Public confidence in Redbridge police has risen, according to new figures announced by the borough’s top police officer.

Speaking at a meeting of the Redbridge Police Community Engagement Group (RPCEG) last week, Borough Commander Det Chief Supt Sue Williams revealed confidence in her officers had gone up to 73 per cent, and that 80 per cent of those questioned in a recent survey were satisfied with the service they had received from police, making Redbridge one of the best boroughs in London.

But Mrs Williams was unable to produce accurate figures on individual crimes in the borough for the previous three months.

She told the packed meeting at Forest House, Clements Road, Ilford: “I don’t have any comparisons here with last year. This doesn’t really suit me and it doesn’t really suit you.

“I will try for the next meeting to have something which is a much better indicator on whether we are up or down.”

Mrs Williams was able to inform attendees of crime-busting activities carried out by her officers in the last few months, including Operation Dandelion against street robberies and Operation Fern which saw increased police activity on Redbridge’s public transport network.

The RPCEG, which is funded by the Metropolitan Police Authority, meets four times a year to discuss community safety in Redbridge.

At the group’s annual general meeting last week, about 35 members together with members of the public listened to a summary of Redbridge Council’s community safety achievements from Cllr Shaoib Patel, before an introduction to police safer neighbourhood teams from Sgt David Brewster.

RPCEG chairman John Garlick said: “The past year has been another busy one for the RPCEG as we have sought to play our part in the jigsaw of organisations that come together with the aim of maintaining and improving community safety within the borough.”

The next meeting of the group will be on September 21.