MOPAC Report See's Increased Community Policing

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MOPAC Report See's Increased Community Policing

The Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime recently published a report following on the outcome of the Public Access and Engagement Strategy.

On Wednesday 1st November after a three-month campaign led by Jon Cruddas MP, and supported by the council; the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime has announced that Dagenham police station has been saved. This is the closest police stations for the three Havering wards situated in Jon Cruddas MP's constituency.

Furthermore, the report details that the front counter provision for Havering will be at Romford Police Station which will be staffed 24 hours and offer face to face contact. Romford Police Station will be open for the long term so residents can be assured that this service will still be available to them.

The Safer Neighbourhood Bases in the borough will be closed, but the base at Tadworth Parade, Elm Park, will be converted into a Dedicated Ward Officer hub. There will also be more Dedicated Ward Office hubs opened across the borough, working on a general rule that DWO's should begin their shift no more than 20 minutes walking time away from the ward they patrol, with many much closer.

There have been concerns raised regarding the long distances that some residents will need to travel to Romford Police Station. These concerns have been addressed and the Metropolitan Police Service have committed to holding dedicated contact sessions in these communities. These sessions will be held twice a week so that members of the public can come discuss their issues face to face without having to worry about the hassle of getting to Romford Police Station. They will be at least an hour long and will, where possible, happen at the same location each time.

Fay Hough, Havering Coordinator said: "It does concern me that the Safer Neighbourhood Bases in the borough are going to be closed, but with the addition of the Dedicated Ward Hub's being added I feel community policing will strengthen. PCSO's will be given tablets and laptops to hot desk from whereever they are in the Borough, and I feel this is a positive approach to community policing that will see an increased presence of our officers on the streets."