Over the last ten days, I have heard from many residents who are worried and appalled by the violence we have seen across the country. Our thoughts with the families, neighbours, and friends of the three little girls who lost their lives in the horrific attacks in Southport on 29th July, and the other children and adults who were injured. We stand in solidarity with their community, which is coming to terms with what has happened.

Since then, we have been shocked to see the far-right using misinformation and lies about the tragedy to promote their own agendas, and to divide us instead of uniting us.

The racism, Islamophobia, criminal disorder and dangerous extremism we have seen go against everything our country and our borough stands for.

What we have seen is not politics or debate. Setting buildings on fire, looting shops, spreading hate online, smashing windows of the cars of residents and businesses and attacking the police with bottles and bricks is thuggery and violence. It has no place in our country or communities. The perpetrators do not speak for Hounslow and they do not speak for Britain.

I want to say a personal thank you to all residents, local groups and places of worship who have been in touch in recent days with either information or to ask for advice on keeping safe at this time.

We’ve been working everyday reaching out and building on feedback to ensure our preparedness. On Wednesday night I shared a message of reassurance that the police along with local and national Government were working hard in Hounslow and across the country to keep us safe and to intervene where necessary with the full force of the law.

I am grateful to our police, who stepped up assurance patrols. Residents will have seen more of them on the streets, in shops and around the community in recent days.

Whilst this week has thankfully passed more peacefully with Government, police and our communities working alongside each other, the police, courts and prisons continue to work closely together to ensure anyone found to be part of any such violence is held accountable under the law. Our communities cannot be held hostage.

The Government has been clear that thuggery and criminal disorder on our streets will not be tolerated, and those who are intent on stoking disorder and division will face the full force of the law. The Prime Minister and Home Secretary have said that the police have the Government’s full backing in taking the strongest possible action against all of those responsible for these disgraceful scenes.

In the last few days we have seen additional prosecutors put in place, with people already charged and appearing in court, and more prison places available. Extra security has been put in place around locations that could be at risk, including mosques, other places of worship and asylum accommodation.

This has been a frightening time for all. For those who remember it, has brought back memories of the far-right violence in Southall and our wider local area in the 1970s. We defeated racism then, and we will do it again.

In this moment, it has been heartening to see communities across the country coming together to clean up their streets, residents pulling together to repair damage and to support each other. These are the people who speak for our towns, our cities and our country. Resilience, friendship and cohesion have always also been hallmarks of Hounslow, the place I grew up and where we have always put respect for each other at the heart of our values.

It is also important to note that misinformation may be spread about different parts of the borough. Wednesday’s rumours about mobs in the Treaty Centre were pure fabrication designed only to stoke fears. Residents can send in messages they are concerned about – you can email malhotras@parliament.uk with information or queries, and you can ask for our community Whatsapp.

We know that we must remain vigilant. If any residents receive any specific intelligence about planned local disorder in West London or any other area, please do get in touch with my office or the Council Leader Cllr. Shantanu Rajawat at Shantanu.Rajawat@hounslow.gov.uk so that we can pass on the information as needed.

Thank you, and let’s stay safe together.