Eastbrook and Rush Green Safer Neighbourhoods Team

FOOT PATROL | Open spaces and made up Rick's outing on the ward today before he returns to Junior Citizens duty tomorrow (5.66 miles).

After a brief trip into on a ward errand, Rick was dropped off in where he spent time, before going on to RM7's Legon Avenue (11.42am).

Both sides of Dagenham Road were covered, including Leonard Avenue and Philip Close (12.14pm, p) to the west and Laurel Crescent (1.02pm) and Gorseway (p) to the east.

(1.29pm) made way for Footpath18 (1.35pm, p), before passing through the country park and Tom Thumb lake as part of the team's ongoing ASB/safety commitments.

"Thank you to whoever cleared away the last bag of discarded cans from Footpath 18. I've been tidying up what I can along the way."
-Rick (7199EA)

FOOT PATROL | With Lee, returning from a month-long attachment, and Adam on aid this weekend in , Rick put in a 4-hour patrol filled with football, firewatching and a free lemonade* (6.38 miles).

Kicking off at the May and Baker Social Club where a youth football tournament was taking place (p), 1.79 miles of the country park, including Footpath 18 (12.41pm), was covered to monitor ASB and the potential for wildfires.

After disposing of a disposed disposable barbecue, it was on to 's Valentines Way and Great Cullings.

All of (1.34pm) was covered next where a small community gathering was taking place to mark Monday's International Day for Protection of Children, which included a bouncy castle, food and a lemonade stand (p).

It was then back via Great Cullings (3.04pm, p), Eastbrook Drive and the social club. (7199EA)

*which Rick fully intends to pay for

JUNIOR CITIZEN 2026| Last week, Rick helped launch this year’s Barking and Dagenham Council-led Junior Citizen initiative aimed at giving Year 6 children the tools to “keep safe in everyday life.”

From saving water with Thames Water to saving lives with the London Ambulance Service NHS Trust, the Metropolitan Police Service were also joined by Transport for London, , the London Fire Brigade and Vandome Cycles for tips and advice.

Awareness around knives was once again the theme this year, with officers from Barking & Dagenham Police's discussing the law around bladed and sharply-pointed items in public places, including schools, before a game putting that knowledge into practice.

After taking part in 3 days across the opening week, Rick has several more dates coming up in the fortnight following the half-term hiatus.

"I'm not a trainer, and I'm certainly no David Brent when it comes to inspiring, but I enjoyed my time doing Junior Citizen last year so I was happy to be back on the spreadsheet for more dates this year,and 'headlining' on the final day."
-Rick (7199EA)

RUSH GREEN SHOPLIFTER ARRESTED | Adam only joined the team a few weeks ago, but he's hit the ground running…running after (and arresting) a shoplifter.

Just before 10am last Wednesday, Adam successfully apprehended a man suspected of stealing around £1600 in cocoa confectionary from the Co-op in . Despite leaving the store and attempting to board a bus, the man was stopped and arrested by Adam, assisted by ’s PC, Shush.

Adam began looking into related shoplifting offences at the RM7 branch earlier this month, speaking to staff and identifying individuals linked to ongoing thefts.

The man was charged with 8 counts of shoplifting and bailed ahead of sentencing next month. He’ll also have conditions not to enter any Co-op store in the UK.

Recently, Adam also arrested a man on the ward for breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO). (7199EA)

Image: (29/09/2025)

FOOT PATROL | After commitments last week, Rick was back on the ward this afternoon, with the Country Park and southern included on the rounds (6.18 miles).

Entering the country park (4.51pm), 1.55 miles around Tom Thumb and Bardag (p) lakes was covered, along with Footpath 18 towards Harveys Lane in , to monitor anti-social behaviour during half-term and conduct ‘firewatch’ patrols around the green space.

All of (5.54pm) followed, which included Carnation Close and Lupin Close (6.36pm, p), as well as a discussion on urban legends, from Teke Teke to Skinwalkers, with a few local children (they started it!).

Great Cullings (7.38pm, p), Eastbrook Drive and Fels Farm Mews (7.58pm) were featured late on, before heading back via the country park and social club. (7199EA)

THE KEYFINDER | Rick produced his 8th key find of the year just before 1pm this afternoon while out in .

It's now 142 in just over 8 years. Or 2,957 days for the purists. (7199EA)

FOOT PATROL | Today Rick's 3-and-a-half hour outing included a contact point, another key find and a visit to a golf course, along with ASB visits around Barking and Dagenham College (6.20 miles).

After a lap around the back lake at , Rick spent an hour at the as part of a contact point, saying hello to a Tinder Sticks CIC gathering along the way (11.31am).

From there it was through Valentines Way (12.07pm) and Great Cullings, followed by college ASB hotspots, Harveys Lane (12.13pm, p), the Thorntons Farm Avenue alley, the Fourth Avenue car port and the Dagenham Road flats.

Heading through Fourth Avenue and , both Wisdons Close (12.55pm) and Alex Guy Gardens (p) were checked, before a visit to the Crowlands Heath Golf Club.

It was then back through the park, with visits to Woodshire Road (1.32pm, p), Felhurst Crescent and Delvers Mead (1.47pm). (7199EA)

FOOT PATROL | Hail, sun, hail, sun was the order of the day as Rick headed out with 's Terry for coverage around and 's Barking and Dagenham College (5.14 miles).

Tom Thumb lake (10.50am), the and Footpath 18 (11.31am, p) were visited early on, before arriving in via the front lakes.

The Thorntons Farm Avenue alley was checked en route to the flats along Dagenham Road (12.03pm, p) in response to a call to police linked to college students loitering.

Parting ways with Terry, Rick went on to call by at the Co-op, followed by a return to the flats, and spot-checks on the Fourth Avenue car port (12.16pm) and the Thorntons Farm alley.

Harveys Lane (12.20pm, p), Great Cullings and Eastbrook Drive (12.33pm) also saw coverage. (7199EA)

FOOT PATROL | Kerry, on what was likely her final Eastbrook and Rush Green outing, teamed up with Rick today for open space and college-based ASB patrols (6.12 miles).

Eastbrookend's made way for Footpath 18 (9.54am), before (10.11am, p) was covered in full.

After providing a presence around the shops in Dagenham Road, ASB hotspots, including the Thorntons Farm Avenue alley and the Fourth Avenue car port (11.09am), were checked on.

The Dagenham Road flats (p) were visited shortly after along with the medical centre.

Back south, open space patrols included the back lake (11.34am, p), , as well as Bardag and Tom Thumb lakes. (7199EA)

WELCOMING ADAM² | Last week the team said hello to its newest member, police officer, Adam.

While becoming the second of his namesake to join the team, Adam is currently on an attachment to Eastbrook and Rush Green, but will fully link up with Rick (PCSO) and Lee (PC) later this month.

He brings with him over 7 years of policing experience, with time spent on Emergency Response taking 999 calls and, most recently, working on the Town Centre Team (TCT) in neighbouring Ilford.

Adam, who once upon a time was actually a resident of the ward, has already been out and about on his former stomping ground of , checking college hotspots and getting to know staff at the Co-op. (7199EA)

P.S. Adam gave his approval for the following likeness.