THE HAVERING OFFICERS TAKING THE FIGHT TO CRIMINALS: HAVERING JOINT TASK FORCE 1,000 ARRESTS AND COUNTING.

30th September 202630th September 2026 Francesca Lilleystone 0 Comments Havering, Havering Council, Havering Joint Task Force min read

Havering’s dedicated Joint Task Force officers have been praised for their outstanding work tackling crime and anti-social behaviour across the borough, with Council Leader Councillor Keith Prince describing them as “the finest officers across London”.

The six-strong Havering Joint Task Force has become a familiar sight across the borough, carrying out intelligence-led operations, targeting known offenders and responding to some of the issues that cause residents the greatest concern.

And the results speak for themselves.

According to Havering Council, the Joint Task Force has now made more than 1,000 arrests, with an 80 per cent positive outcome at court.

The figures were highlighted at Havering’s Crime Summit in November 2025, where Superintendent Sharon Brind praised the results achieved by the officers.

“The Havering Joint Taskforce having made over 1,000 arrests with an 80 per cent positive outcome at court, is just one example of the results achieved by our committed officers,” she said.

For a team consisting of just five officers and one sergeant, the record built up over the years is considerable.

The Joint Task Force was established in 2020 and was initially made up of one sergeant and five constables.

During its first six months alone, the team made 104 arrests and recovered 45 stolen vehicles worth more than £1 million.

In its first full year, the officers made more than 200 arrests and recovered 89 stolen vehicles worth more than £1.8 million.

Council figures showed that 73 per cent of those arrested were charged with an offence.

The team’s work has covered a wide range of offences, including burglary, weapons offences, drugs, robbery, vehicle crime and anti-social behaviour.

And their proactive approach has also produced some striking results when it comes to stop and search.

During the first six months, the team carried out 279 stop and searches, accounting for 20 per cent of all stop and searches in Havering at that time.

Importantly, 34 per cent of the team’s searches resulted in action such as a penalty notice or arrest, compared with a borough average of 25 per cent.

The officers have also played a major role in operations targeting criminals crossing the Havering and Essex border.

Operation Gambler, carried out alongside the Metropolitan Police and Essex Police, targeted high-harm offenders including burglars, robbers and drug dealers.

The Joint Task Force has also worked alongside other policing teams and council services, sharing intelligence and helping identify offenders.

And this is precisely why Councillor Keith Prince has singled out the officers for such high praise.

During a briefing on the new Havering 2040 vision, the Council Leader described the Joint Task Force officers as:

“The finest officers across London.”

He also praised their work tackling crime, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour across Havering.

For residents, the importance of having officers dedicated specifically to Havering is clear.

The team is not simply there to respond after an offence has happened.

Its role includes intelligence gathering, targeted operations, searches, arrests and working with other agencies to tackle problems identified within local communities.

It is a proactive approach designed to get ahead of offenders rather than simply react to crime after it has happened.

And while no police team can prevent every crime, the record of the Havering Joint Task Force demonstrates the impact a small, dedicated team can have.

More than 1,000 arrests.

An 80 per cent positive outcome at court.

Hundreds of arrests during its early years.

Millions of pounds worth of stolen vehicles recovered.

And countless intelligence-led operations aimed at protecting Havering residents.

For Councillor Keith Prince, that record is enough to put the officers among the very best in London.

And for the residents of Havering who see these officers out on the streets tackling offenders, their work is making a very real difference to the borough.

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