NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

 

Stockwell Park Conservation Area

 

Report December 2007

 

Co-ordinator: David Tomlinson

david@tomlinsons.uk.com 020 7733 5846

 

Reporting Crime

Call 999 to report any crime that is ‘in action’ or has occurred recently.

If the crime is clearly minor and non-emergency report it to 020 8649 1212

or online at online.met.police.uk

 

Our local Police Teams are

Stockwell Ward (west of Stockwell Park Road)      020 8721 3661

Sgt Geoff Ross       Geoff.Ross@met.police.uk

Vassall Ward    (east of Stockwell Park Road)                020 8721 3661

Sgt Sarah Ward    sarah.ward@met.police.uk

 

Local Crime

            Lambeth is experiencing a spate of burglaries.  There have been several in our area, with others foiled by good defences or observant neighbours.  The majority have targeted laptops that have been on view, so keep them out of sight when not in use.  I use a Kensington lock – a strong cable that secures a laptop to a strong point such as a radiator pipe.  It’s enough to deter the opportunistic burglar.

        Over the last two months there have been 11 street robberies and 3 snatches in the whole of Stockwell Ward and 5 street robberies and 1 snatch in Vassall. Our main problem area is along Stockwell Road from the Tube station with a spillover into our adjoining streets – St Michael’s Road and St Martin’s Road.  Some have been on buses leaving the Stockwell Road bus stop.  As a result the Stockwell Safer Neighbourhood Panel and Sgt Ross have agreed this area should be a policing priority with increase patrolling and observation.  All aspects will be covered, including riding bikes on pavements.  Note: PCSOs have the authority, which they use, to impose on-the-spot £50 Fixed Penalty Notices on pavement bike riders.  And Stockwell Park School now has a police officer permanently attached to it (and so does St Thomas’ Hospital).

        Vehicle crime is a problem right across Stockwell with 22 thefts from motor vehicles and 8 thefts of motor vehicles.  There doesn’t appear to be any particular consistency to location, time of day etc.

 

The Good News

 

After pressure from within the Police, the Lambeth Community Safety Officer and community representatives we have got a replacement police officer for Kevin Challis who left the Vassall Police Team on promotion to Sergeant, so the team is back up to strength with three Police officers and three PCSOs.

 

The Vassall Police Team has worked hard and succcesfully in getting a Court closure order on a notorious crack house in Groveway.  Groveway residents played a vital role in collecting and providing confidentially the evidence which convinced the Court.  An outstanding example of Police and residents working together.  Thank you!

 

The Neighbourhood Police Teams worked late shifts through the fireworks period, with the result that there were far fewer incidents than in previous years.  The Stockwell Team stopped and searched more than 20 suspect individuals, including 3 caught with cannabis, and issued one Penalty Notice for disorder.

 

Some not so good news –but not all bad

 

Gun crime is a major problem in Lambeth, but the Police are tackling it strenuously.  Good local information has resulted in a series of successful raids and searches with more than 25 guns having been found since late October.  In a recent dawn raid in Stockwell Gardens East a gun was found in one flat and body armour in another; arrests were made.  So November was the first month this year when nobody was murdered in Lambeth. 

 

Gangs of children are the bane of people’s lives, particularly (but not only) on the estates.  There was a nasty incident at Costcutters, Stockwell Station, on 26 November, when a victim was saved only by the intervention of passers-by and the store manager. 

 

But Myatts Field North Estate is the worst in Lambeth for anti-social behaviour, drugs and gun crime.  Recently two PCSOs were pursued off the estate and days later a police car was attacked and burnt out.  A dynamic duo of Sgt Sarah Ward and Lulu Gravergaard, Lambeth Council’s Community Safety Officer for North Lambeth, with key support from Supt Alistair Sutherland (North Sector Commander) and our new Borough Commander, Sharon Rowe, have led the way in forming an action group of Police, Lambeth Housing, and residents to take charge of the problem.  We must now look to our local Councillors to give their support by ensuring the senior Council Officers in Lambeth’s Housing Department fast-track vital improvements to the neglected infrastructure of the estate.

 

Police Community Support Officers

 

PCSOs have been in the news.  Our Borough Commander, Sharon Rowe, was recently asked publicly about their role.  She stated unequivocally that in Lambeth she expected all Police officers and PCSOs to be ‘pro-active’.

 

There are problems in that PCSOs are unionised and some take advantage of a ‘work to rule’ philosophy.  Some do not speak or write good enough English to be effective.  On the other hand, many aspire to be Police officers: two of our best in Stockwell have been accepted for training at Hendon as ‘proper’ Police.  Congratulations to them.  And now all applicants to join the Metropolitan Police must first complete a year as a PCSO – including one of our Vassall PCSOs.

 

Do contact me if you have anything to ask, to report , or to comment.

 

A Happy Christmas and a safe New Year to you all.   David Tomlinson