A report has put Hau-Yu Tam, a Green councillor in Deptford, at the centre of a fresh political controversy in south London. The allegation is that Tam has been advising residents described in the report as wanted by police or lacking legal status on how to avoid officers.
The story has drawn extra attention because Tam was also identified in the same report as the councillor who previously referred to David Lammy and Priti Patel as “coconuts” on X. That earlier social media issue is now being raised again as critics question Tam’s conduct and judgment.
The trimmed excerpt says Tam serves in Green-led Lewisham, linking the row to wider scrutiny of local leadership in the borough. With only a partial version of the article available, the main focus remains on the claim that a serving councillor in Deptford is facing criticism over alleged advice related to avoiding police contact.
The issue is likely to intensify debate around political accountability, policing and immigration in London local government. For now, the controversy centres on whether a public representative in Lewisham acted appropriately and how party and council figures respond.
