Police cutbacks are a growing concern for Chadwell, Goodmayes and Seven Kings, according to the wards councillors.

Area five councillors want to know what the impact will be on local police teams, and Cllr Wes Streeting said safer neighbourhood officers feel stretched as it is.

Cllr Wes Streeting said: “There’s a degree of smoke and mirrors about what you hear from the Mayor of London. There are a lot of figures produced about how much will be cut from the budget but very little thought given into this will impact on local areas.

“Safer Neighbourhood Officer Sgt Seamus Hansard told us our force is going to be more stretched with the cutbacks and crime, especially burglary, is a real issue in our area and extending into Barkingside and Aldborough.

“They can only do so much with the resources they have and are doing as much as could reasonably be expected of them.”