Community safety successes

The community safety team is here to keep you safe. Find out what recent action we have taken below.

You can report issues to our team at our safety surgeries and walkabouts or visit Community safety & crime prevention.

Nuisance car removed

A car parked in Pundersons Gardens which members of the public have complained has been involved in drug dealing has been removed as it had no tax or insurance.

THEOs seize 20 nitrous oxide canisters

On Friday 17 February, our Tower Hamlets Enforcement Officers were asked by police to respond to a large party in the Ocean Estate. THEOs seized 15 nitrous oxide canisters, issued a fine and dispersed the party. The group had another 5 NOX canisters confiscated in Duckett Street, Stepney, after gathering there. They were moved on.

Successful joint patrol with police

Our Tower Hamlets Enforcement Officers joined police on 30 January to patrol in Bethnal Green West. They searched 4 people for drugs, gave 4 ASB warnings, reported 2 abandoned vehicles, referred individuals to homeless outreach and substance misuse help, and much more. They received great feedback from members of the public.

Community help crack down on drug dealing near school

Our safer communities officers received reports from parents at a recent community safety session at a school about constant drug dealing on Cheshire Street. Police visited the area and found drugs in a key safe. This is a great example of our officers and the police acting on intelligence received from residents. 

Helping the community

Our safer communities officers have been at St Dunstans and All Saints Church on Tuesday 24 January 2023 to help with the food bank and offer advice to the community.

Fine for nitrous oxide

Our THEOs responded to resident complaints about nitrous oxide use in Rich Street on Saturday 21 January 2023. They searched a vehicle, seizing 9 large refill cylinders, 7 boxes of cylinders and 170 mini canisters. The driver has been fined.

Man arrested for driving offences during joint patrol

Earlier this month, hostel relationship managers were carrying out joint patrols with police when they stopped a disqualified driver. On December 15, the managers and police carried out another joint patrol, they identified the same man driving a vehicle.  

The man, Joynal Ahmed, 44, of Sanford Road, East Ham, was arrested for driving while disqualified, driving with no insurance and taking a vehicle without the owners consent. He received a 12 week prison sentence. 

Man arrested and homeless people helped

On Wednesday, a man was arrested following information that was shared by Hostel Relations Managers. Police stopped the male who was in possession of a quantity of class A drugs and over £200 in cash and also with a suspected stolen cycle, who is likely to be recalled to prison. 

Safer Communities Officers also helped three homeless people who were rough sleeping in Crisp Street that have previously refused support and failed to engage with officers. They have now been placed in accommodation. 

50 fines handed out for parking in Wapping Lane and Pennington Street

The Tower Hamlets Enforcement Officers were contacted about vehicles being parked illegally on Wapping Lane and Pennington Street.

When the THEOs visited the area, they found more than 70 vehicles parked illegally on footways and double yellow lines.

This caused traffic congestion in the area. Many residents approached the THEOs to express their frustrations.

The THEOs arranged for three parking enforcement officers to attend and more than 50 fines were given out. Local residents were very pleased to see the action being taken.

THEOs stop bike thieves

A resident alerted the Tower Hamlets Enforcement Officers of two men using an angle grinder to cut away a chain securing two bikes in Bethnal green. 

Officers rushed to the scene and they made off, abandoning the bikes. 

The THEOs circulated the information to police, who were unfortunately unable to find the suspects.

However, when the THEOs returned to the scene, the owner of the bike had returned. They were very grateful to the THEOs for disrupting the thieves. He told the THEOs he had previously had another bike stolen and gave the officers a description.

The THEOs passed this description on to the police, and police confirmed they had seized the bike earlier from a suspected thief. Police are now investigating.