Brixton article in Evening Standard today

[IntoStella]

I just can't quite associate what he says with my own experiences.

What we don't know, because we only have his word for it, is how much of a twat this person made of himself in his neighbourhood. A lot of a twat is my guess, given his arrogant, disrespectful attitude.

 

[dogmatique]

My main problem with the article is that it's another focus on the travails of Brixton. This kind of thing can and does happen all over the place - similar things have happened to me in other parts of London, and Liverpool and Manchester.

It isn't a Brixton thing - it's a societal problem not confined to "black" areas, not confined to the inner city, and not confined to wanky middle class journalists.

 

[IntoStella]

My main problem with the article is that it's another focus on the travails of Brixton. This kind of thing can and does happen all over the place - similar things have happened to me in other parts of London, and Liverpool and Manchester.

It isn't a Brixton thing - it's a societal problem not confined to "black" areas, not confined to the inner city, and not confined to wanky middle class journalists.

True, but that's not a useful angle for the Evilly Substandard.

 

[Mr Retro]

Agree with gaigingirl (and others). That was a very irritating article. Misleading and untrue as far as 5 years of my experience of Brixton goes.

I'd love to put my name to any letter but I'm not too good at writing them.

 

[Stobart Stopper]

It isn't a Brixton thing - it's a societal problem not confined to "black" areas, not confined to the inner city, and not confined to wanky middle class journalists.

Well that's true, he should come over here to Hainault, especially on a hot summer's evening. ASBO orders,WHITE kids running amok, graffitti everywhere (and it's getting worse by the day).

This bloke needs to sell his house and buy a converted barn in Suffolk IMO> I think he would be much happier.

 

[Donna Ferentes]

Here's another question. How many of the claims in the article are verifiable? I don't mean to suggest the chap is making it all up, but how do we know there's no exaggerations, no embellishments, no other side to the story?

Things like that matter when you're publishing pieces which (a) seek to describe a whole community ; and (b) are potentially racially inflammatory.

Forget the journalist for a moment - if he's had a nasty experience then regardless of his outlook or expectations, his attitude is understandable. But consider the piece from the point of view of editorial standards. It's a disgrace, isn't it?

 

[Slurp]

I do wonder why the press feels the need to publish this kind of article about Brixton

Brixton had an excellent day in yesterday’s Evening Standard, with four articles, three of them major peices:

- Oliver Finegold* on the Academy shooting (p22) complete with pics of “dangerous” looking black men and brave white coppers Cris
ES, also on the Academy shooting, describing his own personal bravery thus:

I was reviewing the concert for the Evening Standard… As I stomped towards the door, I could feel arms and legs being crushed under my feet. But I didn’t slow down, apologise or help anyone else. It was every man for himself.

- Joe Hills on Brixton yoots’ lamentable lack of respect for private property (pp 16-17 - see above)

- Henry Bonsu on Brixton’s status as a crack cocaine, heroin and skunk infested ghetto (plus pic of grim looking white junky girl gazing at a spliff) (p13)

If anyone has a pic of Chris ES could they post it up? Just in case I find myself sitting next to him in a crowded tube train and need to change carriages. I wouldn't want to get trampled by him should the lights go out.

Chris ES is a tubby, balding, middle aged white man with a goatee.


* Ken Livingstone’s concentration camp guard

 

[Slurp]

How many of the claims in the article are verifiable?

The cops should have crime numbers and witness statements. But it struck me as odd that the girl, Lisa, was so relaxed:

Lisa... was informed by the stocking clad kid and the fat boy that they intended to "bone her"

So two males, one wearing a stocking mask, threated a woman with rape.

Tom and Lisa retreated inside, willing to forget the incident.

But Lisa decided to "forget it."

Right. How many women posting on this thread would decide to "forget" a threat of rape made by two males, one of them masked?

I suspect the article is a tissue of lies. I wonder if the journo posts on urban75?

 

[Donna Ferentes]

If he does, your final line should be deleted....

 

[Slurp]

Perhaps Lisa is also an urban75 member. You know, the poor woman who, according to the journalist, was willing to "forget" a rape threat made by two males, one of them masked.

You never know. Perhaps the alleged rape threateners, e.g. the teenager with the "dull eyes of the truly stupid" also belongs to the site?

 

[detective-boy]

Here's another question. How many of the claims in the article are verifiable? I don't mean to suggest the chap is making it all up, but how do we know there's no exaggerations, no embellishments, no other side to the story?

A (so-called) journalist ... working for the Daily Mail Group (Oh my God! I'm turning into Ken Livingstone ) ... making up facts and exaggerating things ... to make it look worse than it is, just to fit an editorial line ... with their reputation ... surely not!

 

[tantris]

Well that's true, he should come over here to Hainault, especially on a hot summer's evening. ASBO orders,WHITE kids running amok, graffitti everywhere (and it's getting worse by the day).

Comparison of Lambeth and Redbridge crime figures, for year ending Feburary 2005 (from Metropolitan Police website).

Violence against person: Lambeth 9308, Redbridge 4469
Homicide: Lambeth 11, Redbridge 4
Robbery (person): Lambeth 2627, Redbridge 1042
Rape: Lambeth 151, Redbridge 72
Burglary (residential): Lambeth 2871, Redbridge 1692
Gun-enabled crime: Lambeth 214, Redbridge 95
Motor vehicle crime: Lambeth 4694, Redbridge 4590

Maybe he should move to Hainault, right enough.

Still, it's unfair to focus on Lambeth whilst letting off the hook Westminster, Hackney, Haringay and Southwark, for example.

 

[Stobart Stopper]

I am only assuming this bloke is a journalist, he might not be. Just seemed odd that he didn't actually mention what he does for a living.

 

[Slurp]

What's the population of Redbridge? Lambeth is roughly 300,000.

 

[Stobart Stopper]

Comparison of Lambeth and Redbridge crime figures, for year ending Feburary 2005 (from Metropolitan Police website).

Violence against person: Lambeth 9308, Redbridge 4469
Homicide: Lambeth 11, Redbridge 4
Robbery (person): Lambeth 2627, Redbridge 1042
Rape: Lambeth 151, Redbridge 72
Burglary (residential): Lambeth 2871, Redbridge 1692
Gun-enabled crime: Lambeth 214, Redbridge 95
Motor vehicle crime: Lambeth 4694, Redbridge 4590

Maybe he should move to Hainault, right enough.

Still, it's unfair to focus on Lambeth whilst letting off the hook Westminster, Hackney, Haringay and Southwark, for example.

Redbridge is less densely populated than Lambeth. What I am saying is you get kids acting like little bastards everywhere. Every week of late there has been an article in the Ilford Recorder about yobbos making peoples' lives hell on estates around here.

 

[IntoStella]

What's the population of Redbridge? Lambeth is roughly 300,000.

238635 (2001 census)

But Lambeth has more young people. Bring back National Service I say!

Edited to add: actually that's bollocks, but Lambeth has a big spike of twentysomethings. Like our ES journo chum?

 

[Slurp]

What I am saying is you get kids acting like little bastards everywhere.

Just like Evening Standard journalists.

 

[aurora green]

OR:

WHY BRIXTON FELL OUT OF LOVE WITH YOU

Random, unfair things do happen in the big city but the indicators of why all this has happened to you in Brixton, Mr Hills, are all over your article:

"it seemed a hip place to live" - Is that how you choose where to live? Because you hear it's fashionable? A better reason would be that you feel genuinely at home somewhere, offering some acceptance to existing locals, not just assuming your right to theirs.

"the band of idiots at my place" - If you look down your nose at people you are liable to have it punched.

"aggressive beggars had pursued me" - Oh really, I've found some of the people on the street in Brixton have been the kindest and most understanding to me when I've been at my lowest. Probably because some have wisdom and compassion derived from knowing what it's like to be excluded in this greedy, selfish city.

"the grossly over-weight ring leader" - The kid was fat. So what? Is that a negative character trait now then?

"the teenager has the dull eyes of the truly stupid" - I think you're a lot more stupid than you think you are Mr Hills. The very fact that you assume that you are clever and this kid is stupid is the reason why the teens who confronted you find you so offensive.

"Tim told them to get off the property" - I'm not surprised they laughed. These young people are wise enough to have worked out that owning a property does not bestow on "Tim" either superiority or authority.

"the only way to get that ridiculous 'respect' is to glare at the kids" - Perhaps the concept of "respect" wouldn't seem so ridiculous if you and your ilk had been denied it throughout life, Mr Hills.

You talk of a new generation resisting positive change in Brixton. They wouldn't be resisting it if it included them. The "prosperous environment" you describe is your environment. The environment of the privileged few.

You say you were called a "white shit". Well I am white Mr Hills, and sometimes I've been a shit. My experience tells me that perhaps if you attempt to grow and to learn you will earn some of that "respect" you so clearly do not understand. You are not entitled to it simply because of your colour or your position.

I know some teens are out of control and I'm not excusing all of the bad things they sometimes do. I am offering you some explanation. I think you need to look deeper into your own heart, to see the seeds you sow of your own destruction.

"Get off my property" doesn't work here in Brixton. A genuine desire to inform yourself and communicate might do.

Hatboy tells it like it is.

 

[Slurp]

238635 (2001 census)

Right, so crime is a lot higher in Lambeth except, interestingly, car crime which is much higher in Redbridge.

Motor vehicle crime: Lambeth 4694, Redbridge 4590

Why is Lambeth yoot losing out to Redbridge chavs on car crime? Haven't they got any pride?

 

[tantris]

238635 (2001 census)

But Lambeth has more young people. Bring back National Service I say!

Lambeth had 266169 inhabitants, according to the 2001 Census, and Redbridge 238635.

Lambeth had a noticeably smaller proportion of those aged 19 and under compared to Redbridge. Of course, they'll be a bit older now.

 

[Slurp]

Lambeth has a big spike of twentysomethings. Like our ES journo chum?

He looks about 45 in the photo.

 

[hayduke]

I am only assuming this bloke is a journalist, he might not be. Just seemed odd that he didn't actually mention what he does for a living.

I was wondering about that

 

[IntoStella]

He looks about 45 in the photo.

Brixton life has been very hard on the poor chap.

 

[tantris]

. . . except, interestingly, car crime which is much higher in Redbridge.

Not sure how you reached that conclusion. "Lambeth 4694, Redbridge 4590".

 

[IntoStella]

Why is Lambeth yoot losing out to Redbridge chavs on car crime? Haven't they got any pride?

More people have cars in Redbridge. So they can get out of the place.

 

[hayduke]

Nothing on the Standard website either. Maybe they made him up!!!

 

[Slurp]

Not sure how you reached that conclusion. "Lambeth 4694, Redbridge 4590".

Cos the Lambeth population is higher.

 

[IntoStella]

Nothing on the Standard website either. Maybe they made him up!!!

I wonder... Perhaps we should pass on our suspicions to Private Eye.

 

[tantris]

Cos the Lambeth population is higher.

11.6% higher, according to the 2001 census.

But with a lower proportion of those aged 19 and under, compared to Redbridge. It's reasonable to assume that the bulk of 'motor vehicle-related crime' is a teenage phenomenon.

So maybe the rates of 'motor vehicle-related crime' per teenager are roughly the same for the two boroughs.

 

[Slurp]

I meant to add earlier that the "Joe Hills" article includes a pic of three brave white coppers confronting two black youths, one of whom is wearing a hoodie while the other sports tasteful handcuffs.