Havering Police Deliver Outstanding Community Football Day for Children.

Yesterday, Monday 22 December, Havering Police led a fantastic sport event in Romford, showcasing their continued commitment to supporting young people and strengthening community ties through the United in Football and Basketball initiative. The event highlighted the positive, proactive role officers play across the borough, creating safe spaces and meaningful opportunities for children and families.

Launched in 2023 as part of the Clear, Hold, Build project, the initiative is already leaving a strong legacy in Havering. Yesterday, 232 children came together to take part in a series of football sessions delivered in partnership with the West Ham United Kicks Programme.

The event was a collaborative effort supported by Havering Council and the Holiday Activity and Food Programme, which provided funding along with free water bottles, T shirts and information packs for the children. Havering Police also hosted a Violence Against Women and Girls crime prevention stall, which was very well received by families. Children were also given the chance to meet officers from the TSG unit, which proved to be one of the highlights of the day.

More than 200 children attended the sessions, enjoying a day filled with football, fun and positive engagement. The winter sun shone at the Power League on the A12 in Romford as girls and boys played football, met police officers and enjoyed free food in a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere. It was a truly fantastic community day, and praise has been given to all involved, including Chief Inspector Routley, Inspector Patel and PC Harley, who were described as doing an outstanding job.

Feedback from both parents and children was extremely positive, with many expressing their appreciation for the hard work and partnership approach that made the event such a success. Officers also used the opportunity to promote Met Engage, encouraging parents to sign up and learn more about how they can stay informed and involved.

Thanks were extended to Havering Council and the West Ham United Foundation for their continued support in helping to deliver the event and strengthen community links.

This session marked a strong end to 2025 for the programme. Over the past year, 24 events were delivered, welcoming 1,882 children across Havering and bringing the total number of attendees to 3,700 since the initiative was launched.

Given the strong engagement and positive outcomes seen throughout the year, Havering Police have confirmed their commitment to continuing the initiative into the new year and will work closely with the local authority to explore further funding opportunities.

The United Football initiative has also now been formally acknowledged by the College of Policing, recognising its value as an effective youth diversion and community safety programme.

Inspector Patel told the Havering Daily: “Seeing more than 200 children come together today demonstrates exactly why the United Football initiative is so important to our community. It provides young people with safe spaces, positive role models and meaningful opportunities to grow and thrive. This programme plays a vital role in youth diversion, helping steer young people away from anti social behaviour by building trust, confidence and positive relationships with the police. The support from Havering Council, the West Ham United Foundation and the HAF Programme has been exceptional, and the positive feedback from families highlights just how valued and impactful this work truly is. By continuing to invest in initiatives like this, we hope to strengthen community ties and contribute to long term reductions in crime.”

Finally, organisers wished residents and families across Havering a very Merry Christmas.

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.