Constituents walking around Harrow West today will recognise that the sight of a “bobby on the beat” is becoming a rarity.

Since Theresa May took over as Home Secretary in 2010, we’ve lost over 173 police officers in Harrow. While the Metropolitan Police have lost £600 million of funding since 2010, they face a further funding loss of £400 million, by 2021. It comes as no surprise then, that in Harrow, we are seeing a substantial increase in knife crime. Knife crime with injury was up by almost 60% in 2017, in Harrow alone. 

I have been raising the problem of the tri-borough merger of Harrow, Brent and Barnet Met Police forces for three years. At a time when more police need to be deployed locally, it is time for the two Conservative MPs in Harrow to call upon the Government for more resources for Harrow Police. There is an urgent need for more policing resources in Harrow and I hope you will sign my petition to call on the Government for more support in Harrow.

Sign the Petition

Last week Gareth Thomas MP signed the Holocaust Educational Trust Memorial 'Book of Commitment', pledging his commitment to Holocaust Memorial Day and honouring those who were murdered during the holocaust as well as paying tribute to the extraordinary holocaust survivors who work tirelessly to educate young people.

The theme for the UK Holocaust Memorial Day 2018 is "The power of words".

After signing the Book of Commitment, Gareth Thomas MP commented:

“Holocaust Memorial Day marks the anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau, this marks an important opportunity for people from Harrow and all over the country to reflect on the tragic events of the Holocaust. As the holocaust moves from living history to simply history, it is vital that we remember the victims and pay tribute to the survivors."

Karen Pollock MBE, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, said:

“The Holocaust did not start in the gas chambers but with hate filled words. Our mission is to educate young people from every background about the Holocaust and its contemporary relevance. We are very grateful to Gareth Thomas MP for signing the Book of Commitment, signalling a continued commitment to remembering the victims of the Holocaust as well as challenging antisemitism, prejudice and bigotry in all its forms.”

Housing developers in Harrow should disclose secret plans that limit affordable homes, 
says Gareth Thomas MP

Harrow West MP Gareth Thomas is leading calls for the compulsory publishing of secret financial reports submitted to Harrow Council by developers.

These ‘viability assessments’ outline developers’ justifications for reducing the number of affordable homes in new developments.

The current system allows these reports to be kept secret. But working with the housing charity Shelter, Gareth Thomas MP has called on Secretary of State responsible for housing, Sajid Javid, to change the rules to allow communities to access, and crucially therefore to challenge, these reports.

Gareth Thomas MP has also called on Harrow Council to change it’s own planning rules to demand developers make their plans available for public scrutiny.

With so many Harrow residents priced out of buying their own home and struggling to pay ever increasing rents, we need to take action now to tackle the chronic under supply of new affordable homes. The mandatory publishing of these secret reports could be a useful first step.

To see the letters Gareth sent regarding this issue go to: https://www.facebook.com/GarethThomasMP/posts/745957155607505