Stratford
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Cleaning up the streets
MORE than 30 police will blitz a small part of Stratford to crack down on a spate of muggings and violent attacks.
Continued complaints that youths have been kicking in doors and mugging older residents around Henniker Point have forced police to take drastic action and call in reinforcements to patrol the area.
Elderly people say they do not feel safe. Some are constantly living in fear that they will be the next victim of a vicious teen gang.
One resident, who did not want to be named for fear of reprisals, said at a community meeting last week: "I don't feel comfortable walking down the road with a bag.
"It's not just me, I'm talking on behalf of most of the local people. They don't feel safe and won't go out at night.
"We want to see more police in Stratford. We hardly see any any more. They'll come down for a day and then you won't see them again for weeks."
Police have called in an extra 20 community support officers (PCSOs) and eight police officers from the anti-social behaviour team in East Ham to deal with the problem.
A new community police team will also take up posts in a couple of weeks, consisting of four more PCSOs, two officers and investigating officer Sgt Simon Crick.
Sgt Crick, who attended the Stratford community forum meeting last Thursday, said there should be at least 30 officers pounding the beat in the next few weeks, gathering intelligence and dispersing gangs.
He said official figures show there is not a major street crime problem in the area but admitted some victims might not be reporting crimes to police.
He added: "There have been 75 recorded crimes around Henniker Point in the last 12 weeks and only three of them were street crimes.
"It can seem like it is going on all the time but the figures suggest it's not as bad as street crime around the shopping centre, which is another area we are focusing on.
"It's no worse for street robberies than anywhere else in the borough."
One long-term solution being considered is the use of anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) to stop particular offenders from loitering in the area. A suspected crack house in the area may also be closed.
Sgt Crick added: "We are doing the most to try and improve the quality of life for people round here."
4:51pm Tuesday 18th January 2005
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