What makes many residents feel that there is a high level of crime in their local area, even though most of the time that perception isn’t true, is anti-social behaviour like fly tipping and graffiti.

The Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) in Oakleigh ward have realised this and at the end of 2008 put in place an initiative to tackle graffiti at a ‘hotspot’ in East Barnet – the wall next to the Royal Mail sorting office in Longmore Avenue.

The initiative saw the team plant ivy all the way along the wall to obscure it from vandals intent on spraying tags or other graffiti on it and they have recently been awarded for their efforts at the Met Police’s Environmental Efficiency Commendation Ceremony at New Scotland Yard.

To find out more about what the Oakleigh SNT have been doing to improve the quality of life for the ward residents, why not come along to next week’s ‘Policing Pledge’ meeting. The meeting is the latest in a series happening across the borough where the ward SNT and a member of Barnet Police’s senior management team meet with residents to listen to their concerns and give crime prevention advice. Free fire alarms will be given out and there will also be a property marking facility.

If you want to attend, the meeting is at St Mary Magdalene’s Church in Athenaeum Road, Whetstone, from 7 to 9pm on Tuesday 28 July. Keep checking out this blog for details of future ‘Policing Pledge’ meetings.