I recently joined Deputy Executive Mayor Cllr Lynne Hale and former Civic Mayor Cllr Richard Chatterjee at a memorial service for Elianne Andam at New Life Christian Centre. It was moving to stand alongside her family, friends and the wider community, and to remember a young woman whose life meant so much to so many.
The tragic loss of Elianne in 2023 deeply affected communities across Croydon and beyond. The killing of a 15-year-old on her way to school raised profound concern about violence against women and girls (VAWG) - and knife crime. Three years on, we continue to listen and address those concerns.
Croydon has introduced its first Youth Safety Delivery Plan and a dedicated plan to tackle violence against women and girls, alongside work with the police and local partners to prevent violence and support those at risk. We are seeing reductions in VAWG offences in the Town Centre, including sustained reductions in knife crime and youth violence across the borough, but there is much more to do.
Sunday was, above all, about Elianne. My thoughts remain with her family and everyone who loved and knew her. We honour her memory and the memories of others gone too soon, by continuing the work to make Croydon safer for our residents.
