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December update on Safer Spaces

Thank you for your feedback about safer spaces in Islington. We are analysing all the feedback as we receive it and comparing what you tell us to the data we hold. We are also sharing what you tell us with the local police.

In response to your feedback we have:

Responded to an increased number of anti-social behaviour reports on an estate in the Caledonian ward. Our work here with the local police has led to three arrests. We have been working with our youth outreach service here to engage with local young people

Made a recommendation for a review of the licence for the McDonalds on Seven Sisters Road. This is in relation to the the nuisance and noise caused by delivery drivers that is disturbing local residents. The licensing committee have decided that McDonalds cannot allow deliveries between 11pm and 5am and they must employee door staff to manage anti-social behaviour on Friday and Saturday nights. McDonalds have appealed this decision. However, since October they have switched to electric and cycle deliveries from this store, (the first McDonalds in the UK to do this) which has helped to reduce local noise disturbance

Been working with people who are in accommodation but who are involved in street begging or drinking. Our outreach team engage with these people, offering support to link in with specialist services to address the root causes and to enable a move away from these behaviours

Promoted our Safe Havens scheme to local businesses and organisations encouraging them to sign up to be part of this. If a Safe Havens sticker is displayed in a premises window and you are feeling unsafe or in need of help for any reason someone in the safe haven will be able to help you. You can find out more on our website www.islington.gov.uk/SafeHavens

We have seen a recent increase in reports of parcels being stolen that have been left outside homes by delivery people. In some cases parcels have been left in communal areas of flats and have then been stolen by people claiming to be delivering parcels, in order to gain entry into the communal areas. Please be careful about who you buzz into communal areas and where possible arrange to ‘click and collect’ your parcel if you know you will be out when it is being delivered.

Don’t forget our community safety team will be outside Farringdon station this Thursday morning to talk to you about any safety concerns you have. They are also carrying out bike marking and registration and giving out catalytic convertor marking kits for car owners.

Please keep sharing this site with your friends, family and colleagues, we will be using this map to collect your experiences on safety in Islington for a few more weeks. Click on the ‘share’ buttons below!

Posted on 7th December 2021

by Islington Council Community Safety Team

November update on safer spaces

Thank you for providing us with your feedback on safer spaces in Islington. The comments we have received are very useful in helping us understand where you feel unsafe and why.

In response to your feedback we have:

been working with the local street population around Archway town centre. Assisting people who are rough sleeping into safe, secure accommodation

been working with people in Archway who are taking part in in anti-social behaviour such as begging, street drinking and open drug use, to address the root causes of these behaviours

identified areas where improvements can be made to the local environment, for example adding in extra bins and recycling and installing CCTV

been working with the police and ParkGuard to tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB) around Finsbury Park. A property in the area that was attracting drug users and rough sleepers has been made secure. Council services are working to provide support to those that need assistance. There has now been a drop in anti-social behaviour giving much needed respite to neighbours

installed CCTV cameras on an estate in Clerkenwell and outside Birchmore Hall in Highbury

closed a property in Highbury New Park following numerous resident complaints and an investigation. We hope this will improve the lives of the local residents who live near this property

reduced the begging activity outside Carpetright at Holloway by providing support to people engaging in these activities

We are going to be carrying out an Environmental Visual Audit (EVA) at the front of Finsbury Park station to look at possible design changes that could make this area feel safer and reduce crime and ASB, and also at Vaudeville Court and Prah Road, close to Finsbury Park, in response to reports of drug use and rough sleepers entering the estate to sleep. We also have our Street Outreach team visiting this site on each shift to provide the required support and manage this.

We have been running safety events across the borough, the next one is on Thursday 9 December between 9am and midday outside Farringdon station. You can get your bike marked and registered for free and checked by Dr Bike. If you have a car you can collect a free catalytic convertor marking kit for your car and you can get safety advice on any issue you are concerned about.

We are going to be sending out a local newsletter to neighbourhoods across Islington every three months. It will include a variety of news, from local events to safety updates, you can sign up to receive the newsletter for your area here.

We know we can reach many more voices across Islington and we want to hear from everyone in the borough – please do keep sharing the site with your friends, family and colleagues. Click on the ‘share’ buttons below!

Posted on 26th November 2021

by Islington Council Community Safety Team

Safer Spaces Islington - September Update

Thank you so much for providing us with your feedback on safer spaces in Islington.

In July, we launched our Safer Spaces campaign. We’re inviting everyone who lives, works, studies, or socialises in Islington to tell us where and why you are feeling safe or unsafe and what we could do to make Islington a safer space for all.

Since we launched our virtual Safety Map with Commonplace, we have already received almost 1,000 contributions. But we know we can reach many more voices across Islington – please do keep sharing the site with your friends, family and colleagues. Click on the ‘share’ buttons below!

We’ve also sent out 100,000 postcards to every household in the borough. The postcards are another way to report how safe you feel locally. If you know someone who might not be able to use this website, please let us know so we can send them a postcard.

Over the next five months, we’ll be collecting and analysing your responses to identify the key areas and issues of concern for you. We’ll be assessing the data closely to understand how personal factors – such as gender, ethnicity and age – influence how safe you feel.

We’ll be providing project updates as we go, highlighting our emerging findings and sharing any relevant news.

Thank you again for contributing to our #SaferSpacesIslington campaign.

Best wishes,

Islington Council Community Safety Team

Posted on 1st September 2021

by Islington Council Community Safety Team