Patrols around Wandle Park in Colliers Wood have begun and CCTV cameras will be installed by May, as part of a safety assessment launched by the council following reports from residents of increased fears of crime. 

The safety assessment, which aimed to ‘design out’ crime, started in January in the park, which is on two historic walking routes – the Wandle Trail and the Nelson Trail – and is often used as a short cut by pedestrians and cyclists, as well as being popular with dog walkers. 

Police have been working with the council, reviewing crime prevention and safety measures; the Wandle Park activity is part of a wider focus on safety in public spaces across the borough and is being supported by the Met’s Designing out Crime Team.   

As a result of this work, initial crime prevention interventions have been identified and are being implemented over the coming months: 

• Patrols around Wandle Park by Merton’s new Park Ranger service park ranger service which aim to provide increased safety and reassurance for people using the park whilst deterring anti-social behaviour. (These patrols have already commenced). 
• Increasing CCTV coverage in the vicinity of the park – in particular around some of the entrance points: Two additional cameras will be installed by May 2022. 
• The new cameras will complement two already in place, one at the Baltic Close entrance and one near the Merton High Street entrances. The cameras are monitored 24/7 by operators who are in direct contact with the police should they spot any concerning behaviour.  
• The Councils Licensing team will deploy dedicated welfare licensing officers over several weekends during the summer to check that license premises are promoting welfare and safety and that staff are trained and confident in how to keep customers safe. 

Following the implementation of these measures, the Council and police will work to assess their impact before considering any potential further steps.