Havering Council slammed over anti social behaviour failings at Cherry Tree Lane in Rainham.

Dagenham and Rainham MP, Margaret Mullane, says that Havering Council must do better on anti-social behaviour in the low-rise blocks of flats on Cherry Tree Lane.

Margaret told the Havering Daily: “I have been contacted by residents plagued by anti-social behaviour, drug-dealing, vandalism, and graffiti. Groups of young people are congregating in the stairwells night after night, gaining access through broken doors that the council say will take weeks to fix. The Council has known about this problem for weeks, Havering Council needs to demonstrate that it cares about it’s residents.”

Margaret has written to the council to urge them to carry out promised repairs as soon as possible, including fitting fob entry systems to the doors and getting the CCTV in working order.

She added: “The question I am asking, alongside my constituents, is why it takes a problem to get out of control before the council does something as basic as repairing a door.

I have written to residents in these blocks, urging them to attend the next Neighbourhood Ward Panel for that area on Friday 27th September at 6pm, at South Hornchurch Community Hall. There they will be able to hold the police to account on this and any other issue.”

While the police have stepped up patrols in the area, residents have pointed out that they need to patrol in greater numbers, later in the evening, if they hope to catch anyone or deter these groups from congregating.

Margaret will also be writing to the Borough Commander asking for greater attention to be paid to trouble spots such as this, and the shopping parade in Elm Park.

The Dagenham and Rainham MP finished: “It’s not a contradiction to say that overall our police are doing a fantastic job, and also to ask them to do better in specific situations.”

In an emergency, you should always call 999. Non-emergency crime can be reported via 101, or online at https://www.met.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/

You can also report anonymously via Crimestopperson 0800 555 111, or online at https://crimestoppers-uk.org/

Anti-social behaviour can be reported to Havering on 01708 434343, or online at https://www.havering.gov.uk/council-tenants/anti-social-behaviour-council-estates

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