The Online Watch Link (OWL) platform, a widely-used tool for Harrow residents to stay informed about local crime and policing, will shut down on 31st October. The Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) has decided to stop funding OWL, and the Metropolitan Police will not assume responsibility for its financial support.
Gary Fenton, the creator of OWL and Director at Direct Path Solutions, informed users about the platform’s shutdown. He expressed regret over the situation, stating that the lack of funding left no choice but to terminate the service.
In response to the impending closure, Harrow police has also issued a message to residents in Harrow (posted on OWL), urging them to provide their contact details directly to local police teams to continue receiving updates. The letter, signed by PCSO Louise Nicholson from Roxbourne MPS, states that after OWL’s closure, MPS will no longer have access to contact information previously stored on the platform. It encourages residents to email their contact details to local ward teams to maintain access to updates.
For years, OWL has played a key role in keeping Harrow residents informed, sending alerts on local crime, missing persons, and safety issues. The platform trained over 1,700 Met officers across London, delivering millions of alerts annually. However, without funding, OWL will cease operations, and all personal data will be securely erased following the shutdown, in compliance with GDPR regulations.
Harrow residents are encouraged to provide their details to continue receiving crime updates after the 31st October deadline. They can contact their local ward team via email or follow local police accounts on social media.
A spokesperson for the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) said: “MOPAC is committed to engaging with all the capital’s communities and is working closely with the Met Police to find the best digital solution for updating Londoners with important local safety information.”
Residents will continue to receive updates through OWL until the end of October.
Chris Mitchell is the founder and editor of Harrow Online, Harrow’s leading local news platform.
He launched Harrow Online in 2010 as a Facebook page sharing local news and information. Since then, it has grown into a trusted source for breaking news, crime, council decisions, planning, transport, business and community stories across the borough.
Harrow Online reaches hundreds of thousands of readers each month and has a social media audience of more than 200,000 followers.
For news tips, press releases or enquiries, contact Chris at info@harrowonline.org.
