The Southwark Policing Oversight Board has launched at an event on Thursday, 12 December, at Southwark Council’s Tooley Street office.
The board has been created in response to the findings of the Baroness Casey Review, which exposed significant failings within the Metropolitan Police, and a call by London Mayor Sadiq Khan for the urgent need to rebuild trust between the police and communities in the capital. The Southwark Policing Oversight Board will be led by Southwark Council, and work in partnership with the Central South Borough Command of the Metropolitan Police to improve transparency and accountability in local policing.
Local people were invited to apply to join the board earlier this year. It is made up of people from diverse backgrounds with a wide range of expertise and lived experience. They will meet regularly throughout the year to work towards improving trust and communication between police and the community.
The board operates independently but in collaboration with the police, providing oversight to ensure the Trust and Confidence plan developed by the Central South Borough Command Unit, serving Southwark and Lambeth, is implemented effectively. The plan aims to ensure ‘More Trust, Less Crime and High Standards’ in local policing.
The Policing Oversight Board will hold police accountable for delivering this plan. It can request evidence, identify areas for action, offer constructive guidance to encourage changes and then make sure these are implemented. The board will ensure public voices are involved in decision making.
The launch event was hosted by Cllr Natasha Ennin, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Neighbourhoods for Southwark Council. Guests included resident board members, Borough Commander Sebastian Adjei-Addoh, and Marina Ahmad, London Assembly Member for Southwark and Lambeth and member of the Police and Crime Committee, who spoke at the event.
Guests also heard from Steven Davies from Active Communities, who shared his lived experience to highlight the importance of the board in addressing community concerns.
Cllr Ennin said: “I’m very happy to be here to launch the Policing Oversight Board. We know crime and antisocial behaviour are among the biggest concerns of our residents and the relationship between many people living in Southwark and the Met has taken a hit in recent years.
"I’m pleased that Borough Commander Adjei-Addoh and his colleagues are taking positive steps to address the very real issues people have. We all want a safer Southwark and I’m confident the board will play a huge role in achieving that.”
Residents can share their thoughts on local policing with the board by emailing policingoversight@southwark.gov.uk.