Margaret Hodge, Mp For Barking

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The recent fire in De Pass Gardens was truly devastating and will have surely shocked everyone in Barking and Dagenham.

Last month I was deeply saddened to hear the news of the shocking terrorist attack in New Zealand.

Last month we had two serious violent attacks around Barking station.

A couple of months ago I wrote in the Barking and Dagenham Post about the need to combat rising knife crime with a tough approach that tackles the causes of violent crime and better supports police.

Last week, the Barking and Dagenham Post released troubling figures about the dramatic rise in violent crime across the borough.

Last week, we found out the awful news that the chemotherapy unit at King George Hospital is set to close in November, due to staffing issues.

Another a long, hot summer is over and it’s the time of year that most of us get stuck back in to work and school.

When I meet constituents, crime is nearly always the most pressing issue for them – crime is increasing in our community.

Knife crime is increasing in our borough, particularly among young people.