We had a very well attended public meeting on 30th Nov on the rising crime and drug related issues in our local area of South Hampstead ward along the Finchley Road and side roads leading towards West Hampstead.
We were pleased to welcome Andrew Boff our GLA member at the meeting who will be feeding back vital questions to the GLA and the London Mayor asking for more action.
The local police of South Hampstead area were also invited to attend but due to operational reasons were unable to do so. We will however be advising them of the considerable number of questions from the public attending, once all the questions have been have been tabulated.
The main thrust of resident concerns is drug trading by gangs and users witnessed openly consuming and even self injecting in public areas often in sight of the local community and our local children. Associated crime and thefts such as mobile phones often to fuel drug addictions or criminal gain. Criminal gangs committing robberies to local shops to steal high value items such as cigarettes and alcohol which in local raids alone in the Swiss Cottage area targeting local supermarkets where such a targeted raids can easily result in £20-50k loss by theft plus the noise and disturbance of alarms being sounded often in the middle of the night. Examples of supermarkets being hit perhaps 6 times in one year.
The other topic discussed was more accountability of schools in being involved with youth ASB issues especially in the Finchley Road area. It was reported by several members tonight that some youths after school are behaving inappropriately and some cases involving petty thefts from local shops like Poundland that recently entered the Swiss Cottage street scene, it is clear that such low cost shops need to have adequate and responsible security.
More community lead youth engagement urgently required, schools must take a lead in this as well as Camden council. This will be raised and put to the council Cllrs of South Hampstead that are notable by there absence on these vital problems.
Don Williams, Chair of Hampstead & Kilburn Conservative Association and a long standing Cllr of Swiss Cottage said this; “Our well attended Public Meeting on crime discussed drug crime and other crime in the South Hampstead area, the affect on residents’ daily lives, and, the inadequacy of Social Services, Camden and police responses. This was in the presence of the deputy leader of the GLA, Cllr Andrew Boff AM. He committed to take the matter up with the Commissioner and other relevant bodies and report back shortly.”
Also attending was Tom Foot of the Camden New Journal, who will no doubt be writing a piece on this most relevant issue.
A very big thank you to all the local concerned residents taking time out to attend this public meeting. A warm thanks also to Andrew Boff making time for this vital meeting and a big shout to Tom Foot of the CNJ.
