From Ashworth Mansions Neighbourhood Watch: Residents Pamela Knudsen (Co-ordinator), Renee Marais, Shirley Murphy, and Nick Parker
We’re writing on behalf of the Ashworth Mansions Neighbourhood Watch, which was formed last year by ourselves (your neighbours noted above.) We did so to discuss on-going anti-social behaviour, and more recent burglaries.  We are not a crime ‘hot spot’ in Maida Vale, but it does happen.
The Watch has been formalised by the Police and Westminster Council, and is now one of several schemes in Maida Vale. There is another Watch ‘next door’ on Ashworth/Lauderdale Roads, which was the first one to be formed in Westminster 25 years ago.
Together, we believe we’ve achieved a few good things:
  • We’ve noticed a reduction in anti-social behaviour, particularly at the corner of Ashworth/Grantully roads: in part, due to reporting crime and forming a relationship with our Safer Neighbourhoods Team (SNT.)  This, however, does ebb and flow over time.
  • We’ve got the Council to kindly remove the Scope clothing bin in this same area, which was often raided in the middle of the night, with clothes strewn everywhere the next day.
  • We’re got the Council to improve one-way road signage to help (visiting) cars from occasionally travelling down Ashworth/Grantully roads the wrong way.
  • We’ve worked with security experts and made recommendations to the A-M Board about how to better protect the building and gardens. These will be put in place over time, with careful expenditure.
  • All in all, we’ve enjoyed a feeling of increased neighbourliness and community.  A couple of blocks have begun checking on each others’ flats during holidays.  We now know neighbours on Lauderdale Parade, who were in touch with us after experiencing crime.
We’re now inviting you to join as well.  You, however, don’t need to do anything — other than agree to become a member, which would allow us to send occasional, minimal information to you via your email address.  We would not disclose your address, but rather add it to a ‘bcc’ group distribution list.
We would keep you up-to-date about local crime issues (either as they happen, or compiled over time) and general tips about keeping your homes safe.  This would be info directly from ourselves, or occasionally forwarded from the Police (SNT) or the Council.
Also, as a member, you would be very welcome to report anything you might notice as well.  The Police tell us that the more info we can pass back to them, the more it will help towards preventing and solving crime.  That is, something that we might see on our streets might be linked to crimes on other neighbouring streets.  Every little helps!
In addition to core crime, if there are other environmental issues bothering you (Tube noise etc 😉 feel free to let us know about that as well.
Hopefully, you’ll hear very little from us, but at least have the reassurance that we’re all looking out for each other.
Will you join us please?  Just reply to neighbourhoodwatch@ashworthmansions.com