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Message from Chief Inspector Richard Vale
As I enter my third month serving the communities of Redbridge, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to residents, local partners, and businesses for their continued support and engagement.
Over the past month, I was pleased to attend a Somali community event at the Al Bayan Welfare Centre, hosted by Sheikh Khalid Abdalla. This provided a valuable opportunity to meet with community leaders, listen to their concerns, and discuss the issues affecting local neighbourhoods. Engagement such as this remains central to building trust and ensuring that policing reflects the needs of all communities.
I also want to express my heartfelt support and solidarity with our Jewish communities following the recent rise in antisemitic incidents across London. Such acts have no place in our society, and we remain committed to tackling hate crime in all its forms.
Our priorities in Redbridge remain clear: reducing crime, tackling antisocial behaviour, and delivering a visible, responsive policing service. The latest data shows encouraging progress in some areas, while also highlighting where continued focus is required. Your neighbourhood policing teams are working diligently through targeted patrols, problem-solving approaches, and strong partnership working to keep our borough safe.
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Crime Overview
Current 4 Week Period: 1 April – 29 March 2026
Anti Social Behaviour (ASB)
· 430 incidents, slightly up from 395
Personal Robbery
· 33 offences, down from 49
Theft From the Person
· 60 offences, down from 119
Residential Burglary
· 54 offences, down from 62
Vehicle Crime
· Theft of Motor Vehicle: 96, down from 107
· Theft From Vehicle: 103, slightly up from 95
Shoplifting
· 241 offences, up from 183
Violence With Injury
· 167 offences, slightly up from 152
Possession of Weapons
· 12 offences, up from 14
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Good News Round Up – Highlights
Across Redbridge, our teams have delivered outstanding results through proactive policing, partnership working, and swift intervention. Here are some of the notable successes: 1. Op BURKWOOD: Disrupting Retail Crime in Ilford Town Centre
Ilford Town Centre Team 1 carried out activity under Op BURKWOOD, using new technology to mark stock from frequently targeted shops. Intelligence led officers to a suspected premises handling stolen goods. Working with Trading Standards, officers entered an address where a large quantity of counterfeit goods was recovered. Police also seized £2,000+ of confirmed stolen property linked to Ilford High Road retailers.
This work has disrupted retail theft and counterfeit supply impacting the town centre.
2. Ilford Town Team: Joint Enforcement in Action
Ilford Town Team worked collaboratively with specialist traffic officers, alongside Immigration Enforcement and Taxi Enforcement colleagues, as part of a targeted multi agency operation.
The focus was to stop and investigate individuals believed to be committing offences, including the use of illegal e bikes and unlicensed taxi activity.
The operation resulted in five arrests, including one individual arrested for possession with intent to supply drugs.
This coordinated approach demonstrates Ilford Town Team’s commitment to tackling criminality, disrupting offending, and keeping the town centre safe for everyone.
3. Operation Winston Way: Keeping Redbridge Moving Safely
A traffic operation was conducted on Winston way in partnership with local officers. The operation ran from 8am -2pm and in that time, 53 traffic offences processed, 21 vehicle seizures, 9 arrests made. Redbridge Neighbourhoods have listened to concerns from the community in regard to vehicle offences and more operations like this are being planned for the near future. 4. Wheels with Rules: Tackling Pavement Cycling in Ilford
Ilford Town have been tackling one of their key ward priorities, cycling on the pavement, which continues to be a concern for residents. In March, they issued:
*60+* Fixed Penalty Notices for cycling offences
*30+* TORs for no insurance on e bikes We'll keep enforcing to protect pedestrians.
5. Drugs Seized after driver Failed to Stop for Police
Officers on patrol in IG7 attempted to stop a vehicle that failed to comply and was involved in a collision before the driver left the scene. Officers quickly located and arrested the suspect. A search led to the recovery of over 2kg of Class A drugs, and the individual was arrested for Possession with Intent to Supply. The suspect has been remanded.
6. Robbery Suspect Caught by Vigilant TSG Patrol
TSG officers on patrol in Cameron Road, IG2 spotted a male cycling repeatedly along the pavement with his face covered, paying close attention to members of the public using mobile phones. When the suspect stopped a victim and assaulted them, officers intervened swiftly, arresting him following a short chase. A knife was recovered after being discarded, along with cannabis, and a subsequent search of the suspect’s address uncovered scales, self seal bags and cash.
A clear example of officers being in the right place at the right time—and acting decisively when it mattered.
7. Proactive Traffic Stop Leads to Knife Seizure
Officers from the Safer Neighbourhood Team were proactively conducting a traffic stop within the London Borough of Redbridge.
During the encounter, officers identified grounds to conduct a drug search in line with legislation and procedure. A search of the driver was negative. However, a subsequent search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of a 7cm lock knife.
The presence of the weapon constituted an offence, and the driver was dealt with for associated driving offences and arrested for possession of an offensive weapon. The suspect was charged for the offence.
8. Arrested After Class A Drugs Recovered in Fairlop Waters Country Park (Keep - put out locally on ME and covered in last Ilford Recorder update)
Police officers on routine patrol in Fairlop Waters Country Park became suspicious of a vehicle parked at the side of the entrance to the car park.
As officers approached, the occupant appeared nervous and behaved in a manner that raised further suspicion. Officers noticed a self sealed bag containing white powder in the vehicle. A search was carried out under Section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act. Officers recovered cash and Class A drugs and the individual was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.
The arrest and seizures form part of ongoing efforts to disrupt drug supply and protect communities.
9. Proactive Policing Protects Vulnerable Victims
Officers from the Ilford Town Centre Team, carrying out Operation Burleigh patrols, recovered £7,000 in stolen cash following proactive enquiries that developed from a routine stop.
Further investigation identified a theft targeting a vulnerable victim who was initially unaware that a crime had taken place. Officers carried out detailed follow up work, including CCTV review and enquiries, which led to an arrest and the full recovery of the victim’s money.
The suspects involved have been linked to wider organised criminal activity, and the case is now progressing through the courts.
This operation highlights the importance of proactive neighbourhood policing, with officers identifying and preventing harm even where offences are not immediately reported.
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Looking Ahead – May Priorities
Throughout May, Redbridge Neighbourhood Teams will focus on the following key areas:
• Reducing personal robbery through targeted patrols and hotspot policing
• Tackling vehicle crime, particularly theft of motor vehicles
• Sustaining reductions in antisocial behaviour and theft from vehicles
• Increasing visibility in town centres, parks, and transport hubs
• Working closely with partners to prevent violence and safeguard vulnerable residents
• Continuing community engagement through ward panels and local events
Your feedback and local knowledge are vital in shaping our priorities. The information you provide helps us respond quickly and effectively to the issues that matter most.
Together, through partnership and shared commitment, we will continue working to make Redbridge a safer place for everyone.
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