Following a recent spot inspection of HMP Wandsworth by the Chief Inspector of Prisons. an Urgent Notification was issued to the Secretary of State for Justice, meaning that the Chief Inspector has serious and immediate concerns about the day-to-day operation of the prison.

The report was damning and laid the blame for the deficiencies squarely at the Government's door, citing a lack of leadership at the very highest levels. I have been raising these issues for years now and my concerns have gone unheeded by this Tory Government, even after a high-profile alleged escape last autumn.  Read my Twitter thread on the subject below:

Today, I brought together officials from Wandsworth Council and Wandsworth Police to discuss what we can do to make Tooting Broadway a safer, cleaner and more vibrant place to live and work.

​With 80 prison officers unavailable on the day Daniel Khalife escaped from Wandsworth Prison - it beggars belief that he was even allowed to work in the kitchen. The Government need to explain themselves.

​This morning, I've been out and about in Tooting with Wandsworth Police Officers. We've been talking to residents who are concerned about rising street drinking and anti-social behaviour.

Together we're now working to increase the number of patrols in the area and ensure that resident's concerns are being addressed.

​Today, I've been speaking about the very serious concerns I have regarding the prisoner escape from Wandsworth Prison. The Government need to provide answers regarding how this was allowed to happen. With schools crumbling, our prisons falling apart, and the NHS on it's knees, you can't trust the Tories with the NHS.

One of the most important jobs I do as your local Member of Parliament is ensuring that our wonderful communities in Balham, Earlsfield, Furzedown, Tooting and Wandsworth Common remain safe and welcoming places to live.

To this end, I have recently hosted public meetings with local police leadership in Balham and Furzedown, conducted a walkaround with the Borough Superintendent around the local area, and written to the police on behalf of local residents on a wide range of issues.

Please do let me know if you have any concerns regarding crime issues in the local area - my door is always open.

Today,  I asked Wandsworth Police officers to join me on a walk about in Tooting Bec.

We spoke to local residents and discussed tackling anti-social behaviour in the area.

I know local residents have raised a number of concerns - about incidents targeting children and public safety in the area. I addressed these matters with the police, along with strategies already put in place aimed specifically at reducing worrying incidents of this kind and crime.

Over recent months, I have taken the following action on anti-social behaviour and crime on the Heaver Estate:

• On 9th March, I wrote to the constituency police lead to raise my concerns about a series of incidents involving school children.
• On 10th March, the local commuity policing team afreed to increase the number of officers patrolling the local area.
• On 31st March, I wrote again to the local police team to raise concerns at a number of further incidents.
• On 27th April, I held a public meeting with local police in South Balham so that local residents could raise their concerns about policing in the area.
• Today, I asked local police officers to join my for a walk about on the Heaver Estate.

Today, Justin Madders MP and I met with the Retail trade union Usdaw and a group of retail workers in Westminster to talk about how the cost-of-living crisis, rising violence and abuse in stores, and the impact of Christmas holiday trade is affecting the mental health of customers and colleagues.

Far too many people are facing this Christmas period worried about how to provide for their families. With so many Usdaw members having their mental health impacted as a result of the cost-of-living crisis and increased levels of abuse in the workplace, it is deeply important that we, as politicians, take the time to listen.

I was deeply concerned to hear pupils at Graveney School in Tooting were being targeted in a recent spate of muggings. I have been in touch with local police leadership to insist on swift action to address this issue. I know that the police are actively working to identify and arrest those responsible.

Every child deserves to walk our streets without fear. I am therefore pleased to hear that the local police force are carrying out high visibility patrols and are carrying out regular weapon sweeps around the school.
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Police are also patrolling the area in unmarked cars to try and identify and arrest the suspects. 

Pupils at Graveney School have also received assemblies on how to keep safe and how to report a street crime. The local police have also liaised with local CCTV to ensure appropriate coverage. 

It is vital that all of these issues are reported to the police so they can bring these worrying incidents to an end as quickly as possible. Anyone who has been a victim of a street robbery in this area who is yet to report the incident to the police are advised to do so. 

Please be assured, I will continue to work with our local police team to resolve this issue as quickly as possible, and I will continue to follow this case as a matter of urgency.