Autumn Policing news for London Borough of Tower Hamlets from Superintendent Oliver Richter.

As the recent weather has very much indicated, we are now well into Autumn, and Winter will soon be approaching. Anti-social behaviour (ASB) incidents traditionally increase over the school holidays, as Halloween and Bonfire periods coincide with darker nights. Many people within local communities, including the elderly, young and other vulnerable persons can be anxious at this time of year with firework misuse, unwanted trick or treating and ASB moving into communal stairwells and buildings. This will impact residential locations, as well as business and transport hubs.

Please be assured that we are stepping up our proactive policing of these issues, taking positive action in issuing warnings, enforcing any dispersal zones and being visible within the local community.

I also wanted to draw attention to some recent activity our local Tower Hamlets Task Force have undertaken in your neighbourhood.

On 7th September within Hughes Mansions estate in E1, officers spotted a 40-year-old male trying door handles on numerous properties, prompting him to be searched. Detaining him as he attempted to flee, we uncovered numerous items including an angle grinder. The male was arrested, charged, and sentenced to 26 weeks in prison for a range of offences as he was a prolific offender.

After an investigation into a 27-year-old male we caught drug-dealing in Whitechapel, we were able to prove the male was involved in the supply of Class A drugs. The male has since plead guilty at Snaresbrook Crown Court, being sentenced to 30 months imprisonment.

The Task Force has also been leading operations targeting and disrupting those drivers using Nitrous Oxide (NOS) within Tower Hamlets. We know this is a huge blight on our community.

Working closely with local CCTV operators, we were able to stop a vehicle in which the driver, a 31-year-old male, was consuming NOS on Commercial Road at the start of this month. To get away from officers, the driver rammed a lamp post and then attempted to run off. Officers quickly caught and arrested the male. He was charged and remanded, appearing at court where he pleaded guilty to a range of offences and awaits sentencing.

Continuing our efforts into those consuming NOS, especially whilst driving, we are utilising Section 59 of the Police Reform Act 2002 to seize the vehicles of those responsible. In good news, from June 2026 police no longer need to issue a warning prior to seizing a vehicle when being driven in an anti-social manner, and we will always seek to do so when proportionate.

Another crime that I know causes serious concern, so we have been running operations to disrupt phone snatchers.

On 17th September officers within Stepney spotted a high-powered E-Bike with two males riding it that we suspected had stolen phones, who then failed to stop. After a short pursuit, we apprehended both males, seizing the bike and summonsing the rider to court for a range of offences.

We will continue prioritising the crimes that you tell us mean the most to you, working night and day to create a safer Tower Hamlets for everyone.

Please continue to report issues and concerns to us through the channels available.