The gang ‘culture’ sweeping Queen’s Park was slammed by local residents at an emergency puplic meeting last night.  Mothers gave an emotional account of how their children are increasingly the targets of violent crime.  Others expressed their pride in the community at the sight of so many different people pulling together to denounce the problems that are generated by a small minority, but which are affecting everyone in the area.

Westminster Council is hoping to agree a half a million pound budget next week to help tackle the issues, and the Deputy Cabinet Member for Community Safety at Westminster Council, Councillor Beddoe, acknowledged that the situation has become an emergency.

Karen Buck MP insisted that more needs to be done to tackle the issues.

The meeting was chaired expertly by Angela Singhate, Chair of Queen’s Park Forum who organised the event with residents from the Campaign for a Queen’s Park Community Council and Tell It Action Group.   Also on the panel was Westminster’s most senior policeman, Commander Simon Bray.

The work of local residents through groups like Tell It Parents Action Group and Generation to Generation was praised.  Residents called for the perpetrators and instigators to be caught and punished alongside a long term rehabilitation programme for young people affected, support for youth programmes, more working through schools, rewards for good behaviour, cctv, improved communication with the community in general (and specifically about the use of Section 60s,  the power the police have to Stop and Search) and a drive to involve local people on the Independent Police Advisory Group for Westminster.

Many of the 200 or so residents that came left feeling emboldened at the prospect of people power facing down the spoilers.

Contacts:

Tell It – Parent Action Group tellitparentsactiongroup@hotmail.co.uk or drop in to 21 Dart Street – next door to the mini market from 10am -3pm on Mondays.  This group of local parents aims to give support to other parents and promotes networking between residents in the belief that “it takes a whole commuity to raise a child”.

Generation 2 Generation – meets at Avenues Youth Project 3-5 Third Avenue every Thursday at 6.30pm.  The group helps to break down barriers between young people and adults and to bring about intergenerational understanding and cooperation.  Come along.

Campaign for a Queen’s Park Community Council – aims to unite the community to make it a better and more enjoyable place to live for everyone. Join in and say ‘Yes’! to the campaign  www.campaign4queenspark.org 020 8964 8024