Haringey and Havering LBCs have scooped top prizes for their work to improve community safety at this year’s Problem Oriented Partnerships (POP) awards.

Taking place at New Scotland Yard last night, the annual awards ceremony is designed to promote the efforts of police, local authorities and other partners to improve safety both on the streets and while travelling.

Gold award for the Safer Communities category went to Havering Borough for its project that reduced violent night crime in Romford. Greenwich won the Silver prize for its work to address street prostitution and anti-social behaviour in Plumstead, while efforts to tackle street drinking in Walthamstow earned Waltham Forest the Bronze award.

The Safer Travel category saw two projects being awarded the highest accolade. Project Guardian – a joint Police initiative to address sexual violence on public transport – shared the prize with Haringey’s Safer Transport team, which reduced drug-use and distribution around a local transport hub.

Silver prize in the Safer Travel category went to Hillingdon Safer Transport Team for their initiative to reduce anti-social behaviour and drug use along a cycle route.

The POP awards are a collaboration between the Metropolitan Police Service, the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime, Transport for London and London Councils.

Cllr Lib Peck, London Councils executive member for crime and public protection, said: ‘I’m pleased that the hard work of boroughs, the police and their partners has been recognised today.

‘All the projects nominated for the awards are excellent examples of innovative approaches to increasing safety in the community and on our transport network. I hope the examples set by the winning projects can be replicated across the capital where appropriate.’