Over the past couple of weeks, I have managed to have really good conversations with many people around the borough. I enjoy taking advantage of such opportunities where I can spend quality time in Newham listening to people, responding to their concerns or queries. I would like to spend more time doing such work but its not always that easy, so I make the most of it when I can.

About three weeks ago, I was invited to the Minhaj-Al-Quran mosque on Romford Road and following Friday Prayers, I spoke about a number of issues including the on-going threat of terrorism, community cohesion and policing. We also remembered Alan Henning, the British Aid Worker who had been recently murdered by Islamic State. After prayers, I joined some fellow officers outside, where we had dozens of people asking us about all manner of things such as crime prevention, neighbourhood policing problems to MPS recruitment. A great way to spend a couple of hours!

I would like to thank all those at Minhaj-Al-Quran for their hospitality and for providing me with the opportunity to talk and chat.

The following weekend, I did my second ‘sofa gig’! It is what is says it is!

Westfield Stratford kindly provide me and some colleagues with a couple of sofa’s where we can meet and talk to local people. We were joined this month by Ray Lewis, who is an advisor to the London Mayor, Boris Johnson, and who runs a local young people’s academy. Ray and I have worked together before and it was great having him with us as we spoke to people about the MPS. I really value these informal events when my colleagues and I can sit on the sofa and talk all things police. Once again, MPS recruitment was high on my agenda but we spoke to lots of people about many different things. I am looking forward to my third gig later next month if Westfield let me back on their sofa! A big thank you to all at Westfield for making it possible.

As you have read, I like to take all the opportunities I can to be more accessible and visible and its something I plan to improve with all of our officers across the borough. To finish off, my thanks to all those who helped the events happen, thanks to all those that listened or spoke with us and lastly my thanks to all of you who support your local police.