Agenda item

A Presentation from Parkguard Ltd

Minutes:

Members received a presentation from Parkguard Ltd, who provide a community safety patrol service for local authorities and social landlords.  Members noted the company’s ethos to educate; with enforcement as a last resort, and they had no private sector clients. 

 

The officer explained that, since the Neighbourhoods and Housing Patrol Service had started in the City of London Corporation in 2015, there had been one dedicated officer (with back-up during leave etc.) who had built an excellent relationship with residents, City Corporation staff and the City of London Police.  In 2018, this work had extended to accompanying St Mungo’s homelessness and rough sleeping outreach workers. The Chairman of the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Sub Committee had also attended Parkguard patrols.  

 

The Outreach Workers had welcomed Parkguard’s support in high risk areas, as had the Police in data gathering.  The Parkguard officer also attended multi- agency meetings.  The van contained a device for inputting reports at the end of shifts, which also linked to Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN) data.  Members noted that Parkguard officers were vetted and trained by the Police and plans were underway to give them full Community Safety Accreditation Scheme accreditation.  Members noted that this accreditation could also be given to similar organisations.

 

During questions, Members noted the following:

 

  • Police reports would be available by the end of this week, mapping intelligence gathered by Parkguard.  Members asked if they could see this data and whether it could be appended in a non-public appendix to future Performance Reports?

 

  • Parkguard’s findings had been very similar to those of Operation Luscombe (at agenda item 9 on this agenda); i.e. - in most cases, beggars were not rough sleepers.

 

  • Parkguard had been working with Transport for London in respect of Old Street Station and Members asked if this could be rolled out to Cannon Street?

 

  • The Housing Estates had benefitted from the joint work with St Mungo’s outreach workers and the number of rough sleepers in blocks had declined considerably.  Following the last extended Severe Weather Emergency Plan (SWEP), many genuine cases had been given placements. 

 

  • The Parkguard Officer was trained in Safeguarding. Intelligence gained on vulnerable clients could be captured in their reports and escalated to the City Police and/or Housing officers in urgent cases.

 

The Chairman and Members thanked Parkguard for this insightful presentation and their excellent work.