PC GRAHAM Willerton retires this week which will be a huge loss for the Metropolitan Police Service and Harrow Borough.
Graham has worked with young people, particularly around football projects, and is keen to continue in retirement.
Last week, I met with the interim head of safeguarding children, Deborah Lightfoot, who impressed me with her knowledge of safeguarding issues across the country.
I have decided that safeguarding children will be a standing agenda for my senior management team meetings. We discussed the possibility of holding safeguarding meetings in local community venues and I look forward to seeing if this can be arranged.
I chaired our senior management meeting in which we looked at how we can improve the service we provide to the communities of Harrow. The key issue is to make sure we do not work in ‘silos’ and maximise our opportunities to work with Harrow Council, the voluntary sector and our diverse communities. I will be sharing this vision with my colleagues over the next few months in face-to-face meetings with all police personnel.
Assistant Commissioner Simon Byrne who is in charge of all Metropolitan Police Boroughs visited the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) in Harrow Civic Centre and met with police officers, police staff and social workers to look at this excellent example of improving safeguarding for children. In essence this will ensure that the key staff who work to keep children safe are based in one office.
I confirmed PC Elaine Jackson – an officer who was in a previous life both a Butlin’s Red Coat and pub landlady. I met with Marc Lyall and Fiyaz Mugal who have launched a new campaign to reduce Islamaphobic attacks. I presented PCSO Danny Lyons with Borough Commander’s commendation for arresting a burglar while running away from the scene. This was excellent policing.
