OWL Funding to Support Police and Community Partnerships

Andrew Boff AM moved, and Alessandro Georgiou AM seconded the following motion:

“This Assembly wishes to express its concern regarding the decision by the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) to cease funding for the OWL Crime Alert Platform (Online Watch Link), effective from 31st October 2024.

Over the past 10 years, OWL has been a vital resource for 18 London boroughs, enabling local police, Neighbourhood Watch coordinators, and partner agencies to send urgent crime alerts and community safety information directly to residents and businesses. It has seen over 1,700 Metropolitan Police officers trained in its use, generating 14,000 alerts annually and facilitating 6 million emails and 12 million push notifications each year. The platform has helped to resolve £8.3 million worth of crime and prevent a further £10 million of crime in just one borough over a five-year period.

This Assembly notes that OWL has been a trusted and effective source of local intelligence and reassurance for Londoners. MOPAC’s own Trust & Confidence survey of December 2023 showed that 75% of the boroughs using OWL reported above-average levels of trust in the Metropolitan Police Service, with boroughs ranked #1, #2, and #4 for highest public trust all using OWL.

This Assembly regrets the decision to terminate funding for OWL, particularly at a time when the Metropolitan Police is facing significant recruitment challenges and budget pressures. With officer recruitment falling short of targets and rising crime concerns in London, the loss of a cost-effective and reliable platform such as OWL is likely to have a detrimental impact on public safety and police-community relations.

This Assembly calls on the Mayor, as London’s Police and Crime Commissioner, to urgently reconsider this decision or ensure an equivalent or improved service, that covers all of London, is provided. Further, this Assembly urges the Metropolitan Police Service to explore all funding options to maintain this vital crime prevention and public trust resource, including contributions from local borough councils, Neighbourhood Watch groups, and other potential partners.”

Following debate and upon being put to the vote, the motion was agreed unanimously.