‘HORNCHURCH IS BEING LEFT BEHIND’: Residents Ask For Action as ASB, Youths, Park Disorder and Speeding Cause Growing Concern.
Residents and businesses across Hornchurch are demanding action over growing concerns about anti-social behaviour, youths causing problems in the town centre, late-night activity in local parks and speeding on residential roads with the latest figures showing 31 reports of anti-social behaviour in St Andrew’s ward in June alone.
There is growing frustration among residents who say they are increasingly worried about what is happening across Hornchurch and fear that the area is being left behind.
Shopkeepers in Hornchurch Town Centre have raised concerns about groups of youths allegedly causing anti-social behaviour, while residents living across St Andrew’s ward say they are fed up with problems continuing in their neighbourhoods.
And now, the latest police figures reveal that 31 incidents of anti-social behaviour were recorded in St Andrew’s during June 2026.
ASB was the second most commonly reported crime in the ward that month, behind violence and sexual offences, which recorded 46 incidents. Vehicle crime accounted for 14 reports and burglary nine.
The concerns are not simply being raised by residents.
The police say they are carrying out high-visibility patrols targeting ASB and drug use in those areas.
That comes as residents say local parks are increasingly becoming a concern after dark.
Some residents have reported seeing young people using parks late at night for what they describe as taking so-called “balloons”.
For people living nearby, the issue is about more than nuisance.
They say they want to feel safe using their local parks and walking through their neighbourhoods without having to worry about what they might encounter after dark.
And then there is the issue of speeding.
Residents in Burnway have raised concerns about vehicles travelling at excessive speeds late at night, particularly over weekends.
The combination of speeding, noise and late-night activity has left some residents asking whether enough is being done to protect those living on residential roads.
The Metropolitan Police has issued two Section 65 dispersal notices in an attempt to tackle anti-social behaviour.
Residents have also contacted local councillors, making their concerns known and asking for further action.
For those living in the area, however, there is a feeling that the problems need to be tackled before they become even more entrenched.
The police data also shows that St Andrew’s recorded 126 crimes in June 2026 overall, compared with 114 in May and 111 in April.
Looking back over the past year, the ward recorded 153 crimes in March 2026, its highest monthly total in the Met’s published 12-month figures.
But they do demonstrate that ASB is a significant issue in St Andrew’s.
‘Hornchurch is being left behind’
That is where the frustration among residents is growing.
Some believe Hornchurch is being overlooked while other parts of the borough receive greater attention.
Businesses want to be able to trade without dealing with groups causing disruption.
Residents want their streets and parks to feel safe.
The concerns also come against a wider backdrop of anti-social behaviour across Havering.
Now residents want to know what happens next.
They have contacted councillors.
They want their town centre protected.
They want their parks to be safe.
And they want to know that their concerns are being heard.
The message from residents is becoming increasingly clear:
Hornchurch does not want to be left behind.
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.
Discover more from The Havering Daily
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
The same is happening in Redbridge.