The sight of a pensioner being robbed of her savings by pickpockets in a lift in Ilford’s Exchange Shopping Centre in CCTV footage released by the police has shocked people in our community and across the country.
£1,000 in savings is replaceable - if the woman isn’t insured I will be organising an appeal for donations to make sure she isn’t out of pocket - but as any victim of crime will tell you, the shock of the crime has a great deal more impact than any material loss.
I urge residents to go online and share the footage to help police catch the vile crooks who prey on older people.
Recently I met with Cressida Dick, the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, to discuss residents’ concerns about crime in our community.
She got the message, but the Met has lost £600million since 2010 and is set to lose a further £400million by 2021.
Before the Christmas recess, I challenged ministers over their plans to further cut the policing budget in real terms - while passing on more of the cost to Londoners through a rise in the precept paid alongside Council Tax.
This is a familiar story under this government: budget cuts from central government, forcing tax rises locally.
People have a right to feel safe in their homes and communities.
Rises in violent crime shows that police cuts have consequences - and that the cuts have gone too far. Enough is enough.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here