Recently I called a community meeting in Harlesden to discuss policing arrangements in the Harlesden, Kensal Green and Stonebridge areas [see Times, June 21]. This is something that concerns people regularly in my constituency surgeries.

Sadly there has been a 25 per cent increase in both anti-social behaviour and violence and sexual offences in Harlesden in the last year alone.

The police do a fantastic job but as they told us at the meeting on June 15, there just aren’t enough of them to eradicate the problem from Brent’s streets. In fact there are 20,600 fewer officers in England since 2010.

The police are hindered by cuts from the government, and our mayor Sadiq Khan is doing all he can to plug the gap.

I have written to Met commissioner Cressida Dick and Brent Council to call for an urgent review of policing arrangements to examine how we can address gaps in local provision.

I called a similar meeting last year, further to which the Metropolitan Police organised “Operation Hope”, which led to 55 arrests. I hope this meeting will be similarly productive in keeping our streets safe. We must come together – elected representatives, police, government, mayor, council, and the local community as a whole – to tackle these problems.

I am clear the recent escalation in criminality in certain areas does not reflect the true nature of our great borough. Our community is our strength and together we will tackle crime and ensure that Brent remains a great place to live.