On behalf of all the officers and staff at Harrow Police, I would like to extend our deepest sympathies to Alison Morrison's family and friends at this terribly difficult time.

I had the pleasure of knowing and working with Alison in her role as the vice chairman of our borough's Safer Neighbourhood Board. She was held in high regard locally and truly cared about the borough.  Her friends within the local community will be devastated by her loss.

I would like to thank all my officers that were involved in this incident. A man now faces justice at court for this horrendous attack on one of Harrow's shining stars.

This will be my last blog before Christmas so I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas. Throughout the festive period my officers will be working hard to keep Harrow safe. Please ensure you drink responsibly and bear in mind that any sort of violence will not be tolerated. Please have a safe and enjoyable Christmas.

On Wednesday December 12, I attended the Choices 4 All centre in Pinner Road, Harrow to help launch the new 'safe place' scheme. Choices 4 All is a centre for people with disabilities and learning difficulties. The safe place scheme is designed to give them more places around the borough to feel safe in times of need. I was delighted to have been given the opportunity to talk to the learners about crime prevention. This scheme is excellent idea to keep them safe in most areas across our borough displaying the safe place sign.

On Tuesday, December 16, we held our annual Christmas carol concert at St John's Church, in Station Road, Harrow. In attendance was the Worshipful Mayor of Harrow Councillor Ajay Maru, Her Majesty’s Deputy Lieutenant for Harrow Mr John Purnell and the Bishop of Willesden the Right Reverend Pete Broadbent.  I was privileged to have read The Word Becomes Flesh from John 1:1-14 to the congregation. I would like to thank all those who attended and those who made this event possible. I will see you all again next year!

Thieves frequently operate:

  • At tube stations.
  • At cash machines.
  • In car parks.
  • Around bus stations.
  • In overcrowded areas, especially at rush hour.

Be aware and keep your possessions safe:

  • Never leave your bags or other valuables unattended in public places.
  • Be discreet with your belongings; displaying expensive jewellery or electronic devices, like mobile phones or cameras, could attract unwanted attention.
  • Don’t make your mobile phone a moving target. Don’t tempt mobile phone thieves, be aware when making a call.

Reduce the risk of mobile phone theft by following these simple tips:

  • Don’t leave your phone on tables in pubs or restaurants.
  • When you leave a train or tube station don’t use your phone immediately, leave it a while.
  • Don’t walk and text at the same time, you will be less aware of what is happening around you.
  • Keep calls in public places as brief as possible, the longer you talk, the more likely you are to be spotted by a potential thief.

Looks good enough to grab

Be aware of chain-snatch thieves and keep your jewellery out of sight. Snatch robberies can involve violence or theft. The chance that this will ever happen to you is quite small, but you should be aware of what you can do to keep yourself and your property safe:

  • Make sure your jewellery is not visible.
  • Plan your journey in advance.
  • Avoid dark or deserted areas late at night.
  • Be aware of your surroundings and stay alert to what’s going on around you.

How to get your personal items security marked

There are several ways you can mark you property to help protect your personal items further. If you have any information on stolen goods, report it to the police by calling 101.

If it is an emergency dial 999.

Good work by my officers

On December 18, officers executed a drugs warrant in Stanmore. A man was arrested at the address after cannabis was found inside the premises. This is an excellent result and takes drugs off the streets of Harrow, helping us remain the Safest Borough in London.