Hears net closing in on criminals responsible for series of muggings

Police say a series of muggings and assaults in the Lammas and Walpole Park areas over the last few months are linked and are reassuring locals that the crime wave is being dealt with.

Ealing MP, Rupa Huq, asked to see police in March following the spate of robberies and this meeting took place after a huge community gathering in Northfields.

In attendance with her were elected representatives from the council and parliament including Cllrs Gareth Shaw, Paul Conlan, Fay Bloc, Jon Ball, David Millican and Paul Driscoll as well as Virendra Sharma.

The meeting heard that since February 2019 there had been 17 robberies in the locality of Lammas and Walpole Parks which are being treated by police as a linked series.  

Additional robberies have taken place outside of the borough that are linked with these. The majority of the offences have taken place in the evening and victims have primarily been young people aged under 25. Five suspects have been identified and nine arrests have been made (some of the individuals have been arrested more than once) and have been bailed.  They are believed to be breaching their bail conditions and returning to the location.

Extra units have been deployed in the area with a strategy to identify and capture the suspects. CID are involved in the investigation.

Longer term improvements around communication are being explored and StreetWatch is being developed by police locally.  OWL is also being improved to ensure it is creating a genuine dialogue with community members.

Police are hoping to hold another community forum in the next few months to reassure residents that action is being taken.

Rupa Huq said, 'I emerged reassured that the police are taking this seriously. Ealing is known as a pleasant place renowned for parks and schools making it a family area. I am pleased to see that the net is closing in on what looks to be a gang causing terror locally so that it can continue in its unparalleled reputation as queen of the suburbs.'

16 April 2019