POLICE borough commander Chief Supt Mark Benbow has confirmed he is leaving the Met Police after 30 years in the service. He spoke to CARL BROWN about his time in Waltham Forest.

BROUGHT up in east London, Mark Benbow became the top police officer in Waltham Forest in January 2006, after a career in the Met serving in Hackney, Greenwich and Tower Hamlets.

He has had to deal with a large anti-terrorism operation, young people falling victim to knife crime and the biggest manhunt in the borough’s history for the serial rapist who murdered Michelle Samaraweera.

“It has been rewarding but hard,” the 48-year-old admitted.

“Waltham Forest is a complex policing environment for us, it is very challenging.”

Chief Supt Benbow cited a decrease in personal robbery and this year's Beacon Award for improving community cohesion as successes under his watch.

He also said he was pleased by the way the police handled the dispute over the running of Lea Bridge Road mosque.

Factions enaged in a power struggle clashed outside the mosque in February and officers were called in when the row threatened to spill over into violence.

Chief Supt Benbow took a personal role in mediating between the two groups and a legitimate ruling committee has now been selected.

He said: “The handling of the mosque row was our biggest single achievement because it could have escalated.

“That mosque is large and needs to be a leading mosque nationally.”

Chief Supt Benbow said policing in Waltham Forest is largely the same as elsewhere, but said the community is more cohesive than some boroughs.

He added: “I don't think there is a Waltham Forest spirit as such but there is a neighbourhood spirit.

“I do think people of different races and creeds rub along here, our racial crime is particularly low and so far there has been little evidence of far-right activity.

“It could have been a lot worse after the terror raids, considering 13 out of 24 arrested were charged.”

He insists the borough's police face difficulties caused by a disproportionate lack of resources.

He said: “We are classed as outer London yet south of the A406 in Waltham Forest is as busy as Hackney, Newham or anywhere else in London.

“It is always a struggle, our response times are still quite low, but have been improving.”

He has no regrets about his time in Waltham Forest but said, if he had his time again, he would have launched the youth engagement team, which aims to tackle gang culture, much earlier than this year.

“I wish I had been a bit bolder and followed my instincts as we are really getting to know the youngsters in the south of the borough now,” he said.

Mr Benbow leaves Waltham Forest on December 10 and will take up a position as assistant director of community safety at Camden Council in the new year.