Well respected Thornton Ward, Safer Neighbourhood Team Police Officer, PC 222 LX Christian Igwegbe has announced he is due to leave the ward to become a Safer Schools Officer. After nearly two years of hard work and dedicated service to the Weir Estate and surrounding area, PC Igwegbe will leave the ward, leaving the community stunned.

PC Igwegbe has become a welcome face to members of the of the estate as well as being a continued support to the Weir Estate Residents Association, even attending meetings on his day off.

The police constable who was the first police officer to resurrect the Safer Neighbourhood Team following the collapse of the last SNT, leaving the ward with no team. Following furious reaction from members of the community, Christian Igwegbe was appointed to re-energise the ward and faith in local policing.

For Six months he worked flat out getting to know the community and re-build the trust. When PC Igwegbe who works as part of Lambeth Police based out of Cavendish Road Police Station, he made a promise to ‘use his legs and never be seen patrolling the ward in a car’. This is a continuedpromise he has kept during his time on Thornton Ward.

The news of his immediate departure will send shock-waves through the community and be a major blow to local policing.

WERA Chair Dave McEvoy Said “I have worked very closely with PC Igwegbe and am stunned at the news he is to leave us. On both a personal and professional level, I will be saddened to see him leave. He has been a real asset and has restored the faith we had lost in community policing. We have been very lucky to have such a dedicated, community minded and hard working officer in this ward.  His been friendly and approachable and a true pleasure to know and work with. A major blow to us as a community but of course on behalf of Weir Estate I wish him the very best of luck in his new role at Safer Schools”

Molly Huggins TRA Chair, Emerica Hyde described the news as ‘Unbelievable’ saying “This is shocking and I had to digest it. Unbelievable!”

The loss of Christian will once again see the safer neighbourhood team under strength following loss of many officers to other areas of the Police Service. Safer Neighbourhood teams work within a specific community usually consist of one sergeant, two constables and three     police community support officers (PCSO’s) though this varies on the size of the ward which is just over half a square mile. The rest of team will continue to strive to keep Thornton Ward crime the lowest in the Borough.

PC Igwegbe said of his sudden departure “I have felt that I now have to move on, this has been a very difficult decision and leaves me with a heavy heart, The Thornton ward community is second to none and I will miss working here.”

WERA wish Christian all the very best and Thank him for all his hard work, we shall miss you!