Camden New Journal - Letters: Drug dealers

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Camden New Journal - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published: 18 October 2007

Shine the light on menace of drug dealers

• THE Safer Neighbourhoods policy is about creating a safer environment for the entire community and involves more than just determining local policing issues.
It is generally accepted that improving light levels is one of the most important factors in combating crime. Increasing light levels both reduces the level of crime and reduces the fear from crime.
The road bridge carrying Camden High Street across the Regent’s Canal is a major drug dealing location, and has been made a target area for this ward’s Safer Neighbourhoods police to action.
The bridge was again repainted this summer as part of its periodic maintenance programme in black, despite representations being made by the Camden Town with Primrose Hill Safer Neighbourhood Panel for it to be repainted in a light colour which would reflect rather than absorb light.
Changing its colour away from black would greatly help to diminish its overbearing bulk and help to remove the threatening dark areas where drug dealers are able hide and intimidate passing pedestrians, to the extent that some people choose to walk in the carriageway at great personal risk from passing traffic, rather than use the two dedicated walkways dominated by the gangs of drug dealers.
Despite being a listed structure, this bridge has, in the last 50 years, at various times, been painted in other colours such as blue-grey and pale green.
A change in colour at this time would have greatly assisted the police in reducing the level of drug dealing at this location, significantly reduced the level of fear in pedestrians who have no choice but to use it and, as it could have been done as part of a regular maintenance programme, been at no or very little extra cost.
Given the preponderance of street furniture which dominates Camden’s major roads, and the detrimental effect on light levels its cumulative, overbearing bulk has when painted black, we look to the council to reconsider its policy on paint colour, and take into consideration the need for it to fulfil its obligations to improving community safety.
ROY WALKER
Chair, Camden Town with Primrose Hill Safer
Neighbourhood Panel

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.

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