Camden New Journal - Letters: Yob culture has reached crisis point

Publications by New Journal Enterprises

Home

Archive

Competition

Camden New Journal - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published: 10 May 2007

Yob culture has reached crisis point

• RESIDENTS of Haverstock ward have to live with intimidation and damage to council property and businesses on a daily basis. Vandalism, graffiti and drug abuse take place in housing estates, markets and streets.
Residents have expressed frustration and anger at having to endure thefts, the breaking of car windows and intimidation of shoppers.
Shopkeepers in Queen’s Crescent market and Malden Road are frightened of fights that take place between youths almost every weekend and sometimes during the week.
One shop closed because the owner could not put up with this yob culture.
Although the Lib Dem-Tory administration has introduced a dispersal zone, residents still have to put up with youths throwing fireworks at each other and into shops.
During a ‘walkabout’ in October last year, the community safety Tsar, Councillor Ben Rawlings, saw the devastation caused to a pizza shop and other properties. He agreed to provide more resources to tackle anti-social behaviour but they have never materialised.
Cllr Rawlings is now occupied with the consultation process of the Asbo review, which has taken more than a year when it was supposed to have been completed within six months. Meanwhile, anti-social behaviour has reached crisis point.
Residents of Haverstock ward want Cllr Rawlings to act now to deal with this yob culture with a firm hand before these youths hold this community to ransom.
CLLR SYED HOQUE
Labour, Haverstock ward

Send your letters to: The Letters Editor, Camden New Journal, 40 Camden Road, London, NW1 9DR or email to letters@camdennewjournal.co.uk. The deadline for letters is midday Tuesday. The editor regrets that anonymous letters cannot be published, although names and addresses can be withheld. Please include a full name, postal address and telephone number. Letters may be edited for reasons of space.

Comment on this article.
(You must supply your full name and email address for your comment to be published)

Name:

Email:

Comment: