Leader of the Council, Cllr Baroness O'Neill of Bexley OBE:

As we head into November my thoughts turn towards Remembrance Day and the incredible bravery and sacrifice of those who served to defend our democratic freedoms and way of life.

Remembrance invites deeply personal reflections, but at the same time it unites people of all faiths, cultures and backgrounds.

In this way I think it brings out the best in us. I am proud of our community - its diversity, its resilience and the way people come together to support one another. While we may not all share the same views or experiences, we are united as One Borough by a shared respect for the law, for public service and for the safety of our neighbours.

Much in the world is unsettled at present. This has in turn brought challenges and tensions that can impact us all. In the past few months, we have seen signs of this across the country and in our own borough.

Racist graffiti, circulation of misinformation and intimidation of Council staff are among recent actions that undermine the very fabric of our community in Bexley.

All of us – whether we live, work or learn in the borough – deserve to feel safe and supported. Behaviour that threatens our community cohesion is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated. We are working closely with the police and our partners to take action where we need to.

At the Council our staff work hard every day to serve residents, whether through maintaining public spaces, supporting families, improving road safety or many more other frontline and backroom activities. No one should face abuse or threats for doing their job.

This is an important time to stand together. Let us continue to show that our community is one of respect, decency and shared responsibility."