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I wanted to provide an update regarding Vandalism/ graffiti, which members around this area have highlighted as an issue of concern on the Met Engage priority survey. Dear Valley Ward Members,
Joint Police and Council Action – Chase Gardens E4
Following reports from local residents, Valley and Larkswood Safer Neighbourhood Team officers worked together with Waltham Forest Council to deal with an abandoned vehicle on council land at Chase Gardens, E4. The vehicle had been causing concerns due to anti‑social behaviour and fly‑tipping, affecting the local area and nearby households.
Residents shared worries about safety, cleanliness, and the impact on a shared green space used by families and the wider community. In response, Council officers attended and issued a formal notice for the vehicle to be removed.
Police officers were present to support the process and make sure everything was carried out safely and calmly. A man was found inside the vehicle with his three dogs. Officers checked on his welfare, spoke with him respectfully, and provided information about local support services, including StreetLink and Change Grow Live.
The individual left the vehicle peacefully, allowing Council contractors to safely remove the abandoned vehicle. The situation was resolved without any incidents.
This joint work helped address residents’ concerns, restore the area for community use, and improve reassurance locally. It highlights how police and the council are working together, listening to residents, tackling issues like ASB, and supporting vulnerable people while keeping neighbourhoods safe and welcoming.
 We want to ensure everyone is able to keep their property safe from vandalism or defacement in your local area. As such, through conversations with homeowners, members of the public, police officers and staff we’ve collated our 5 Top Tips for safeguarding a property. Please see the advice listed below: - Stay visible: Having a property that can’t be seen from the street may make it more susceptible to being a target of vandalism. Make sure you are limiting places around your property where vandals can hide.
- Create a fence/boundary: By doing this, you’re creating a visible barrier that works as a reminder that if someone crosses uninvited, they would be trespassing.
- Keep it secure: Evaluate your property and be sure to safeguard vulnerable points such as ground floor windows with one-metre high sharp, prickly bushes.
- Extra security: If you have a surface which anyone can sit on – like a ledge or a low wall – some carefully placed plants can work as a good deterrent. Also, you can secure the side and rear boundary of your property with a two-metre-high fence topped with a trellis.
- Keep it tidy: If the property looks untidy, some people won’t think twice about adding to it or simply hanging around in the area. We would advise you not to leave rubbish, ladders, wheelie bins or anything else that could be used for burglary or vandalism in the property's vicinity.
For more advice and up-to-the-minute information about the latest crime prevention products, visit Secured by Design – an official police security initiative. We are working on our brand-new strategy for how we police London and we want your help. Our New Met for London: Phase 2 strategy will guide how we deliver on behalf of Londoners over the next three years. | 
