Romford MP Andrew Rosindell has called for more police in the borough after the tragic news that an 85-year-old woman was murdered in her home.

Romford Recorder: Police and forensic officers at the murder scene on Ashmour Gardens in RomfordPolice and forensic officers at the murder scene on Ashmour Gardens in Romford (Image: Archant)

Mr Rosindell - who has been been MP for Romford since 2001 - said that he was “horrifed” and “sickened” by the “wicked” attack.

Yesterday (Wednesday, May 16) police launched a murder investigation, after Rosina Coleman - who lived alone in Ashmour Gardens - was found dead in her home.

The elderly woman was found with serious injuries by a handyman working at her home just after 11.30 on Tuesday (May 15) morning.

Officers and the London Ambulance Service attended, and she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Andrew Rosindell has been MP for Romford since 2001 told The Recorder: “I am horrified - this is frightening for local people and I am sickened by this wicked attack on an innocent lady.

“We need more police for Havering and bring the perpetrator of this terrible crime to justice!”

Romford Recorder: Police and forensic officers at the murder scene on Ashmour Gardens in RomfordPolice and forensic officers at the murder scene on Ashmour Gardens in Romford (Image: Archant)

“I’m really deeply shocked and devastated that this has happened in Rise Park.

“It’s really frightening and shocking.

“I live just around the corner from where it happened.

“It’s so shocking when it happens so close to home.

“I know how frightened people are locally.

“The people of Havering are going to erupt with anger with the way we have been treat and not given the police resources we need.

Romford Recorder: Police and forensic officers at the murder scene on Ashmour Gardens in RomfordPolice and forensic officers at the murder scene on Ashmour Gardens in Romford (Image: Archant)

“We need more police, but I’m not saying more police would have stopped this happening.

“Even if we had 100 more police officers we couldn’t stop murders like this.

“We’ve seen a lot of crime and shocking incidents in the area in the last few months and this is the worst of the lot.”

Speaking about ways to reduce crime like this in the borough he said: “I’m against the tri-borough. It means less resources for Havering and more for Redbridge and Dagenham.

“The Mayor of London (Sadiq Khan) should allocate more resources for boroughs like Havering.

“We shouldn’t be costed out.”

He said that The Mayor of London should cut-back on the international aid budget and spend the money on policing. Another idea that Mr Rosindell spoke about is that Havering could become a unitary council.

This opens a “whole new debate” according to the Romford MP and he said that he thought the reason the Conservative party did so well in the recent local election was because they campaigned with the idea of “keeping Havering special”

Mr Rosindell took to Twitter and said: “I am awaiting a report from Romford Police which I hope will reveal more information about the circumstances surrounding Mrs Coleman’s shocking murder. When we know all the facts, I will be seeking an urgent meeting with the Home Secretary.

“I have been calling on the Mayor of London to allocate more resources for Police in Havering for a very long time now, but inner London always seems to be his priority. Local people are very angry and this cannot go on!

“I have also called on the government to reduce our international aid budget and re-allocate a substantial amount to Policing, Security, Counter-terrorism and Border Control - we have to keep our own country and people safe first!”