News

Policing operation on Edmonton estates deemed ‘a success’

The Met teamed up with Enfield Council for a crackdown that saw arrests, penalty charges and warnings dished out while a vulnerable person was also identified

Metropolitan Police officers make an arrest at the Joyce and Snell’s Park estates in Edmonton

A joint operation targeting organised crime and antisocial behaviour at estates in Edmonton has been deemed “a success”.

Enfield Council and the Metropolitan Police joined forces for the “comprehensive” operation that saw officers swoop on Joyce and Snells estates in Angel Edmonton for one night last month, following complaints from concerned residents and businesses.

Drug dealing, soliciting, theft, robbery, burglary and antisocial behaviour “were tackled head on” by police officers during the crackdown on Friday, 27th September, dubbed ‘Operation Pisces’. They were supported by council officers from across a wide range of services including licensing, housing, parking enforcement and street cleansing.

Operation Pisces is multi-agency programme focused on the Northumberland Park, Fore Street and Edmonton Green areas. Since commencement, the Met says daily crime in Enfield borough has reduced from 146 crimes per day to 113 crimes per day, a 23% reduction since the start of the operation.

One significant success from the joint operation in Angel Edmonton last month was when an elderly person was saved from a ‘cuckooed home’. Cuckooing is when criminals take over the home of a vulnerable person to establish a base for illegal activities such as drug dealing.

A police officer saw two males acting suspiciously outside a vulnerable resident’s property. Police searched the suspects and discovered the resident was being cuckooed. One man was arrested for obstruction and a drug addict wanted for burglary, was arrested at the address of the cuckooed resident. 

The vulnerable resident’s property was secured, and he was visited by professional adult social care carers and an alternative residence is being considered.  

Elsewhere, nine penalty charge notices (PCN) were posted on vehicles parked in restricted areas and on the footway of the estate. A further five people were issued with community protection warnings and three weapons including two knives were found and seized by police.

The council’s street cleansing team also swept both the road and pavements and removed several bags of dumped rubbish.

Gina Needs, the council’s cabinet member for community cohesion and enforcement at Enfield Council, said: “Crime on the Joyce and Snell’s estate is a real concern for the council and its residents.

“Whilst patrolling the estate with council officers and police, I spoke to many residents. While we have some significant challenges ahead, some residents stated they had recently noticed a reduction in crime and antisocial behaviour.

“I would like to assure residents we will continue with our collective enforcement work in partnership with the police and our community safety teams.”

Rob Gibbs, chief inspector for Enfield’s safer neighbourhoods policing teams, said: “Operation Pisces is the name for a sustained policing and partnership effort to address the problems on Joyce and Snell’s estate and more widely across Edmonton and Northumberland Park.

“The operation is part of the ‘Clear Hold Build’ initiative where the police, council and community, aim to change the long-term issues. The evening has been successful, and I’m really pleased we’ve managed to disrupt some drug abuse and safeguard a vulnerable and exploited individual with the help of the Enfield Council.

“The police are focusing resources on the area under Operation Pisces, and I am pleased residents are starting to see some change. There is much more to do, and we will continue our efforts over the coming months.”              

Operation Pisces also identified unregulated and unsafe private residential accommodation and over a dozen licensed and gambling establishments were visited.

For further information on reporting antisocial behaviour in Enfield:
Visit
 enfield.gov.uk/services/community-safety/antisocial-behaviour


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