Celebrating Havering’s Heroes-Local Police Officers who have made an outstanding contribution to our community.

Havering has some outstanding police officers who do an incredible job on our streets everyday. Today-we acknowledge five officers who really have made a difference to our borough.

First -let us thank all our response officers who have worked across Christmas and long hours each week to support our community-thank you.

This year has been a challenging one for the Met Police. However, here in Havering we would like to pay tribute to five officers who have made an incredible contribution to our local community.

Superintendent Neal Donohoe is East Area’s lead for Frontline Policing. Neal is an excellent police chief who always puts his officers first and has been described as ‘the salt of the earth’ by his troops. He also puts his community first and attends endless community events listening to the public and their concerns.

Neal was at the special Harold Hill community fun day, where he was found on his police motorbike chatting to parents and their children. He is a proactive officer who never turns away a chance to support the community and work alongside members of the public. He is the most proactive leader you can find and we are fortunate to have him here in Havering.

Chief Inspector Charlie Routley has been the lead for the Clear Hold Build Initiative that was launched in Harold Hill last year. Clear Hold Build has provided the community with some incredible results including the decrease in anti social behaviour by half and a reduction in shopping lifting that had blighted the Harold Hill shops.

Charlie was also instrumental in the organisation of the Harold Hill Community Fun day in September this year that saw hundreds turn out for what was a truly memorable day for all. His team of officers have worked very hard throughout the year to reduce crime across Harold Hill, in particular the ongoing issues at the Hilldene shopping area. Charlie has worked non stop to really make a difference to his local community.

Inspector Mark Connolly-Neighbourhoods Inspector for South Havering has worked with his community continuously this year. Faced with many challenges including the increase in shoplifting across many of our high streets and the shortage of officers, Mark has done his best to provide as many officers as he can to support retail outlets across Hornchurch, Elm Park and Rainham. Mark has attended endless meetings with retail workers who have faced a great deal of abuse from thieves and has listened to them and provided as much support as he can. He has attended many community events throughout the year, working hand in hand with the local community and listening to what they have to say and their concerns.

Mark has made a very positive contribution to our community.

Sergeant Ben Tanner-leads Havering Joint Task Force. Havering Joint Task Force have an outstanding record of success across the borough thanks to Ben and his officers. Ben is a very proactive officer who leads from the front. His work ethic is by far the most remarkable and he really is an officer who makes a difference across Havering. He and his officers tackle car theft, robbery and anti social behaviour. It was in fact Ben and his staff that swiftly arrested two teenagers who had caused an endless spate of burglaries before Christmas in Rise Park.

Ben and his team are extremely proactive across our streets and we need many more officers like him. He is an outstanding officer who has made a huge positive impact across our borough.

PCSO Angela Gilham-is well known and much respected across Hornchurch Town Centre. Angela works hard to reduce anti social behaviour and shoplifting across her ward. It was in fact Angela who tackled two individuals who had been shoplifting across Hornchurch and were armed with a knife. Angela, on her own, managed to apprehend and arrest one of the thieves without any concerns for her own safety.

Angela is always seen on her patch liaising with local retail workers and tackling those who come to the area to commit crime. She knows her community well and spends time chatting to locals about ongoing issues of concerns. She is a much respected beat officer who knows her community and they know her. She does an excellent job across her ward.

Thank you to all of these officers who have done an incredible job throughout the year and really do deserve thanks from their local community.

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