Forum Topic

Crime on Churchfield Road

I would like together with other business owners and residents to find a way to tackle the constant crime happening on Churchfield Road. Only this evening the off license near the station was robbed by a group of what look like to be older students of one of Actons crime academies. Why should people not feel safe walking down Churchfield Road, why should we worry about our children being bullied and robbed or our shop keepers being attacked and abused? Local government, schools and the police seem not to want to do anything about it. If anyone is interested and can help create a lobby to pressure these institutions in to doing more to make the community safer for all of us - please get in touch. Local councillors are too busy to care - prove me wrong. You want our votes so do something to earn them.

Andrew Millis ● 2317d17 Comments

It all comes back to my point about there being no effective deterrent/s. Regardless of political persuasions, I imagine we all agree that the current system just doesn't work. By a long shot.IF it's correct that the Head has not taken matters seriously then it is yet another example of the ongoing "appeasive" attitude which prevails. And is just wrong.And throwing money at it by starting Youth Clubs etc etc ain't gonna fix nuthin' either.All IMHO as always.  😁

Rosco White ● 2307d

Not sure if this helps, as came across it online - may be worth going straight to the organ grinder and bypassing the monkey:The department is led by the Secretary of State for Education. The Permanent Secretary is Jonathan Slater. DfE is responsible for education, children's services, higher and further education policy, apprenticeships, and wider skills in England, and equalities.

Helen New ● 2307d

That is disgraceful that the Head of Acton High did not take such behaviour more seriously. That school is part of the ARK group. I wonder if it's worth contacting someone high up at the group itself and complaining to them.

Patrick Gray ● 2308d

Since the cannabis factory bust on Churchfield Road I've noticed a lack of dealers in the park. Let's hope there's no more reason for them to hang around.

Tania Bapuji ● 2310d

Rosco, I don’t share your politics but don’t want to get drawn into a debate. This is a cross party issue, an issue for us all if you like. I don’t personally believe it all comes down to punishment. That’s not to say punishment isn’t a factor but we need to look more at prevention and particularly youth services. In discussion with my 16 year old son, he tells me how few options there are for constructive social activities for him and his friends on weekend evenings. During the week he is at school, plays sport and music most evenings but at the weekend he wants to let his hair down and hang out with his mates. Where are they supposed to go that is safe and where they’re not exposed to drugs and alcohol? I don’t think a lot of kids want to get mixed up in that kind of lifestyle but don’t feel that the people who could provide something (ie the tax payers) care enough to offer a different way. I genuinely feel our community needs to show that it cares about young people. We need to shop shifting blame onto schools, the police, individual parents and kids. We have to take collective responsibility. It’s ALL OUR problem.

Alex Watson ● 2312d

I heartily agree, however the issue is much bigger.Even when perpetrators are caught they are inevitably handled far too lightly. This engenders total disrespect for the law and the vicious cycle continues its spiral downwards. IF Boris wins, and IF he does what he says, we JUST might see perpetrators getting their just desserts.  Which will undoubtedly manifest in a drop in crime. IMHO of course.

Rosco White ● 2312d

I posted on this site in September about muggings in Acton Park by youths associated with a local school. At that time, we were able to give the police a name of one of the muggers as he was identified by one of the victims. We are talking about 16 year olds. (They went to the same primary school) I wrote to all the councillors and only heard back from Daniel Crawford. I tried to follow up the case with the police as we were confident something could be done due to the identification. (You would have thought that would help, but no....) I couldn’t even get into the police station in Acton. They have an airport security style glass screen around the duty officer’s desk. He wouldn’t let me in to speak to him! So you can’t actually report crimes physically  in Acton or speak with an actual police officer. I telephoned the Safer Neighbourhoods Team. Nothing, No reply. Dan Crawford said he would ask for a meeting with police. Nothing has happened. We really do have a problem in Acton with crime and I agree that we need to come together as a community to find a way to deal with it. That means schools, police, ship keepers, businesses, councillors. We can’t just be this complacent about it anymore, thinking it’s someone else’s problem. It ALL OUR problem. I would be very keen to meet.

Alex Watson ● 2312d

FWIW nearly every weed smoker I knew in my youth went on to be a decent "Contributor" to society. The rare exceptions to this it was obvious they had issues and  often developed "harder" tastes with the inevitable consequences.

Rosco White ● 2316d

Exactly right. There is a massive complacency about the impact on health from cannabis particularly for young people.Hopefully the situation on Churchfield Road will improve due to the closure of the factory which probably attracted criminals to the area. However, the situation with the school kids is intolerable and only the school can really deal with it. For most schools in the area the kids wouldn't dare misbehave in uniform because they know there would be consequences.

Andy Jones ● 2317d

I contacted the Labour Councillor a few months ago when students of Acton High were terrorising the off-licence next to Tailor Made - they stood outside and covered their faces in their school uniforms and were raiding the store. I also contacted the school, but the head teacher didn't have the courtesy to contact me until I threatened going to Ofsted. Then his PA returned my call. The lady in that particular shop now just locks her door at certain times throughout the day. What next from these kids protection rackets?

Andrew Millis ● 2317d

Poor man.This seems to have happened since the drug dealers have moved their dealing patch into Acton Park. The police know all about but seem powerless to actually do anything about them (then what's the point of the police, I hear you cry!). They seem to just clear them out of the park every so often when someone complains. I'm surprised the school in the park seem not to be worried.Anyway, here's the contact email to report anything non-urgent in the area regarding crime:Abdullah.Irfan@met.police.uk

Tania Bapuji ● 2317d

It seems to be official policy now to tolerate cannabis use which is a real pity when it is known that it causes psychological issues especially to people with existing mental health issues. The police are supposed to act against the dealers. Not sure if the Standard will be bothered, no doubt half their staff are on it themselves

Patrick Gray ● 2317d

I presume that you have tried contacting the local councillors and the local police community contacts?

Patrick Gray ● 2317d

I don't think he was harmed, but very frightened for sure. Perhaps contacting the press might work.

Andrew Millis ● 2317d

I'm fed up of the constant stench of we all know what whilst walking along Churchfield Road, Alfred Road and parts of Burlington Gardens.  Do you think it's worth contacting a newspaper like The Evening Standard, as it is a paper for London and Londoners, and see if they can run a story which might push the relevant people to get their finger out and do something?  I do hope the elderly gentleman is ok and wasn't harmed.

Helen New ● 2317d

The off-licence next to The Rocket run by the elderly gentleman.

Andrew Millis ● 2317d

Which off-licence?Not Londis I hope - such nice, gentle people

Sara Nathan ● 2317d