Monkhams and Roding wards are ‘understaffed’ but new officers promised

Police operating in two Redbridge wards are currently “understaffed” but are expecting new officers to start in the summer.

Both Monkham and Roding are lacking an officer and currently only have one dedicated officer and one police community support officer each.

Insp Jack Rainey, who heads safer neighbourhood teams in nine wards in the north west of the borough, said: “While we are understaffed at the moment, we are getting two new female officers in July.”

One officer in Roding ward is unavailable while carrying out research and the other officer has been off sick for the last four weeks.