The Home Secretary has promised to visit Waltham Forest in the wake of three stabbings and one shooting in the borough.

Cllr Selina Seesunkur, of Larkswood ward, wrote two letters; one to Home Secretary Sajid Javid and another to the Mayor of London calling for action.

Citing knife possession as being most common amongst 12 to 16 year olds, Cllr Seesunkur said: “We all want to see change happen on our streets, especially in Waltham Forest, to tackle knife crime so our children feel safe.”

In her first letter, the councillor asked Sajid Javid about key areas of funding for police and for more details on sentencing and possession.

In the second, she asked Sadiq Khan why he had not considered the alternative budget put forward by GLA Conservatives.

Cllr Seesunkur added: “It is my firm belief the Mayor of London, should be making better use of innovation and be working far more closely with local London communities to combat knife crime.”

MP Iain Duncan Smith and Cllrs Selina Seesunkur, Alan Siggers, Kay Isa and Roy Berg met with the Borough Commander for Waltham Forest to discuss the latest knife crime incidents.

Cllr Seesunkur spoke to officers who go out on the beat to understand everyday issues from their perspective.

Following that meeting, Conservative councillors Selina Seesunkur, deputy group leader Tim James and group leader Cllr Alan Siggers were invited to Parliament to meet the Home Secretary.

Mr Duncan Smith was also in attendance on Tuesday April 16 to discuss the specific problems in Waltham Forest.

The group put together a ten-point plan for the borough to present to the Home Secretary and called for a wider review of the resources given to the borough to ensure the police were properly supported.

They then asked the Home Secretary to visit Waltham Forest soon, which he agreed to do.

Iain Duncan Smith said: “The meeting yesterday was a brilliant opportunity to point out the good work Waltham Forest Council Officers are doing, particularly in the area of early invention with their pilot LifeSkills Programme.

“Waltham Forest is the is the first Local Authority in the UK to run this programme and we are going to do everything we can to try to find more funds to help support roll out of this programme across the Borough.

“I look forward to Sajid visiting Chingford & Woodford Green soon to be able to see this programme in action.”

Sajid Javid said he would write to the Mayor of London and Cressida Dick, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, to ask them to review pressure on police resources in the borough.

Mr Javid said: “I have been clear that I will do everything in my power to tackle the senseless violence that is traumatising communities and claiming too many young lives.

“The police already have a range of measures they are using to keep our streets safe, but there is more we can do to help them in this battle. I have listened to their calls and will be introducing new orders to stop gang members carrying knives in the first place.

“It is vital we continue to focus on improving the law enforcement response while at the same time steering young people away from criminal activity in the first place.”

Cllr Seesunkur said: “Parents and the community have a key role to play in helping to combat knife crime and they should have guidance provided as to what they can do if they suspect their child or their child’s friend of carrying a knife.”

Cllr Alan Siggers, Conservative group leader, and Cllr Tim James, Conservative group deputy leader, said: “This has been a great chance to build on the good work already underway by both the Council and the police.

“It was a really constructive meeting with the Home Secretary, he has made some positive commitments to Waltham Forest, and we are please he has agreed to visit. We now need the same response from Sadiq Khan.”