It’s been a busy October in Parliament and across Croydon West. From tackling organised gangs and phone theft to calling for much-needed improvements at West Croydon and Norwood Junction stations, I’ve been focused on making our borough safer and better connected. 

I have also been meeting with residents at my recent coffee morning in West Thornton and during my police walkabout in South Norwood, as well as continuing to visit local organisations to hear about the issues that matter most to people across Croydon West. In Parliament, I have been following the Government’s new Renters’ Rights Act, which will make a real difference for thousands of renters in our borough. 

You can read more below about what I have been working on this month. As always, if you need help, want to raise an issue or share your views, please do get in touch. For casework, email [email protected], and for political matters, contact [email protected].

Tackling Knife Crime

I was delighted to take to the TV studios this morning with a story about this government delivering on our promises.

Since we came to power, nearly 60,000 blades have been taken off the streets, knife deaths are down 18% and overall knife crime is down by 5%.

While Reform and the Tories bark from the sidelines, we are getting on and delivering real change.

Croydon West Christmas Card Competition 2025 

I’m excited to launch my Christmas Card Competition for 2025 – open to all primary school-aged children in Croydon West. The winning design will appear on my official Christmas card and will be sent out across Croydon and Westminster. The winner will also be invited to visit me in Parliament. 

Cracking Down on Phone Theft 

The gang behind almost half of all phones stolen in London has been busted in a massive sting operation. I joined the takedown – it was a brilliant example of the Met Police coming together to tackle very serious organised crime. We’re breaking the business model of phone theft. 

Latest statement on Gaza  

Earlier this month, a deal was reached on the first stage of the Gaza peace plan. The UK is calling upon all parties to uphold this peace plan to avoid any further bloodshed. Last week’s statement from the Foreign Secretary asserts that coordinated action to increase aid into Gaza is urgently needed.

Calling for Urgent Improvements at West Croydon Station 

West Croydon Station needs tackling. So many residents have written in to share their experiences with me – antisocial behaviour, inaccessibility and general shabbiness come up repeatedly. 

Since I have started the campaign, I’m pleased that the station has been repainted – a step in the right direction.  

Network Rail, Arriva, London Overground and Croydon Council met with me to discuss the more drastic action needed. I’ll be working with them to push for improvements; residents deserve a safe and welcoming station they can be proud of. 

Celebrating Crystal Palace’s FA Cup and Community Shield wins! 

I popped into a great event in Parliament celebrating Crystal Palace Football Club’s historic FA Cup and Community Shield wins and the work of the Palace for Life Foundation. They have made Croydon so proud! 

Supporting Epilepsy Awareness

Thank you to Thibika and Becca from Young Epilepsy who took the time to meet with me and share the work they do. There’s a huge lack of understanding when it comes to epilepsy – around 1 in 100 people in the UK live with the condition, which looks different for everyone.

Check out their website to understand more about the impacts for young people and what can be done to support them.

October Casework Wins

Since the start of October, I have received just over 2100 casework emails. A third of my casework has been related to housing, whilst 12% has related to local government enquiries and 10% has involved transport cases.

A lot of the enquiries continue to be about council-provided temporary accommodation, maintenances issues, and fly-tipping.

• After hearing concerns from residents in West Thornton, I worked with local councillors to oppose a car wash planned behind Wharfedale Gardens. The application was refused – a big win for the community worried about noise, traffic and disruption.
• A vulnerable family with a child who has special educational needs was living with pests and severe damp. We contacted Croydon Council, who arranged urgent pest control and mould treatment.
• One resident had no heating at all. We pushed the council to carry out urgent repairs – and got the heating back on just in time for winter.

A huge thanks must go to my small team for all their hard work, and their continued ability to get results.

Tackling Crime and Antisocial Behaviour in South Norwood

I joined local police officers, councillors, residents and charity Change Grow Live on a walkabout through South Norwood. It’s clear that crime and antisocial behaviour have no place here – our community deserves so much better. Criminals who disrupt our neighbourhoods will not be tolerated. Croydon is full of vibrant communities, hardworking people, and so much potential. Together, we will continue to make it safer and stronger for everyone who calls it home.

Labour is delivering:

• 13,000 extra neighbourhood police
• Expansion of powers to tackle anti-social behaviour
• New measures to protect children and vulnerable people

£20 million boost to help Londoners into work

I’m proud to back the Government’s Inactivity Trailblazer Scheme, which is delivering targeted support to help more people in Croydon into work. Here in Croydon, nearly 1 in 6 residents are currently neither employed nor seeking work. By investing in mental health support, confidence-building programmes, job-readiness training and local employer partnerships, we’ll be helping people overcome barriers like poor mental health, isolation or low skills – so they can rebuild their lives and re-enter the workforce on their own terms.

Join the Campaign to Improve Norwood Junction

Norwood Junction is one of Britain’s busiest stations – and with the approval of a second runway at Gatwick Airport, it’s just set to get busier. Sign our petition calling on Network Rail to sort out our station.

Watch my video on the campaign here.

Listening to Residents in West Thornton

Thank you to everyone who joined me at my recent coffee morning in West Thornton. Alongside my regular weekly surgeries, I also host monthly coffee mornings or advice sessions in different wards across Croydon West. These are a great way to hear directly from residents about what matters most, offer help where I can, and talk about how I can advocate for the changes you want to see in Croydon.

In West Thornton, I had some really thoughtful conversations and learned a lot about the changes people want to see. I’ve taken those ideas on board and will be working to help turn them into action. I’m especially grateful to the local councillors and the brilliant organisations who joined us, including DWP, Mind in Croydon, South West London Law Centre, Citizens Advice, and Croydon Healthy Homes, for offering such helpful advice and support.

£1.5 Million Government Boost for Croydon

Croydon is set to receive £1.5 million to revitalise our high streets as part of the Government’s new Pride in Place programme.

This will:

Put power in the hands of local people and community groups
Help breathe new life into treasured spaces
Support regeneration that reflects the pride we all feel for our borough
I’ll be working closely with Croydon Council, local organisations and businesses to make sure this funding delivers real improvements for people across our community. This is a great opportunity to strengthen our town centre which the mayor should make the most of.

Tackling Organised Crime

Another day, another raid – and another gang taken off our streets. These violent thugs prey on vulnerable people, exploiting them to do their dirty work. The County Lines team has spent months investigating, protecting victims, and locking up the gang leaders. It’s policing at its most brilliant, and I’m proud of the work being done to keep our communities safe.

A Lovely Visit to Elmwood Infants 

Thank you so much to Elmwood Infants for showing me around their lovely school. It was fantastic to chat about everything pupils love about Croydon – and the ways they’d make it better! Year after year the school has won the Show Racism the Red Card prize – the commitment both teachers and pupils show to tackling racism and championing everyone’s differences is admirable. 

An Afternoon with the Turkish Youth and Community Association  

I had a delightful afternoon (accompanied by a delicious cup of coffee) with members of the Turkish Youth and Community Association. Turkish is one of the top ten languages spoken here in Croydon, and it was a pleasure to learn more about their culture and history in our borough. 

A Visit to Mind’s Safe Space Cafe 

For this month’s #WorldMentalHealthDay, I visited Mind’s Safe Space Cafe, where anyone feeling low, anxious or lonely can pop over, chat and get support. Mind does award-winning work in Croydon, helping residents to navigate mental health challenges – we’re so lucky to have them in our borough. 

Supporting Croydon’s Most Vulnerable 

Driving for Change repurposes London’s iconic double decker buses to provide lifesaving and essential services to the most vulnerable – including in Croydon. You can learn more about their work here.

This Labour Government has just given Croydon over half a million pounds to tackle homelessness in the borough. Homelessness and rough sleeping devastate lives. However, the right interventions and support can help to get people back on their feet. 

Behind the Scenes at Talawa Theatre 

Talawa is the UK’s outstanding Black British Theatre Company, headquartered right here in Croydon. Their innovative approach to nurturing talent and telling stories has seen them produce more than 50 award-winning touring productions. I was lucky enough to get a peek behind the scenes at a recent production. Check them out here: https://www.talawa.com/ 

Safety Concerns at South Norwood Hill/Whitehorse Lane Junction

The South Norwood Hill/Whitehorse Lane junction in Croydon West is a serious hazard. There’s no pedestrian crossing, leaving people to dodge traffic and rely on car lights to get across. I saw parents with prams, older residents, and children taking huge risks just to cross the road. Locals are rightfully worried — if this isn’t fixed soon, someone could be seriously hurt. It’s time for urgent action to make this junction safe for everyone, and I’ve written to TfL. Watch my video here.

Standing in Solidarity with Peacehaven’s Muslim Community

I was at the mosque in Peacehaven this month to offer my solidarity after the horrific arson attack. I met with community and religious leaders to offer my support, alongside Jewish and Christian representatives who wanted to show solidarity. Seeing the community coming together to support their neighbours showed the real Britain.

Backing the Work of CST 

The attack in Manchester this month was a stark reminder of the threats facing Jewish communities. This month, I met with Community Security Trust (CST) CEO Mark Gardner and his team, seeing their vital work first hand. Their control room operations and volunteers work tirelessly to keep our communities safe. 

Supporting Young People in Croydon Through Football and Skills

Earlier this month, I kicked off the morning at Selhurst Park with Pat McFadden, seeing first-hand the brilliant work Crystal Palace Football Club’s Palace for Life youth hub is doing to help young people gain skills, training, and access to jobs. Partnerships between football clubs and young people looking for employment was an initiative started here in Croydon. The government has just announced an extra £25m for similar initiatives across the country! That means more support, more opportunities, and a brighter future for young people in our borough.

A New Safe Space for Women and Girls Opens in Croydon

I recently visited Liberty Springboard, a new safe space for girls and women, with a particular focus on those with experience in the youth and criminal justice system. The hub – which is free to attend – offers personalised support including one-to-one mentoring, information, advice and guidance. Check it out if you think you could benefit from the support! https://libertyspringboard.co.uk/

New Shops Open in Allders

It was fantastic to see such excitement around the launch of new shops at Allders, including a new florist, Sky, and huge queues for the opening of Miniso. It’s a step forward for our town centre. Watch my video here.

Attending Police Memorial Day

I attended the Annual National Police Memorial Day service at Coventry Cathedral. It was a moving tribute to those who gave their lives in the line of duty. Their courage and sacrifice will never be forgotten.

Croydon Labour MPs and candidate statement on the Gatwick expansion