Addressing antisocial behaviour at Barking Station
Barking and Dagenham Council is continuing its efforts to address safety and resident’s perceptions of crime and antisocial behaviour in Barking and Dagenham.
Earlier this year, the council conducted a survey where they asked women to highlight areas in the borough where they didn’t feel safe.
In support of the findings, the council has launched a second Street Space pilot at Barking Station with the aim to reduce crime and people’s perceptions of safe.
The east London station was highlighted as a hotspot where women didn’t feel safe and has also been previously been a key area for antisocial behaviour.
The Street Space initiative, which launched on Saturday 6 November, will be an eight-week pilot and will look to address perceptions of safety and crime in the borough by increasing engagement through several strands, such as:
- Creating a platform for busking or arts performances and testing this at different times of the day, experimenting with a range of licensing and permission models to create a new sense of vibrancy to the station through shared experience and distraction.
- Greening the station through innovative and community led methods and models to create a relaxing, inspired by nature atmosphere
- Commissioning local artwork for the station to add vibrancy, colour and energy to the space with the potential to humanise and bring a sense of local connection to the station
Councillor Margaret Mullane, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety said: “Safety of the public, especially women, is a hot topic right now especially following recent events where two women were murdered in London.
“We’re determined to improve safety and people’s perceptions of crime in Barking and Dagenham and we’re willing to look all the options to ensure that we do this. The Women’s Safety Survey was just the start and there will be plenty of things going in the borough to improve safety from quick fixes, such as increasing enforcement patrols, lighting and CCTV to wider initiatives, including the Safe Haven scheme.”
So far, a number of aspects have been installed at Barking Station, including:
- Large floor stickers showcasing landmarks in Barking and Dagenham
- Five planters have placed in front of the station
- A huge painting by local artist Emmanual Oreynei which centres around the amalgamation of sounds that surround us in an urban environment and how we can escape through music.
33 local volunteers came along to help with the planting and many passers by stopped to see what was going on and enjoyed the brass band.
In recent months, Barking Dagenham Council has also increased patrols and security at Barking Station, Barking Town Centre and London Road Car Park.
The eight week pilot will just be the start of the council’s plans to improve safety in the borough, however they’re still encouraging resident’s to get in touch if there are places that need looking at.
Residents should email csp@lbbd.gov.uk if they have concerns about a certain location.
