Agenda item

The Commissioner of the City of London Police to be heard.

The Sub-Committee heard an update of the Superintendent of the City of London Police and the following points were made:

• Operation Luscombe which aimed to identify issues and support those who were living on the streets had been temporarily suspended due to the COVID-19 lockdown.  Work was underway to digitise the Operation Luscombe process which would support stronger data capture and analysis.  The British Transport Police would also be joining Operation Luscombe once remobilised, which would include joint patrols with the Police and outreach providers.   The overall approach to enforcement was changing and would focus on prevention.  Homeless individuals whose support needs were being met in the City would be allowed to remain, whilst those who commuted to the City for the purposes of begging would be excluded. 

• Officers within the Partnership and Prevention Hub had met with Thames Reach and Turning Point and were committed to building strong partnerships across all areas of rough sleeping, anti-social behaviour and mental health.  The City of London Police had refreshed its training package for custody officers on rough sleepers in custody, which included signposting rough sleepers to local services and a similar package had been created for front office staff.  In response to a question from a Committee Member, the Inspector confirmed that the Police’s Dedicated Ward Officers focused on community engagement and were based within the Partnership and Prevention Hub which took a strategic partnership-based approach to longer-term community issues.

RESOLVED, that the update be noted.