Dawn Butler MP

Last night, local residents packed out an urgent community meeting called by Dawn Butler MP to address growing concerns over criminal activity surrounding Dollis Hill and Willesden Green stations. 

 Dawn Butler MP called the meeting in direct response to repeated sexual assaults in the area as well as increasing gang and drug-related activity. A petition calling on the Metropolitan Police to act has so far been signed by over 1,300 people.  Near 100 residents attended the meeting to put their concerns to the multiple agencies present including the Metropolitan Police, British Transport Police, Transport for London and Brent Council.  In attendance at the meeting was: 

 
• Inspector Lynne Forster who has overall responsibility for Brent’s community policing
 
• Sgt Carl Sampson of the Dudden Hill Safer Neighbourhood Team
 
• Sgt Kevin Buck from the British Transport Police
 
• Tarak Buch Area Manager for the Jubilee Line at Transport for London
 
• Cllr Tom Miller Lead Member for Community Safety at Brent Council
 

Dawn Butler MP said: 

“I called this meeting so that local residents can put their concerns directly to those people responsible for keeping us safe in the community and they did just that. The sheer number of people who turned up on a cold evening is tantamount to the level of concern in the area.”     “It was clear from the meeting that the number one thing people can really do right now to help tackle this problem is to report crime when they experience or witness it. Reporting really makes a difference as the Metropolitan Police and Brent Council allocate resources to those areas most in need. In an emergency always call 999 otherwise use the non-emergency police number, 101.”

 New measures to tackle criminal behaviour were announced at the meeting including the deployment of enhanced CCTV surrounding Dollis Hill tube station.