Chigwell
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CHIGWELL: Meeting told of policing concerns
A COMMUNITY meeting called to address the concerns of people on Chigwell's Limes Farm estate threatened to descend into anarchy with resident after resident complaining about a lack of policing.
Limes Farm Hall was packed last Thursday when Voluntary Action Epping Forest held a meeting designed to gather the concerns of local residents.
The issue of youth violence dominated the evening with tempers high at the lack of policing on the estate.
One woman said she had received death threats when she caught youths in her garden and had had a bottle thrown through her window.
Another lady said youths had threatened her with a brick and knife and that she had to lock herself in the Budgens store to escape.
A number of residents said they had been stabbed and the idea of forming vigilante groups proved a popular topic.
One woman said: "I came here a year ago from a very notorious housing estate. I don't want to stay here a moment longer because this estate is out of control. I've had trouble from the day I moved here."
Jane Phillips, who lives near Limes Farm Hall, said she had tried to organise disco nights on the estate but had given up after they were gate-crashed by Hainault youths.
She said: "The first one was excellent. We had no trouble. The second one they all came in and just ruined it. They left empty bottles and cans of beer. This is an under-18s disco and it's quite a big thing for there to be no alcohol. It's stopped me doing them. It's a shame because they've got nothing here."
She added her son had been attacked by a gang wielding knuckledusters and a baseball bat, and that he still had nightmares about the incident.
The meeting was attended by PC John Berwick, a member of the neighbourhood policing team, who called in having attended a football session nearby. He assured the speakers he would pass on their comments to his superiors.
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CALLS for more, and better, policing on the Limes Farm estate were made following a community meeting held there last Thursday.
Grange Hill district councillor Kewal Chana, who attended the meeting, told the Guardian: "We've been working with the police for a long time that they should do something on the estate. They don't do what they're saying and that's really sad. They have to take note and show they are taking this seriously."
He added he had seen a resident at one of his surgeries produce a bucket full of stones that had been thrown at his house.
Limes Farm Community Association chairman Alan Warner said: "I wasn't surprised that the meeting went like that. There is a great amount of bad feeling towards the police. They're appalling. They come over here frequently but it doesn't help. There's no way of stopping these kids from coming here. What can people do other than take the law into their own hands? I don't advise it, but I can see it happening."
A police spokesman said: "We acknowledge there have been some issues on the estate and are actively working alongside the council and other partners to tackle those which impact on the quality of life for local residents.
"During the summer a variety of projects were organised for local young people and due to the success of these they have been extended. For example on Tuesday and Thursday evenings officers in conjunction with Epping Forest District Council and Tottenham Hotspur Football Club have arranged free football training for 13 to 18-year-olds.
"The dedicated neighbourhood police team is keen to hear the views of local people and encourage residents to speak to them while they're on their patrols in the area, or to contact the team mobile phone on 07968 354021.
"In addition a neighbourhood action panel has now been established to provide a forum to discuss local issues and set policing priorities for the area."
4:44pm Monday 24th September 2007
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