View Full Version : I have some questions about Brixton that I hope can be answered here :)
NOLA_504
16-03-2007, 16:39
Ok, well, I have a few questions. I've searched on the internet but can't get a clear cut picture of how it really is there.
1. Does anybody know the population of brixton? I can only find the pop. for lambeth. Anybody know what just brixtons population is?
2. Does anybody know how many murders there were in brixton last year? Once again, I can only find stats for lambeth, but i want to find out only about brixton.
3. How bad is the crime there? Be honest. This is where the picture gets a little fuzzy. Some people say it's horrible in brixton. Some say it might be a little edgy, but it's a great place. But it's horrible compared to what? See, I'm from New Orleans (which is the murder capital of the western world).. so i've seen my fair share of crime.
4. Does anybody know the demographics of brixton?
Sorry this might have been kind of long, but I just had some questions. I hope y'all can answer them :)
Monkeygrinder's Organ
16-03-2007, 16:41
What are you researching then?
Shippou-Chan
16-03-2007, 16:44
1. the population of brixton is actually 5 .... the rest are all drug tourists and people who are lost
2. no murder as such but several war crime tribunals were held over the great brixton streatham invasion of june
3. no crime has been commited as since a proclamation in 1804 brixton is in fact exempt for uk law
4. yes they are a nice family but tend to keep to themselves
1 nope. see threads passim, no-one can really agree where the boundaries are. Also for various reasons some people are reluctant to register on official databases.
2 nope. some.
3 you might need to define 'crime'. If you mean every infringement of some law or other, then there's a terrible problem with most people committing millions of crimes daily. Or you could just say it's quite a nice place to live if you keep your nose clean.
4 nope. see 1 above.
Why do you want to know about Brixton and not, say Peckham, Clapham or Nunhead. You're halfway round the world, why pick on Brixton?
1 and 2 are tricky, as "Brixton" has no fixed boundary. Ref: The hundreds of threads and posts on that subject on these boards.
3.Not that different from many other central london towns. I've lived in and around the area for 5 years and have never been a victim of crime (apart from when my jacket got nicked in the pub) - I can say without even having to look it up, that the murder rate is way, way below that of new orleans.
4. Once again, you'll probably only be able to look up facts for Lambeth. http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/ has the numbers and they look like this:
White: British (Persons)1 49.57
White: Irish (Persons)1 3.26
White: Other White (Persons)1 9.55
Mixed: White and Black Caribbean (Persons)1 2
Mixed: White and Black African (Persons)1 0.81
Mixed: White and Asian (Persons)1 0.79
Mixed: Other Mixed (Persons)1 1.23
Asian or Asian British: Indian (Persons)1 2
Asian or Asian British: Pakistani (Persons)1 0.99
Asian or Asian British: Bangladeshi (Persons)1 0.81
Asian or Asian British: Other Asian (Persons)1 0.77
Black or Black British: Caribbean (Persons)1 12.07
Black or Black British: African (Persons)1 11.59
Black or Black British: Other Black (Persons)1 2.1
Chinese or other ethnic group: Chinese (Persons)1 1.26
Chinese or other ethnic group: Other ethnic group (Persons)1 1.19
I just checked the numbers for my ward (the smallest geographical subdivision in british politics), which is in central brixton, and the figures are roughly the same, but black carribean and black african are both a couple of % points higher.
Mixed: White and Black Caribbean (Persons)1 2
yeah, that's pretty accurate. 2 mixed race persons in Brixton.
oops, missing smiley error in line 1
OpalFruit
16-03-2007, 17:28
Have you had a look on the Lambeth council website where there may be demographics and statistics broken down into wards? if you can find a map of the different wards you may be able to make some sort of decision about which to include...Central Brixton and Coldharbour are the 'core' wards..maybe some others.
memespring
16-03-2007, 17:29
lazy journalist?
Have you had a look on the Lambeth council website where there may be demographics and statistics broken down into wards? if you can find a map of the different wards you may be able to make some sort of decision about which to include...Central Brixton and Coldharbour are the 'core' wards..maybe some others.
Ferndale as well.
3. no crime has been commited as since a proclamation in 1804 brixton is in fact exempt for uk law
:D :D :D
memespring
16-03-2007, 18:26
Have you had a look on the Lambeth council website where there may be demographics and statistics broken down into wards? if you can find a map of the different wards you may be able to make some sort of decision about which to include...Central Brixton and Coldharbour are the 'core' wards..maybe some others.
Central Brixton isn't a ward. The center of town is split between 2 postcode districts, 2 parliamentry constituencies and 3 (or 4?) wards. (I assume because its a 'problem area').
is there really going to be a re- re- re-run of the boundaries/demographics threads for the benefit of someone who can't even be bothered to contribute to her own thread?
probably someone local trying to start a ruck about the G word anyway :D
NOLA_504
16-03-2007, 19:06
ok thank you for the replies. I was just trying to get some locals perspectives on brixton. I've heard many different things about it and had some questions.
Like I said, some say it's dangerous. Some say it's no different than any other part of london. etc. And some articles I read say it has lots of violent crime, while other articles say it's just as safe as any other part of london now, but the image has been tainted since the riots. So what is the real deal?
Shippou-Chan
16-03-2007, 19:07
there are a lot of muggers
but luckily most of them get shot by the drug dealers
I was just trying to get some locals perspectives on brixton.
why?
Shippou-Chan
16-03-2007, 19:16
why?
they plan on stealing our precious bodily fluids
NOLA_504
16-03-2007, 20:18
why?
Why not? I've just been reading about it lately and am confused because there are different views on it. So I wanted to find out from the people who live there.
bluestreak
16-03-2007, 20:29
tbh mate, it's pretty cushdy here, but we don't like to tell strangers that because we get to brag loudly in posh bars about how edgy our hood is!
Why not? I've just been reading about it lately and am confused because there are different views on it. So I wanted to find out from the people who live there.
I still ask why? you're umpteen thousand miles away, what is a rather unexceptional little suburb of south London to you that you should just happen to pop up on a general British messageboard and make your first post about Brixton, in exactly the right forum.
and why mention the 'riots'- they were a quarter of a century ago, were they even reported in New Orleans? And why this particular suburb, why isn't anyone, anywhere even remotely interested in Peckham? Why are people fixated about this little area? Why isn't Oldham the icon of unsettled modern Britain, surely Brixton can be allowed to sink back into anonymity sometime soon. Please.
btw you're welcome to shippys bodily fluids, just be a bit careful how you handle them.
NOLA_504
16-03-2007, 21:39
I still ask why? you're umpteen thousand miles away, what is a rather unexceptional little suburb of south London to you that you should just happen to pop up on a general British messageboard and make your first post about Brixton, in exactly the right forum.
and why mention the 'riots'- they were a quarter of a century ago, were they even reported in New Orleans? And why this particular suburb, why isn't anyone, anywhere even remotely interested in Peckham? Why are people fixated about this little area? Why isn't Oldham the icon of unsettled modern Britain, surely Brixton can be allowed to sink back into anonymity sometime soon. Please.
btw you're welcome to shippys bodily fluids, just be a bit careful how you handle them.
Well, like I said, I have been reading on the internet about london and brixton.. and thats how I found this site. What I have read about brixton has been mixed reviews I guess you'd say. I'm just saying, apparently the riots tainted the image of brixton and I was just trying to find out what the deal is. I have talked to people that say stay away from brixton, while other say they have great clubs and nightlife. I'm thinking about taking a trip to london one day and I'm just trying to learn about the area.
quimcunx
16-03-2007, 22:52
Why not? I've just been reading about it lately and am confused because there are different views on it. So I wanted to find out from the people who live there.
Ah but even if you speak to people who live/have lived/spend lots of time here you are still going to get a range of views, depending on what their personal experience and personalities are.
Come to Brixton. There is a high chance that you will find it interesting,fun, cosmopolitan, edgy, lively and entertaining and whether the crime rate is high in comparison to other places in London or not the chances of you coming to harm are tiny. Just take the same precautions you would be advised to when travelling anywhere or hanging out in New Orleans.
It would be interesting for you I think to compare it to your own city. I was right to think when my friend came over from NY that he would be reminded of his own part of NY. It did remind him of there and he was pleasingly surprised at how racially mixed it was in comparison.
Lemony Ale
17-03-2007, 03:08
Well, like I said, I have been reading on the internet about london and brixton.. and thats how I found this site. What I have read about brixton has been mixed reviews I guess you'd say. I'm just saying, apparently the riots tainted the image of brixton and I was just trying to find out what the deal is. I have talked to people that say stay away from brixton, while other say they have great clubs and nightlife. I'm thinking about taking a trip to london one day and I'm just trying to learn about the area.
Nola - with all due respect - and as many other posters have asked:
Why are you so keen to *ahem* 'learn' about Brixton?
No offence intended, but I've never felt the urge to explore the cultural niceties and demographics of, say, Baton Rouge.
If you were explicit about your agenda, it might expedite your quest for SW9/SW2 knowledge.
Best wishes
Lemony Ale
NOLA_504
17-03-2007, 07:03
Nola - with all due respect - and as many other posters have asked:
Why are you so keen to *ahem* 'learn' about Brixton?
No offence intended, but I've never felt the urge to explore the cultural niceties and demographics of, say, Baton Rouge.
If you were explicit about your agenda, it might expedite your quest for SW9/SW2 knowledge.
Best wishes
Lemony Ale
I wanted to know about because 1. it seems so different than the rest of london. 2. From what I've read, it really hasn't told me much since there are many different views on it. 3. What is so wrong about me wanting to learn about a section of london? What do yall think I'm up to?
NOLA_504
17-03-2007, 07:07
Nola - with all due respect - and as many other posters have asked:
Why are you so keen to *ahem* 'learn' about Brixton?
No offence intended, but I've never felt the urge to explore the cultural niceties and demographics of, say, Baton Rouge.
If you were explicit about your agenda, it might expedite your quest for SW9/SW2 knowledge.
Best wishes
Lemony Ale
I honestly just wanted to know those things about brixton. I don't know what yall think I'm up to, but I was just trying to find out things that I couldn't find on the internet.
Howcome yall were quick to jump on me for asking questions about the demographics, crime, population, etc. of a section that you can't find on the internet? I figured the locals had some idea.
Don't worry, it's not to do with you, nola. These forums are provided free of charge (money to run the servers is raised by donations and the like; and the staff are unpaid too). Occasionally, someone blows in wanting to make money by using the boards as a free resource, and that (understandably, I'm sure you'll agree) tends to get on people's nerves. Of course the boards are supposed to be useful and helpful, but they work best if one gives a little first.
Not saying you're a carpetbagger or anything like that -- just explaining why folks are cautious about giving you time and attention. The fear is that you *might* be trying to turn a dollar on the backs of their unpaid assistance, is all. It has been known to happen ...
Anyway, how's things in New Orleans? Still not good, I understand.
What makes you think Brixton is different from other parts of London- it's a mixed up, muddled up city but there are plenty of comparable bits. The only thing that's significantly different between here and, say, Harlesden, Tottenham or Peckham is that you've heard of it. That's the bit I don't get- how have you heard of this trivial little suburb and why have you mentioned something that happened here 25 years ago, and not the- arguably more significant- riot that happened in one of the three places I mention above. Do you know which? If not why not?
Bearing in mind what Jonti said above, if you're genuine you'll perhaps recognise that your curiosity about where we live is something that's interesting in itself. I offered answers to your questions right at the start of this thread, but you've been stonewalling the questions I've asked you.
I'd really like to understand how Brixton is seen from afar (and why anyone cares). You'll get more out of this forum if you put something in.
NOLA_504
17-03-2007, 23:23
I'm not picking on Brixton. Why just because I wanted to learn about an area I'm pickin on it? I have a neighbor here who is from brixton and I was just wondering about the area. I plan to visit london in the near future so I wanted to learn about the area a little bit. And since on the internet gave me such varied perspectives, I wanted to see what people who live there (since they would probably know the most about it) thought.
It would be no different than someone wondering about the area of Harlem in comparison to New York, or some other section of NY. Sorry if yall felt like I was picking on Brixton for some reason, I just wanted to learn about it. And from what I read also, I hear there is a lot of gun crime. But, I'm wondering if it's considered 'a lot' in comparison to the rest of london, or just a lot in comparison to anywhere.
Ah no worries, we're just far too cynical and jaded :)
Brixton's reputation precedes it - don't believe everything you read...
Is there more or less gun crime here than in Hackney or round the Elephant? No idea tbh, there's too much but I'm pretty sure it's way, way less than in parts of most US cities. Go back through the threads here- most gun crime gets discussed.
It's not a war zone, you won't hear gunshots or see dead bodies, walls aren't pockmarked with bullet holes, almost everyone you meet will be polite and friendly. Mostly life is pretty mundane, untroubled by crime more serious than the odd spliff and (important, this) no different from the lives of people in loads of other bits of London.
See it's actually quite a small area- although it might take you half an hour or so to walk from one edge to the other it's only really the five minutes in the middle that isn't fairly boring housing. The edges aren't well defined either, where Brixton ends and Camberwell or Stockwell begins isn't that clear, geographically, culturally, demographically, architecturally, statistically or in any other way.
This is what I've been trying to say- Brixton really isn't that different from other areas, it doesn't deserve international notoriety as an icon of crime or anything else. On a brief visit you could go to plenty of comparable places in London (or other major cities), maybe a difference being that in other places the locals aren't quite so used to journos or tourists (or missionaries :rolleyes: ) wanting to treat them like a sociology project.
Mrs Magpie
18-03-2007, 08:16
I take it you've looked here;
www.urban75.org/brixton/index.html
Brixton does seem to be known around the world in a way that say, Harlesden isn't. For one thing it's not that far from Westminster so it's a handy place for politicians to visit for photo-ops etc. It has become a journalistic shorthand for 'inner-city' which is annoying. I've brought up 3 children to adulthood here and I love being here. There are horrible things about it and lovely things about it. The best thing is the heart of Brixton which is the market.
memespring
18-03-2007, 14:11
You could just type a postcode into UpMyStreet.com. All your questions answered.
Brixton does seem to be known around the world in a way that say, Harlesden isn't.
It seems to be but I was hoping our friend from across the pond would tell us how it's known- I mean does Brixton get frequent mentions in newspapers or on TV in Louisiana, is what happens outside the tube a regular topic of conversation in their bars or at their busstops? I know it's a lazy icon in the British media, but I'm rather astonished it's still noteworthy so far away, in a place with (seemingly) far greater social problems.
Gixxer1000
18-03-2007, 15:45
but I'm rather astonished it's still noteworthy so far away, in a place with (seemingly) far greater social problems.
Thank Richard Reid et al for raising the profile of Brixton to the Merkins.
NOLA_504
18-03-2007, 18:51
It seems to be but I was hoping our friend from across the pond would tell us how it's known- I mean does Brixton get frequent mentions in newspapers or on TV in Louisiana, is what happens outside the tube a regular topic of conversation in their bars or at their busstops? I know it's a lazy icon in the British media, but I'm rather astonished it's still noteworthy so far away, in a place with (seemingly) far greater social problems.
The reason I have heard about brixton is because I have been reading about London. Brixton is not something you hear in Louisiana, and I have never heard of it before I started reading up on London.
quimcunx
18-03-2007, 19:00
T Merkins.
raising the profile of brixton to pubic wigs?
bluestreak
18-03-2007, 19:01
The reason I have heard about brixton is because I have been reading about London. Brixton is not something you hear in Louisiana, and I have never heard of it before I started reading up on London.
so you thought that it sounded cool but might actually be really scary and decided to ask people who live there? that makes sense to me. you're not a cunt are yo? we've got a few of them around here and don't want any more but if you like a lively, friendly, noisy kinda place and you're alright you're welcome to join us.
NOLA_504
18-03-2007, 23:24
so you thought that it sounded cool but might actually be really scary and decided to ask people who live there? that makes sense to me. you're not a cunt are yo? we've got a few of them around here and don't want any more but if you like a lively, friendly, noisy kinda place and you're alright you're welcome to join us.
No.. my interest in it was that when I think of england, crime doesn't come to mind.. and gangs don't come to mind. Where I'm from gunshots were a daily occourance. So when I read about some place in london with gun crime and gangs, it intrigued me. I know brixton is not the only place in london like that, but I was confused on how brixton really is from what I have read.
I don't find any city or section anywhere 'scary'. I grew up in one of the most dangerous sections of one of the most dangerous cities in the western world. It's nicknames are murder capital, chopper city, cut throat city, etc. So it wasn't it being "scary".. it's just I didn't know london had any kind of crime problem, so I came to see if it was compared to the rest of london, or just in general. Brixton just intrigued me becuase the views on it were so varied.
bluestreak
18-03-2007, 23:38
don't believe the hype, that's all i'm gonna say :)
Paulie Tandoori
18-03-2007, 23:43
No.. my interest in it was that when I think of england, crime doesn't come to mind.. and gangs don't come to mind. Where I'm from gunshots were a daily occourance. So when I read about some place in london with gun crime and gangs, it intrigued me. I know brixton is not the only place in london like that, but I was confused on how brixton really is from what I have read.
I don't find any city or section anywhere 'scary'. I grew up in one of the most dangerous sections of one of the most dangerous cities in the western world. It's nicknames are murder capital, chopper city, cut throat city, etc. So it wasn't it being "scary".. it's just I didn't know london had any kind of crime problem, so I came to see if it was compared to the rest of london, or just in general. Brixton just intrigued me becuase the views on it were so varied.
hackney E8 pawns brixton innit :cool: way past cool sonny, way past cool :)
behemoth
19-03-2007, 07:14
I figured the locals had some idea.So ask them. The people posting on an anonymous website do not necessarily represent a cross section of the population as a whole. Many may not even be from Brixton at all. The average age, income and ethnicity may be very different to the image you have created for yourself.
No.. my interest in it was that when I think of england, crime doesn't come to mind.. and gangs don't come to mind. Where I'm from gunshots were a daily occourance.
That sounds horrible. If that's your expectation then you're right not to think of England in that light. I've lived in Brixton for thirty-odd years and have never once heard a gunshot or seen a gun here (I saw one during an armed robbery in Balham once, years ago). That's why I asked, right back at the start of this thread, what definition of 'crime' you wanted to use. If it's just about guns then they're so rare that I'd anticipate 99.9% of the local population will never have seen or heard one either.
quimcunx
19-03-2007, 12:23
it's just I didn't know london had any kind of crime problem, so I came to see if it was compared to the rest of london, or just in general. Brixton just intrigued me becuase the views on it were so varied.
I think possibly the problem then is that you have a rather naive view of London and maybe the rest of the world too.
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