Anti-social behaviour in Trilby Road area
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sillytilly
Posts: 25
Joined: Apr 2011
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11-04-2011 01:51 PM
I've been living in the Trilby Road/Vestris Road area for nearly a year now and my husband and I absolutely love it! Having moved from the rowdiness of Clapham we love that we actually know our neighbours for once now!
One thing we have noticed recently is that the alleyway between Sunderland Road and Trilby Road which we have to walk through, unless we want a long diversion half way around the south circular, is worryingly more and more frequented by groups of intimidating youths hanging around. I'm not much older than these kids, but it makes me feel increasingly uncomfortable walking home from the train station after work, let alone later in the evening. Has anyone else noticed the increase in this? We've now also had groups of kids hanging around outside our house about 10pm at night which has only started happening over the past month.
About two weeks ago we had a letter through from the met police letting us know that there had been an increase in damage to property, anti-social behaviour and general rowdiness/threatening behaviour and for residents to get in touch if they'd noticed anything. This week there has also been two incidents where police have been present around the area with flashing lights. I felt at first I was being paranoid about the increase in activity in the alley way but now i'm not so sure, this letter really concerned me. Can anyone else shed some light on the issues? Is there a need for CCTV in the alley way?
What can we do??
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brian
Posts: 2,002
Joined: Apr 2005
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11-04-2011 02:10 PM
I know alley well. Probably CCTV would help although they tend to where hoods etc.
Trouble in however many CCTV cameras you have they cannot cover every where.
Sorry you are now getting trouble. Not sure what to suggest. You cannot say anything to these children as you may get sued or knifed.
Best of Luck.
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ryananglem
Posts: 167
Joined: Apr 2009
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11-04-2011 02:52 PM
The best thing to do is to call the police saying what you can see. The kids may well be long gone, but the call will be logged. If you call next time they are there, or other people call - the police can then decide if this is somewhere they need to look at for patrols etc. If you dont call them, they have no way of ever knowing this.
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sillytilly
Posts: 25
Joined: Apr 2011
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11-04-2011 02:54 PM
I have emailed them this morning with details - it just feels so stupid saying there are some kids sat on my wall drinking!
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brian
Posts: 2,002
Joined: Apr 2005
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11-04-2011 04:03 PM
I do not think it sounds stupid. I am sure everyone understands your situation.
You mention drinking but not whether alcoholic. I did not get impression that they were 18 plus.
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sillytilly
Posts: 25
Joined: Apr 2011
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11-04-2011 04:19 PM
I'm pretty sure they weren't over 18 - more likely to be school kids because of the looming Easter holidays!
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brian
Posts: 2,002
Joined: Apr 2005
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11-04-2011 05:10 PM
Then if drinking alcohol against the law so The Police should rush round.
Good Luck.
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The Grange Gem
Posts: 20
Joined: Feb 2011
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11-04-2011 07:27 PM
Silly Tilly
We had a period of kids sitting on the wall outside our block. So to prevent it we planted thorny plants that grow all around and over walls and there has been no problems since the plants have grown.
Change your wall so that it cant be sit upon. A quick way could be that you have a metal upright cemented in along the middle of the wall (Even a spikey one).
I used to deliver leaflets in the area and I identified that passage you mentioned as high risk just by looking at it (Without any events). In fact it might be best for it to be sealed off.
After that a friend of mine was mugged there and it will appeal to muggers because it offers a dual escape route.
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brian
Posts: 2,002
Joined: Apr 2005
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11-04-2011 08:13 PM
Grange Gem
Any plants do not grow overnight.
It might be a solution for the future but the poor householder wants peace now.
If possible could you build the wall up , or as GG has suggested put a few bricks at angles to make it uncomfortable for the louts to sit on your property.
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Sherwood
Posts: 1,414
Joined: Mar 2005
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12-04-2011 07:59 AM
I have walked through that alley dozens of times. it is a convenient shortcut.
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brian
Posts: 2,002
Joined: Apr 2005
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12-04-2011 09:46 AM
Yes I agree.
If there is a potential mugging problem surely sort that out rather than close a public right of way.
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sillytilly
Posts: 25
Joined: Apr 2011
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12-04-2011 10:57 AM
Thanks for all your responses! Unfortunately we rent so we'll have to speak to our landlord. Nobody on the wall last night, yay!
As for the alley way - totally ridiculous to 'seal it off' just because of potential mugging. Why should we live in fear?
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bensonby
Posts: 32
Joined: Dec 2010
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12-04-2011 10:58 AM
Then if drinking alcohol against the law so The Police should rush round.
Since when was drinkingn alcohol against the law?
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sillytilly
Posts: 25
Joined: Apr 2011
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12-04-2011 11:10 AM
I think they are referring to them as being under 18 drinking alcohol.
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bensonby
Posts: 32
Joined: Dec 2010
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12-04-2011 11:31 AM
since when was it illegal for someone under 18 to drink alcohol? (except in a pub, which it generally is).
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sillytilly
Posts: 25
Joined: Apr 2011
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12-04-2011 11:41 AM
I think we are diverting from my original point which wasn't really about the issue of the drinking of alcohol.
See below from the BBC website (who know's if it's actually right)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6598867.stm
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bensonby
Posts: 32
Joined: Dec 2010
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12-04-2011 12:08 PM
indeed, nowhere there does it say that it is illegal for an under 18 to drink alcohol except in a pub. (save for under 5s - which it would be illegal)
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brian
Posts: 2,002
Joined: Apr 2005
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12-04-2011 12:41 PM
Sorry Bensonby my error.
I assume buying alcohol is illegal though so where do they get it from.
Anyway I agree not the main issue. No one wants children , or anyone else , sitting on their wall.
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Londondrz
Posts: 1,538
Joined: Apr 2006
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12-04-2011 01:09 PM
FH has a no drinking in public policy in a number of areas.
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bensonby
Posts: 32
Joined: Dec 2010
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12-04-2011 01:29 PM
no it doesn't.
It has a drinking control zone - under the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001. A discretionary power that allows a constable (or PCSO) to seize alcohol if they wish.
No one wants children , or anyone else , sitting on their wall.
Perhaps. But it's not against the law is it? It's hardly "anti-social" either...unless it is accompanied by other behaviour.
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