Newham Police win gold for tackling ‘cuckooed’ properties in the borough
Gold winners from Newham Council with AC Martin Hewitt, Commander Julian Bennett, Newhams Borough Commander Ade Adelekan. Picture credit: Met Police. - Credit: Archant
Newham Police scooped a gold medal at a City Hall awards ceremony last night for their work dealing with ‘cuckooed’ properties.
These are properties which generate a significant amount of anti-social behaviour and crime.
Operation California, which took place last year, saw over 60 non-residents removed from 22 problem properties by issuing court orders demanding people leave, with a 96 per cent success rate.
This saw Newham jointly awarded the gold medal, along with Enfield.
The awards recognise effective policing against recurring crimes, disorder or public safety problems.
Assistant commissioner Martin Hewitt, who awarded the medals, said: “There has never been a time when effective and proactive crime prevention has been more important. With crime demands rising and changing, we need to be doing everything we can to reduce opportunities for criminals.
