‘Our Harold Hill’ Launches Build Phase After Two Years of sustained Crime Reduction and Community Driven Progress.

5th March 20265th March 2026 Francesca Lilleystone 0 Comments Clear Hold Build, Community, Harold Hill Police min read

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The Metropolitan Police Service alongside Havering Council, Youth Unity, local partners and residents have officially launched the Build phase of the Our Harold Hill – Clear Hold Build project — marking the next stage in a twoyear programme that has significantly reduced crime and strengthened community resilience across Harold Hill.

The launch event, held at MyPlace, Harold Hill on Saturday 28^th February 2026, brought together residents, businesses, charities, youth organisations, council teams, and police to acknowledge the progress achieved and set out the longterm ambitions of the Build phase in Harold Hill

What Is Clear, Hold, Build?

The Our Harold Hill project is part of the nationally recognised Clear, Hold, Build (CHB) model — a partnership approach designed to tackle crime and empower communities. The framework works in three stages:

• Clear: Police and partners remove the most harmful offenders, disrupt criminal networks, and deal with immediate threats.

• Hold: Agencies work closely with residents to maintain safety, support vulnerable people, and stabilise the area.

• Build: The community, council, and police work together on longterm improvements, investment, youth opportunities, and local pride.

Harold Hill is one of the first areas in London to move through all three phases in full partnership.

Two Years of Progress Through ‘Our Harold Hill’

The programme began with the Clear phase which launched in December 2023, following extensive intelligence work and a major multiagency meeting at MyPlace. During Clear, the local Safer Neighbourhoods Team made:

• More than 130 arrests for a wide range of offences, including:-

• Possession with intent to supply class A and B drugs

• Possession of offensive weapons

• Burglary

• Vehicle crime

• Robbery

• Shoplifting

• Breaches of Criminal Behaviour Orders

• Offenders who were wanted on warrant and recall to prison

• Over 30 warrants executed

• Over £2 million worth of drugs have been recovered

• Numerous weapons and stolen vehicles seized

Alongside Havering Council we have formed the Criminal Behaviour Order panel framework, a multi-agency panel that sits to manage persistent offenders via the use of CBOs. Since its inception 2 years ago the panel has secured 20 CBOs for offenders across the whole of Havering. This holistic approach helps to ensure that conditions on the CBO not only disrupt the subjects offending, but also deal with the root cause of their behaviour and seeks to positively divert them to drugs, alcohol and mental health services where appropriate.

We have also utilised closure order powers on numerous problem addresses in Harold Hill, responding to residentsconcerns around persistent ASB and drug related activity. Removing individuals causing the most harm within our communities and making the area safer for local residents

Following sustained crime reductions in the area, the project then moved into the Hold phase in July 2024, under the community owned branding Our Harold Hill designed by Broadford Primary School pupil Rubie Rae, whose artwork now serves as the official project logo.

The Hold phase prioritised longterm safety, support for vulnerable residents, youth engagement, and rebuilding trust in local services.

Major Crime Reductions

Two years of joint working have resulted in significant reductions across key crime categories. Comparing the last 12 months with the 2023 prelaunch period, Harold Hill has seen:

• 935 fewer victimbased crimes (down 28.3%)

• 111 fewer violence with injury offences (down 27.6%)

• 98 fewer burglaries (down 56.3%)

• 349 fewer vehicle crimes (down 57.1%)

• 110 fewer shoplifting offences (down 41.2%)

These results outperform both Havering and wider MPS averages in nearly every category and represent almost 1000 fewer victims across major crime types.

Youth Engagement and Diversion

Youth diversion has been a central focus throughout the Hold phase, delivered through several key initiatives.

One of the most impactful has been the work of Youth Unity, who have provided weekly outreach sessions on Farnham Road using their mobile intervention bus. These sessions give local young people:

• A safe and welcoming place to go

• Access to trusted youth mentors

• Support, activities, and guidance

• Positive alternatives to harmful influences and crime

The consistent presence on Farnham Road has strengthened relationships with young people, diverted them away from antisocial behaviour, and connected them with services that offer longterm support.

Alongside this, our successful United in Football and Basketball project, delivered with Havering Council and the West Ham United Foundation, has now engaged over 3,800 young people across Havering. Providing children free Football and Basketball sessions during school holidays, focusing on areas known as youth ASB and crime related hotspots, contributing to clear reductions and improved relationships between young people and the police.

Growing Community Pride

During the Hold phase as also launched the Our Harold Hill Community Fun Day in Central Park. This event attracts thousands of residents each year and has become a major celebration of community pride in the area. Bringing residents together alongside the Police, Havering Council, local charities and service providers to enhance community pride and cohesion in the area. The next event is scheduled for Saturday 5th September 2026, supported by RM3 Events, with plans to make it the biggest yet.

Photos from the Community Fun Day?

Entering the Build Phase

The Build phase will focus on embedding resilience, developing local skills and opportunities, supporting vulnerable residents, and ensuring crime reductions are sustained into the future.

A/CI Charlie Routley, Havering Safer Neighbourhoods and Tactical Lead for Clear Hold Build in Havering, said:

“I’m incredibly proud of the progress we’ve made since launching the Clear phase in December 2023 and of what we’ve achieved together as part of the ‘Our Harold Hill – Clear Hold Build’ programme. Today’s public meeting at MyPlace has been a chance to show the community just how far we’ve come.

By prioritising focused neighbourhood policing throughout the Clear and Hold phases, we’ve made significant arrests, disrupted criminal activity, and, most importantly, seen a substantial reduction in the number of victims of crime. This has only been possible through strong partnership working and the continued support of local residents.

But our work doesn’t stop here. As we now move into the Build phase, our focus shifts to longterm prevention — tackling the underlying causes of offending, strengthening community resilience, and working alongside partners and residents to secure lasting improvements. Together, we will continue to transform Harold Hill into a safer, stronger place to live and work.”

Councillor Ray Morgon, Leader of Havering Council, said:

“This is a great achievement by everyone working together under the Clear Hold Build initiative, but we all know there is more work to do. We hope it sends out a message to those looking to cause anti-social behaviour or carry it out in the community, that it won’t be tolerated. There has been action taken against those who have committed offences and both ourselves and the Police won’t hesitate to continue taking action.

We also hope that residents and local businesses feel reassured that they are being listened to but also feel confident to report anti-social behaviour and concerns over crime. Together with the police and all our partners, the aim is to help provide a safer and happy community for all.”