|
|
 |
| |
Pc Lee Janes was praised for his commitment to ridding Camden Town of young drug dealers |
‘Remarkable bravery’ of cop who took on teen drug gangs
Judge praises police officer as young dealers get Asbos banning them from area
THREATENED, abused, trusted, praised and, finally, commended by a judge.
The five years that Pc Lee Janes has spent fighting youth drug gangs in Camden Town have never been dull.
On Thursday Pc Janes closed the file on the largest multi-Asbo case that the borough has seen, as court orders were imposed banning 12 members of a gang known as “The TMS” – The Money Squad – from Camden Town for two years.
As the last teenager filed out of Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court holding his Asbo – which also prohibits him from associating with more than two members of the gang – District Judge Ian Baker told Pc Janes: “For a young officer you’ve shown remarkable bravery and persistence and I commend you entirely.”
Pc Janes is one of a team of 20 officers and PCSOs based in Greenland Road whose main mission is to combat the “aggressive cannabis market” in Camden Town.
He says the Asbos are just part of a crackdown that has led to a dramatic reduction in violent crime and robberies.
“Maybe it’s just doing my job, but it’s nice seeing a change,” said Pc Janes on Monday.
“I worked three nights over the weekend and it was the quietest Halloween I have ever seen in Camden Town.”
District Judge Baker, having read tomes of evidence gathered by Pc Janes showing the gang, all aged 16 to 18, involved in fighting, drug-dealing, drinking and vandalism, was more effusive. He said: “I commend Pc Janes for the work he has done in five years dealing with the community, on the ground, compiling the evidence.
“I know there have been expressions of concern for his own personal safety. I commend him entirely.”
Pc Janes is realistic about the attraction of the fast money to be made in a drugs market, but optimistic that the phenomenon of home-grown gangs – the teenagers from Camden’s own streets and schools who have cornered the so-called “frontline” of Camden High Street in recent years – may be over.
He described what happened last year, when his team secured 10 Asbos against alleged members of the ANC (African Nations Crew), clearing the Inverness Street cannabis market but creating a vacuum filled by the ANC’s junior wing, the TMS:
“It was quiet for about seven months and obviously it was a gap in the market and these guys appeared,” said Pc Janes.
“They were the ‘youngaz’ of the ANC, often literally the younger brothers, sisters, cousins.
“But there isn’t anyone younger than these ones [The TMS]. I speak to the families and either there aren’t any younger children or they have not moved into gangs.
“There isn’t going to be another big gang.” |
 |
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
