It has been another busy month in Croydon West. I started the month by meeting Broad Green residents at my coffee morning, which was a chance to hear directly from local people about what is going well and what needs fixing. I have also been out and about across the borough, meeting organisations, apprentices, schools and community groups, listening to concerns and making sure issues are being picked up. From bringing experts together to explore how we unlock the potential of Croydon’s town centre, to coordinating action on crime in South Norwood, there has been plenty of activity locally. 

There has also been lots happening nationally, including new SEND reforms designed to make support for children and families more consistent and accessible, continued work to tackle knife crime and improve safety, and wider work across government that will make a real difference to families here in Croydon.  

This month we’ve had some brilliant moments to make our borough proud, from BRIT School alumni picking up Grammy awards, to the opening of the vibrant new Asian Resource Centre in Broad Green, and even a surprise visit from Taylor Swift to film a music video in the Whitgift Centre.  

You can read more about what I have been working on below. If you need support or want to raise an issue, please get in touch at [email protected]. I am here to help. 

Listening to Broad Green Residents at my Coffee Morning 

I recently hosted a coffee morning with Broad Green residents at the Peppermint Children’s Centre. It was a great opportunity to hear directly from local people about what’s working well in the area and what needs to be improved too. Crime, fly‑tipping, and the future of the town centre were among the key issues raised. Thank you to the brilliant Labour councillors and candidates, DWP, Citizens Advice and Croydon Healthy Homes for joining. Watch my video to find out more.  

Fixing Tactile Cones to Support Disabled Residents in Waddon 

During my Waddon coffee morning, Waddon residents told me that several tactile cones around Waddon and along Purley Way were broken or missing. These are essential for disabled residents who rely on them to cross safely, so I raised the issue with TfL straight away. TfL has now inspected the crossings and replaced the damaged cones — great to see this fixed quickly.  

Coordinated Action on Crime in South Norwood 

I recently chaired our third meeting on serious crime in South Norwood with the MET Police, councillors, Reaching Higher and other community partners. We looked at the latest issues on the high street and heard updates on stronger police visibility, faster intelligence‑sharing and ongoing youth outreach. 

Partners were clear that these regular crime meetings are helping them work together more closely, creating a far more coordinated approach to tackling crime in key hotspots, from after‑school safety to problems around transport hubs and concerns raised by local businesses. The police also confirmed they are adjusting patrols to reflect these priorities. 

I’ll continue to bring everyone together to ensure concerns are acted on quickly. If you’d like to share your views, please get in touch at [email protected]. 

Taylor Swift Surprise Visit to Croydon   

Not every day Taylor Swift films a video in Croydon’s Whitgift Centre! See more photos here and watch the full music video.  

Strengthening SEND Support Across Croydon 

The latest package of SEND reforms will aim to give every child in Croydon the chance to thrive by improving early support and expanding access to specialist services. 

The reforms involve a £4 billion investment to overhaul the SEND system, including: 

• £1.6 billion for early identification and intervention 

• Access to professional support for all children, whether or not they have an EHCP 

• £1.8 billion for an “Experts at Hand” service, giving schools direct access to specialist advice 

• A redesign of the EHCP process to make assessments more consistent, inclusive and efficient 

These measures build on wider work already underway, such as creating tens of thousands of new specialist school places and providing funding to train all teachers in supporting children with SEND. These reforms are designed to make it easier for families to get the help they need and to ensure children across Croydon receive the right support at the right time. 

February Casework Update 

Since the start of February, I have received over 1200 casework emails. Approximately a third (34%) has related to housing, whilst 16% has related to Home Office enquiries, and a smaller proportion has involved education, transport or crime.  

Much of my casework continues to be about temporary accommodation issues, service charge increases and leasehold concerns, and individual homelessness.  

Here are some examples of the support provided this month:  

• A constituent who is an amputee was experiencing pain from a faulty prosthetic limb. After we contacted the NHS, an appointment was arranged to recast his new prosthetic, helping him move towards proper relief. 

• Wandsworth Council offered temporary accommodation close to St George’s Hospital after we stepped in, making it much easier for a constituent to attend important medical appointments. 

• A leaseholder struggling with severe damp, sewage issues and flooding reached out for help. By contacting the managing agent, we secured a drainage specialist visit and full repairs.  

• We helped a Croydon Council tenant dealing with a pest infestation by pushing for urgent action and securing two pest‑control treatments. 

• The Headteacher at St Mary’s Junior School asked for help with anti‑social behaviour near the school entrance. We raised this with the Met Police, who put together a plan with the school and even arranged a special talk for the Year 6 pupils. 

• A local taxi driver couldn’t start work because their DBS check was delayed. We chased it up, and it was completed — allowing them to finally begin working. 

BRIT School Alumni Shine at the GRAMMYs 

Some lovely news for Croydon and for The BRIT School – several former students had a fantastic night at the Grammy Awards this year. 

Olivia Dean picked up Best New Artist, Lola Young won Best Pop Solo Performance, and FKA Twigs took home Best Dance/Electronic Album. Meanwhile, ahead of the Grammy’s Raye was presented with the Harry Belafonte Best Song for Social Change Award. 

It’s wonderful to see Croydon talent being celebrated on such a big stage. The BRIT School continues to make Croydon proud. 

Spending National Apprenticeship Week with Croydon’s Apprentices  

During National Apprenticeship Week, I visited the brilliant young apprentices at Selhurst Depot. It was fantastic to see their enthusiasm and hear about their experiences. I also brought a group of them to Parliament, gave them a tour, and got them involved in a few tasks in my office. 

The Government has announced 13,000 new apprenticeship and T Level placement opportunities as part of its plan to transform school buildings. This ties in with the Prime Minister’s aim of getting two‑thirds of young people into employment, education or training by 2028. 

Cash Boost for Disabled Adults 

Over 150,000 adults with disabilities will get at least £400 back in their pockets to help with the cost of living. 

We are increasing the minimum income guarantee for working-age adults who receive social care by 7% from April 2026 – the largest above-inflation uplift in more than a decade.   

Additionally, we have confirmed £723 million funding for the Disabled Facilities Grant, to help older and disabled people adapt their homes so they can live safely and independently. 

We are determined to support some of the most vulnerable people in society with the daily pressures they face. 

Elmwood Infants visit Parliament  

I was delighted to welcome Elmwood Infants to Parliament alongside Chancellor Rachel Reeves. They had lots of brilliant questions – perhaps some future MPs in the making! If your school or group would like a tour of Parliament, just email [email protected]. 

Knife Crime Concerns 

I know many people will be feeling worried and shaken after the recent violence in Purley Way. Any stabbing is one too many, and my thoughts are with the victims, their families and friends. I cannot imagine what they must be going through. 

I am staying in close and regular contact with our local police about this incident and others in the area. I am strongly committed to reducing knife crime in Croydon and across the country, and I continue to meet with the police, local groups and schools to make sure there is a coordinated response and that we are all working together to keep our community safe. 

Although there are encouraging national trends — knife crime down 8 per cent, knife homicides down 27 per cent and hospital admissions for stabbing injuries down 11 per cent — I know that there is still much more to do. We are determined to halve knife crime within a decade, and we’ll keep pushing hard to make changes. 

We are also strengthening support for young people at risk. 1000 children a year found in possession of a knife get no interventions to turn away from crime. From April, every child will get a mandatory targeted plan to stop reoffending and protect the public.  

Watch my video here. 

Should We Ban Social Media for Under‑16s and New Protections for Women Online  

We all want a safer digital world for our children – one where they can spend less time scrolling, and more time being kids. My column for Sutton and Croydon Guardian outlines why I believe more needs to be done to tackle social media use in young people and how the Government is taking action. Should we ban social media for the under-16s? Let me know via my survey. 

Meanwhile, through an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill, tech companies will be legally required to take down intimate images shared without a victim’s consent no more than 48 hours after it is flagged to them. 

Platforms that fail to act could face fines of up to 10% of their qualifying worldwide revenue or having their services blocked in the UK. 

Furthermore, plans are currently being considered by Ofcom for these kinds of images to be treated with the same severity as child sexual abuse and terrorism content, digitally marking them so that any time someone tries to repost them, they will be automatically taken down. 

Violence against women and girls has no place in our society, and we will not rest until it is rooted out. 

Visiting the New Asian Resource Centre 

I popped over to Broad Green for a preview of the new Asian Resource Centre for Communities on Canterbury Road. Amazing to see the old library transformed into a warm, vibrant space where people can socialise and get involved in loads of community events. Check out what’s on and watch our video.  

Supporting Officer Wellbeing 

Police officers put their lives at risk and work under high stress every day, so making sure they have  

strong wellbeing support is essential. I recently visited the Police Treatment Centre in Harrogate, where I saw the incredible rehabilitation offered to officers recovering from injuries or trauma experienced in the line of duty. Our reforms will ensure that those who put themselves in harm’s way, have the best wellbeing support. The treatment centre also had the best dogs ever!