A knife crime summit is set to take place in Romford amidst concern over a recent spate of incidents in the town.
The event is being organised by communities and church leaders and will be held at Romford Baptist Church at 6pm on Monday, March 25.
The summit comes following recent incidents, such as a stabbing in the car park of Romford’s Brewery shopping centre on February 20 when a 23-year-old man was found with a knife injury.
There have also been reports of young people being robbed at knifepoint in Romford town centre and other parts of the borough in recent months.
According to the Met Police crime dashboard, knife crime in Havering is still much lower compared to other boroughs with 315 offences reported between January 2023 and January 2024, while Westminster and Croydon each had 1,084 and 906 instances in that period.
Read More: The Brewery Romford stabbing: Met Police arrest man
But such crimes in Havering saw an increase of around 30 per cent in the 12 months ending January 2024, while the average rise in London was around 16pc.
Rev Mike Gana, who will chair the event, said it is a chance for the community to bring change and to prove that together it can “eradicate knife crime and restore hope”.
He added: “I know young people in the area who have been victims of knife crime and the recent incidents in Romford have left people feeling pensive about the future of our town.
“Knife crime is quickly becoming a culture among some young people, and we must work together to eradicate this trend."
Councillor David Taylor, of St Edwards ward, is supporting the summit and revealed that the event will open at 6pm with an exhibition of local charities and community groups who are tackling knife crime and anti-social behaviour in the area.
From 7 pm, he said, there will be a panel session with experts and local leaders taking questions from residents who will have a chance to share their views on the topic.
Cllr Taylor added: "A lot of people have lost hope in Romford. They are writing to me, telling me that they no longer feel safe in our town.
“Whilst we are, statistically, a low-crime borough I can't ignore what residents are feeling and experiencing. I want them to see what these amazing community groups are doing, along with our police, to keep the area safe."
The event, he said, will be an opportunity for councillors and other politicians to hear from residents.
“I also believe that it will help pull the community together and give them hope for Romford's and Havering's future”, he added.
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