A project to tackle crime and clean up a estate could be a model for other London neighbourhoods.

The initiative in Gilpin Square, Hackney, based on the 'broken window theory', was launched by Hackney Council's community gang team, Hackney police, and community groups.

The 'broken window theory' suggests that visible signs of crime and disorder encourage further law-breaking.

The project followed concerns about criminal activity, with the area suffering from 19 violent criminal acts, including potential gun use and gang links, between October 2020 and August 2023.

A survey of residents identified the biggest issues as the general cleanliness of the estate, poorly lit areas, and the need for CCTV upgrades.

More than 100 actions were implemented as part of the project.

These included increased controls by police, enforcement and CCTV officers, removal of six abandoned vehicles, and the issuing of 249 parking tickets.

Trees and bushes were pruned, graffiti removed, and street lighting repaired.

A community art mural was completed, waste was removed, and pavements jet-washed.

The report highlighted a drop in crime rates, from 99 crimes committed between January and April 2023 to 69 during the same period this year.

This was described as "green shoots of law-abiding behaviour."

There were also numerous community and legacy projects, including a new neighbourhood watch scheme, football coaching, a homework club, community cooking and woodworking classes, and a boxing tournament that attracted 48 boxers and 450 attendees.

Public health care professionals, including gang, sex work, and drug and alcohol outreach staff, also made visits.

The initiative was praised in a new report from Middlesex University, which suggested it could be a model for other London estates.

Criminology professor Anthony Goodman, who grew up in Stoke Newington and co-authored the report with research fellow Dr Robin Fletcher, said: "I really believe in the broken window theory and that this project could work with other London estates.

"This project inspired confidence in the local community and its organisations and the belief they are not being forgotten when they started seeing the CCTV upgraded, the abandoned vehicles removed and that it was okay to be on the square, which by common consent had become rundown to a degree, because it feels safer, more vibrant and with more people around."