London's new police chief has backed calls for the extension of Operation Arrow - the campaign to drive criminals from Harold's streets.

The highly successful four month operation - during which crime hotspots including Harold Hill and Harold Wood have been targeted by large, highly visible foot and helicopter patrols - ends this month amid fears that its absence could see crime soar once again.

But Sir John Stevens, who replaced Sir Paul Condon as Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police at the beginning of February, has said that he would like to see the operation continue.

He said: "Anything that works in reducing crime I am sure that the local commander will want to keep going.

"It's outstanding work by anybody's standards."

Speaking during a visit to Romford Police Station last week, Sir John also lent his support to a task force set up by Havering Police, the council, voluntary and the business community to tackle the fear of crime across the borough.

"I think combining local authorities and private business together with the police is definitely the way forward.

"Havering is doing an awful lot of good work and has a lot to be proud of."

But it is not all good news for the Commissioner. He admits that he is taking over a force that is low on morale and understaffed, with low wages and the Met's poor public image after the Stephen Lawrence enquiry being singled out as major factor.

He said: "Morale is low, you can't get away from that.

"We have been taking a tremendous battering from the media and that's bound to have an effect. We are human after all.

"But I believe that outstanding work is being done by the vast majority of police officers and I believe that will be recognised."

Sir John joined the Met in 1963, becoming head of London CID; assistant chief constable of Hampshire; deputy chief constable of Cambridgeshire; and then chief constable of Northumbria.

Since 1989 he has been chairman of the so-called Stevens Enquiry into breaches of security in Northern Ireland, and in 1992 was given the Queen's Police Medal in recognition of his contribution to policing.

Good work: Sir John Stevens, the new Metropolitan Police Commissioner, has praised police and private partnerships in Havering.

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