Building a New Met for London - Southwark comes together!

Last night, community partners, faith leaders, councillors, and local organisations came together at St Thomas the Apostle School on Holydale Road for Southwark’s latest New Met for London (NMfL) community engagement event.

The evening began with an address from Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist, who spoke about the importance of rebuilding trust, strengthening local policing, and ensuring Londoners feel proud of the service their police deliver. His opening remarks set the tone for a positive and constructive discussion focused on partnership, accountability, and progress.

Inspector Sam Honeyball then spoke about the work of our new Town Centre Teams in North Walworth and Peckham, outlining their role in improving police visibility, tackling antisocial behaviour, and building stronger relationships with local residents and businesses.

This was followed by PC Kaelon Parkes, who shared an insightful update on retail crime across the borough — highlighting the importance of working with shop owners, community wardens, and local authorities to identify offenders and prevent repeat incidents.

The evening brought open, honest, and forward-looking conversations, with attendees challenging us to do better while also recognising the positive changes already underway. Discussions focused on youth engagement, neighbourhood safety, and joint working to address the issues that matter most to our communities.

The New Met for London is about listening to every voice, learning from feedback, and building trust through action. Last night’s event captured that spirit — constructive challenge, genuine collaboration, and a shared determination to make Southwark a safer, stronger place for everyone.”

A huge thank you goes to St Thomas the Apostle School for hosting, and to all our partners who attended and contributed. The insights shared will directly inform how we continue to deliver policing in Southwark in line with the New Met for London priorities.

Together, we are building a safer Southwark — and a stronger Met for London.