In 2018 I launched a campaign Calling Time on Crime, demanding that the government put more resources into front-line policing and reverse the cuts in funding.

Across our tri-borough area, which includes Havering, Barking and Dagenham and Redbridge, we have seen an increase in knife crime of 10-30 per cent over the last 12 months.

Havering has also seen a 22 per cent increase in domestic violence.

On Wednesday January 16, Barking and Dagenham held the first ever East BCU (Borough Command Unit) Serious Violence Summit – you can read more about this on page 6.

Deputy mayor of policing and crime Sophie Linden addressed the summit at the start of the day and announced a harrowing fact – Metropolitan Police numbers have fallen under 30,000 officers at a time when crime is rising.

Although we need more officers on the street, policing is not the only answer to addressing the rise in violent crime. We need to come together as a community investing time and resources to rebuild the safety nets that this government have taken away.

Let’s be clear about why we’re in this situation; eight years of Tory cuts to policing, youth services, mental health provision and other vital public services have all contributed heavily to the violent crime crisis.

Even the Home Office agrees.

Now is the time to act. Redbridge have already scheduled their summit.

It is crucial that all three local authorities are on the same page to deal with the number one issue in our area, so I will be approaching the other Havering MP’s and the Leader of Havering Council to secure a timeline for Havering’s summit.

If you would like to support the Calling Time on Crime campaign, please sign the petition joncruddas.org.uk/calling-time-crime-petition