Returning to Parliament following Easter recess, Andrew Rosindell M.P. asked The Rt Hon. Chris Philp M.P., Minister of State for Crime, Policing, and Fire for urgent policing reforms in Havering. Romford supplies City Hall and the Mayor of London with the money for them to get on with the job, but time and time again, Havering does not seem to reap the rewards of this investment. It is about time Romford became under the same policing area as places like Brentwood rather than Bromley!
Andrew released a statement shortly after stating the following:
Under the Mayor of London’s tenure, crime has skyrocketed, leaving communities like Romford vulnerable and unsafe. A recent crime wave in Gidea Park and a stabbing in Romford have created an atmosphere of fear that I am not prepared to tolerate in Romford.
On my first day back in the House of Commons following the Easter recess, I have taken decisive action by pushing the Minister of State for Crime, Policing, and Fire for urgent policing reforms in our corner of ‘Greater London’ in a written question and on the floor of the House. In response to my written question, The Rt Hon. Chris Philp M.P. confirmed the government’s commitment to bolstering police numbers.
On the floor of the House of Commons during Home Affairs Questions, I represented the grievances of Romford residents, citing the alarming surge in crime, including the recent stabbing in the heart of our town. I demanded swift action to emulate the effective strategies of police and crime commissioner Roger Hirst in Essex, who has successfully tackled community safety concerns. Something the Mayor of London has completely failed to do in our area.
The Minister’s acknowledgment of the stark difference in approach, coupled with criticism of Sadiq Khan’s failure to meet recruitment targets, laid bare the incompetence of the Mayor’s administration in ‘City Hall’. I believe it is high time for the people of ‘Greater London’ to demand accountability and exercise their vote wisely in the upcoming election to combat the epidemic of crime plaguing our streets!
The people of Romford are angry that they are not getting the Police cover they are paying for. We need a better deal for Havering to keep the streets of Romford and Hornchurch safe and I will not rest until that happens.
This contribution and statement was covered by the Havering Daily, also featuring Andrew's written parliamentary question on a similar topic.
For the Hansard entry of Andrew's question in the House of Commons, read as follows:
The people of Romford are angry that they are not getting the police cover from the Mayor of London that we pay for. We are seeing a crime wave across Romford, including in Gidea Park, and we have seen a stabbing in the town centre. We have had enough. Will the Minister please ensure reform, so that Essex towns such as Romford get the service that Roger Hirst gives to the people of the historic county?
Andrew Rosindell MP, Member of Parliament for Romford
My hon. Friend is quite right to draw attention to the contrast between the excellent work done by Roger Hirst in Essex and the appalling job being done by Sadiq Khan in London. Sadiq Khan is the only one of the 43 police and crime commissioners to have missed his recruitment target and, tragically, police officer numbers are falling in London, in contrast to the rest of the country. Londoners will have a chance to cast their vote on 2 May, and I hope that they kick him out.
The Rt Hon. Chris Philp M.P., Minister of State for Crime, Policing, and Fire
