Police Boss Admits More Needs to Be Done on Hanwell ASB

Drug dealers arrested but further resources sought

Police deal with street drinker in centre of Hanwell. Picture: Ealing Police

July 13, 2023

A senior local police officer has admitted to local councillors that more resources are needed to tackle the problem of anti-social behaviour (ASB) in Hanwell.

Liberal Democrat Councillors Connie Hersch, who is opposition spokesperson on Policing and Communities and Gary Malcolm, leader of the opposition, recently held a meeting at Ealing Police station with the new local Superintendent, Sean Lynch.

Among a number of issues discussed they brought up the matter of the perceived deterioration of public safety around the Clock Tower area on Hanwell Broadway. On both Twitter and Facebook there have been a significant number of reports recently of issues with crime and ASB.

Although this has long been an area which has had issues with street drinking, some local residents claim that the problems in the area have intensified over the last few months. It has been reported that people are being threatened and drug dealing is taking place openly meaning that the spot is becoming a no-go area for many local residents. In addition, there have been an increased number of complaints about public urination and defecation as well as shoplifting in local stores such as Boots and Waitrose leading to fears that some businesses may be forced to close because of the losses.

Superintendent Lynch has taken charge of neighbourhood policing in Ealing Borough and has only been in the role for a short time but is already aware of the problems in this particular area. He says joint operations with the council have already taken place to arrest people dealing drugs in the area, but he admits more needs to be done.

He told the councillors that both the police and the council have been looking at ways to find more police resources to tackle the issues.

He admitted that the Safer Neighbourhoods Teams in the borough had a problem with both size and continuity and that it was too common for police constables and PCSOs to be moved to other area and that it was police practice for officers to move when they get promoted sometimes less than two years in a location.

The Liberal Democrat councillors said that it was more crucial for police team members to stay put, know their local area and groups to work with, know the issues and gain intelligence for their work. Superintendent Lynch agreed that this is not ideal and said that it was likely that police officers would move less often going forward. He is also trying to increase police number in the borough by filling as many vacancies as possible that have arisen due to sickness or other reasons.

Cllr Hersch and Cllr Malcolm with Superintendent Lynch at Ealing Police station

Some residents believe that the endemic street drinking problem in the area is due to the nearby accommodation centre run by the charity for St. Mungo’s. This caters to single homeless people with high support needs including those with drug or alcohol dependency.

The charity says that it takes anti-social behaviour very seriously but cannot confirm whether or not individuals are resident at their facility. It urges anyone experiencing ASB from a person they believe may be a resident of theirs to email complaints@mungos.org.

It is also alleged that some local shops have been selling alcohol to street drinkers. Cllr Polly Knewstub said on Twitter, “We have already asked our licensing enforcement teams to look into all of the shops in Hanwell selling alcohol… this contravenes the terms of their license (sic).”

The councillors asked whether nearby Police Panel members could be updated about future measures by the police and Superintendent Lynch was happy for this to happen as well as members of the public being kept informed about operations in the area. He also said that if councillors, who are not from a Police Panel area, where a ‘crime wave’ or local important issue is taking place, he was happy for them to be informed by asking their own local Police Sergeants who can get the information to them.