Special Elm Park Meeting To Take Place As Police, MP And Councillors Join Forces To Tackle Shoplifting.

Retailers across Elm Park are being urged to attend a special crime prevention meeting on Monday 12 January at 10am, as police, councillors and the local MP come together to confront the growing problem of shoplifting and threats against staff.

The meeting will take place outside The Fat Pizza and is being organised by South Havering Inspector Mark Connolly, as part of a coordinated push to protect businesses and reassure the community.

Inspector Connolly told the Havering Daily:
“Elm Park Safer Neighbourhood team will be holding a crime prevention event outside The Fat Pizza on Monday 12th January at 1000hrs. Business owners are welcome to come along and speak with the team. Shop owners , store managers , employees are welcome along to represent their stores. This is your opportunity to discuss what can be done to prevent shoplifting and other crimes.”

The event will also feature a specialist crime prevention company, with Inspector Connolly adding:
“There will be a representative from Selectadna attending with a selection of crime prevention products to highlight the importance of forensic marking and crime prevention.”

He confirmed the strength of the partnership behind the meeting:
“Myself, along with Havering Local Authority , Councillors, and the MP Margaret Mullane will be attending to answer questions about what can be done to support the community and the local policing team. I would urge local shop owners to attend. This is your opportunity to have a say and impact change within Elm Park.”

Inspector Connolly also highlighted how businesses can stay involved locally:
“Representatives from your local ward panel may also be on hand to speak with you about joining the local ward panel which helps to set the local priorities for the local policing team. You will find additional information viawww.metengage.co.uk if you sign up to find out about local events which are happening in your community.”

Elm Park ward Councillor Barry Mugglestone welcomed the initiative, emphasising the importance of partnership between police, the council and local businesses. He told the Havering Daily:
“I am pleased that a local business community meeting for the Elm Park Town Centre will now take place on Monday 12th January, As the Ward Councillor who set up the shop WhatsApp group to keep shops alert of any shop lifting, I am hoping this event will give further support and products to equip the shops against shop lifting activities.”

He added:
“I have engaged with all the shops inviting them to this Event, so hopefully we will have a good attendance, and their regional managers in attendance also. The Local Authority, Met Police and Shops need to work together to stop this ASB in Elm Park.”

The meeting represents a united approach involving the Met Police, Elm Park ward councillors Barry Mugglestone and Stephanie Nunn, and Elm Park MP Margaret Mullane, who has been actively raising concerns at the highest levels.

MP Margaret Mullane has written directly to both the Mayor of London and the Policing Minister, Sarah Jones MP, highlighting the impact of shoplifting and the threat of violence against staff in Elm Park. In her letters, she has called for funding to support a local partnership initiative with shops, enabling them to acquire SelectaDNA forensic marking products to deter offenders and help identify criminals.

The importance of SelectaDNA as a practical crime prevention tool was also welcomed locally, with Councillor Mugglestone stating:
“I am very pleased to see that representatives from Selectanda will be in attendance, so our thanks go to the Met Police for arranging this especially Mark Connolly the Inspector for the area.”

With police leadership, political backing and direct engagement with shop owners, the meeting marks a decisive step in tackling shoplifting and anti-social behaviour in Elm Park. Businesses are being encouraged to attend, speak directly with officers and decision-makers, and play an active role in shaping a safer future for the town centre.

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