Sir Ian Blair opens Orsman Road

Sir Ian Blair meets staff working at Orsman Road

Hackney's innovative Safer Neighbourhood Office at Orsman Road was officially opened on Wednesday, 26th March, by Sir Ian Blair, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service, and Jules Pipe, Mayor of Hackney.

The office houses two ward based community police teams alongside the Council's street warden team and environmental enforcement and community safety teams, providing a co-ordinated multi-agency approach to tackling crime,fear of crime, anti-social behaviour and environmental crime.

Owned by Shoreditch Trust and operated as a partnership between London Borough of Hackney, the Metropolitan Police and Shoreditch Trust, the Orsman Road office is the first of its kind in the country.

"This is the most marvellous example of how community policing needs to be done and a fantastic example of partnership working," said Sir Ian. "I hope we can get another 30 of these across London."

Steve Dann said: "We intend to continue to work with our partners to build on this success and set the standard for tackling crime and anti-social behaviour in Shoreditch, along with creating an innovative model which can be adopted across the UK."

Sir Ian met staff working at Orsman Road and took a tour of the building before joining the team for refreshments at the new Water House restaurant which also occupies the canal-side site.

The Safer Neighbourhood Office is located at 12 Orsman Road, London N1 5QJ.

For further information contact Alex Finlayson at alex@shoreditchtrust.org.uk

28.03.2008