I FELT honoured and privileged to attend the Mayor of Harrow’s annual Civic Service last Sunday at St Mary’s Church, Harrow on the Hill last Sunday.

After the service the Mayor led a procession to Harrow School where she met with police officers, serving members of the armed forces, veterans and cadets.

I also attended the Flag Raising Ceremony to mark the start of Armed Services week at the Civic Centre on Monday. This is a traditional event which I was very proud to be part of and was very impressed with the dedication and commitment shown by our young volunteer cadets who looked immaculate in their uniforms.

I met with some of Harrow’s Volunteer Police Cadets at the recent Mayor of Harrow’s annual drill competition and again was very proud of their achievements.

The competition was fierce this year with entries from the army cadet force and the air training corps, cadets were put through their paces tested on their drill, their overall presentation and turn out and a 2.2 rifle shooting competition.

The Police Cadets took the shield and first place for overall presentation and turnout. The cadets were ecstatic about this and the hard work they put in had clearly paid off! Well done.

n Officers from Headstone North and South Safer Neighbourhoods team uncovered a house being used to grow cannabis.

The team entered the house on Friday, June 21, after obtaining a warrant under the Misuse of Drugs Act and found over 600 plants, covering every available space in the property and at various stages of growth. Electrical engineers made safe cables leading from lights and heating equipment before officers could carry out a full and thorough search of the premises. The loft space had also been adapted to allow for perfect growing conditions.

n It has been another productive week on the borough for catching criminals.

As a result of an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) operation, as well as some local knowledge, officers stopped a car and discovered that the driver was wanted on suspicion of burglary by our colleagues in Brent.

While tackling anti-social behaviour issues in Harrow Weald, officers arrested a man on suspicion of drugs offences after a short foot chase from Boxtree Park towards Long Elmes.

They charged the man for possession of cannabis after a passerby saw him hide a package under a parked car.

A man convicted of burglary and drugs offences and who was wanted for being in breach of his bail conditions was arrested and returned to prison; a 25-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of being in possession of a firearm after officers, executing a warrant at an address in Harrow under the Misuse of Drugs Act, discovered a stun gun while carrying out a search of the premises.

This is just small snapshot of some of the good work that has taken place this week and lots of good work continues as officers target and bring to justice those who are intent on committing crime on our borough.

n Finally, I would like to mention our special constables, led by Inspector Siobhan Swinchatt, who policed St Luke’s Midnight Walk on Friday, June 21, when hundreds of women from across the borough joined together to raise money for the hospice.

The nine-mile walk started at Harrow Leisure Centre and made its way through Harrow Weald, Stanmore, Kingsbury and Kenton. A team of police cadets were also on hand providing refreshments and adding to the great camaraderie of the night.