Recorded Crime Across Havering Has Fallen By Nearly 7%.

Neighbourhoods Chief Inspector Routley, today shares Havering Police’s monthly newsletter in the Havering Daily.

As we begin a new year, I want to speak directly to Havering residents to reflect on recent months and share important advice for the year ahead.

Policing is never done in isolation. Everything we achieve depends on partnership between officers, council colleagues, community groups and, most importantly, you—the people who live and work in our borough. Thank you for the information, engagement and support you continue to give our Safer Neighbourhood Teams. Your involvement genuinely makes a difference.

Looking back over the past 12 months, we’ve seen encouraging progress in several areas. Recorded crime fell by 6.9%, burglary by 30.5%, vehicle crime by 16.8%, shoplifting by 5.6%, sexual offences by 2.3%, and possession of weapons by 6.3%. These reductions reflect the hard work of our teams and the support of our community. We also recognise that the fear of crime is often more difficult to address than crime itself, which is why we listen closely to residents’ concerns and take visible action to ensure our neighbourhoods look and feel safer. We would welcome residents to join their local Ward Panel, where they can play an active role in shaping local policing priorities.  To find out more, visit Met Engage and contact your local team.

One team making a huge impact is the Romford Town Centre team, made up of two Sergeants and 13 Constables. Working tirelessly alongside Havering Council and Romford BID, they focus on keeping Romford safe. In the past year, they made548 arrests and searched 1,242 individuals with a positive detection rate of over 38% – a testament to their dedication and proactive approach.

As we move through the early part of the year, we anticipate a seasonal rise in robbery, particularly offences involving mobile phones. These incidents often occur during journeys to and from school, on public transport and in busy public spaces. Young people are disproportionately affected, and we are working closely with schools, transport partners and youth services to address this.

While officers are patrolling key locations and carrying out targeted operations, prevention remains vital. Parents and carers should remind young people to keep phones out of sight when not in use, stay aware of their surroundings and avoid distractions in unfamiliar areas. Importantly, no phone or item is worth risking personal safety. If threatened, comply and get to safety quickly.

One simple step that helps is registering mobile phones and valuables on Immobilise.com, the national property register supported by police. This free service helps us identify stolen items and return them to owners, while making stolen devices harder to sell—a small action with a big impact.

We will continue using the Met Engage online platform to keep residents informed about local issues, arrests, appeals and safety advice. If you’re not signed up, I encourage you to do so.

As Chief Inspector for Havering’s Safer Neighbourhood Teams, my commitment is clear: we will remain visible, approachable and focused on the issues that matter to you. Together, we can make Havering even safer in the year ahead.

Stay safe, and thank you for your continued support.

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