Belsize

Welcome to Met Engage,

We're transforming the Met to become a service that truly delivers for you.

Through our new platform Met Engage you can get to know your local officers, help shape how we police your local area and have direct access to key information and advice.

This isn't just a platform for us to tell you what we're doing in your area, it's an opportunity for you to tell us what's concerning you most so we can take action on the things that truly matter to you.

Belsize Safer Neighbourhoods Team

Your Safer Neighbourhoods Team is a group of Met police officers dedicated to serving your community. The team is made up of officers based in your area or 'ward', supported by additional officers from the wider area.

We work closely with local authorities, community leaders and residents to decide our policing priorities for the area. This helps us to find useful, long-term solutions to local problems, while maintaining our wider focus on reducing crime across London.

To contact to your team about local policing issues, email us at Belsize@contact.metengage.co.uk or pick an officer to email below. (Please do not use this contact method to report crime, in an emergency always call 999 or you can report crime online at www.met.police.uk or dial 101).

Ashley Blenman

Inspector

Shan Iqbal

Police Constable

Mark Mccann

Sergeant

Yaye Sall-White

PCSO

James Thompson

Police Constable

Local Priority Issues

We are committed to tackling the issues that matter most to local communities. Based on our conversations with residents, and the issues they have raised with us, our main priorities are:

Priority	Action taken
Drug Offences Reducing drug-related offences in and around Belsize Park, focusing on street-level dealing and drug use that contribute to littering, noise disturbance and wider anti-social behaviour, through proactive policing and partnership working. Issued 01 September 2026	There is an ongoing issue with drug-related offences in and around Belsize Park and surrounding areas. This includes street-level dealing and drug use, which is contributing to associated problems such as littering, noise disturbance and wider anti-social behaviour (ASB). The presence of drug users and dealers in the area has led to an increase in environmental issues (e.g. discarded items), public nuisance and community concerns. These behaviours impact resident’s quality of life and contribute to perceptions of reduced safety. The activity appears to be concentrated in specific locations and involves both local users and individuals travelling into the area. Belsize Neighbourhood Policing Team have implemented a proactive approach to tackle this issue, including: • Increased high-visibility and plain clothes patrols • Targeted stop and search activity • Arrest of individuals involved in drug offences • Issuing ASB warnings • Working in partnership with local stakeholders and agencies to reduce offending and support longer-term solutions Over recent months, officers have carried out multiple patrols and enforcement activities, resulting in several stop and searches and positive interventions. These measures are ongoing, and the impact will continue to be monitored through enforcement outcomes, community feedback and reductions in ASB and drug-related incidents. Patrol strategies and partnership work will be reviewed regularly to ensure continued effectiveness and to adapt to any displacement of offending. Actioned 01 September 2026
Burglary Reducing residential and commercial burglary offences within the ward, through proactive patrols and collaborative work with partners and stakeholders to prevent offending and improve community safety. Issued 01 September 2026	There is a concern regarding residential and commercial burglary offences within the ward, impacting both homeowners and local businesses. Burglary offences can lead to significant financial loss, emotional distress and reduced feelings of safety within the community. Identified hotspot areas suggest targeted offending patterns, highlighting the need for focused patrols and preventative measures. A lack of awareness around crime prevention measures may also contribute to vulnerability among residents and businesses. The ward team are taking a proactive and partnership-focused approach, including: • Working closely with partner agencies to increase patrols across the ward • Conducting high-visibility patrols in identified hotspot locations to deter offenders • Engaging with local stakeholders to raise awareness and provide crime prevention advice • Supporting residents and businesses with guidance to reduce vulnerability to burglary These actions aim to both prevent offences and reassure the community. The effectiveness of these measures will be monitored through burglary crime data, patrol outcomes and feedback from residents and stakeholders. Ongoing review of hotspot locations and partnership engagement will ensure resources are targeted effectively and adapted where necessary to continue reducing burglary offences. Actioned 01 September 2026
Theft Reducing theft offences in and around the Haverstock Hill area, including mobile phone theft, theft from motor vehicles, and shoplifting, through proactive policing and partnership working with local stakeholders. Issued 01 September 2026	There is an ongoing issue with theft offences in and around the Haverstock Hill area, including theft of mobile phones, theft from motor vehicles and shoplifting. The occurrence of these theft offences impacts both local residents and businesses, contributing to financial loss and reduced confidence within the community. Identified hotspot locations suggest that offenders are targeting busy areas and commercial premises. Shoplifting affects local retailers, while opportunistic thefts such as mobile phone and vehicle-related offences are more prevalent in high footfall areas. Belsize Neighbourhood Policing Team are actively addressing these issues through a combination of enforcement and prevention, including: • Increased high-visibility patrols in identified hotspot locations • Deployment of plain clothes officers to detect and deter offenders • Working closely with local businesses to reduce shoplifting offences • Engagement with residents, businesses and stakeholders to provide crime prevention advice • Ongoing patrol activity focused on disruption and early intervention These measures aim to reduce offending, deter potential offenders and improve reassurance within the community. The impact of these actions will be monitored through crime data, arrest outcomes and continued engagement with local businesses and residents. Patrol strategies and partnership working will be reviewed to ensure they remain effective and responsive to emerging trends in theft offences. Actioned 01 September 2026

Priority

Action taken

Drug Offences

Reducing drug-related offences in and around Belsize Park, focusing on street-level dealing and drug use that contribute to littering, noise disturbance and wider anti-social behaviour, through proactive policing and partnership working.

Issued 01 September 2026

There is an ongoing issue with drug-related offences in and around Belsize Park and surrounding areas. This includes street-level dealing and drug use, which is contributing to associated problems such as littering, noise disturbance and wider anti-social behaviour (ASB).

The presence of drug users and dealers in the area has led to an increase in environmental issues (e.g. discarded items), public nuisance and community concerns. These behaviours impact resident’s quality of life and contribute to perceptions of reduced safety. The activity appears to be concentrated in specific locations and involves both local users and individuals travelling into the area.

Belsize Neighbourhood Policing Team have implemented a proactive approach to tackle this issue, including:

• Increased high-visibility and plain clothes patrols
• Targeted stop and search activity
• Arrest of individuals involved in drug offences
• Issuing ASB warnings
• Working in partnership with local stakeholders and agencies to reduce offending and support longer-term solutions

Over recent months, officers have carried out multiple patrols and enforcement activities, resulting in several stop and searches and positive interventions.

These measures are ongoing, and the impact will continue to be monitored through enforcement outcomes, community feedback and reductions in ASB and drug-related incidents. Patrol strategies and partnership work will be reviewed regularly to ensure continued effectiveness and to adapt to any displacement of offending.

Actioned 01 September 2026

Burglary

Reducing residential and commercial burglary offences within the ward, through proactive patrols and collaborative work with partners and stakeholders to prevent offending and improve community safety.

Issued 01 September 2026

There is a concern regarding residential and commercial burglary offences within the ward, impacting both homeowners and local businesses.

Burglary offences can lead to significant financial loss, emotional distress and reduced feelings of safety within the community. Identified hotspot areas suggest targeted offending patterns, highlighting the need for focused patrols and preventative measures. A lack of awareness around crime prevention measures may also contribute to vulnerability among residents and businesses.

The ward team are taking a proactive and partnership-focused approach, including:

• Working closely with partner agencies to increase patrols across the ward
• Conducting high-visibility patrols in identified hotspot locations to deter offenders
• Engaging with local stakeholders to raise awareness and provide crime prevention advice
• Supporting residents and businesses with guidance to reduce vulnerability to burglary

These actions aim to both prevent offences and reassure the community.

The effectiveness of these measures will be monitored through burglary crime data, patrol outcomes and feedback from residents and stakeholders. Ongoing review of hotspot locations and partnership engagement will ensure resources are targeted effectively and adapted where necessary to continue reducing burglary offences.

Actioned 01 September 2026

Theft

Reducing theft offences in and around the Haverstock Hill area, including mobile phone theft, theft from motor vehicles, and shoplifting, through proactive policing and partnership working with local stakeholders.

Issued 01 September 2026

There is an ongoing issue with theft offences in and around the Haverstock Hill area, including theft of mobile phones, theft from motor vehicles and shoplifting.

The occurrence of these theft offences impacts both local residents and businesses, contributing to financial loss and reduced confidence within the community. Identified hotspot locations suggest that offenders are targeting busy areas and commercial premises. Shoplifting affects local retailers, while opportunistic thefts such as mobile phone and vehicle-related offences are more prevalent in high footfall areas.

Belsize Neighbourhood Policing Team are actively addressing these issues through a combination of enforcement and prevention, including:

• Increased high-visibility patrols in identified hotspot locations
• Deployment of plain clothes officers to detect and deter offenders
• Working closely with local businesses to reduce shoplifting offences
• Engagement with residents, businesses and stakeholders to provide crime prevention advice
• Ongoing patrol activity focused on disruption and early intervention

These measures aim to reduce offending, deter potential offenders and improve reassurance within the community.

The impact of these actions will be monitored through crime data, arrest outcomes and continued engagement with local businesses and residents. Patrol strategies and partnership working will be reviewed to ensure they remain effective and responsive to emerging trends in theft offences.

Actioned 01 September 2026

The word cloud below represents the issues raised by residents through their Local Matters survey. We take this into consideration along with discussions with stakeholders, ward panel meetings and conversations with the public when setting our key priorities

What members in Belsize are saying are the issues in the area:

Agree or not? Have your say now, click here to do the survey