Clear Hold Build-Fantastic new police initiative making an excellent impact across Harold Hill.

Last year the Havering Daily reported live on the ongoing prolific shoplifting blighting the streets of Harold Hill. Retail workers on Farnham Road had endured months of verbal and physical abuse, including being threatened by acid and attacked on their way home. Thousands of pounds worth of goods were stolen weekly from shelves in local shops such as the Co-op and Sainsburys on Hilldene shopping centre and staff cried out for help.

We joined community champion Jan Sargent and local shop owner Simon Ford who have being working extensively with the shop workers and local police officers and now thanks to a new initiative, the situation has changed considerably for the better.

Community Inspector Charlie Routley launched the Home Office Campaign ‘Clear Hold Build’ in December last year and since then he and his officers have achieved outstanding results.

Inspector Routley told the Havering Daily:

“The initiative was launched on 6 December 2023 and since then we have had 25 arrests that have included theft, robbery, stabbings, drugs, and many other crimes.

“This is an approach that sees us tackle shop lifters but also direct them to help that stops them coming out and reoffending.

“We obviously targeted prolific offenders first and that made an immediate impact on the community.

“The closure of Rothbury House also provided a positive feedback for the area.”

Thanks to this new initiative and the work of Inspector Routley and his officers, Harold Hill has seen a vast reduction in theft and anti social behaviour.

Shop workers reported that the spate of shoplifting has vastly reduced and people have begun to return to the area.

We visited the Hilldene shopping centre earlier this month and heard for ourselves the positive impact it has had for the community.

Regular drug users and thieves have been located and dealt with accordingly that has decreased crime in the area.

One shop worker told the Havering Daily:

“There has been a considerable difference. What we called the usual suspects lying in wait to target us have been removed and that has had a knock on effect to all the others that have also now stopped.

“We have seen our regular customers return and have felt a lot more positive about going to work”.

The scheme is now established across Harold Hill and is going from strength to strength. It will expand to work across the community and build a ‘my community’ approach for all residents and could hopefully be implemented across different parts of the borough.

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