Somali Leadership Scheme: Safer Neighbourhoods Observation

OBV's Samira Ahmed, Hashim Omar, Tajir Ali, Safiya Mohamed and Yarub Farah were five of a dozen participants that attended the Safer Neighbourhoods Observation meeting in East India at the Aberfeldy Neighbourhood Centre last week.

Safer Neighbourhoods teams are dedicated to the needs of each specific neighbourhood, with the policing priorities for that area decided in partnership with local stakeholders - the public, crime and disorder reduction partnerships (CDRPs), local authorities and other local organisations.

OBV with the support of the Tower Hamlets Council have been running a Somali leadership scheme to encourage a relatively new but important part of the local population to play a full and positive role in the democratic process and decision making process, and to support and nurture these individuals to put themselves forward for these important roles.

Community Officers on Neighbourhood teams are trained to communicate with a wide range of people, communities and partners, to tackle and solve community problems. Experience suggests these are most likely to be quality-of-life issues, such as anti-social behaviour, criminal damage, abandoned cars and graffiti.

Each ward will have a Safer Neighbourhoods teams are appointed similarly to magistrates or school governors-not for their professional qualifications-but dedication and commitment. Additional police constables, police community support officers, special constables and volunteers will also work alongside them across wards providing extra support in addressing local concerns. However these officers, unlike the dedicated officers, will, when required, work across other neighbouring wards on the borough.

This evening Councillor Rajib Ahmed, and Councillor and Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Ohid Ahmed were there to hear the concerns, encouragement and feedback of local residents.
East India isn't the easiest area to police: while racial diversity here is probably unrivalled compared to elsewhere in Tower Hamlets or indeed the UK; sadly so are issues such as street crime, violent burglary and vehicle theft. Meetings like this are arduous.

The commitment of these Met Officers alongside local residents that included our OBV Tower Hamlets Somali Leadership participants is testament to how communities despite their differences can come together and take a step forward to change the lives - gay or straight; black or white - not of not one person or community, but all peoples’ of Tower Hamlets.

Ashok Viswanathan