Walk and Talk initiative launched in Barking and Dagenham

Officers speaking to a local resident (Credit: Barking and Dagenham Council)

Police have teamed up with Barking and Dagenham Council to run a Walk and Talk initiative. 

Last Thursday, 12 police officers and six council officers spoke to residents and commuters at Barking station about areas in the borough that make them feel unsafe. 

They walked with people to see the areas of concern and discussed ways they could make them more secure. 

Inspector Dan Bacon said: “It was a successful event, with some good feedback from both the officers and the community.

“Our intention is to engage with as many people as possible and discuss factors that may contribute to making them feel vulnerable or unsafe.

“We can then work with the council and problem solve these factors, but in order make positive changes to the town centre and the way we police it, we need the engagement of the community.”

Cllr Margaret Mullane helped talk to people (Credit: LBBD)

Councillor Margaret Mullane, cabinet member for enforcement and community safety, also attended the event last Thursday. 

She said: “Our recent Women’s Safety Survey highlighted the fact that Barking Town Centre and Barking Station were hotspots where women didn’t feel safe, so I am glad to see that the council and police are listening to residents and putting things in place.

“We want residents and visitors to the borough to feel safe when they’re walking about, so we will continue to work closely with the police to make this happen.”

A spokesperson for the council said it has also increased enforcement patrols in Barking town centre and the amount of street lighting and CCTV cameras in the borough. 

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