Have your say on local safety issues

Let’s Talk portal

Kingston Council’s Let's Talk portal covers latest consultations and engagement opportunities, including those focusing on the safety of our residents. Have your say on local issues that matter to you and help shape decision-making in Kingston upon Thames.

You can browse or use 'find activities' in the menu to search using a keyword, phrase or postcode.

Police Ward panels

If you would like to be more involved with community safety in your area, you could consider joining your local Police Ward Panel. Ward Panels are meetings where the Police, Local Authority and representatives from a neighbourhood come together to discuss issues in that area. The ward panels set the ward priorities, inform the police officers on emerging issues and hold the police accountable for issues affecting the ward.

For more information on how to join your local Panel contact your Police Safer Neighbourhood team. Each ward uses its own communication channels, ask your ward panel what channels are being used in your area.

Neighbourhood Watch

Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) schemes aim to give you relevant information on local crime, community safety initiatives as well as crime prevention tips. The NHW vision is a society where neighbours come together to create safer, stronger and active communities. Find your local scheme and more information on the national NHW website. You can also follow Kingston NHW on Kingston NHW Twitter or Kingston NHW Facebook .

Safer Neighbourhood Board

Safer Neighbourhood Boards (SNBs) were established by the Mayor of London, through the Deputy Mayor and the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC), to provide local Londoners and victims a greater voice in setting policing and crime priorities and access to a crime prevention fund to support the delivery of local projects. SNBs are in place in every London Borough, and aimed to discuss borough wide issues and initiatives.

The SNB priorities and core functions are to:

1. Reflect on MOPAC’s broader responsibilities while respecting the view that local people will know best what is needed locally:
   1. Working with the police to ensure every ward has a Ward Panel and share best practice;
   2. Working to increase the use of communication channels in local wards, such as Neighbourhood Watch, Whats App groups and Next Door
2. Provide greater public accountability of policing by:
   1. Monitoring police performance on crime reduction and community confidence;
   2. Engage with the Kingston Independent Advisory Group (IAG) and the Stop and Search Community Monitoring Group
3. Ensure communities are more closely involved in problem solving and crime prevention by;
   1. Overseeing the Safer Neighbourhood Board Grant to support local engagement and the delivery of crime prevention projects; and
   2. Working with local people and partners to nominate the tasks for Community Payback to undertake

The Kingston SNB meets quarterly.

For more information email safer.neighbourhood@kingston.gov.uk

Funding

In recent years Kingston SNB has bid for funding from the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) for local, grassroots projects that will help cut neighbourhood crimes and boost public confidence in policing.

In 2023 Kingston SNB funded the following projects:

• Fulham FC Foundation, to engage young people through sport and football.
• Oxygen, for a knife crime awareness project being delivered in secondary schools across the borough.
• Oxygen for their Street Pastors project and the Kingston Safe Zone to improve the safety in Kingston Town Centre during night time.

We ask for local organisations to show their interest and apply for local projects to support community safety across the borough. Email Kingston SNB to receive updates on this funding stream or to learn more about how to apply for funding.

SNB membership

The Safer Neighbourhood Board is run independently of the Metropolitan Police and Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames. The Chair and Vice-Chair are community members elected by SNB members for a period of 3 years.

The Safer Neighbourhood Board members are a representation of:

• Ward Panel chairs
• The Independent Advisory Group
• The Stop and Search Community Monitoring Group
• Neighbourhood Watch groups
• Resident Associations
• Leaders of Community Groups
• Business owners and charities

We aim to widen engagement with under-represented groups and be a representation of the communities in the Royal Borough of Kingston. We review our membership every 3 years, and refresh as appropriate.

The Metropolitan Police and Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames are present at each meeting to provide information, answer any enquiries and provide support.

If you would like to be considered as a member of Kingston SNB, email Kingston SNB for more information on what board membership involves and how to become a member.

Police Engagement

For more information on the work of your local Police teams in Kingston upon Thames, you can search for your Safer Neighbourhood Team or follow MPS Kingston on Twitter, Facebook or Nextdoor. There is also information available on the Metropolitan Police Service website, including crime prevention advice and volunteering opportunities with the Met.

Cambridge Road Estate

A mailing list for residents of the Cambridge Road Estate is run by the local Safer Neighbourhood Team. If you live in the area, you can request to be added to the list by contacting the local Police team in Norbiton.

Violence against women and girls Survivor Forum

Through Kingston Women's Hub which is a partnership of organisations providing holistic support to enable women to thrive after experiencing domestic abuse, the criminal justice system, abuse, or multiple disadvantages. Partnering with Voices of Hope, the forums ensure the voices of survivors are heard loud and clear and are incorporated into system and culture change within the local authority partnership.

If you would like to find out morecontact natalie.walker@kingston.gov.uk