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Honor Oak Youth Centre receives security facelift

Lewisham Borough’s Honor Oak Community Centre has recently undergone significant security upgrades as part of the Metropolitan Police's Youth and Community Centre Safety Scheme (YACCSS).

This initiative, designed to bolster the safety of community youth hubs, reflects a proactive approach to addressing local safety and security concerns.

Honor Oak Youth Centre receives security facelift

Youth centres are lifelines for young people and their local areas, offering support, community engagement and a secure environment for growth and development. Recognising this, the Met’s scheme equips centres like Honor Oak with state-of-the-art security systems, expert guidance, and other essential resources to ensure these hubs remain accessible and safe.

 

The enhancements to Honor Oak Community Centre include improved lighting systems, upgraded CCTV cameras and reinforced entry points, including an airlock style main entrance. These measures aim to deter potential criminal activity while providing a safer and more welcoming environment for the community and the young people who make use of the facilities. The improvements are part of a broader effort by the Metropolitan Police to ensure that community centres are secure spaces where local residents can gather, learn, and engage in activities without fear of crime.

Linda Quarcoo, Youth, Play and Community Manager at Honor Oak Community Centre, said: “I love it. I feel more secure within my place of work, and the young people are going to love it too. The cameras cover blind spots that we wouldn’t usually have sight of. It’s peace of mind for us and them.”

Staff and volunteers at the centre were provided with defibrillators and trained on their use—an essential life-saving resource in emergency situations. The London Fire Brigade also conducted a thorough inspection of the premises, offering recommendations to reduce fire risks and assisting in creating robust fire evacuation plans.

The impact of these upgrades extends beyond physical security. Staff and volunteers, who dedicate countless hours to running these centres, now work in safer environments. This peace of mind allows them to focus on delivering educational, diversionary, and community-based activities. The upgrades represent a renewed commitment to the future of the community —a place where young people, staff and volunteers alike can thrive. The initiative highlights the power of investment in community infrastructure to build stronger, safer neighbourhoods.

The Youth and Community Centre Safety Scheme has been rolled out across several other locations in London, targeting areas identified as needing enhanced security measures. The Metropolitan Police plans to continue these efforts to promote safety and prevent crime in partnership with local organisations.

For the residents of Honor Oak, the upgrades represent a step forward in community development, reinforcing the centre's role as a secure haven for all who visit.

James Smith, the Metropolitan Police’s lead Designing Out Crime Officer for the scheme, said: “The Honor Oak regeneration is a fantastic example of the partnership work that YACCSS specialises in. When the application first came through, the centre told us they were in the process of planning an overhaul of the venue and put us in touch with the architects who were working on it. In conjunction with the architects, we were able to design and plan the security upgrades so they fitted seamlessly with the planned works and it all came together perfectly. We are very proud of the work we have carried out and the venue is now safer, more secure and aesthetically much more welcoming.”

Guy Ferguson, Police CPI, added: “I was delighted to see this excellent partnership initiative where the Metropolitan Police, local authority and community are working together to design out crime and create excellent facilities to help build safer places. It reflects very well on all those involved.”

YACCSS is a collaborative effort between the Metropolitan Police Service, London Fire Brigade, London Ambulance Service, and Secured by Design. Together, these organisations aim to create safer community hubs by combining expertise in security, emergency response, and fire safety.

You can find out more about the Youth and Community Centre Safety Scheme in this short video clip featuring Honor Oak Community Centre - https://fb.watch/woaD73ndiu/