Teaming up to keep the borough safe

On-the-spot enforcement action has been taken over the last few weeks to crack down on these crimes and help stamp out anti-social behaviour.

It is part of the on-going partnership working between the Council and police. 

In Romford, the Council’s tactical enforcement team joined officers from the Romford Town Neighbourhood Policing team with sniffer dogs.

Between them, they carried out 20 stop and searches.

Two people were given community resolutions, where they are asked to either give a formal apology or carry out community service as result.

One person was also questioned about the possession of cannabis.

Partnership working was also the key for Operation Cubo. 

This initiative saw officers from the Safer Transport team and the Council go to Ferry Lane, Rainham.

They were checking that drivers carrying waste had the correct licences to do so. They were also checking on uninsured drivers.

There were 74 vehicles stopped, one arrest and five seizures of items, with 18 TORs (Traffic Offence Reports) handed out.

In addition to this, the Council’s public protection officers joined Council-funded S92 police officers re-visiting businesses.

These were businesses who had not been compliant in Covid 19 regulations on previous visits.

These visits are to ensure those businesses are getting the support they need to comply.

If the improvements are not put in place, they face prosecution if there are serious breaches that affect health and safety.

Councillor Viddy Persaud, Havering’s Cabinet Member for Public Protection and Safety, said:

“We work closely with police and community groups on a daily basis to tackle crime and the threat of crime.

"Our priority is always to protect our residents so they can live, work and go to school as safely as possible.

“We also want visitors to our borough to come here and enjoy what Havering has to offer in a safe environment as we look to recover from the Covid 19 pandemic.

“Operations like this are important and support further the work that is going on as we look to take the strongest action in making sure we keep Havering safe.”

The theft of scrap metal, including catalytic convertors from cars, has made the headlines in recent months.

Havering has not had a high number of these thefts compared to some other areas.

However, a week of action was recently held to look at what can be done to try to prevent it. 

This included Council officers and police visiting scrap metal dealers in potential hotspot areas, who may be offloading the metal.

Inspector Rob McElroy, from Havering’s Safer Neighbourhood Team, said:

“The joint working between Havering Council and the Met Police over the past 12 months has gone from strength to strength.

“It has shown how working together to combat both crime and anti-social behaviour helps to make the borough a safer place for everyone who lives, works and visits here.”