A police patrol through Ilford town centre was an eye opening insight into tackling antisocial behaviour in London - despite a distinct lack of incidents.
To mark Antisocial Behaviour (ASB) Awareness Week, I took to the streets of Ilford for a walkabout with Metropolitan Police officers, Redbridge Council officials and local business leaders.
Running between Monday, June 29 and Sunday, July 5 this year, ASB Awareness Week is a national campaign organised by charity Resolve, with the aim of spotlighting the issue of ASB and amplifying the rights of victims.
Across the UK, Resolve estimates that there are more than five million incidents of ASB each year - while the Met records one of the highest volumes of these calls in the country.
There were 246,518 ASB-related calls across the capital in the 2024/25 financial year, and 6,334 in Redbridge alone.
I was surprised, then, for my patrol around Ilford to unfold largely without incident; I can count on one hand the number of times officers had reason to stop members of the public.
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Our route took us from Ilford Police Station all the way down High Road, and up towards Ilford station and the entrance to the Exchange shopping centre.
Along the way, one man was cautioned for cycling on the footway, down the pedestrianised section of High Road, while two delivery drivers were stopped by officers due to their e-bikes - but both were found to be legal.
I also noticed that plenty of other people were keen to come up and speak to officers en route, which the neighbourhood policing team for the area told me is common while they are out on patrol.
Police visibility in Ilford town centre has been stepped up since the new team took over in February, and this combined with an increased focus on partnership working has led to "huge results" for the area, according to London’s deputy mayor for policing and crime, Kaya Comer-Schwartz.
During the walkabout, she told this reporter: "I think we can't underestimate antisocial behaviour.
"There's previously been a narrative about low-level crime and, being in the community for as long as I have, you really understand how disconcerting seeing a drug deal is, how upsetting it is to see shoplifting, to be a member of staff and feel powerless in your place of work while you're seeing a crime happen.
"These are not low level things, these are real things that have long-lasting damage in the community and that's why it's been such a focus for us.
"It's why we've invested more in town centre teams.
"What I've heard time and time again today is partnership.
"We've got a local council here who are investing in safety, we've got a police team that are trying new ways of tackling issues [...] and using all of the partnerships that they have built.
"And actually, they've had huge results."
The Met Police said neighbourhood crime offences in Redbridge are down 11 per cent, and reported ASB incidents down eight per cent, in the current financial year to date compared to the same period a year before.
But, a moment from the patrol that stuck in my head was a member of the public telling neighbourhood officers that this reduction was "still not enough" - perhaps a sign that there is always more work to do.
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