The service was initially introduced last year under a pilot scheme with the Local Democracy Reporting Service joining a patrol in Walworth
Southwark Council’s night time patrol is to continue for another year after a successful pilot scheme and an extra boost in cash funding.
For the past year, the Night Time Uniformed Patrol Service (NTUPS) has been patrolling Southwark at night to help make people, especially women, feel safer after dark.
The patrol runs from 6pm to 2am, when crime and anti-social behaviour (ASB) is most likely to occur. A team of up to 10 uniformed officers are assigned to different areas across the borough based on ASB and crime data, along with current intelligence and community concerns.
What began as a pilot project for an initial nine months has now been extended up until August 2027 after the council approved an extra £600,000 in funding. The council will be looking in more detail at how it strengthens prevention and enforcement across the borough.
Cllr David Watson, Executive Member for Community Safety and Engagement, at Southwark Council spoke to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) about some of the achievements the service since launching last year.
Cllr Watson said: “The service has made some really good progress on supporting rough sleepers and directing them towards support services.
“[They are] putting people in touch with support and facilities that would help to get them off the street and to help them be well and address any kind of injuries and health issues. So that’s been really, really positive.”
He added: “The service has made 52 StreetLink referrals. They’ve responded to around 70 violence against women and girls reports. They’ve also recovered weapons and intervened in life-threatening situations.”
The council says the patrols have become a recognised presence in local communities and have integrated closely with council teams, businesses and the police.
The service’s priorities are tackling and deterring ASB, tackling violence against women and girls and promoting women’s safety, reducing drug related harm and creating safe and sociable estates and neighbourhoods.
Officers take part in dedicated training courses and earn an accredited qualification, which gives them the confidence to attend incidents which are often high-intensity.
Southwark employs 26 Community Wardens and six Park Liaison Officers around the borough, with their shifts generally ending at 9pm.
Currently, the nightly patrols provide eight extra uniformed officers from Sunday to Wednesday, and increases to 10 officers from Thursday through to Saturday.
Cllr Watson added: “[The officers] are a tremendous bunch of people. Like our Community Wardens, the people that do this work really are extraordinary.
“The reception that they get from local residents, tenants associations and businesses has been really positive. They welcome having them in their communities and having them as that visible deterrent, but also because of the rapport they’re building.”
Southwark residents can report ASB using the council’s website or they can alternatively ring 020 7525 5777.
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