Speaking at the opening address of the Sutton Borough Commander's Commendation ceremony at the Met's Sports and Social Club, Bromley, Kent, on Tuesday, 8 March, Chief Supt David Snelling, Borough Commander, Sutton, said the ceremony marked his last day in police uniform because he was retiring this month (March) having been Sutton Borough Commander since September 2014 and after a total of 30 years service with the Metropolitan Police.
He said it had been a privilege to have been Sutton Borough Commander and to have led such a dedicated and committed team of officers and staff doing such great work every day to make Sutton safer.
He said it had been a privilege to have been Sutton Borough Commander and to have led such a dedicated and committed team of officers and staff doing such great work every day to make Sutton safer.
He said such dedication and commitment made a real difference to the safety of people who choose to live and work in Sutton. For example:
- crime in Sutton had fallen by 37% over the last ten years
- anti-social behaviour had fallen by more than 50% over the last two years
- that Sutton was one of the top performing boroughs for confidence and satisfaction in policing
- Sutton remains consistently one of the safest boroughs in London.
Residents' views published by Sutton Council last December showed that residents:
- felt safer during the day and at night than ever before
- were less in fear of being a victim of crime
- enjoyed living in the borough because its safe.
He said Sutton was fortunate because of the close working relationship between the Met Police and Sutton Council and the way other partner organisations came together. He thanked Sutton Council for their continued funding and support. He gave the following examples:
- the borough's CCTV system which is monitored from the control room at Sutton Police Station - a system which helps police catch criminals and deters crime
- the Safer Parks Police teams
- the Anti-Social Behaviour Unit
- helping to tackle domestic abuse (which accounts for between 30-40% of our violent crime).
He said an example of how organisations in Sutton pulled together for a common purpose was the forthcoming Community Safety Day for Older People which had been organised by the Met Police, Sutton Council and Sutton Neighbourhood Watch to show the range of services and support being provided to elderly and vulnerable people in the borough and to help keep them safe. Nearly 40 organisations are due to take part in this event at the Europa Gallery in Sutton Central Library, on Wednesday, 16 March between 10:30am-2:30pm.
Sutton was also fortunate because Police had the continued support of residents. This was demonstrated when residents call 999 when they see someone acting suspiciously, when they help identify suspects following the publication of CCTV images in the local Press, and when residents support organisations like Sutton Neighbourhood Watch which has grown to have 5,000 members across the borough - far more than any other borough in London.
He said all this had been achieved despite the extensive restructuring that the Metropolitan Police Service was going through to meet its financial obligations.
Following the awards, Sutton's Mayor Cllr Muhammad Sadiq, who had attended the ceremony and co-presented the awards with Borough Commander David Snelling, said: "On behalf of the residents of Sutton, I am grateful for what you have done to keep the borough safe by all your hard work and the commitment you have shown.
"Sutton has always been one of the safest boroughs in London. People choose to live in Sutton not only for its good schools, but also because it's a safe borough. I feel proud and I salute you."
- crime in Sutton had fallen by 37% over the last ten years
- anti-social behaviour had fallen by more than 50% over the last two years
- that Sutton was one of the top performing boroughs for confidence and satisfaction in policing
- Sutton remains consistently one of the safest boroughs in London.
Residents' views published by Sutton Council last December showed that residents:
- felt safer during the day and at night than ever before
- were less in fear of being a victim of crime
- enjoyed living in the borough because its safe.
He said Sutton was fortunate because of the close working relationship between the Met Police and Sutton Council and the way other partner organisations came together. He thanked Sutton Council for their continued funding and support. He gave the following examples:
- the borough's CCTV system which is monitored from the control room at Sutton Police Station - a system which helps police catch criminals and deters crime
- the Safer Parks Police teams
- the Anti-Social Behaviour Unit
- helping to tackle domestic abuse (which accounts for between 30-40% of our violent crime).
He said an example of how organisations in Sutton pulled together for a common purpose was the forthcoming Community Safety Day for Older People which had been organised by the Met Police, Sutton Council and Sutton Neighbourhood Watch to show the range of services and support being provided to elderly and vulnerable people in the borough and to help keep them safe. Nearly 40 organisations are due to take part in this event at the Europa Gallery in Sutton Central Library, on Wednesday, 16 March between 10:30am-2:30pm.
Sutton was also fortunate because Police had the continued support of residents. This was demonstrated when residents call 999 when they see someone acting suspiciously, when they help identify suspects following the publication of CCTV images in the local Press, and when residents support organisations like Sutton Neighbourhood Watch which has grown to have 5,000 members across the borough - far more than any other borough in London.
He said all this had been achieved despite the extensive restructuring that the Metropolitan Police Service was going through to meet its financial obligations.
Following the awards, Sutton's Mayor Cllr Muhammad Sadiq, who had attended the ceremony and co-presented the awards with Borough Commander David Snelling, said: "On behalf of the residents of Sutton, I am grateful for what you have done to keep the borough safe by all your hard work and the commitment you have shown.
"Sutton has always been one of the safest boroughs in London. People choose to live in Sutton not only for its good schools, but also because it's a safe borough. I feel proud and I salute you."