Loftus Road Neighbourhood Watch meeting
by Hammersmith and Fulham Press Office
26/02/2009
Residents of Loftus Road called an urgent public meeting to air their views about crime following a brutal murder in their street in December.
The meeting of more than 50 concerned Shepherds Bush residents on February 12 was organised by Philippa Robb, chairwoman of the Loftus Road Neighbourhood Watch group, after a December spike in crime which included the shooting of Craig ‘Spider’ Brown.
Piling into the bar at Queens Park Rangers FC, One Loftus Road resident, Jo Turnbull, 45, described seeing the shot Craig Brown die on the pavement on Christmas Eve. “I was upstairs with my daughter and we thought the shooting was fireworks going off, but my husband looked outside and actually watched him die,” said Ms Turnbull. “We woke up on Christmas morning thinking about the poor boy’s mother.”
And resident Judith Mathias, 62, of Ellery Road said she always took precautions in her neighbourhood. “It has always been a bit edgy around Loftus Road,” she said. “It has been since I moved here in 1978 and I never go out at night without my car.”
On hand to reassure residents was the Met’s Borough Commander, Detective Chief Superintendent Kevin Hurley, who said he was determined to increase police officers on the beat. He said: “Crime in Hammersmith & Fulham is falling, week by week, month by month, year by year. “Nevertheless, you will start to see more police officers dealing with problems. We want to walk tall in the streets, but not in an arrogant way. “The police control the streets and not the criminals.”
The Borough Commander added that crime is decreasing across the borough much faster than the rest of London, saying that gun crime is down only 28 per cent across the whole of London, but down 57 per cent locally. Meanwhile, knife crime is down only 13 per cent across London, but down 26 per cent in the borough.
Shepherds Bush Green ward has also benefited from the council’s investment in 24/7 neighbourhood beat policing which has driven the number of crimes with a named victim down by nearly 23 per cent since April 2007. Architect of the scheme Councillor Greg Smith, H&F Cabinet Member for Crime & Street Scene, said “The 24/7 pilot is set to continue for a further two years from this April.”
However, officials were under pressure to answer their concerns locally - especially the events surrounding the Christmas Eve shooting. “Operation Trident, which tackles gun crime in the capital's black communities, is investigating the crime,” said Investigating officer Detective Inspector Kenny McDonald, who was quick to stress the strength of the police case as well as the rarity of the event. “Rest assured this type of crime, although horrific when it does occur, is very rare,” he added. “Our investigation is still ongoing and we have arrested and charged two juveniles. I cannot say anymore for danger of jeopardising the case."
Detective Inspector McDonald said the police were focused on reducing gun crime. The perceived lack of activities for borough teenagers was also raised but officials challenged this perception saying there are numerous positive activities for children and youngsters across the borough. The council is working closely with other organisations and clubs, such as the Metropolitan Police and the borough’s top flight football clubs. Together with Chelsea, Fulham and QPR, the Kickz scheme helps young offenders get their coaching qualifications, the Duke of Edinburgh programme runs throughout local schools and there is a full programme of positive activities for children to get involved with over the coming weeks and months.
Cllr Smith said: “Kids do not decide to stick a piece of metal into another human being because they are bored.
“Research by groups like the Centre for Social Justice has identified factors such as a lack of hope, aspiration and opportunity as well as family breakdown and in particular a lack of male role models, as reasons why some children end up getting involved with crime. There is no one factor, but all of these things contribute.
“We are trying to create a borough of opportunity in the borough. This means safer streets are a large part of this effort. Police presence is being increased at peak times around bus stations and we are using PCSOs at the lower peak times to reassure the public.”
