Mixed messages pose threat to real solutions

I recently input a post regarding the insouciance of our local Parks Police who dismissed the real and present threat of drug dealing and in our local parks. The problem is widespread throughout the Borough, however the Met Police are taking the role very seriously and have highlighted drug trafficking as a priority. The existing government holds a similar stance to our parks police and seem unprepared for a real tussle with the perpetrators of drug crime. Their constant prevarication over the classification of drugs has been a real indication of their incompetence. Since Labour has been in power we have seen Cannabis degraded from a Class B drug to a Class C drug and now return to a Class B Drug. Only Recently we have seen Ecstasy reduced from a Class A Drug to Class B. The constant lowering of the classification for drugs emits a message of confusion and lackadaisical approach to the crime of drug use and trafficking.

These mixed messages will impact on the manner in which the crime is tackled and will create room for error and misguided approaches to crime reduction. Furthermore, the concept that such crime is not ever able to be eradicated and so we should legalise some drugs so that the harder drugs can be targeted is defeatist and sends out the wrong message. Melanie Phillips from the mail quite sensibly argues:

"...Imagine a report which said that crime could never be eradicated and so to minimise damage Police should henceforth deal only with the most serious murders, assaults or burglaries....Such a report would be laughed out of court as a recipe for anarchy."

There are believe it or not people that honestly believe that the legalisation of cannabis would stop the black market trading with its impurities and that it would stop the relationship with the existing drug dealers, who try and push harder drugs, on users to initiate a long term habit with longer term commercial benefit for the dealer.

However, in Amsterdam even now their are Cafes, Clubs and novelty shops that sell mushrooms, harder and variant forms of Cannabis in different forms, i.e powder, crystals, buds and stalks, leaves etc. The different types of mushroom and cannabis offer varying sensations and make the transition into more "hard" drugs a more appealing and inevitable danger. Besides, the level of serious drug users and offenses is comparable to those in UK. Quite evidently the legalisation of drugs in this city had no positive effect.

New Stroke Centre

A new Stroke Centre will be installed a Queen Hospital , Romford. The hyper-acute stroke unity is part of a recent drive to improve the health conditions of sufferers of strokes and the project for Queens has now bene given the red light. A while ago I had posted details fo a MORI survey being undertaken and had requested that residents suggested King George Hospital as a better alternative, as Redbridge has a higher Ethnic Minority count and hence can be presumed to have a tendency for increase stroke victims.

We have not been succesful with this campaign, however, the facilities at Queens Hospital will serve Redbridge residents who previoulsy had to travel into Central London - so this is still good news!

Kinked George Despair

King George Hospital has a £103m debt the worst in the country and almost double that of the second worst! Although the trust saved £29m in 2008/2009 and expect to match this for the current year it is a very alarming figure. The trust have indicated that the actual deficit lies close to £91.7m and that the skewered figure is due to a property impairment of 8.9 m due to a revaluation exercise during the recession and impairment of debtors of £2.9m -and that both these additional figures do not need to be retrieved by the trust.

We are still not out of the the recession and it is frightening to think of how this deficit could escalate. I just hope that the BHR trust does not continue its programme of mismanagement that has already caused huge parking burden around its perimeter due to a revenue inducing scheme, almost definitely induced by hiring dubious security contractor's whose employees have fleeced the hospital of over £500,000.

It took an almighty effort to keep King George Hospital alive, when the Government and the NHS decided to embark on the ridiculous option 4 project, that was overturned due to the work of our resolute community. I just hope that our work results in King George surviving this recession and the BHR upping their game to ensure an even better future of health services to our now beleaguered community.

Redbridge Violence

A man is fighting for his life after suffering a severe injury in an attack on Tuesday 21st July around 1.15am. Police are treating the incident as attempted murder and are are seeking a Black or Asian man aged between 25 and 35, with a distinctive top, featuring horizontal hoops. He was seen running away form the scene of the crime along Francis Road (by Topal Foods) and over a footbridge leading to Jaffe Road. Anyone with information should call Det Sgt Andrew Osbourne on 020 8345 2732.

On Monday 20th July two groups of more than 100 youths had to be restrained by Police with dogs on Clements Road to the fore of Cineworld. Blame is being laid on Bollywood Bowl who held a Private party without the correct level of Security Door Supervisors.

This week and last week two of the other boys involved in the fatal stabbing of teenager Nabeer Bakurally in November last year. The young men Kalam Kazi and Abdul Siddique both from Ilford - have been protesting their innocence. Evidence has been stacked against them in the form of text messages and CCTV film that suggests their collusion and involvement in the murder. The two of them could face life sentences.

Anger and violence seems to be a pervading social malaise it is with great regret that I read local papers and read of another life lost or a victim put in hospital. I am all for rehabilitation (people deserve a second chance), however I do believe that sentences do not reflect the serious nature of some crimes. Whilst their is grey area and a limp stance against violent crime I cannot see anything changing.

My proposed solution:

Rehabilitation is a necessary and effective measure in reducing recurrence of crime, however, why aren't victims, their families and other primary witnesses such as the police or doctors, who have to cope with the aftermath of violent crime, utilised in the rehabilitation process. I agree the most hardened criminals may not be touched by the emotive responses received from such witnesses, however discussion groups with these people may affect some change in the minds of these perpetrators of crime. A fund should be allocated to support such initiative. This fund should expand into the wider use of these witnesses - funding school and society based presentations and discussion groups to deter young impressionable minds from falling into the trap that antisocial behaviour, knife crime and drugs can induce.

Please share your thoughts...?

It's safe to go back to Ilford! But all news is not good news!

A new team of Police Officers is set to is set to protect Ilford Town Centre after a Business Improvement District Team decision was made to allocate £104,000 funding for the scheme. Three PC's and a Sergeant will be on the beat by December to make the area safer.

In addition, the Borough Commander Peter Terry has confirmed that 50 of the 98 Special Constables available ( working 16 hours per month) will be scheduled for duty in the town centre. There has been an increase in retail theft and shopper crime since the original team was removed at the start of the Safer Neighbourhood campaign.

Alarmingly, over £230,000 has been slashed from the Redbridge Police budget of around £31m and reports in the media describe Labour representatives blaming the Mayor of London and Conservative representatives blaming the Government. Either way, it is evident, at a time when burglary and other acquisitive crime is on the increase - bolstered by a strong illegal trafficking industry, the need to maintain the existing levels of Policing is paramount. I hope this decision does not manifest into a disastrous situation.

Do please share your thoughts....?

Events in Redbridge

Play Ranger Scheme Monday 20 July to Friday 21 August
Venue: Loxford Park South Park
Time: 10am to 12 noon daily Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at Loxford Park/Tuesdays and Thursdays at South Park
Event: Play allows children to feel free and create and develop self-guided activities. This summer play scheme will allow children to experience new and exciting opportunities in a safe environment and really reap the benefits that only outdoor play can provide. Under the supervision of 4 fully qualified Play Rangers, children will learn new skills, meet new friends and will get to know their park through games, walks and workshops.
AgeFor children aged 8 to 13 years
Price:Free
Enquiries: For further information call 020 8708 0954

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Active Camps Monday 20 July to Friday 14 August
Venues: Seven Kings High School Parkhill Junior School William Torbitt Primary School
Time: 10 am to 12.30 pm and 1.30 pm to 4 pm, children will need to be collected during the lunch break.
Event: Active Camps are a fun way to spend the summer and meet new friends. They are designed to keep children active and introduce them to a range of new sports as well as helping them improve skills in existing sports.
Age: For children aged 8 to 13 years
Price: £2.75 per child, per session (morning or afternoon) or £27.50 per week
Bookings: For more information or to book a place call Culture, Sport and Community Learning

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Telling Tales Exhibition Tuesday 21 July to Saturday 12 September
Venue: Ilford Central Library 1st floor exhibition area
Time: 10 am to 5 pm Tuesdays to Fridays - 10am to 4 pm Saturdays
Event: A fun family exhibition about stories and performance. This summer, Redbridge Museum’s fun family exhibition will take you on an epic adventure through storytelling and performance.
You can: journey with mythical heroes make your own Roman mosaic explore a desert island in a classic children's story create your own comic strip and be a star in the world of film and the Museum's very own stage! Through interactive displays, games and puzzles, you can explore stories from around the world, the different ways they have been told and how we tell them today.

Age: Suitable for all ages
Price: Free
EnquiriesFor further information call Redbridge Museum

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London Poetry Competition Thursday 23 July to Saturday 5 September
Venue: Redbridge Libraries
Event: Redbridge Libraries invite you to write a poem about what London means to You!
The closing date for entries 5 September 2009.
The Winners will be announced at an Awards Ceremony and prize-giving on National Poetry Day 8 October 2009 (venue to be announced).
Redbridge Libraries Poetry Competition Rules
Age The competition is open to all adults over 16
Price Free
EnquiriesAsk for entry details and competition rules at the enquiry desk in your local library

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Make your own storybook Tuesday 28 July to Saturday 1 August
Venue: Telling Tales exhibition area
Time: 10 am to 5 pm Tuesdays to Fridays, 10 am to 4 pm Saturdays
Event: Make and Take Activity. No need to book, drop in anytime to the Telling Tales exhibition.
Age
Suitable for all ages
Price
Free
EnquiriesFor further information call Redbridge Museum

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Story Writing Competition Tuesday 28 July to Saturday 29 August
Venue: Redbridge MuseumTelling Tales exhibition area
Time: 10 am to 5 pm Tuesdays to Fridays, 10 am to 4 pm Saturdays
Event: Make and Take Activity. Come along and unleash your creative side! No need to book, drop in anytime to the Telling Tales exhibition.
Age Suitable for all ages
Price Free
EnquiriesFor further information call Redbridge Museum

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Give or Take - Area 1 Saturday 1 August
Venue: Seven Kings United Free ChurchCorner of Meads LaneSeven KingsIG3 8NU (view on map)
Time: 12 noon to 3 pm
Event: Give or Take is a simple way for people to give away things they don't need or take things they do.At each event around 3 tonnes of 'stuff' is saved from going down the dump and many items are simply reused.
What can you Give?
baby equipment
books
toys
children's bikes
kitchenware and small electrical goods
paint (re-useable)
plants
garden tools and equipment
small items of furniture (side tables, cots etc)
Please NO: Clothes, hazardous or toxic items, second hand child car seats
What you can Take?What you want and can use - BUT leave something for others
Each event will also have stalls with:
environmental information
community activities and
refreshments available.
If you would like to have the chance to clear out your unwanted items that someone else could find useful, then come along on to the Give or Take events.

Bookings: For more information on these events, contact Forest Recycling Project on 020 8539 3856, http://www.forestrecyclingproject.org.uk/ and http://www.giveortake.org/.

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Valentines Sports Day Sunday 2 August
Venue: Valentines Mansion
Time: From 11 am to 3.30 pm
Details: Take part in a range of physical games and activities organised by the Sports and Physical Activity Team, and bring your own picnic to feast on afterwards! The programme will include cricket, football, boxercise, hula hoops and more!
PriceFREE, just drop in
AgeOpen to all
EnquiriesFor further information call 020 8708 0950.

Cannabis Myth or Legend?

At the Area 6 committee meeting on Wednesday and the Area 5 Committee on Monday, I raised a concern about the growing issue of Cannabis smoking in local parks. Unless I am imagining - I see young people from a variety of backgrounds, ages and cultures - are now openly smoking in our local parks. Drug dealers are using these venues as the trading place of choice to recruit new users and to traffic to their incumbent clientele.

I am an ex-drug user and battled hard to loose my addiction, hence I am aware of the potential long and short term effects of any substance misuse. Essentially for the purposes of this post I will concentrate on cannabis.

Symptoms such as paranoia, depression, lethargy and fits of rage are not uncommon amongst users. Moreover dangerous situations such as hyperventilation, panic attacks, and the lifestyle changes an addiction can bring, affect both users and those in their vicinity or emotionally tied.

Our Parks Police Team Chief Mr Boylin was very dismissive about the concern, stating that only 130 reported incidents had been received since 2006. I would argue that this is more due to apathy of reporting – as any undercover operation in South Park would pick up a group of over 10 boys in South Park smoking “weed” and “skunk” in or about the “central” cricket pitch.

Furthermore, two teenage work experience students working at my offices confirmed that South Park is a regular haunt for “pot” smokers…? Mr Boylin even went as far as to state that the 9 Cannabis related arrests in South Park from March till now, were just a “blip”? Bizarrely, Mr Boylin advised us that South Park is not one of the parks that has a high frequency of Cannabis smoking reports? Clearly the issue is endemic and it is catch and report rates that are low indicating systemic concerns. Besides, in my capacity as a local NHW Coordinator a large amount of the reported crime I receive, is related to cannabis smoking in this very same park? Moreover, with parents preventing children using our parks, fearing their children might be attacked by users in drug fuelled revellry, or caught in the trap of drug addiction from the pushers preying on young impressionable minds -openly walking these formerly safe areas. Could it be surmised that the reduced use of our parks has resulted in less frequent reporting?

In the Area 6 and 5 meetings I had suggested that boroughwide signage in our parks could be used to highlight the Class B status of Cannabis and that any perpetrators of this illegal act could be arrested fined or even imprisoned. The signs could also have incorporated the Police National non-emergency telephone number 0300 123 1212 and the Parks police telephone number which would hopefully induce better community citizenship and reporting. This ownership inducing programme would culminate in better stats vis-à-vis the propensity of such crime, a better deterrent against the crime itself and improved local quality of life derived from better arrests rates and targeted Parks/MET Police approaches.

Conversations with MET police sergeants indicate that my idea would be a viable and welcomed one. I strongly believe if our Parks Police recognised this pervading social malaise as one that threatens the long term quality of life for local residents - they too would support the scheme.

The trite response received regarding this proposal is echoed in the comments made by Mr Boylin when he jested that it was a shame that retrospective penalty notices could not be provided, as my confession would have made me liable. This is true, however I was aware of the Class B status of cannabis smoking which is not so apparent in the existing generation due to governemental prevarication. There are many who may not be aware that the Class C status has now been abrogated with a return to Class B for Cannabis use. Moreover, in my youth, young people held a fear of those in authority– I never smoked in open public areas, which is not a defence, but would explain why officers such as Mr Boylin himself, who would have been with the met at the time, did not arrest me.

With our Met Police no longer responsible for the parks – could it be that the relative insouciant nature of our Parks Police team has led to the demise of our public spaces….?

Your comments please.......