Forest Gate South

Welcome to Met Engage,

We're transforming the Met to become a service that truly delivers for you.

Through our new platform Met Engage you can get to know your local officers, help shape how we police your local area and have direct access to key information and advice.

This isn't just a platform for us to tell you what we're doing in your area, it's an opportunity for you to tell us what's concerning you most so we can take action on the things that truly matter to you.

Forest Gate South Safer Neighbourhoods Team

Your Safer Neighbourhoods Team is a group of Met police officers dedicated to serving your community. The team is made up of officers based in your area or 'ward', supported by additional officers from the wider area.

We work closely with local authorities, community leaders and residents to decide our policing priorities for the area. This helps us to find useful, long-term solutions to local problems, while maintaining our wider focus on reducing crime across London.

To contact to your team about local policing issues, email us at ForestGateSouth@contact.metengage.co.uk or pick an officer to email below. (Please do not use this contact method to report crime, in an emergency always call 999 or you can report crime online at www.met.police.uk or dial 101).

Scott Bristow

Sergeant

Lauren Dixon

PCSO

Aminul Haque

Police Constable

Md Mamun

PCSO

Szymon Nowak

PCSO

Richard Oldfield

Inspector

Local Priority Issues

We are committed to tackling the issues that matter most to local communities. Based on our conversations with residents, and the issues they have raised with us, our main priorities are:

Priority	Action taken
Ward Priority – Prostitution, Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Prostitution, safeguarding concerns, and violence against women and girls (VAWG) have been identified as key priorities within the ward. Reports indicate ongoing issues linked to on-street sex work, exploitation, associated violence, and vulnerability of individuals involved. These concerns present significant risks, including harm to vulnerable persons, links to organised crime, and wider community safety issues for residents and businesses. Issued 21 May 2026	Local priorities will focus on: Conducting targeted patrols in identified hotspot areas to deter activity and provide reassurance Taking robust enforcement action against individuals responsible for exploitation, violence, and associated criminality Working closely with partner agencies to safeguard vulnerable individuals involved in prostitution, ensuring access to support services and exit pathways. Identifying and disrupting those who pose a risk to women and girls. Promoting reporting and engagement with communities to address concerns and build confidence. The overall aim is to reduce harm, safeguard those at risk, tackle those responsible for exploitation and violence, and improve safety for women and girls within the ward. Actioned 21 August 2026
Ward Priority – Drug Dealing and Drug Use. Drug dealing and drug use have been identified as key concerns within the ward. Reports indicate ongoing issues relating to street-level dealing, drug misuse, and associated anti-social behaviour, which are having a negative impact on community safety and confidence. These activities are often linked to wider criminality, including violence, exploitation, and acquisitive crime. Issued 21 May 2026	Local priorities will focus on: -Conducting targeted patrols in hotspot areas to deter drug-related activity. -Identifying and disrupting individuals involved in drug dealing through proactive enforcement. -Working with specialist units and partner agencies to tackle organised criminal networks. -Taking action against associated anti-social behaviour and safeguarding vulnerable individuals affected by substance misuse. -Encouraging community intelligence and reporting to support enforcement activity. The overall aim is to reduce the prevalence of drug-related activity, safeguard vulnerable individuals, and improve the safety and wellbeing of those living and working in the ward. Actioned 21 August 2026
Ward Priority – Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Romford Road and Surrounding Areas Anti-social behaviour has been identified as a key concern within Romford Road and the surrounding areas. Reports from residents and partner agencies highlight ongoing issues including aggressive begging, street drinking, Prostitution and incidents of violence linked to drug use. This behaviour is negatively impacting community safety and confidence, particularly for local residents, businesses, and vulnerable individuals. Issued 21 May 2026	Local priorities will focus on: - Conducting high-visibility patrols in identified hotspot locations. - Targeting individuals engaged in aggressive begging and street drinking through enforcement and engagement. - Working with partner agencies to address substance misuse and provide support pathways where appropriate. - Taking robust action against offences involving violence and drug-related activity. - Engaging with the community and local businesses to gather intelligence and provide reassurance. The overall aim is to reduce ASB, safeguard the public, and improve the quality of life for those living and working in the area. Actioned 21 August 2026

Priority

Action taken

Ward Priority – Prostitution, Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)
Prostitution, safeguarding concerns, and violence against women and girls (VAWG) have been identified as key priorities within the ward. Reports indicate ongoing issues linked to on-street sex work, exploitation, associated violence, and vulnerability of individuals involved.
These concerns present significant risks, including harm to vulnerable persons, links to organised crime, and wider community safety issues for residents and businesses.

Issued 21 May 2026

Local priorities will focus on:

Conducting targeted patrols in identified hotspot areas to deter activity and provide reassurance
Taking robust enforcement action against individuals responsible for exploitation, violence, and associated criminality
Working closely with partner agencies to safeguard vulnerable individuals involved in prostitution, ensuring access to support services and exit pathways.
Identifying and disrupting those who pose a risk to women and girls.
Promoting reporting and engagement with communities to address concerns and build confidence.

The overall aim is to reduce harm, safeguard those at risk, tackle those responsible for exploitation and violence, and improve safety for women and girls within the ward.

Actioned 21 August 2026

Ward Priority – Drug Dealing and Drug Use.
Drug dealing and drug use have been identified as key concerns within the ward. Reports indicate ongoing issues relating to street-level dealing, drug misuse, and associated anti-social behaviour, which are having a negative impact on community safety and confidence.
These activities are often linked to wider criminality, including violence, exploitation, and acquisitive crime.

Issued 21 May 2026

Local priorities will focus on:

-Conducting targeted patrols in hotspot areas to deter drug-related activity.
-Identifying and disrupting individuals involved in drug dealing through proactive enforcement.
-Working with specialist units and partner agencies to tackle organised criminal networks.
-Taking action against associated anti-social behaviour and safeguarding vulnerable individuals affected by substance misuse.
-Encouraging community intelligence and reporting to support enforcement activity.

The overall aim is to reduce the prevalence of drug-related activity, safeguard vulnerable individuals, and improve the safety and wellbeing of those living and working in the ward.

Actioned 21 August 2026

**Ward Priority – Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Romford Road and Surrounding Areas**
Anti-social behaviour has been identified as a key concern within Romford Road and the surrounding areas. Reports from residents and partner agencies highlight ongoing issues including aggressive begging, street drinking, Prostitution and incidents of violence linked to drug use.
This behaviour is negatively impacting community safety and confidence, particularly for local residents, businesses, and vulnerable individuals.

Issued 21 May 2026

Local priorities will focus on:

- Conducting high-visibility patrols in identified hotspot locations.
- Targeting individuals engaged in aggressive begging and street drinking through enforcement and engagement.
- Working with partner agencies to address substance misuse and provide support pathways where appropriate.
- Taking robust action against offences involving violence and drug-related activity.
- Engaging with the community and local businesses to gather intelligence and provide reassurance.

The overall aim is to reduce ASB, safeguard the public, and improve the quality of life for those living and working in the area.

Actioned 21 August 2026

The word cloud below represents the issues raised by residents through their Local Matters survey. We take this into consideration along with discussions with stakeholders, ward panel meetings and conversations with the public when setting our key priorities

What members in Forest Gate South are saying are the issues in the area:

Agree or not? Have your say now, click here to do the survey