Latest Figures Show Tide Has Turned on Chiswick Crime Wave

Drop in robberies and knife crime follows arrest of local drug dealers

Robberies in Chiswick down in latest figures

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The latest data for crime in the Chiswick area shows that the police have had some success in reversing the sharp increase in offences seen earlier in the year.

The W4 area had seen significant rises in robberies and knife crime which were variously blamed on displacement from other areas and the closure of the front desk at Chiswick police station.

A report to be presented by the to the Chiswick Area Forum next Tuesday (25 June) shows meaningful declines in crimes such as robbery, knife crime and drug dealing in the three Chiswick wards in Hounslow Borough. It is believed that the arrest and imprisonment of two prolific local drug dealers has contributed to a fall in offences because crimes such as robbery and knife crime often had links to drug dealing activities.

There were 45 robberies in the area in the three months up to the end of May compared to 56 in the previous three months. Officers attribute the decline to Operation Lindhouse which was the local safer neighbourhood team’s commitment to driving down robbery in the area. Chiswick Riverside ward did however see an increase in robberies in this period from 9 to 12.

The amount of drug related offences in the area appears to have collapsed with just 3 in the last three months compared to 15 before. Across the Chiswick sector there have been a number of arrests for possession and supply offences. Local officers have developed intelligence received from the community and obtained drug warrants from the Magistrate’s court and closure orders for properties used to misuse and supply controlled drugs. Recently officers from Chiswick Homefields acted on reports from residents identifying two prolific drug dealers. Their operations had led to employees of local businesses in the area fearing for their safety. A pre-planned operation was conducted and the two offenders are now serving a custodial sentence.

It is believed that successes against drug dealers have helped stem the sharp increase in knife crime seen previously in the area. There were 20 incidents in the last three months compared to 26 before. However, offences of this kind remain high by historic standards.

Chiswick has received extra resources from the violent crime taskforce carrying out stop and search leading to a number of arrests for robbery and possession of knives. Neighbourhood officers have been carrying out regular high visibility patrols across all 3 wards and weapon sweeps of hot spot areas recovering weapons. The police say Stop and Search is a key tool to driving down knife crime. Schools officers and Youth Engagement Teams are working together with a number of different schools and partners and youth groups to educate and prevent younger members of community from becoming involved in knife crime.

Police are using the targeting of habitual knife crime offenders and using enforcement tactics such as criminal behaviour orders and injunctions to impose harsher sentences on those carrying knives. Hounslow are carrying out diversionary and Safeguarding activity working with local authority and third sector partners e.g. outreach workers, Community Schemes and Safe Space call-in, London Gangs Exit Referral, working with youth clubs and local youth to look at projects and funding to drive down knife crime.

There has also been a drop in the number of offences involving violence with injury which have fallen by over a third over the last six months from 116 to 77.

Theft from motor vehicle offences has declined significantly in the area with the number of offences down from 53 to 35 in the last three months with all three wards seeing a reduction. Local officers have been doing targeted crime prevention and they will continue to patrol at peak times. Further analysis will be conducted to try and identify trends and repeat offenders. There is a big emphasis on crime prevention in this area as well as a number of the victims are commuters parking their cars near to the transport hubs.

On 14 March two males were caught in the act by officers removing catalytic converters from two cars on Duke Avenue, Chiswick. They have been charged with theft of motor vehicle offences and appeared in court.

There has been less progress in dealing with burglary which saw the number of offences increase by 3 compared to the previous three months to 78. Regular key crime prevention messages are being delivered by the SNT team. Local officers are regularly conducting high visibility patrols in and around hot spot areas. There has been a big emphasis on smart water packs being rolled out on Chiswick Riverside and Turnham Green ward. This is an expensive piece of kit which will help identify stolen items quickly with its unique code. Chiswick officers are proactively identifying recent offenders released from prison. This is a good indication when there is a spike in burglary or particular crime in the area which matches a suspect’s MO.
The report in which these figures were disclosed will be presented by local officers at the Chiswick Area Forum meeting at the Town Hall on Tuesday, 25th June at 7pm. Members of the public are encouraged to attend.

June 24, 2019