“Women Do Not Feel Safe In Havering”: Residents Protest Over Lack of Policing and Safety Failures

Locals rally outside Romford Town Hall to demand action over broken CCTV, street harassment, sexual offences and dwindling police presence. WHERE IS OUR POLICE?

A protest held outside the Town Hall in Romford yesterday laid bare a borough’s growing frustration with its policing failures and concerns around community safety—especially for women.

Organised by Romford Councillor David Taylor, the demonstration drew angry and emotional residents who say they no longer feel safe walking the streets, particularly at night. Holding posters showing shocking statistics, Councillor Taylor highlighted that despite Havering being labelled as ‘one of London’s safest boroughs’, the figures tell a different story: 81 recorded sexual offences in a single month, 64 incidents of anti-social behaviour, and alarmingly, 32% of the borough’s CCTV not working.

“Women are scared on the streets of Havering,” said Yasmin, a Romford resident and mother of two autistic daughters. “I do not feel safe when I go out. I fear for my daughters’ safety too. This borough is not safe for women.”

Residents shared personal accounts of harassment and public indecency, with many expressing that their reports to police have fallen on deaf ears.

“I was flashed twice in Raphael’s Park,” said Ann, another local woman. “Once I was with my friend and she ran after him. The second time, a runner openly exposed himself while I was walking my dog. I’ve also had community payback men make sexual comments to me in the park—and when I tried to report it, the supervisor was smoking drugs and didn’t care.”

Another resident told the Havering Daily: “Clear all these hotels of men who we do not know their past history, that is another reason we are scared.”

The anger was palpable. Locals complained that pleas for better lighting in public spaces and for locking parks at night had gone ignored by the council. Several women approached Council Leader Ray Morgon directly during the protest, demanding answers. They want immediate improvements, including better infrastructure and visible policing.

Adding to the frustration were claims of poor police responsiveness: missed meetings, unacknowledged emails to senior officers, and serious crimes being closed prematurely. One man reported his car was stolen outside his home, but despite having clear Ring doorbell footage, the case was closed within two hours.

Councillor Taylor’s message was clear: “How can we be told we’re a safe borough when women are reporting repeated sexual harassment and 32% of our CCTV doesn’t even work?”

Residents are calling for:

• Immediate repair and improvement of CCTV systems.
• Better lighting in parks and public areas.
• Regular police patrols and a visible presence in problem areas.
• Faster, more effective responses from officers when crimes are reported.

Havering’s reputation as a ‘safe borough’ is now under scrutiny, as more and more residents demand actions over assurances. For the women who have faced harassment, exposure, and fear, the time for promises has passed—what they need now is protection.

Stay up to date with all of our latest updates and content by following us on our social media accounts!

We have created community pages where we will share our up-to-date stories happening in the area. Add the area closest to where you live.