Safer Slough Partnership

Safer Langley

Safer Langley logo

As part of improving safety in Langley, Thames Valley Police, Safer Slough Partnership, and the community are working with the Home Office to adopt and roll out the College of Policing’s ‘Clear, Hold, Build’ framework. The local name for this project is Safer Langley.

Langley has been identified as a focal point for Clear, Hold, Build due to concerning incidents of serious crime and violence. Clear, Hold, Build is a framework to allow a multi-agency approach to tackling and preventing serious and organised crime whilst working more closely with local partners to build resilience in communities and prevent those at risk from being drawn into crime.

Recent events such as two murders of young men within 18 months, instances of serious youth violence and a firearm discharge at a cannabis grow highlight the urgent need for a coordinated approach to address safety and security issues within the community. Additionally, high levels of theft, robbery, and anti-social behaviour, coupled with significant deprivation in the Foxborough Ward, further emphasises the necessity of proactive intervention.

Safer Langley is a chance for partners and organisations to work together to improve life in Langley by tackling and addressing serious organised crime - building up the area through community initiatives, partnership work and community spirit.

Three stages

This activity takes place over three stages and aims to bring communities together as part of a longterm commitment to root out anti-social behaviour and serious and organised crime and, importantly sustain a reduction in crime.

  1. Clear - initial targeted police activity to ‘clear’ offenders from the area.
  2. Hold - a period of sustained intervention to ‘hold’ the area free from crime.
  3. Build - this phase is driven by the community and will focus on prevention and addressing the root causes of ASB and crime.

Clear Hold Build has already been piloted by seven police forces since 2020, to positive effect, improving community resilience to serious and organised crime, but also showing the potential to impact wider crime reduction.

Operational Delivery Groups

In Langley, work has already started. The agreed priority areas for the Operational Delivery Groups are:

  • Business, enterprise, and employability
  • Health and Wellbeing
  • Youth engagement, education, and prevention
  • ASB
  • Crime
  • Voice of the community.

These groups have identified respective priorities and quick wins to drive tangible change within the community.

Who is involved?

  • Thames Valley Police
  • Slough Borough Council
  • Langley Neighbourhood Watch
  • Thames Valley Office of the Police Crime Commissioner
  • Thames Valley Violence Prevention Partnership
  • Communities Against Violence
  • Love Music Hate Violence
  • Langley College
  • Abri Housing Association
  • Department for Work and Pensions
  • Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service 
  • Turning Point 
  • Langley Academy 
  • Slough Children First 
  • Together As One (Aik Saath) 
  • HCRG Care Group 
  • Everyone Active 
  • Lime 
  • Foxborough Primary School
  • Marriot Hotels

What work has been happening?

Since February 2024, extensive efforts have been made to establish and strengthen partnerships with local authorities, community organisations and law enforcement agencies. A key milestone was a two day partnership event at Langley College, attended by 70 partners, including the National Home Office Lead and Regional Lead for Clear, Hold, Build. Insights from this event have shaped the Clear, Hold, Build strategy, emphasising the collaborative nature of addressing serious organised crime and community challenges.

In April 2024, initial funds were secured, as well as the appointment of a dedicated Neighbourhood Policing Team Sergeant, focusing on Langley and Clear, Hold, Build initiatives.

We have developed a community-centric name (Safer Langley) and branding for the initiative, seeking input from partners, youth groups and residents. Engagement activities, such as community safety surveys and student feedback mechanisms aim to capture the voices of the community and guide decision-making processes with a ‘you said, we did’ approach.

Intelligence gathering and the formation of a 'Silver Strategic LRO Group' (to review and drive the ODGs) are underway to ensure a targeted and effective execution of Safer Langley. By fostering collaboration, engaging the community and focusing on targeted interventions, Clear, Hold, Build aims to create a safer and more cohesive environment for all residents in line with Thames Valley Police’s mission to protect our communities. 

Find out more 

You can email communitysafety@slough.gov.uk to find out more and be directed to the most appropriate partner. 

Reporting crime

You can report crime or something suspicious that you have seen or heard on the Thames Valley Police website or by calling 101. Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via the Crimestoppers website.