Key Points:
- Award recognition: The Met Police and Havering Council’s Harold Hill partnership won a national award for tackling drug dealing, organised crime, and anti-social behaviour.
- Source attribution: As reported by Mike Brooke of the Romford Recorder, the award was presented at the inaugural Serious and Organised Crime (SOC) Local Awards in Huddersfield.
- Winning strategy: The initiative is part of the Home Office-backed Clear Hold Build strategy aimed at crime disruption, community stabilisation, and long-term crime prevention.
- Community impact: The area saw reduced drug activity, petty theft, and anti-social behaviour, thanks to enhanced police visibility and legal tools such as Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOs).
- Council praise: Havering Council leader Ray Morgon said the partnership demonstrated the success of united crime prevention efforts.
- National model: The strategy has been endorsed by the College of Policing and is being replicated by other Met units across the UK.
Community officers and council teams working to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in Harold Hill have won national recognition at the UK’s first-ever Serious and Organised Crime Local Awards, according to a report by Mike Brooke in the Romford Recorder.
The joint effort between the Metropolitan Police and Havering Council—launched under the Clear Hold Build crime reduction framework—was honoured for its success in cleaning up crime hotspots, reducing street-level drug dealing, and tackling persistent petty offences like shoplifting.
What is the ‘Clear Hold Build’ strategy used in Harold Hill?
How does this initiative work?
As explained by Mike Brooke of the Romford Recorder, the award-winning operation is based on the Clear Hold Build (CHB) framework developed by the Home Office. This three-phase plan works as follows:
- Clear: Law enforcement disrupts and removes active criminal elements using intelligence-led operations and visible policing.
- Hold: Authorities stabilise the area to prevent rival criminals from stepping in.
- Build: Community services and residents work together to address the root causes of crime and strengthen neighbourhood resilience.
Why was Harold Hill chosen for this operation?
What were the community’s concerns?
The Harold Hill area was selected after complaints from residents and businesses about increasing issues with drug dealing, violence, shoplifting, and anti-social behaviour.
As reported by Mike Brooke of the Romford Recorder, the partnership involved Havering’s community safety team and rough sleeping team, who coordinated with police to secure Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOs) against repeat offenders.
These legal tools not only act as deterrents but also focus on rehabilitation and reducing repeat crime by addressing underlying issues like substance abuse and homelessness.
Who are the key figures behind the operation?
What did leaders say about the award?
Detective Superintendent Will Lexton-Jones, who leads the London-wide operation, explained to Mike Brooke of the Romford Recorder:
“This enables neighbourhood officers supported by specialist teams to tackle crime that matters most to people. They relentlessly target the right areas and have brought relief to communities blighted by serious and organised crime.”
Havering Council Leader Ray Morgon also praised the initiative:
“This award shows the work by police in partnership with our officers. The aim is to prevent crime and deal with the issues that affect the community.
This is what working together can achieve — so we’ll continue to join forces with the police.”
What results have been seen in Harold Hill?
Has the community improved?
Thanks to targeted enforcement and a focus on repeat offenders, the partnership reported:
- A visible reduction in anti-social behaviour and street crime
- Enhanced collaboration between police, council teams, and local support services
- A more robust legal framework via CBOs
- Ongoing community involvement in identifying problems and contributing to long-term solutions
As reported by Mike Brooke of the Romford Recorder, the approach has allowed local officers to serve specific neighbourhoods effectively, ensuring crime does not return once cleared.
What is the broader significance of this recognition?
Is the model being adopted elsewhere?
The Clear Hold Build approach used in Harold Hill has been endorsed by the College of Policing as a national best practice.
The award, presented during a ceremony in Huddersfield, placed the Havering team among three Metropolitan Police winners acknowledged for excellence in addressing serious and organised crime.
The model is now being considered by other police forces and neighbourhood units across the UK for replication.
Why does this matter for Harold Hill and similar communities?
How does this award benefit the public?
This recognition reaffirms that community-led policing, when supported by targeted enforcement and structured rehabilitation, can successfully reclaim neighbourhoods affected by crime. It also strengthens public trust in both police and local councils.
The Met Police and Havering Council partnership not only delivered measurable results in Harold Hill but also laid a national blueprint for other communities seeking lasting safety.
