Residents felt let down after expecting an open meeting about crime concerns turned into individual sessions.
The Labour MP defended the event’s advertising. He criticized disruptive attendees. The meeting took place at Dockland Settlements. Letters invited residents concerned about crime.
Mr. Coyle held a joint surgery with police. Residents expected a public crime meeting. They were offered one-on-one meetings instead. This disappointed many attendees.
Mairéad Temple found the meeting a waste of time. She wanted to learn about phone theft updates. She spent money on parking with no results. Steve Cornish said 35 people were angry. They had to explain their reasons for attending.
He wanted a public meeting on local crime. Another resident agreed with others’ understanding. They wouldn’t have gone if it was a surgery. They had to share names, addresses, and topics.
Neil Coyle stated the event was clearly advertised. He claimed everyone was seen within the time frame. The police organized the session, he joined. Coyle said some men caused disruption, but they failed. Police and his team stopped their agenda change.
The Met Police hosted an informal drop-in session. They discussed residents’ crime worries. Officers gave advice on antisocial behavior.