EXCLUSIVE: Havering MP’s call on local police officers to remain in the area as borough faces huge surge in shoplifting.

Our community is being left vulnerable as officers are pulled into central London to deal with the upheavals of central London. This is unacceptable and unfair to the residents of our community–Andrew Rosindell MP.

‘At a time when it is already clear that Havering does not receive a fair share of the Met’s resources, it is essential that those officers we do have remain in the community’-Julia Lopez MP.

The Havering Daily has been working with many retail outlets right across our borough who have faced a significant increase in shoplifting. Retailers are tired of similar faces targeting their store everyday coming into the area just to shoplift or cause anti social behaviour.

Andrew Rosindell-the Member of Parliament for Romford and Julia Lopez-the Member of Parliament for Hornchurch and Upminster have both been extremely vocal on the need to keep Havering based police officers in Havering and not abstracted to other areas.

The two Conservative MP’s have reiterated their call that it is now time Havering officers are allowed to remain in the area and are able to do their job locally.

Mr Rosindell told the Havering Daily:

“I fully support The Havering Daily’s campaign to keep Havering’s police officers stationed in Havering, where they are desperately needed. Our community is being left vulnerable as officers are pulled into central London to deal with the upheavals of central London. This is unacceptable and unfair to the residents of our community, who deserve the protection and policing they pay for.
However, the issue goes deeper than just policing. Havering is consistently dealt a poor hand by being part of ‘Greater London’. Why should Romford be in the same policing zone as Bromley or Uxbridge, when we have much more in common with our neighbours in Essex, like Brentwood and Thurrock? Havering is being overlooked and neglected under the current system. It’s time to re-evaluate Havering’s place within Greater London and consider a return to being a unitary borough within Essex, where we can be better served by local services that understand and reflect the needs of our community.”

Mrs Lopez told the Havering Daily:

“For too long, Havering’s ward policing has suffered due to officer abstractions. The endless central London protests and antics of eco-warriors have only worsened the problem. I have been pushing the Mayor and Met to recognise the impact on outer boroughs like Havering for some time. It is hugely dispiriting for local police officers, who are frustrated by being pulled out of their wards, and creates a real challenge for residents. At a time when it is already clear that Havering does not receive a fair share of the Met’s resources, it is essential that those officers we do have remain in the community.’

We have seen an increase in shoplifting from Harold Hill, Elm Park, Hornchurch and Upminster. Shops in these town centres are reporting the same faces repeatedly targeting their stores.

At a meeting last month organised by Julia Lopez MP for Hornchurch retailers, a huge sense of frustration was felt that local shops were regularly being targeted by the same faces and despite shopkeepers attempting to stop them entering their premises, these thieves were still there stealing.

Retailers are calling on police to please provide a visible presence in theses areas to support them.

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