NEWLY-ELECTED Conservative councillor Edwin Northover has pledged to tackle crime following his Chingford by-election victory.

In a comprehensive victory, he polled about two thirds of the vote as the Conservatives held the Larkswood ward seat with a 20 per cent swing.

The 29-year-old lawyer and school governor told the Guardian that an increase in knife crime appears to be the most pressing issue to his constituents He said: "People are worried about knife crime and anti-social behaviour and there is a feeling that Chingford Mount is not what it used to be and people are upset about that.

"We need more visible policing so people feel safer."

Cllr Northover, of Ranelagh Road, Leytonstone, is planning to press for an extra Police Community Support Officer to patrol Larkswood ward and to support activities to engage young people.

As well as his constituency duties, Cllr Northover is keen that the Conservative group, often described by critics as too focused on its support base in Chingford, branches out to the other parts of the borough.

He said: "Many of the issues we talking about, such as knife crime, affect all parts of the borough.

"We hope to become the biggest party on the council and the only way we can progress is to reach out to more people."

Cllr Northover believes more needs to be done to restore civic pride in the borough's town centres and to encourage businesses to open.

He said: "Many of the council's planning decisions are wrong, for instance, the one-way system in Leytonstone has killed the High Street."

He believes the Arcade site should offer something different to other shopping centres and warns that the new Stratford City development will be the "death knell" for high streets in Waltham Forest unless shoppers are given a reason to shop in the borough.

Cllr Northover also wants to see the Hall Farm Curve rail link, from Stratford to Chingford, re-opened and says more needs to be done to engage voters.

He said: "Many people feel they don't have a voice in local government as many of the decisions are taken by the 10 cabinet members."

The other candidates who stood in the election were Henrietta Jackson, who polled 255 votes for Labour, Henry Boyle (Lib Dem) who received 144 votes and Daniel Perret (Green) who polled 102 votes.

The Labour group has 25 councillors, the Lib Dems 20 and Conservatives 15.