Crackdown on crime hotspots in Hayes

THE COUNCIL are funding a new Police Task Force as they attempt to crackdown on notorious robbery and burglary hotspots in the borough.

The 11 new police officers will maintain a presence in Hayes town centre as well as the Brunel, Botwell, Townfield wards.

The decision to set up the task force was made at a Council cabinet meeting at the Civic Centre, Uxbridge.
Four existing officers currently funded by Hillingdon Council, currently known as the anti-social behavour team, will be absorbed into the new tasking group.

At the meeting, Sandra Jenkins, Cabinet member for environment and Conservative representative for Brunel, praised the new scheme and the effect it could have on the area.

She said: "I am delighted that this has been taken forward, we have had problems with our streets.
"We did have a concerted effort last year and it really brought the figures down."

The two-year scheme, in partnership with Hillingdon Police, will cost the council £116,000 and comes out of the council's Local Area Agreement budget.

Councillor Douglas Mills, Conservative Cabinet member for improvement, partnerships and community safety, said: "The Hayes Town area is a particular issue, and we would like to reassure the public we are dealing with these issues."
The scheme, which will begin on Wednesday, October 1, is flexible which means that if new crime hotspots suddenly emerge then the officers can be redeployed.

The council's residential burglary target has improved significantly, showing a 31 per cent reduction in comparison to the first quarter of 2007/08 with 159 fewer burglaries in total.