Eastbrook & Rush Green

ASB caused by moped/scrambler bike riders in Central Park will remain a ward priority over the summer months, with the park expected to see an increase in visitors. As part of a planned tie-in with after-school patrols, Central Park will be visited, with the late afternoons and weekends in mind, to detect and deter mopeds being used in the park. With 11 access points, directly preventing entry to vehicles has been a challenge. Previous efforts from the team have seen an Environmental Visual Audit (EVA) requested to seek means to restrict illegal access without hindering legitimate visitors. As well as the increased presence, the team will act on any information provided in relation to individuals believed involved in ASB around Central Park and neighbouring Fels Field. The opening 22 days of May recorded 7.84 miles of foot patrol around Central Park during the times most likely to witness ASB, while 3 consecutive after-school patrols in June saw more than 4 miles covered. While no vehicles have been stopped to-date, two separate incidents have resulted in offenders leaving the park on seeing police and stemming any negative impact.

Issued 03 July 2025

Drug use in Central Park, particularly within the 3 car parks, will also be a focus this summer, with officers providing a presence and conducting searches where grounds exist. This will be part of a wider project to make the park a safer, more hospitable place to visit, especially with many of the anticipated park-goers throughout July and August consisting of young families making use of the 5 play areas dotted around the site.

Actioned 03 September 2025

The service road opposite Barking and Dagenham College on Dagenham Road will receive additional attention from June after reports of college students gathering in the area. A once-hotspot for cannabis use, the route leading towards Parish Fields and beyond into the Eastbrookend Country Park has reportedly seen a recent increase in gatherings. While the team have routinely patrolled Harveys Lane throughout the years, an additional presence will now be provided, with individuals spoken to and, where justified, stopped and searched.

Issued 03 July 2025

Two-wheeled vehicle-based anti-social behaviour (ASB) and two recent robberies earlier on in the year will form the basis for continued patrols of the park, with keys times for these issues factored in. As part of a planned tie-in with after school patrols, Central Park will be visited to provide safety for students passing through, while the late afternoon, along with weekends, will see a greater presence to detect and deter mopeds being driven in the park. With 10 access points to the park, preventing entry to vehicles will be a challenge. Previous efforts have seen an Environmental Visual Audit (EVA) requested to seek means to restrict illegal access without hindering legitimate visitors to the park. The team will look to act on any information provided in relation to individuals believed involved in ASB around Central Park and neighbouring Fels Field.

Actioned 03 September 2025

After-school patrols around Central Park will play a key role in deterring robbery over the next 12 weeks. The park, which has recorded 4 incidents of phones being targeted from school-aged children since February, acts as a cut-through for students heading home. As with most open spaces, the vast, somewhat isolated nature of Central Park lends itself to opportunities for robbery and so a focused on-foot approach will be employed, along with engaging with groups of youths to identify concerns. Similarly, the park will also see a uniformed presence from the late afternoon to offer reassurance to women and girls using the park, either recreationally or as a means to get home. The team will make itself available for feedback, both in person and online via its Facebook, X and Met Engage platforms. While reports of VAWG-related incidents within the park remain low, maintaining a high level of confidence for female visitors will be the measure of success. More than 4 miles of the park was covered on foot across 3 days in early June, with after-school and after-work demographics in mind.

Issued 03 July 2025

Eastbrook and Rush Green ward continues to be a safe place to live and visit, with violent incidents in public places among the borough’s lowest. The team have continued to provide a precautionary presence around Rush Green’s Barking and Dagenham College, a potential hotspot for robbery given the high number of young people attending the venue, along with coverage of open spaces, with a recent patrol in March taking in 2.5 miles of the Eastbrookend Country Park and surrounding area. Early evening foot patrols remain a staple of the SNT’s efforts to provide reassurance for those heading home to the ward after work, which has included Footpath 155, a cut-through between Rush Green Road and Gorseway often used by residents.

Actioned 03 September 2025