'Brixton faces drugs policy U-turn'

memespring · #1 30-11-2005, 09:32

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4482798.stm

editor · #2 30-11-2005, 09:50

I'll have full details this shortly, but there WILL be a clampdown for three months around the centre and displacement areas (Rushcroft/Somerleyton).

Dan U · #3 30-11-2005, 10:18

yeah i saw that.

uniformed policemen were handing out leaflets at the tube last night - while 10 paces away people sold weed.

maximilian ping · #4 30-11-2005, 10:20

sounds like a good idea (if it's true, story quite vague). i get the impression some of the dealers are taking the piss. would be good to show them whose boss

pooka · #5 30-11-2005, 10:34

There's been agreement between the police, the council, the CPCG, BAF and BAC that the first opportunity for people to hear about this will properly be at tonights local meeting. That will include details of everything that's being put in place to ensure that this is properly targetted at what is universally recognised to be a real blight on our town centre and how everyone can have ongoing input into its implementation.

Someone has jumped the gun in letting this release out.

Meeting's at 6:30 at the Assembly Hall.

Donna Ferentes · #6 30-11-2005, 10:38

I can't believe that anybody would be having a consultative meeting where the outcome was already decided in advance. That would be wrong.

pooka · #7 30-11-2005, 10:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donna Ferentes

I can't believe that anybody would be having a consultative meeting where the outcome was already decided in advance. That would be wrong.

Consultation happens all over the place in all sorts of different ways, not just at big meetings.

But come along tonight and add your two-pennerth

Donna Ferentes · #8 30-11-2005, 10:43

I will be playing chess, I'm afraid and am, moreover, no longer a Lambeth resident. But thank you anyway.

poster342002 · #9 30-11-2005, 10:58

I doubt you'd find many people in Brixton who aren't mightily fed up with all the open drug-dealing. If it were put to a referrendum, I expect you'd get a huge majority saying they want it stopped. Having people hanging about mumbling "skunkskunkskunk" (or not even mumbling it sometimes - almost shouting in fact) makes a horrible atmospheare.

nipsla · #10 30-11-2005, 11:05

[QUOTE=pooka]

Someone has jumped the gun in letting this release out.
[QUOTE]

Possibly to take away from the St. Agnes Place publicity? Or am I just a total cynic

tippee · #11 30-11-2005, 11:06

This is long overdue. The proliferation of dealers around Boots/ Iceland/ Woolworths needs to be dealt with ASAP, as they are clearly taking the piss. The pavement round there is crowded enough without the dealers adding to it.

Sure the dealers will move elsewhere, preferably somewhere like Outer Mongolia.

'SKUNK?' - 'No, I do not want any skunk as I don't want to fund a Nike wearing non exercising peabrain like your goodself. I want to get a bus. And if for some strange reason I wanted some skunk I wouldn't buy it off a street dealer like yourself. Now fuck off.

Can't wait to see plain clothes coppers arresting these fuckwits.

newbie · #12 30-11-2005, 11:33

repression will not diminish demand
where there is demand there will be supply

IMO the only way to longterm get rid of the street dealers is to license and regulate legal outlets- cafes, chemists, whatever.

This is pre-election window dressing.

Dan U · #13 30-11-2005, 11:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by poster342002

Having people hanging about mumbling "skunkskunkskunk" (or not even mumbling it sometimes - almost shouting in fact) makes a horrible atmospheare.

and the whistling, dont forget that.. gets right on my wick that does

been very close to saying I AM NOT A SHEEPDOG! several times

poster342002 · #14 30-11-2005, 11:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by newbie

IMO the only way to longterm get rid of the street dealers is to license and regulate legal outlets- cafes, chemists, whatever.

I agree with that - I think Amsterdam-style cafes would be the way forward.

However, the bizarre inbetween situation we've been lumbered with in Brixton - where a seedy free-for-all is tolerated and just allowed to go on and on - is not desirable either, imo.

silentNate · #15 30-11-2005, 11:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by newbie

repression will not diminish demand
where there is demand there will be supply

IMO the only way to longterm get rid of the street dealers is to license and regulate legal outlets- cafes, chemists, whatever.

This is pre-election window dressing.

Agree... Its easy enough to ignore street dealers and all the police will do is displace them for a short while.
Waste of time and money imho

tarannau · #16 30-11-2005, 11:55

Agree with Newbie. This measure's just a temporary sticking plaster that will displace the activity for a little, but one that I suspect will have no real lasting effect.

I actually don't believe the dealing's much worse than it was previously, just more visible. To be honest, if this initiative stops so many opportunistic fuckers doing that annoying whistling thing I'd be happy.

I can't believe that they really need 'intelligence-led' policing to really track down the dealers out there. The guys may as well wear pink jumpsuits with 'I am selling' for all the subtlety they exhibit. Too often I see the police going for soft targets - the occasional pissed purchaser - rather than the obvious selling gangs. I do hope these new powers aren't used to arrest and make examples of a few ill advised punters.

poster342002 · #17 30-11-2005, 11:56

Oh, and while they're at it, how about getting rid of those musicshow ticket touts that frequently wall-off the exit from the tube station? They're a total pain in the arse.

Donna Ferentes · #18 30-11-2005, 11:57

We had that discussion before. Apparently the selling itself isn't illegal, although how they're not causing an obstruction I don't know.

poster342002 · #19 30-11-2005, 12:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donna Ferentes

We had that discussion before. Apparently the selling itself isn't illegal, although how they're not causing an obstruction I don't know.

What truley beggars belief is the sight of all the coppers just standing there watching it go on!

FFS, there must be a myriad of laws and by-laws they could use? Unlicensed street trading, for instance? Causing an obstruction? Breach of the peace?

Bet they'd be quick off the mark if they were striking pickets!

Donna Ferentes · #20 30-11-2005, 12:02

Indeed.

tobyjug · #21 30-11-2005, 12:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by poster342002

What truley beggars belief is the sight of all the coppers just standing there watching it go on!

Especially given the £80 on the spot fine for drinking alcohol in the street that applies as a byelaw in many areas of Britain.

newbie · #22 30-11-2005, 12:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by poster342002

Oh, and while they're at it, how about getting rid of those pain-in-the-arse musicshow ticket touts that frequently wall-off the exit from the tube station?

aye, and the bloke who bellows about the bible, and geezer with the staff who rants about the white man, and the old chap with the ghetto blaster and the lady with the comb and the various groups of christians and the lefty paper sellers and him with the joss sticks and the tube touts and the white rasta with the flyers and the grubby junkies and the counterfiet DVD sellers and them ones with the knockoff fags and the women with the clattering high heels and the blokes that walk too slowly and as for the kids on pushbikes on the pavement, don't get me started. Sweep them all away, they make the place too untidy.

Personally I think it should be a crime to park a landrover on the pavement.