More than 3,000 officers led activities across London today as part of the Metropolitan Police’s Community Action Day.

Joining the attempt to enhance relationships with communities, Ealing police took to the Ealing Broadway Shopping Centre this afternoon (January 22) for ‘coffee with a copper’.

Events held today around the capital included hosting football matches, staging a public music event with schoolchildren, attending faith groups and holding street briefings and crime prevention events.

Community Action Days create new opportunities for officers to speak to Londoners about the issues that matter most to people and share what they are doing to tackle crime.

Commander Mak Chishty, Met lead for community engagement, said: “London is a capital city with a gloriously diverse population that is constantly changing. Our challenge is to keep up with the changes and to police in a way that gives our communities every confidence in the service that we provide. We must engage with the people who live, work, travel or visit London in ways that best suit their needs and lifestyles.

“We appreciate that there are no short-term fixes to tackle crime and are committed to working with our communities and partners to identify long-term solutions. This isn’t something that the police can do alone, but together we can make a real difference.”

The Met’s first Community Action Day took place in October 2014 and a second event was held in November.