Southwark Council has hired a private security company to run a night-time patrol service across the borough in a bid to crack down on anti-social behaviour.
The patrols will run between 6pm and 2am seven nights a week and will see squads of around ten uniformed officers deployed to parts of the borough where crime and antisocial behaviour is the highest.
The scheme, which is being operated by Kingdom Services Limited, a community focused security company, will run for an initial nine months and will complement the council’s existing Community Warden team of 32 officers.
Cllr Natasha Ennin with the new night patrol officers
It comes as part of a broader crackdown on illegal activity by Southwark Council, which is also currently consulting on a policy which would give council officers powers to fine people for engaging in antisocial behaviour.
The borough also recently benefited from an uplift in the number of neighbourhood officers policing its streets, with new teams assigned to Peckham and Walworth by the Met last month.
Councillor Natasha Ennin, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Neighbourhoods at Southwark Council, said: “We know that feeling safe is just as important as being safe, and this new night-time patrol service will help deliver both.
“By deploying teams where they are most needed, we’re making sure our communities feel supported and protected. Alongside our community wardens, the new service will bring extra reassurance and visibility, helping Southwark remain a safe place to live, work and visit.”