Council Leader Hits Back At “Completely False” Rumours Over Harold Hill Family Welcome Centre
Havering Council Leader Councillor Keith Prince has hit back at what he describes as a wave of misinformation and “deliberate untrue rumours” being spread on social media about families moving into the borough’s new Family Welcome Centre in Harold Hill.
The Council Leader has made it clear that claims circulating online about who is living at the centre and how it is being used are “completely false.”
Councillor Prince said:
“There has been a lot of misinformation, and in some cases, deliberate untrue rumours, being spread on social media about the families moving into Havering’s new Family Welcome Centre in Harold Hill.”
“Let me be absolutely clear: the claims being made about who is living at the centre and how it is being used are completely false.”
The Family Welcome Centre has been established to provide temporary accommodation for Havering families who are already owed a housing duty by the Council, including families with children.
Councillor Prince said the centre is intended to provide families with a safe and secure place to live while they are supported towards longer-term accommodation.
“For too long, councils across London have had to rely on expensive and often unsuitable hotel and bed and breakfast accommodation for families facing homelessness. That can be disruptive for children, costly for taxpayers, and far from the stable environment families need at an already difficult time.”
He said the new centre provides a different approach, allowing families to remain closer to their existing communities.
“This centre is a better and more responsible approach. It keeps Havering families closer to their schools, support networks, health services and communities, while giving the Council greater control over the quality and cost of temporary accommodation.”
The Council Leader acknowledged that residents may have questions about the centre but urged people to rely on factual information rather than social media rumours.
“We understand that residents may have questions, and we will always seek to provide clear and factual information.”
However, he warned that spreading false information about families living at the centre could have serious consequences.
“Spreading false rumours about accommodation housing vulnerable families is unacceptable. It causes unnecessary fear, creates division within our community and risks targeting people who are simply trying to rebuild their lives in safety.”
Councillor Prince also confirmed that the Council is working with police to reassure families, staff and residents.
“Our priority is, and will remain, keeping residents safe. The continued spread of misinformation puts residents and staff at the centre at risk, and we are working closely with the police, who are supporting the Council to reassure families, staff and the wider community.”
The message from the Council is clear: questions about the Family Welcome Centre are welcome, but claims about the centre and the families living there should be based on facts rather than social media rumours.
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A Reform council leader complaining of social media ‘misinformation’ about the demographic of families being housed by the authority.
A certain irony there, eh ?
To borrow a phrase from Private Eye: the ironymeter has just exploded !