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Chief Supt Bob Carr |
Police apologise for letting youths go on rampage
Probe examines lack of response to 999 call
A HIGH-level internal investigation will examine how police failed to respond to a call that youths were on the rampage at a crime-ridden Holloway estate.
Gloria Johnson, 70, who lives on the Bemerton estate, off Caledonian Road, phoned her Safer Neighbourhoods Team over the recent Bank Holiday weekend to say youths were taking drugs and smashing windows.
But, with no beat bobbies at work, a voicemail message told the pensioner to call 999. The emergency operator said the problem was too minor to justify immediate help and advised her to try the Safer Neighbourhoods Team again.
Each of the borough’s 16 wards has its own police, consisting of a sergeant, two constables and up to three police community support officers. But, due to budget constraints, the teams normally work only one weekend in three.
Mrs Johnson, 70, branded the teams “Dolly Partons” – because she says they work only nine to five, the title of a hit film starring the singer.
Now, the matter is the subject of an internal investigation by Islington police.
Writing in this week’s Tribune, borough commander Bob Carr says he is “truly sorry no one was deployed” to deal with the youths on the Bemerton estate.
Chief Superintendent Carr adds that teams were “never intended” to give 24-hour cover but work “a flexible” system and three-week roster that includes early and late shifts.
He writes: “A response team officer should have been assigned to this call by the police telephone operator. One of my superintendents has already been to see Mrs Johnson to apologise in person.
“We are now investigating this matter to ascertain exactly what happened and should any inappropriate action be revealed we will act swiftly to deal with it.”
On Monday, Superintendent Alan Baldwin apologised to Mrs Johnson. She said: “I told him members of the public should have a say over the hours their local police work.
“But I certainly didn’t come away from our 20-minute meeting with any answers.”
On Wednesday night, Mrs Johnson again called police when boys were smoking cannabis on the stairwells of the estate.
She said: “I was told by the 999 operator that they didn’t have ‘people sitting around in cars to deal with boys smoking skunk’.”
The operator said the call would be passed onto the neighbourhood police. By mid-morning the following day, no one from the team had contacted her. |
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