A Barking and Dagenham Council community ranger has been praised after their actions led to the arrest of a man armed with a crossbow.
Police arrested the man after he was caught in possession of a loaded crossbow and a knife at the entrance to Dagenham East Station on the morning of Thursday 2 February.
The armed individual had been spotted in a Dagenham park by a community ranger. The council officer’s description helped the police catch the figure.
The rangers also found two crossbow bolts which have been handed to the police.
Commenting on the incident, leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, Cllr Darren Rodwell, said: ‘I would like to commend the quick thinking of our Community Rangers in spotting the man and getting the police involved.
‘I’m aware this has been happening for a short while and residents have been reporting similar incidents since last year, so I would also like to say a thank you to them for being so vigilant.
‘Thankfully there was no harm to any member of the public and hopefully this is now the end of such incidents.’
