Lee Lyons is our Ambassador team manager.  Lee has an excellent track record in operational management, a good understanding of the needs of a quality environment and has experience of working with the business community in a collective manner to drive mutual benefit.  Lee can be contacted at info@fitzroviapartnership.com or on 0754 0203865.

Update
During April and May we have patrolled the designated district on a daily basis; issues have been identified and referred to the appropriate authorities.  We have continued to meet businesses and informed them of the role of the Partnership and the opportunities for getting involved.  

The service is becoming better known in the district and members of both the business and residential community are taking the opportunity of calling our ambassador team for help and assistance.  

Reporting protocols have been established with the Police service and we continue to work with Camden to establish an effective system for communicating street issues.

With respect to reporting, from July onwards, we plan to communicate KPI’s together with an anecdotal summary of issues surrounding our objectives of supporting the local business and residential community, improving the street environment, reducing crime and anti-social behaviour and district promotion.


Supporting the community
A number of small businesses in Charlotte Street have communicated youth theft as a problem.  We have added value by our presence and have produced reports for the Police, (normally these incidents would largely remain un-reported).  Specifically, due to a number of incidents at a local café, where the all female staff have felt vulnerable, we have increased our late afternoon patrols in that area of the district.  We have also provided personal assistance to a local newsagent by monitoring his premises and reporting shoplifting activity to the Police as it has taken place.  

In response to a call from local residents complaining of cars racing up and down Whitfield Street, and in fear of an accident, we attended the scene, identified the vehicles and the youths involved and advised them of the possible consequences of their behaviour.  They heeded the advice and left the area in a quiet manner.  As a result of visiting businesses and talking with staff, front desks and local residents, we have learned of illegal activity in the northern part of the District and the details of the vehicles involved.  This intelligence has assisted the Police with their investigations.  

Our ambassador has dealt with an incident in Whitfield Gardens where a person collapsed.  The individual could not speak English and we were unable to obtain details from him.  Being first on the scene we realised the person was a regular of the Soup kitchen, operated by the American Church in Tottenham Court Road, so we ensured a member of their staff attended the incident to provide details and assistance to the LAS.   During April we identified a male wandering along Tottenham Court Road, wearing only night clothes.  We determined the individual had left UCH and suffered from mental health problems.   We convinced him that it would be in his best interests to return to the ward he left and escorted him back to hospital.


Improving the street environment
The telephone boxes located in Charlotte Street, Fitzroy Street and Maple Street, are regularly cleared of all prostitute cards.  A total of 2,805 cards were cleared during March and April.  A new method has been introduced for reporting calling cards to the local police Safer Neighbourhood Team, targeting new numbers which appear in the area.  We have obtained photos of seven ‘carders’ which have been forwarded to the Safer Neighbourhood Team for action.

We have dealt with numerous incidents of persons aggressive begging, speaking with each of the individuals and advising them of the potential consequences of their behaviour, which constitutes a criminal act.  Whilst on patrol we have supported our Community Support Officers with the apprehension of individuals undertaking criminal activity.   We have dealt with a number of street drinkers in Whitfield Gardens, and on each occasion our intervention has resulted in the individuals moving on peacefully.

We have attended and observed demonstrations in the area to ensure potential disruption is minimized, dealt with issues of lost property, reported instances of building damage and helped with witness reports of burglary.