Dear friend, 

Last week was a sad week for Croydon. The murder of Sergeant Matt Ratana was devastating for the policing family and the Croydon community. It has been heartening to see so many members of the community coming together to unite in grief and pay tribute to the wonderful man that Matt was.

It has now been six months since the UK first went into lockdown. Everyone in Croydon has made big sacrifices and my heart goes out to those who have faced bereavement or sickness in these past months. Despite the current low number of cases in Croydon, I am very concerned about the spike in coronavirus cases we are seeing across the country. The Government has introduced new measures to restrict transmission of the virus. I recognise that it is difficult, but I urge you to continue to follow government restrictions. As we approach the end of the furlough scheme, I am particularly concerned about Croydon residents at risk of losing their jobs. The Chancellor needs to rethink his flawed financial support plan. I will keep putting pressure on the Chancellor to protect your livelihoods through a difficult winter ahead.

With best wishes and keep safe.
 

Sarah 

Sarah Jones

Member of Parliament for Croydon Central

Shadow Minister for Policing and the Fire Service

Sergeant Matiu Ratana 

Calling for better protections for police officers

The rising number of attacks on police officers is unacceptable and needs to be addressed. The loss of Sergeant Matt Ratana is a painful reminder of how the police risk their lives every day to protect others. There should be stronger penalties for those who attack the police and the emergency services. With extremely limited resources, the police have been working on the frontline to keep us safe during the pandemic.

As Shadow Minister for Policing and Fire, I have been pressuring the Government to be clear on how they will better protect our overstretched police forces and tackle the rise in violent crime we have seen under their watch. It was a privilege to meet Lissie Harper, the Widow of PC Andrew Harper, another police officer killed in service. Lissie spoke to me and the Shadow Home Secretary about the need for greater protections for emergency service workers. We are committed to working constructively on a cross-party basis on this important issue.

Covid-19: Test, Track and Trace

The Government needs to urgently improve the test, track and trace system to ensure that it works effectively. The Government’s decision to put private firms like Serco and Deloitte in charge, instead of using local expertise, clearly is not working. Local public health teams should be leading this service as they are the people that know their communities, and are in regular contact with hospitals, the police and community groups. Test and Trace should be rebuilt as a locally led service, with our local authorities central to the process with an involvement in ensuring that councils get the financial support packages they need.

After Croydon’s Incredible efforts to bring Covid cases down, we must be ready for possible autumn increases. In the Commons chamber, I asked the Secretary of State for Health, Matt Hancock MP, for certainty on outbreak control budgets beyond the new year, so councils can be reassured that Government will support them through a local outbreak.

I am very concerned about the lack of testing available to residents and have been contacted by a number of people saying that testing has ground to a halt in our schools. I wrote to Matt Hancock demand urgent action at this crucial time. Read more about my concerns here. I have also written to the Policing Minister, Kit Malthouse, to call for police and firefighters to get priority access to testing or our frontline will be put at risk.

I recently went on BBC’s Politics Live programme, where I raised concerns about the Government’s handling of the Covid crisis. The Prime Minister's incompetence and inability to provide a clear message to the public threatens our jobs, our security and our international reputation. The decision to unpick the Brexit deal instead of tackling the Covid crisis is a dangerous mistake. Watch a clip from the programme here.

Urging the Government to move faster on fire safety

As Shadow Minister for Policing and Fire, I led Labour’s work on the Fire Safety Bill. When the Bill came through Parliament for the report stage and third reading, we tabled an amendment to try to force the Government to implement the vital recommendations in the Grenfell Inquiry’s phase one report. The amendment would have placed robust requirements on building owners or managers to share information with local Fire and Rescue Service about the design, and the materials of the external walls, to undertake regular inspections of individual flat entrance doors and lifts, and share evacuation and fire safety instructions with residents of the building. Shamefully, latest Government figures published in September show that over 80% of private sector residential buildings and nearly half of social sector residential buildings wrapped in Grenfell style ACM cladding have not the materials removed.

It was extremely disappointing that the Government decided to vote against Labour’s amendment, despite promising in 2019 that they would implement the recommendations “without delay”. I will keep on pushing the Government to improve fire safety and help the tens of thousands of people stuck living in unsafe blocks across the country.

Green Share Bill

At Anna McMorrin MP’s important debate on her Green Share Bill, I mentioned some brilliant cooperatives in Croydon and South London that are focused on sustainability and protecting the environment. The Government should be supporting the Bill, which would be an important step to help communities and investors create a more sustainable living environment.

Diary highlights

Macmillan coffee morning

Last Friday, on a difficult day for the Croydon community, we still came together with Matthew Kershaw, CEO of Croydon Health Trust, for #MacmillanCoffeeMorning to talk about living with cancer and supporting each other through the pandemic. Donate to Macmillan on my just giving page by clicking here.

 Bookshop day 2020

To celebrate our amazing local bookshops, I was delighted to visit the Waterstones in Croydon today. It was brilliant to see all the great books on display and how they have adapted to keep customers safe from Covid. Bookshops on the high street are struggling and I encourage you all to order books from local stores online or give them a Covid-secure visit in person!

Police and Crime Commissioners briefing

As part of Labour Connected, Labour’s virtual conference, it was fantastic to join Labour Police and Crime Commissioners and candidates from across England and Wales for an informative discussion on what Labour PCCs can do in power to create safer communities and stand up for what local people want.

Casework and Campaigns

This past month I have been assisting my constituents with an array of queries, problems and complaints. Some across the constituency have experienced a blip in receiving their post and I have been working with the Royal Mail to ensure that these problems are flagged and resolved as quickly as possible. The uncertainty and economic hardship that has resulted from the changes to the furlough scheme has been a concern for many constituents, as has the last-minute extending of the eviction ban. I have been contacted by many concerned about the impact that dangerous cladding is having on their property and I will be working with them in the months ahead to ensure that they receive as much support as possible.
 

Covid restrictions

Rules are changing regularly around Covid restrictions. Please check for up-to-date annoucnements at www.gov.uk/coronavirus.

For local information, contact Croydon Council at www.croydon.gov.uk/coronavirus.

For help from me, email sarah.jones.mp@parliament.uk, or ring 0208 191 7066 (10am- 2pm and 2pm-4pm – Monday – Friday).

Appeal from Children’s Hospital Pyjamas:

Children’s Hospital Pyjamas is a group of volunteers based in Croydon that collect new pyjamas for children in hospitals, hospices and women’s refuges up and down the country.  Last year they collected and distributed 12,202 pairs of pyjamas and donated to 62 different establishments. The team have done an amazing job and really need your help this year. If you can, please donate and share the appeal with friends and family: www.childrenshospitalpyjamas.co.uk

Reminder of volunteering opportunities

If you are able to please consider signing up to volunteer here with Croydon Voluntary Action. They are undertaking a significant operation across the community ensuring that those who need support the most are able to access it, from food to offering emotional support via phonecalls. They have established a centralised helpline for vulnerable people to contact should they need it which is 020 8253 7076. 
 

Atop of this, Croydon Mutual Aid continues to offer an informal volunteering service across Croydon. You can find out more information about this group and how to get involved here.
 

Finally, foodbanks across Croydon continue to need donations, the full list of which can be found on my coronavirus hub here.