Are Daily London Protests Leaving Havering With No Visible Policing?

Let’s be clear: if you’re frustrated about the lack of policing, don’t blame the officers. Blame those who have failed to properly fund, support, or prioritise them.

Lack of visible policing has been cited as one of the biggest concerns for Havering residents. It’s ironic that while some parts of London have championed the idea of defunding the police, that defunding has now happened — not as a campaign, but as a consequence of years of cuts and officer reductions. Some boroughs in London are now believed to have no police coverage whatsoever at certain times. In Havering, however, the feeling couldn’t be more different. Residents here are not calling for fewer police — they are calling for more. More officers on our streets, more visible patrols, more investment in safety across the borough.

Havering falls under the East Area Basic Command Unit, which also includes Barking and Dagenham, and Redbridge. For years, residents in Havering have voiced concerns that we would come last in the queue when it comes to police coverage compared to our two neighbours. Those fears seem to be increasingly valid. Officers meant to serve our borough are often pulled away to central London, covering the protests that have now become a daily occurrence. This leaves Havering stripped back to the bone, under-resourced and overlooked.

Policing has long been used as a political football, kicked around by politicians looking to score points. But we are now past that stage — we’re at red warning levels. Numbers are so low that the idea of “visible policing” is starting to feel like a nostalgic memory. The few officers left are stretched impossibly thin. And yet, it’s these same officers who rush to the scene of stabbings, who apply life-saving aid, and who still try to do their jobs with dignity and courage. We’re at a point where even calls are having to be judged on importance — a bleak reality for a capital city borough.

And let’s not forget, these warnings were given. Officers and policing leaders have said for years that this day would come. They were accused of “crying wolf” — a line made famous by a former Prime Minister. But the wolf is here, and it’s biting deep. Havering’s officers continue to do their best, but this week served as a stark reminder that the magic box of officers is empty. The sign might as well read, “That’s all, folks.”

Adding to the crisis is the physical state of police stations themselves. Many are crumbling, dilapidated, and desperately in need of repair. Once again, there is no funding. Those holding the purse strings seem to have missed the fact that London has grown significantly in both population and crime rates. And yet, money has not followed that growth. The result? A borough like Havering, left behind.

Despite all this, Havering is fortunate to have some of the most dedicated frontline officers and community PCSOs in London. These officers work tirelessly, often without thanks, and make a real difference in their communities. But let’s be clear: if you’re frustrated about the lack of policing, don’t blame the officers. Blame those who have failed to properly fund, support, or prioritise them. Officers know they have very few allies in high places, but they also know that many communities still support them — far more than some would have you believe.

Havering deserves better and our officers equally deserve to be backed and not abandoned.

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