Is Plaistow West & Canning Town East safe?

Current local priorities

• The key problem to be addressed is the continued use of adresses on the ward being used as suspected brothels linked to organised criminality, immigration offending and the potential exploitation of vulnerable females. Ongoing concerns regarding trafficking, coercion and exploitation. The location is also generating significant harm within the local community, with residents experiencing repeated disturbance from visitors attending the premises at all hours.
• The Red House Public House, 299 Barking Road, E13 8EQ, and the adjoining King Street, E13, have been identified as a ward priority for Plaistow West and Canning Town East following a sustained increase in reports of anti-social behaviour (ASB) over the past three months. Police and partner agencies have received numerous reports relating to nuisance behaviour originating from patrons of The Red House, particularly during the evenings and at weekends. The reported issues predominantly include excessive noise, vehicle-related nuisance, street drinking and other alcohol-related disorder impacting upon local residents and the wider community. Of particular concern is the recurring pattern whereby individuals leave the licensed premises and congregate within King Street, a residential cul-de-sac adjacent to the venue. Reports indicate that groups are regularly parking vehicles within the street and remaining there for prolonged periods, often causing significant noise disturbance to nearby residents. Additional reports have identified the consumption of alcohol, nitrous oxide (laughing gas) and suspected drug-related activity within the location, further contributing to community concerns. The ongoing behaviour has had a negative impact on the quality of life of local residents, generating repeated complaints regarding noise, public nuisance and community safety. As a result, the location has been formally adopted as a Ward Panel Priority, with local policing teams working alongside residents, licensing authorities and partner agencies to reduce anti-social behaviour, improve community confidence and address the issues affecting those living in the area.
• Plaistow Park, E13, has been identified as a location experiencing increasing levels of anti-social behaviour and criminality over recent weeks, resulting in significant concern amongst local residents and park users. Police and partner agencies have received a growing number of reports relating to disorder within the park, particularly involving large groups of teenagers congregating within and around the children's play area. This activity has resulted in complaints of noise, intimidation and behaviour that discourages families and young children from using the facilities as intended. In addition, the park has become a regular gathering point for street drinkers, who frequently congregate on park benches and within communal areas to consume excessive amounts of alcohol. This is often followed by anti-social behaviour, including shouting, abusive behaviour, littering and public nuisance, negatively affecting those visiting the park and nearby residents. There have also been repeated reports of motorcycles and other vehicles being ridden illegally across the park's footpaths and open spaces. This behaviour presents a significant risk to public safety, particularly given the number of children and families who use the park on a daily basis. Further concerns have been raised by residents living adjacent to the park regarding the emergence of small encampments and tents within various areas of the park, including flowerbeds, bushes and other secluded locations. These encampments have generated additional concerns around community safety, environmental damage and wider anti-social behaviour. As a consequence of the ongoing activity, residents and park users have reported finding broken glass bottles, discarded alcohol containers, drugs paraphernalia and other litter throughout the park. The presence of these items presents a potential hazard to children, dog walkers and other legitimate users of the park and contributes to a perception that the area is unsafe and poorly managed. The cumulative effect of these issues is causing ongoing distress to local residents and reducing the enjoyment and accessibility of Plaistow Park for the wider community. As a result, the location has been identified as requiring focused police and partner intervention to address anti-social behaviour, improve community safety and restore confidence in the park as a safe public space.