Meet our new Redbridge Community Protection Taskforce

If you’re out and about in the borough, please stop and say hello if you see team members from the council’s newly launched Community Protection Taskforce.

The Taskforce was officially unveiled outside Ken Aston Square, Barkingside, today (Friday, 16 June 2023) and will provide a visible enforcement presence across the borough, primarily tackling unlawful street activity such as aggressive begging, street drinking and prostitution, and antisocial activity around licensed premises.

The Taskforce is a borough-wide service and will be deployed seven days a week. As part of this new initiative, a new reporting tool is now available on the council’s website, making it far easier to report antisocial behaviour.

Redbridge is one of the safest outer London boroughs, and Redbridge Council is investing to keep crime down and ensure the borough remains the best place to live, work, and visit.

Speaking at the launch earlier today, Cllr Khayer Chowdhury, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety, said: “We know preventing antisocial behaviour is a top priority for local people, so we are now delivering a seven-day enforcement service, which also will work round the clock to keep our streets safe.”

“We also need the help of local communities to prevent antisocial behaviour by regularly reporting any incidents witnessed. Officer patrols are targeted directly based on the number of reports, so the most effective thing you can do to stop antisocial behaviour is report it on our website.”

The Leader of Redbridge Council, Cllr Jas Athwal, said: “So many of us choose to call Redbridge home because of our outstanding schools, bustling high streets and excellent transport links. Our borough is a great place to raise a family, and we want to keep it that way.

“Crime rates in Redbridge are relatively low, and we’re investing in additional enforcement like our new Community Protection Taskforce to keep our streets safe and reduce fear of crime across our borough.”