On Monday 16 March 2026, we were delighted to welcome Deputy Mayor for Policing & Crime Kaya Comer-Schwartz to the South Bank and Waterloo neighbourhood.
Hosted in partnership with South Bank Employers' Group (SBEG), alongside London Assembly Member Marina Ahmad AM, Councillors Ibrahim Dogus, Sarina Da Silva, and Dr Mahamed Hashi, the visit provided an important opportunity for the Deputy Mayor to see first-hand both the challenges facing the neighbourhood and the extensive partnership work underway to address them.
Providing a safe and secure South Bank and Waterloo is central to the work of South Bank BID and our partners. Our programme spans a wide range of activity – from our Security Manager and South Bank Patrol team, to outreach services supporting vulnerable individuals, and South Bank Business Watch, which enables close collaboration between businesses, the police and statutory agencies.
During the visit, the Deputy Mayor met directly with frontline teams delivering this work. This included our Outreach Worker, delivered in partnership with Thames Reach, who provides vital support to vulnerable individuals in the area. She also met the Youth Outreach Worker, part of an important pilot scheme delivered with Railway Children and supported through funding from South Western Railway. Kaya showed particular interest in this initiative, especially its focus on early intervention and prevention to support young people at risk.
The morning also included a walkabout through key locations, including the IMAX where stakeholders from the British Film Institute (BFI) shared insight, and Waterloo Station where partners from Network Rail and Platform 4 highlighted the operational challenges of managing one of the UK’s busiest transport hubs.
Discussions throughout the visit reflected the complex nature of the area. Partners spoke about the impact of marches and protests on local operations, the increasing pressures of retail-related crime – particularly affecting businesses in and around Waterloo Station – and the ongoing challenges of supporting a safe and welcoming night-time economy, ensuring people feel secure after dark.
The visit concluded with a roundtable bringing together representatives from the South Bank BID Board, SBEG members, local businesses and community groups, including South Bank & Waterloo Neighbours.
With over 38 million visitors each year, South Bank and Waterloo is one of the UK’s busiest and most dynamic neighbourhoods. The visit highlighted both the scale of that challenge and the strength of the partnership approach in place to support it.
Our thanks to Kaya Comer-Schwartz for taking the time to visit, to Marina Ahmad AM for helping to convene partners, and to everyone who contributed their insight. We look forward to continuing to work closely with the Metropolitan Police and partners to address shared priorities and ensure South Bank and Waterloo remains a safe, welcoming place for all.
