To provide additional security support for the neighbourhood, South Bank BID has funded two new Police officers who will be dedicated to the South Bank area.
In partnership with the Metropolitan Police and Lambeth Council, the officers have been appointed through the “Partnership Plus” scheme and their primary focus will be tackling issues which have been raised as security concerns to the BID by local businesses, such as antisocial behaviour and theft.
The two officers are Police Constable David Pollock, who will start in September, and Police Constable Liben Husen who will start in early October.
To provide logistical support for a continual police presence in the South Bank area, the BID is also funding the fit out of a dedicated police room within the Southbank Place development. The room was originally secured through the Southbank Place Section 106 agreement and will hopefully open later this year. Investing in these additional security resources that are dedicated to South Bank reflects the level of attention and support the area needs, given South Bank’s prominence as a destination for leisure, tourism and culture, and its vibrant night-time economy.
Alongside the two Partnership Plus officers, South Bank Patrol will continue to operate across the neighbourhood under their normal schedule – South Bank Patrol is funded by the BID, alongside S106 revenues from the London Eye and private contributions. Patrol’s lead Security Manager, Umer Khalid, is funded entirely by the BID.
Other security measures implemented by the BID include our South Bank BID Marshals, who operate from Friday to Sunday, supporting primarily the night-time economy. In partnership with South Western Railway, the BID has recently appointed a Waterloo Station outreach officer, who works with the homeless community in and around the station: the BID will also shortly be funding additional operational work with British Transport Police in the station.
