Croydon (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Former Flying Squad detective Jason Blackburn has been appointed Croydon’s new top police officer, signalling a robust approach to local law enforcement.
As reported by Inside Croydon, Nick Blackburn, who was just hired as the BCU Commander for Croydon, Sutton, and Bromley, speaks to Inside Croydon in his first media appearance.
Nick Blackburn, a Detective Chief Superintendent, has been named the next Borough Commander for Croydon, Sutton, and Bromley.
DCS Blackburn takes over for Andy Brittain, who was appointed to Temporary Commander at Scotland Yard in February after serving in the position for five years. Brittain currently chairs sessions on gross incompetence and misconduct.
Blackburn deliberately requested to become the South Area BCU Commander, or, more properly, the Borough Commander given that the responsibilities are consolidated and spread across three south London boroughs.
Before serving as a detective in the Flying Squad and a stint as a detective sergeant in Southwark borough policing starting in 2009, Blackburn joined the police force in Bexley in 1999.
“I have worked in a range of specialized crime-related positions over the past 13 years, mostly focusing on serious and organized crime, with an emphasis on drug supply networks, commercial robberies, homicide, and gun crime.”
Regarding his most recent appointment, DCS Blackburn stated,
“I am delighted to have been appointed.”
Croydon is set to become the first borough in Britain to have permanently installed Live Facial Recognition cameras, and the Met throughout London is looking to cut staff in order to meet budgetary constraints. Blackburn takes over Croydon after several years of extremely concerning murder rates in the borough, including some nationally high-profile cases.
He said,
“I have a good team around me and look forward to engaging with local authorities and, of course, the communities within Croydon, working together to prevent and solve crime.”
Croydon’s Safer Neighbourhood Board, which is supported by the Mayor’s Office for Police and Crime and where citizens are expected to debate police and council liaison in public, did not meet for five years.
What are Blackburn’s key priorities as the new top cop in Croydon?
Blackburn is expected to place a higher priority on disrupting violent crime, organized crime networks, and high-profile offenses that affect community safety because of his experience with the Flying Squad.
Residents of Croydon continue to have serious concerns about antisocial behavior. In order to lessen annoyance and disturbance in public areas, Blackburn is anticipated to concentrate on visible policing, community reassurance, and long-term solutions.
One of the main goals of policing is to foster participation and trust with local communities. Blackburn will probably stress the value of committed neighborhood teams, proactive involvement, and collaborative efforts to resolve neighborhood problems and boost public trust.
Effective police is around providing victims with support, conducting in-depth investigations, and responding quickly to crimes. It is anticipated that Blackburn’s leadership would uphold excellent standards in these areas to benefit Croydon residents.