Hello everyone! We wanted to share a quick update on the campaign. We’re hard at work behind the scenes, making sure everything is on track and moving forward. Thank you for your continued support—stay tuned for more exciting news coming soon!
- We had a walkabout Windrush Square/St Matthews church with Inspector Valerie Charles, and the Windrush police team Sergeant, Martha Jacobs, along with Friends of Windrush Square, Rushcroft Road Residents’ Assoc and Friends of Brixton Library to highlight how bad public crack use/dealing has got – it was acknowledged that the majority of the Brixton ASB/crime we’re seeing is crack related made worse by people coming from outside of Brixton to buy and take crack.
- An idea being explored is a 2003 joint police/council initiative called CrackOUT! – in one year 2002 street dealers were arrested and 44 crack houses closed – in the same period there was a 50% fall in burglary 25% fall in robbery – View Crackout plan 2002 PDF, it’s an innovative, bold and joined-up plan the problem needs (apart from some of the outdated noughties language!). It addresses the causes rather than symptoms…and it was hugely successful.
- At the moment the police and council are firefighting…when you move one group along, they pop back up on another road or come back within the hour.
- By focusing on crack you’re dealing with the cause.
- We’re arranging a meeting with our MPs to get their support and the Mayor’s Office.
- Police are engaging with the campaign but have been being diverted to deal with the anti-immigration disorder and counter-protests – when things return to normal we’ll pick back up with them.
- Lambeth council are not responding to us.
What you can do…
- Speak to your MP – let them know how ASB/crime is affecting you and the community, how it’s out of control in Brixton, and how you think it should be a priority that needs the full attention of the police and council – you can email them or even better go to see them face-to-face at one of their surgeries.
- Report – ASB/crime is under-reported in Brixton, so the area doesn’t get the resources it needs. Keep reporting as much as you can so the figures show how bad the problem is – I know it’s a pain but I promise it will make a difference! Crack possession is a crime so you can call 999.
- Spread the word – speak to your neighbours about contacting your MP, reporting and ask them to join this WhatsApp group! 🙂 Also please spread the message through any resident associations or organisations you belong to. The more emails that are sent the stronger the message. Please copy/forward on the email to aoasb@outlook.com
