Sharp eyes on shisha hubbub

Tuesday March 9, 2010

Police and council patrols are being ramped up around a strip of Shepherds Bush shisha cafes that have experienced growing problems with antisocial behaviour in recent months.

Last month, 230 residents signed a petition demanding that the police and council increase their efforts to tackle problems around the Uxbridge Road cafes.

It follows a series of stabbings over Christmas and continuing problems - say residents - with late-night noise, litter, and aggressive groups of men hanging around on street corners.

The Shepherds Bush Green safer neighbourhood team - which works around the clock seven days a week thanks to funding from the council - is now routinely patrolling the area around the cafes, and filing nightly reports to crime chiefs.

H&F cabinet member Greg Smith says: "Law-abiding residents have the right to peace and quiet in their own neighbourhoods. The Uxbridge Road petitioners raise some important issues and, while licensing laws do not allow us to limit the opening hours of these establishments further, the police have increased the number of patrols in the area."

Meanwhile, the council has also increased litter sweeps around the strip to four times a week, and drivers parking on yellow lines are being targeted.