Today I gathered together leaders from several faith groups in Harold Wood and Harold Hill to discuss how best to work together on the concerns of their congregations. The faith leaders were joined by Inspector Matthew Feather so that the community and police response to crime could also be addressed.

The meeting was held at St George’s Church in Harold Hill, with attendees including leaders from Harold Hill Salvation Army, the Havering Catholic Deanery and St. Thomas Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church. Each leader set out the services and support they provide, while my team and I shared details of our work on housing, immigration, crime and local services as well as the help we can offer on utilities and the cost of living. 

As part of the local Metropolitan Police’s recently launched faith strategy, Inspector Feather talked about deepening ties with faith leaders and their congregations as a key part of neighbourhood policing, and attendees talked about recent knife crime incidents, and how to improve safety in and around local town centres.

My team works hard to provide help and advice to residents going through difficult times. Strengthening our links to faith leaders means we can better serve people, directing them to local services and making sure that those congregations are aware of the help we can offer with a range of government services and other bodies. I am grateful to everyone who attended and am particularly thankful to Reverend Nathan Joss-Pothen for hosting us at St George’s and for the time Inspector Feather took to set out the police’s recent response to community crime concerns.