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Police need to take back control of lawless streets
• I WRITE in support of courageously outspoken Yasmin Allen who came forward to expose the appalling situation which has developed in our neighbourhood over these past 18 months or so and which could easily have been prevented. (Why have we been abandoned to the criminals in ‘no-go’ area? September 28).
Until I resigned as secretary of the Haverstock Ward Safer Neighbourhood Citizen Panel in June of this year, I attended every meeting.
Over and over again, residents complained of the dangerous, lawless goings on at Malden Road and Queen’s Crescent.
Everyone seemed alarmed at the growing number of serious attacks on shopkeepers and residents and the totally unacceptable anti-social behaviour, except the police themselves.
Their laissez-faire attitude towards the wish of the panel members and those who contacted us outside meetings helped create a feeling that we have been left alone to fend off criminals.
The despondent cry of Yasmin Allen sounds familiar to me and to those in the community who tried and are still trying to make Safer Neighbourhood work.
This is in complete contrast to earlier efforts. There were fewer officers around then, but they knew their patch and dealt with problems as they occurred. We now have to wait for a Safer Neighbourhood meeting every three months or so.
We are then told not to have much hope for any quick resolution. Or worse, we are led to believe that a situation is under control yet are faced with inaction.
After working with the police very successfully since 2000 I and our residents owe a debt of gratitude to them for all they have done at Talacre.
The present regime have been living off the huge goodwill their predecessors have built over the years in our area.
We are at a loss, however, to know how to get the best from the present policing scheme under Safer Neighbourhood. Police officers seem to be demoralised. They do not engage as they once were able to.
Why? Is it because the new Safer Neighbourhood concept is unable to work? Is leadership at fault?
Whatever is ailing our local police force should be addressed sooner rather than later if we the public is to avid a spiral of decline in local policing.
CELINE LA FRENIERE
Talacre Gardens, NW5
• AT the recent meeting held for the residents of Bucklebury to try to find ways of solving the many issues of vandalism in the block and its surroundings by gangs of youths who hang around the Samuel Lithgow Youth Club and elsewhere, the council officers from the local district office, the police, and a few staff from the youth club, and many residents from the block attended.
But not one of the three ward councillors for the Regent’s Park Ward (Theo Blackwell, Heather Johnson and Nasim Ali) turned up.
An official invite by Camden Council Housing Department was made to them, but they remained elusive and no apologies were received for their absence at the meeting.
Considering how much the residents of Bucklebury have been suffering over years and especially recent months when it has reached sheer crisis point for residents, what an insult it was that none of these elected councillors could be bothered to support us.
Everybody, including council staff and the police were surprised, embarrassed and disgusted by this.
I would like to point out to the councillors that they should serve the needs of tenants and leaseholders and not disruptive gangs of youths.
There has been a total disregard of the needs of residents of Bucklebury.
Only on Friday night, I was assaulted by youths outside Bucklebury and the Lithgow Club, and suffered an asthma attack, but maybe our elected representatives have no interest in this.
Maybe some councillors feel they are not accountable to anyone, including the voters of this borough.
L HABIT
Stanhope Street, NW1
• LETTERS about the increased violence in Queen’s Crescent and environs came as no surprise (Why have we been abandoned to the criminals in ‘no-go’ area? September 28).
Throughout the summer, readers of the CNJ wrote of their distress about the disorder and lawlessness in the area without anyone doing anything about it.
Traders seem immune from rules at Queen’s Crescent. Kids race their motor bikes at Queen’s Crescent and Malden and Prince of Wales Road and regularly cause accidents and/or sustain serious injuries themselves. Attacks on shopkeepers are not uncommon.
Crime is bound to thrive in such chaos.
Who is responsible for this apparent neglect.
E T MURRAY
Belmont Street NW1 |
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