For PC Isabel Fanawopo, neighbourhood policing is about more than responding to incidents – it’s about building trust and making lasting change.
Growing up in Southeast London, Isabel wanted to understand crime beyond the headlines. After graduating in criminology in 2023, she joined Police Now’s National Graduate Programme to see the reality for herself and be part of the solution.
Now a neighbourhood officer in the Sydenham Safer Neighbourhoods Team, she works on the frontline, where every interaction matters.
Seeing the bigger picture
“Frontline policing is where you see everything first-hand,” Isabel says. “You’re the first on scene, dealing with the crime and the wider issues that sit behind it – mental health challenges, vulnerability and the impact of deprivation – and balancing everyone’s safety, including your own.”
Working in Lewisham, an area with complex challenges and historic tensions with policing, has reinforced the importance of those first interactions.
“You can shape someone’s perception of policing in a single moment,” she explains. “If it’s negative, it can last. That’s why it’s so important to get it right.”
The role demands empathy and adaptability. “You meet people from all backgrounds – often in difficult circumstances. You can’t treat everyone the same. You have to listen, stay open-minded and try to understand their perspective.”
Solving problems that matter
For Isabel, the most rewarding part of neighbourhood policing is its focus on long-term impact.
“It’s about making a difference to people’s everyday lives. When residents feel heard and safer, that’s what makes me proud.”
On the Grace Path estate in Sydenham, repeated reports of anti-social behaviour – including drug misuse, intimidation and disorder had left residents feeling frustrated and unsafe.
Isabel and her team began a detailed investigation, reviewing calls, intelligence and patrol data to identify patterns and suspects. What they uncovered was more serious: a vulnerable resident with schizophrenia was being exploited, his home taken over by drug users – a form of “cuckooing.”
“It was clear he wasn’t in control of his own home,” she says.
Working with partner agencies, including the council, housing and mental health services, Isabel and the team took coordinated action. Patrols were increased, funding was secured to support officers’ overtime on the case, and a strong evidence base was built for court action.
The results were significant: 13 arrests in three months, a full closure order on the property and multiple offenders returned to custody. A further seven arrests followed for breaches of the closure order. Throughout, Isabel and her colleagues ensured the vulnerable resident was safeguarded and ultimately rehoused.
Last month, Isabel returned to court, securing two further closure orders linked to the case and continuing efforts to tackle anti-social behaviour on the estate.
“We didn’t just respond to calls – we listened and solved the problem,” Isabel explains. “Residents have told us they finally feel taken seriously.”
Going above and beyond
In another case this year, Isabel led an investigation into a brothel operating in a residential cul-de-sac, which was causing significant disruption and safety concerns.
Residents reported a steady flow of unknown men, public indecency and incidents affecting families. “People didn’t feel safe in their own homes”.
Working independently, Isabel built a detailed case for a closure order, gathering evidence from repeated reports and community engagement. The application was successful, and the premises were shut down.
The case also highlighted potential exploitation of the women involved, prompting safeguarding action and referral to specialist teams.
Building safer communities
Neighbourhood policing is rooted in relationships – showing up, listening and taking action.
For Isabel, the impact is clearest in the everyday moments: “When residents stop and thank you on patrol, you know you’ve made a difference.”
As she approaches completion of our two-year programme, she reflects on the role: “It can be tough, but you have the opportunity to create real change. And in neighbourhoods like Sydenham, that change starts with trust – built one interaction at a time.”
– Police Constable Isabel Fanawopo, Metropolitan Police Service
