on 11 July.

The number was introduced to improve access to the police, ease pressure on 999 and to help tackle crime and disorder. The public should call 101 to report a crime that has already happened, seek crime prevention advice or make us aware of local policing issues.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe said:

“We are committed to serving London’s communities through our Safer Neighbourhoods policing programme.

“My vision of total policing begins in the neighbourhoods. We need dedicated teams of officers in every ward in London. We can only succeed if we work with and for local people to tackle the crimes that matter to them most.

“These officers who walk the beat and meet the public are part of local communities. As with any good neighbours they are the sort of people you want in your area. I'm encouraging my officers to talk to the public. My message to Londoners is to do the same.”

Chief Inspector Nigel Crane from Safer Neighbourhoods and Partnership at Hammersmith & Fulham said: 

"Your Safer Neighbourhoods Teams remain the vital component in Police and Community relations. Despite the changes to the supervision ratio, the team numbers remain the same per ward and they will continue to impact on improving quality of life issues for the residents, businesses and visitors to Hammersmith & Fulham by reducing crime and effectively tackling Anti-Social Behaviour."

Safer Neighbourhood teams are just one of the many ways the public can make contact with the police. The public can use our online services to get information or report crime; visit a police station or front counter 24/7; or approach an officer in the street.

For more information on your Safer Neighbourhood team, go to website www.met.police.uk/saferneighbourhoods.

Police appeal: Wormwood Scrubs sex attacker

Detectives are appealing for information and witnesses following a series of sexual assaults in the Wormwood Scrubs park area, Scrubs Lane, NW10 during the summer period this year.

One of the assaults took place on Sunday 11th September in the early evening when a female was walking her dog with her daughter along a path in the wooded area on the northern side of Wormwood Scrubs. The female heard screams coming from the open area of the park. Approximately 15minutes later she was approached by a male who appeared in an agitated state, he asked the female for the time and then ran off. A few minutes later the male ran back towards the females however made no physical contact. The female left the area fearing for her safety.

Another incident took place on Wednesday 31st August between 6 and 7pm when a 16-year-old female was outside the main gate of Wormwood Scrubs Park. The female was followed out of the park whilst the male shouted obscenities. The female ran away.

Another incident took place on Friday 22nd July at about 6.30pm when a man was seen to be acting suspiciously in the open ground area of the park. The man appeared to be paying attention to female dog walkers, following them from a distance and staring at them.

The suspect is described as a black male, aged between 20 to 30years, wearing a baseball cap, loose trousers, possibly denim jeans, and a jean jacket.

Detective Chief Inspector Will Young from Hammersmith and Fulham Police said: "There have been a number of minor offences of a sexual nature within Wormwood Scrubs park and I would like to take this opportunity to remind users of the park to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity. We have linked two offences and I would urge anyone with any information to come forward. This park is a low crime area but following a few basic crime prevention guidelines we can keep it this way. If possible keep to the open areas and be aware of your surroundings."

Anyone with information should contact your local police in the strictest confidence on 0208 246 2747 or call the non-emergency number 101. To remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Daily Mail praises tax-cutting H&F

Chancellor George Osborne is urged to spread the practice of our Council in its tax cutting fervour in this article this morning, in another example of how H&F is perceived as the cuttting edge of Tory local government.

I went along to a fringe meeting with H&F Council Leader Stephen Greenhalgh and Chelsea & Fulham MP Greg Hands yesterday evening who debated the question - is council finance radical enough? Mr Greenhalgh simply said "No" and sat down - a joke of course, and he carried on to outline his vision of local authorities that were genuinely free to control their own revenue and in so doing be more responsive to the wishes of their electorates.

A fuller report on that later - it was a glimpse of a side of Mr Greenhalgh that he would do well to show a bit more of locally, it was a thoughtful and interesting agenda. But it seems controversy is fated to follow our Council along with the spotlight that this Daily Mail article shows is not about to go away anytime soon

More on that fringe event later ... for now adieu from Manchester!

Hammersmith flyover works

Pic from Wikipedia

Transport for London (TfL) will begin work to preserve and extend the operational life of the A4 Hammersmith Flyover in November 2011, as part of its ongoing maintenance of road structures across the Capital.

The four lane flyover, which crosses the Hammersmith gyratory and links the A4 Talgarth Road to the A4 Great West Road, was constructed in the 1960s and elements of the structure are approaching the end of their operational life. In light of this, TfL has been carrying out detailed monitoring inside the flyover since 2008, in particular checking the condition of the internal cables which help to hold the spans in place.

Recent results from this monitoring have shown that repair work needs to be carried out earlier than anticipated. TfL has therefore now begun work to design and carry out temporary bridge strengthening works to reinforce the spans. This will allow the structure to remain open to the public, while a more permanent option is developed.

Preliminary work will begin in mid October, with main work commencing in November 2011, and is expected to be completed by Summer 2012. Any road closures or disruption will be kept to an absolute minimum while these works are carried out and further details regarding local traffic restrictions will be announced nearer the time.

Dana Skelley, Director of Roads at TfL, said:

“Following recent assessments by TfL engineers of the A4 Hammersmith Flyover, we have found that the structure – built in 1960s - now requires major repairs in order to prolong its lifespan. 

“Although the flyover remains safe for road users to use, we are currently developing a temporary solution that will allow it to remain open for the next few years while a permanent solution is delivered. 

“Work will begin in November and TfL will ensure that all road users, local residents and local businesses are kept informed of any road closures or restrictions and face minimum disruption while these vital repairs are carried out.”

After all, TfL have a strong record of getting things done on time and to budget, don't they?

Askew Business Network evening

Put Thursday, 13th October: 6.00pm to 8.30pm at The Greyhound, 49 Becklow Road, W12 9ER in yer diaries to meet local business folk from the Askew Road as they hear from Mike Taylor, an expert on using online communications to reach potential customers. 

According to their website Mike Taylor, Director of All Things Digital at Tutti Communications is an SEO cynic who believes that when it comes to Search Engine Optimisation it's an industry built on smoke and mirrors in shark infested snake oil.

But as Head of Digital Strategy for Sky Movies he took their website from around 700k hits a month to over 10 million in just 18 months.

If you want to know how he did it come along to the next ABN session on Thursday 13th October.

All local businesses and residents are welcome.

About Mike

Mike Taylor spent more than 20 years as a journalist in newspapers and TV.

At Sky he launched the ground-breaking Sky News Active red button news service and in in 2001 he moved across the Sky lot to set up the digital division of Sky Movies, developing it for almost a decade before joining Tutti Communications as Director of All Things Digital.

Mike is a founder member of Electric House, Chair of BAFTA’s Digital Strategy and Communications Committee and a member of the Worshipful Company of Pattenmakers.

He lives just off the Askew Road with Paola, his wife, and their small scruffy white dog.

He is currently VERY excited about the Ginger Pig opening... "

Police appeal - Serious assault outside tube

 

Our local Police are appealing for information following an unprovoked assault in Shepherds Bush

On Friday 23 September 2011, shortly before midnight, a 52-year-old man was assaulted in Shepherds Bush Green, W12 near Shepherds Bush tube station.

An altercation occurred on the footpath outside the central line tube station on Uxbridge Road where the victim received head injuries which have left him in a critical condition at a local hospital.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the offence and would like to trace a black male wearing a distinctive yellow polo t-shirt with black hoops and baseball cap who was seen running from the scene.

There has been no arrest at present.

Detective Constable Mark Breeze from Hammersmith & Fulham's Violent Crime Unit said:" This is a very serious incident in a busy area and I would appeal for anyone who knows anything about the assault to come forward."

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Violent Crime Unit on 0208 246 2432. Alternatively to remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Oxjam singles party in the Bush

Oxjam, who will be launching their musical take over of the Bush next month, are offering single Bushers the chance to come along to a pre festival event to find themselves a partner for the takeover, in an innovative singles night on Saturday 8th Oct at the Goldhawk Pub

Here's what their blurb says:

"Are you sick of never meeting new people? And when you do…you have a laugh, they’re fit… and then you quickly hear the ‘my boy/girlfriend…’ line? Boring. You won’t hear any of that at Love & War – one massive party – a party where everyone in the room is unattached. Not on the hunt and in need of silly games, they’re here just for the crack. Nothing more, nothing less. That’s it: One massive party . everyone’s single"

The Promise: One room, Cool DJs, Fine drink, Legendary music, Girls, Boys. And every one of them is single

Bonus: No rubbish games…

Go to http://www.wegottickets.com/oxjamshepherdsbush and simply click ‘buy tickets’ marked GIRL or BOY (we want to track your gender) pay £10 ticket and help fight poverty around the world. All proceeds go to Oxjam, Shepherd’s Bush Takeover. Turn up at The Goldhawk Pub, Goldhawk Road, Shepherd’s Bush from 8pm and let’s get this party started

*boys, yes, beer will be on tap and you can wear trainers*

**girls, wine and heels only**

**jokes, wear what you like but dress to impress for goodness sake***

Buy tickets from http://www.wegottickets.com/oxjamshepherdsbush

Door times: 8pm - late / Age limit: 25 and over

Labour Party conference

I've been spending the last couple of days in Liverpool here at the Labour Party conference for the day job, and will be in Manchester talking to the Tories next week too. It's very much a different world - a bubble of a sort in which the tribe talks to itself and listens to speeches from its leaders aimed at geeing them all up.

Frankly for the non member that stuff is all a bit boring, but what certainly wasn't tedious last night was attending the Labour Friends of Palestine event, along with W12's MP Andy Slaughter, himself a leading light of the group.  First up to speak was an MP from Rochdale who thundered on about the Middle East in a thick yorkshire accent, but next up was the star of the night for me - the Ambassador of Palestine to the UK Manuel Hassassian.

He spoke against the backdrop of Palestine's application to the United Nations for independent statehood, and as he went on grew louder and visibly impassioned. 43 years of suffering was enough he declared, and the people of Palestine were no longer to be the objects of history but control their own destiny. It was passionate stuff, and actually very moving. 

There are equally impassioned views on the other side of the fence in Israel, the Jewish people having been the objects of history for thousands of years until they got their own state as well. But it was a glimpse inside the world as seen through the eyes of Palestinians and made you realise that actually, politics does matter sometimes.

Here's Andy Slaughter talking about the issue during the last General Election which I filmed as part of my coverage of the campaign:







Back in the Bush tomorrow when the blogging rate will pick up again!

Sixty-Six Books, one hundred and thirty actors, one new theatre

Two hundred artists from across the World will be descending on W12 to ply their trade at the newly housed Bush Theatre next month in what's being described as an "epic performance cycle" centred on the King James Bible which is apparently 400 years old this year.


Inspired by this auspicious birthday the play "66 books" is set to be one of Artistic Director Josie Rourke's last acts at the Bush Theatre before she leaves for pastures new. And as part of the Theatre's admirable attempt to connect with the Bush anew this is being treated as another innovative way of inviting the audience to participate and learn more about the culture house we have on our doorstep - here's what they promise to their guests:

"Sixty-Six Books will begin and end with two epic twenty-four hour events on the 14th and 28th of October where you can experience all the sixty-six responses and spend the night exploring our new home from the attic to the cellar.  You can relax between shows in our front room, or party the night away at the new Bush bar. We'll keep you going with tasty food, drinks, and a special goodie bag".

 Sixty Six Books will run from the 10th-29th October.