Teddington's MP Munira Wilson is demanding urgent action to put more police on the streets in Richmond borough, following an alarming rise in violence in the area over the past month.

Ms Wilson, her Richmond counterpart Sarah Olney and the leader of Richmond Council Gareth Roberts, called for help from London Mayor Sadiq Khan in a joint letter sent on Thursday 27 May.

The borough has seen an increase in violent attacks over the past month including the murder of 39-year-old Tim Hipperson in Richmond last week , the stabbing of a 14-year-old boy at Teddington Lock and a series of girl gang attacks in Twickenham.

In the letter, Ms Olney said these incidents have provoked a strong reaction from residents who are "anxious for visible action."

She and the other signatories see an increase in police presence vital to provide "effective reassurance" to residents across the Richmond, Kew, Twickenham and Teddington area.

"We are therefore writing to request greater police numbers be stationed in Richmond," she wrote.

The letter makes clear that the three politicians are also seeking a meeting with the mayor to make their case for greater police numbers.

Specifically, they want to "to explore ways of reassuring and, ultimately, keeping safe our constituents."

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In a tweet supporting the letter, Ms Wilson wrote: "Following recent serious incidents in Teddington and Twickenham, I have written with @sarahjolney1 and @Gareth_Roberts_ to the Mayor of London for a stronger local police presence in the borough."

Last year, residents in Richmond investigated the possibility of bringing in private police patrols using the company MyLocalBobby as a result of repeated antisocial behaviour, violence and drug dealing linked to Richmond Green and surrounding areas. The proposal was opposed by the council.

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