More police to patrol Shoreditch party spot

On a wet winter afternoon, passers-by stop and ask Shoreditch police officers for directions and shopkeepers want to have a chat about crime prevention.

But the cold weather and the hour means few people are about to chat to Police Constables Lucy Warrell and Craig Emmery.

Fast forward to Friday night and there could be thousands of people out, determined to have a good night out in Shoreditch – said to be Europe’s largest night time economy.

Shoreditch has just got a new team of 25 officers with a neighbourhood policing background to help police the streets at night and also be out and about during the day.

They are part of the increased police presence in some of London’s busiest town centres.

Inspector Andy Durrant told the new team: “The community will see more of their officers in the area.”

He added: “Much of it is about trust and confidence. Local policing is at the heart of what we do, working side by side with Londoners.”

He told police at the launch of the new town centre team he wanted people “to get to know their officers to trust them to keep them safe.”

Hackney mayor Philip Glanville welcomed the new partnership and said the area “has been a really challenging place for people to police.”

Cllr Susan Fajana-Thomas, cabinet member for community safety, said via twitter that she was “delighted to join @MPSHackney at the launch of the Shoreditch Town Centre Team … The 25 additional police officers will be based permanently in Shoreditch as ‘bobbies on the beat’ helping to tackle various issues around ASB and crime”.

Constable Lucy Warrell, who had just had completed a busy weekend of night shifts, said streets can be packed with revellers and police have noticed a difference after the last two years where nights out have been limited because of Covid.

Some people’s tolerance for alcohol has dropped  during lockdown.

She has worked in the area for two and a half years and warned that  one of the problems which can befall revellers is mobile phone snatches – which can happen so quickly and victims may not get a description of the thief.

Police and Hackney council community safety teams say it is hard to put a figure on how many people might throng to Shoreditch’s bars, restaurants and clubs  for the traditional big Christmas night out this year, as Covid has changed everything.

Before the pandemic, a typical Friday or Saturday  night could see 20,000 people partying in Shoreditch.

Over the last few months, police have told Hackney licensing  committees how busy the area has got and did not want a return to problems of anti-social behaviour.

In July, PC Neal Hunwick said the area “has seen a return to the bad old days of alcohol-fuelled violence”.

He said “large numbers” of people congregate in  the hotspots  of Old Street, Rivington Street, Curtain Road, Great Eastern Street and Shoreditch High Street.

Commander Paul Brogden, who joined the two constables on a walkabout in Shoreditch, said police had to rebuild public trust after the murder of Sarah Everard by a serving officer and the sharing of photos of murdered sisters Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman by  two officers who have just been jailed for their crime.

He said women and girls’ safety is a top priority and the police are getting more training to boost their awareness and claimed “We are listening more” to find out about people’s concerns and to work with businesses and councils to enhance the safety of areas.

PC Emmery said: “We all like to go out and enjoy ourselves so we should make sure that they do that safely.

“Shoreditch is renowned for its night time economy.”

Part of the team’s job will be to build relationships with staff and door staff at the many venues lining the streets of Shoreditch.

He said the team would also be concentrating on the concerns of residents and will also be out and about during the day.

Hackney resident and safer neighbourhood panel member, Louise Brewood, said: “The key of having a dedicated team allows for knowledge around the area’s hot spots. They can possibly identify problems and build rapport with venues.”