thanks and the next steps....
Many thanks to all who responded to my original message that got this thread going. I was worried that I might be over-reacting to stuff I’ve seen recently on Rushcroft Rd, but clearly I’m not alone! Also very pleased to see messages from other people on Rushcroft - I’ve lived here for 8 years and don't know the neighbours - clearly that needs to change. So what can we do about our problem? Here’s my ideas/suggestions:
time to mobilise - residents on Saltoun have been getting stroppy lately about the drug problem and I reckon those of us in Rushcroft should do the same. Saltoun have been invited to a meeting with police in early October at 'the beat' community police office on CHL. I’m hoping we can have a meeting at the same venue also in October. It’s an opportunity for Rushcroft residents to get together and talk with/lobby the local community police team and consider the practical steps we can take to tackle the crack problem. Let me know if you’re interested in attending. And memespring’s pledgepage is a great idea to create a local ‘community of interest’ around this issue, so I urge everyone to sign-up to it.
The Ritzy alcoves - isn't this the number-one problem on Rushcroft Rd? Those three alcoves are basically functioning as outdoor crack houses! Clearly, the current situation is no good for Rushcroft residents nor is it safe for Ritzy customers. I’m not interested in a blame game against the Ritzy, but some pertinent questions - (1) gates are fitted to each of the three alcoves. Why are these not closed when the Ritzy is closed? (2) I’m aware of fire regulations, but do these really stipulate that the alcoves must be five feet deep (and therefore perfect for crack smoking)? (3) Is the middle alcove even an emergency exit? It appears to be an entrance to office space.
Displacement – a problem? yes. An excuse for giving up? no. As residents and tax payers we have a right to expect that serious criminality and anti-social behaviour will be tackled. The fact that it may move elsewhere simply means that the effort to deal with it has to be mobile and responsive as well. I’m aware that there’s no simple “enforcement” solution to drugs, but wherever did the crackheads get the idea that they’re allowed to smoke crack in broad daylight only a stones throw away from Lambeth Town Hall? Like most people in this thread I’m opposed to aggressive policing, but I’m all in favour of high profile, visible policing. So – bring back regular foot-patrols please!
CCTV – not a panacea for all ills, but, as other posters have noted, the recent appearance of the mobile CCTV van next to Windrush Square did seem to make some difference last week. should we be pressing for more comprehensive, up front CCTV coverage of the area?
dealers v. users – I was interested in Supt Zinzan’s letter to Urbanspaceman that talked about the “increase in dealer activity in Rushcroft Road”. For me, dealers aren’t the problem – they’ve always been here for all the years I’ve been in Brixton and have never given me any hassle (why should they? they’re in the business of trying to sell something). The problem as far as I’m concerned is the appearance out of the woodwork in the last 12 months of very scary crack-using individuals who I don’t previously remember seeing hanging around. These are individuals with a £5-600 a week habit to maintain which, for the majority, means robbing people. I’m concerned that the police are taking a laissez faire approach to crack users (which may explain the poor response rate to 999 calls).
mending the broken windows – Detective-boy was right to mention the ‘broken windows’ hypothesis (that underpins so-called ‘zero-tolerance policing’). It’s about maintaining standards – if you let the small things go (the ‘broken windows’) then it gets harder and harder to hold the line against ever more extreme forms of anti-social behaviour. Before you know it, the whole area’s gone to hell. I reckon crack is a hugely symbolic issue for Brixton – if people are brazenly smoking crack cocaine in the street by day and night, apparently with impunity, then how can we say the area isn’t trapped in a downward spiral? Set against this powerful image, claims about falling crime statistics appear unbelievable.
Well, I’d better end this, very long, post. But thanks once again to those who joined the thread and let’s hope we can act as a community to get the crackheads out of our area!
). It was the police asking to be let in as the buggers were in there again - and they caught them (*applause*). They'd dumped the drugs by the time the police got down to them, but they chucked them all out, and managed to nick a couple of them for skipping bail.
