Angelina Leatherbarrow, from Havering Labour writes in the Havering Daily:
A number of residents have been in touch with Havering Labour representatives about the recent reports of crime and anti-social behaviour taking place around the Havering College campus on Ardleigh Green.
Havering Council tax payers are funding £300,000 for 5 additional police officers to fight crime in our borough. The number one violent crime hot spot in Havering at the moment is outside Havering College. Now, when Romford town centre is virtually empty, are these officers not being made to focus on the issues Havering College is facing at the moment?
Havering council’s dysfunctional Crime and Disorder committee should have made their attention to knife crime a top priority after the Jodie Chesney murder. Their hands off approach and lack of urgency has had a detrimental effect.
Cabinet member, Viddy Persaud, Havering’s crime Tsar, has shown to be completely inadequate in providing leadership to meet the challenge of this crisis. Some councillors serving on that committee show no interest whatsoever in these crucial matters.
The safety of Ardleigh Green residents needs to be urgently addressed and Havering’s Tory council’s complacent attitude to crime should be subject to investigation. Labour is calling for an emergency council meeting to tackle this problem to be held as soon as possible.