At this year’s ATLAS Awards Mark Headley, the Designing out Crime Officer (DOCO) at the Met Police, was awarded a commendation for his work and services to crime prevention.
Mark was commended for his, “comprehensive command of Design Out Crime methodology and exceptional technical skill which have made him an invaluable asset to the Metropolitan Police Service. His superior knowledge and approachable nature ensure the highest standards of security are consistently achieved, benefiting both the public and his police colleagues.”
Police CPI had a sit down chat with Mark to find out more….
Congratulations Mark. First of all, how long have you worked in the police?
I started off as a PCSO (Police Community Support Officer) in 2004 and did that for two years, before becoming a police officer, initially working on response then the Safer Neighbourhoods Team and in 2017 I became a DOCO.
What was your first ever job?
In 1982 I was a type writer mechanic! A job that’s obsolete now but actually the typewriter was quite a complex bit of kit which I had to maintain and repair.
Why did you join the police?
I was 18 when I first looked to join the police, but there was a waiting list and one thing led to another and I had a career doing various different jobs, one of which was working on complex electrostatic paint engineering projects including spray painting a jumbo jet! I now work in South London for the Met and love it.
Why did you become a DOCO?
When I used to work in the Safer Streets Team I worked around one particular estate that had a big drug and crime problem. I chatted to our SE Design out Crime Unit about the problem and they gave me loads of really good ideas which I implemented like taking away the low walls, small changes that made a big difference. I used to get 150 calls a month about this estate, and that went down to zero. I saw the difference it made.
Why are DOCOs important to the force?
I think DOCOs are one of the most proactive and productive teams in the service, we can really make a difference if we get it right and can have such a positive impact on people’s lives. We want to transform areas of crime into places where people want to live and work. We don’t want to create prison like neighbourhoods with barbed wire and CCTV, instead we aim to create open safe spaces that are aesthetically pleasing. Good crime prevention measures should go unnoticed.
What project are you most proud of?
My first proper project was Arthur Street redevelopment in Bexley where I was the DOCO from start to finish when it achieved SBD gold standard. The project started life as a three x 13 storey concrete tower blocks built in the 1960s, which looked as though they’d been stuck on puddles of badly maintained grass. We had problems with crime and anti-social behaviour and the car parks at the rear were regularly used as a dumping ground for abandoned vehicles or to store stolen vehicles. The alley ways were known for drug use and dealing, and were often used as an escape route for suspects. Residents felt intimidated by groups hanging out in the stairwells and alleyways.
This was my new ‘baby’.
I helped identify problem areas and crime generators like the parking bays at the back of the estate which were relocated to the front for better informal surveillance of vehicles and pedestrians by locals, with more effective CCTV. This allowed for private garden space at the back which then offered greater protection to the ground floor properties, giving privacy and a positive sense of ownership. Creating several smaller parking courts with a narrow single entrance/exit deterred criminals, they could also be monitored more efficiently with CCTV.
The homes were fitted with SBD windows, door with access control, gates and boundary fencing, and we removed an alleyway and low walls. Now there are 320 new affordable homes with parking and open public spaces. Residents now feel safe and have a sense of pride in the area. Crime STATs show just what an impact this has had, and call outs to the police have dropped by more than 60%.
ATLAS Mark H photo 1
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ATLAS Mark H photo 2
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What are you working on at the moment?
I’m waiting to sign off the Eastside Quarter project in Bexleyheath it was a former council office which had become derelict and now has been transformed into 518 homes across six modern blocks.
I’m also working on a commercial project for Lidl who are creating a distribution centre in Crayford Creek in Belvedere, Bexley. 96 loading bays have been built, plans include another 60 more bays and a multi storey car park which will all be built to SBD standards.
My latest project is at the old Electro site, it was a former factory on a brownfield site that’s going to be developed into 5 housing blocks for 350 residents and will be built to SBD gold standard. They’ve just started breaking ground.
What do you love about your job?
I love the difference I can make. I used to patrol around some really rundown council estates in parts of South London and would wonder how this could be done better or improved. Now I can influence decisions to make sure new estates are planned right from the start.
We have two main roles as DOCOS. One is reducing crime and anti-social behaviour in areas so there is less vehicle crime, drug use etc. This in turn improves well-being, gives kids a better start in life, and has a knock on effect on things like reducing the strain on the health care. Our second agenda is freeing up police time. With fewer officers on the street, having areas with less crime means they can focus on more serious call outs and emergencies.
As far as I’m concerned it’s the best job in the Met and I have a real sense of achievement improving lives!
