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Romford BID Appoints My Local Bobby to Improve Safety in the Town

Romford BID has been working with My Local Bobby (MLB) since 2023. Through regular high-visibility patrols, MLB provides a reassuring presence across Romford town centre and takes a proactive, hands-on approach to addressing incidents and issues as they arise.

Initially, Romford BID funded two Bobbies operating five days a week. Building on the success of the service over the past two years, further investment was secured to strengthen and expand the model. In May 2025, a major milestone was achieved when the landlords of The Liberty and The Brewery shopping centres each committed £50,000 towards the service. This investment enabled a significant increase in coverage, doubling the number of uniformed officers from two to four.

As a result, Romford now benefits from MLB coverage seven days a week, with four officers on duty on four of those days. This momentum has continued, with both landlords agreeing to repeat their investment in May 2026, demonstrating strong confidence in the value and effectiveness of the initiative.

The Romford team consists of Muhammad Islam, Yusuf Lamidi and Supervisor Wayne Mulqueen. The Bobbies maintain regular contact with BID members, local businesses and key stakeholders to help manage and reduce anti-social behaviour, shoplifting, crime and other issues that can negatively impact business activity and the visitor experience.

Working closely with Romford BID, local businesses, the Metropolitan Police, Havering Council and other partners, the team plays an active role in addressing town centre concerns. They also attend weekly partnership meetings and operational calls with local police officers and Romford BID to share intelligence, coordinate responses and support joint problem-solving initiatives.

Intelligence gathering is a core element of the service. The team collects information and evidence to support TM Eye, the Metropolitan Police and Havering Council, helping to identify and target persistent offenders and emerging issues. In addition, the Bobbies provide assistance and reassurance to residents, workers and visitors throughout the town centre.

My Local Bobby was co-founded in 2016 by former Metropolitan Police Detective Chief Superintendent David McKelvey and delivers public realm security services across London and other parts of the UK. All officers are accredited by the Security Industry Authority (SIA) and undergo comprehensive vetting, criminal record checks and professional training. They also receive specialist training in trauma response, duty of care, conflict management, citizens’ arrests and the safe use of handcuffs.

  • Since MLB have been employed in Romford, we have had extra support as a centre from them, they attend when necessary and help our security staff assisting with crime in and around the centre. Everyone on site has built up a fantastic working relationship with them and we are truly grateful in the support to fight crime around the town.

    Jon Guerriero Soft Service Manager, The Liberty
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  • One thing in retail is trying to keep yourself and your staff safe. With MLB about, you have that secondary back up if needed. As a solo guard I can't thank them enough and I appreciate them daily. MLB are shutting down the theft and violence at a steady pace.

    Wez Smith B&M
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  • I wanted to say that we have just had our stock loss result in for the end of our financial year. This was the best result we have had in a long time at -1.83%. This is a fantastic result especially in the current climate and the stores’ location. This has been helped no end by the work that you have done in the town along with My Local Bobby – uniform and under cover teams. The town has been brought together to battle crime and anti-social behaviour. Long may this continue.

    Ian Woolley Primark Store Manager
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  • MLB have not only made an impactful change regarding crime (even violence) in Romford, they have become an integral part of Romford's Safety and Security detail. From recovering stolen items, to protecting Sports Direct staff from violent shoplifters, they continue to keep Romford safe with the utmost professionalism. Thank you guys.

    A B Bisiriyu Sports Direct
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  • Can we pass on our thanks to you and the MLB team Chris and Khan. We had a violent male in the centre on Tuesday last week, the team at the liberty had to restrain the male and assistance was requested. Chris and Khan were first on the scene and helped to calm the situation, police did attend, and the male was arrested and was believed to have left prison a few days earlier. From a personal point Chris and Khan are an asset to the town, and their presence can have a calming effect to any situation, if you could pass on our thanks to them. A brilliant idea to introduce them to the town.

    Tony Allerston Operations Manager at The Liberty Shopping Centre
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Meet the MLB Team

Muhammad Islam

Joining the team in Romford, Muhammad brings a well-rounded background in both enforcement and care-based frontline roles.

A former police constable with experience in NHS security and mental health response, he’s well-equipped for the challenges of town centre patrols.

With strong communication skills, situational awareness, and a calm manner, Muhammed is ready to support the public, respond to incidents, and work closely with BID partners to keep Romford safe.

Welcome to the team!

Yusuf Lamidi

We’re pleased to welcome Yusuf to the Romford team. With over three years of experience with My Local Bobby, Yusuf has worked across a number of BID locations including Leicester Square, High Street Kensington, Acton, and Romford.

His background in response stewarding spans stadiums, events, pubs, and festivals, giving him extensive experience in crowd management, incident response, and working effectively under pressure.

Since joining the Romford BID patrol team, Yusuf has focused on supporting local businesses, responding quickly to incidents, and maintaining a visible presence throughout the town centre.

Known for his calm approach, strong communication skills, and ability to de-escalate situations, Yusuf is committed to helping keep Romford safe for businesses, staff, visitors, and the wider community.

We’re delighted to have him as part of the team and look forward to the contribution he will continue to make across the BID and My Local Bobby.

Supervisor Wayne Mulqueen

Joining the team in Romford, Wayne brings strong experience in public safety, incident response, and frontline security.

Before joining My Local Bobby, he worked as a Response Officer with London Gateway Port Police, where he responded to incidents, maintained security, and supported safety operations across the port.

Now working as Supervisor for the Romford BID Patrol Team, Wayne supports local businesses through high-visibility patrols, welfare checks, incident response, and regular engagement with retailers, security teams, and members of the public.

Having grown up in the area, Wayne brings local knowledge and a strong connection to the Romford community. Calm, approachable, and community-focused, he is committed to helping create a safer and more welcoming town centre for businesses, visitors, and residents.