Kings Cross Local Environment

Kings Cross perspectives - Britannia Street, regeneration, street crime

Kings Cross is in yet another a state of flux, Kings Cross is always in a state of flux.  It's great to capture snapshots as the area changes over time.  Leah DIxon sent in this piece about her part of Kings Cross around Brittania Street. She writes powerfully from her perspective about the reality of the benefits of regeneration, a lack of facilities and living close to the sex and pub and club trade. 

I'd like to start a series of 'Kings Cross Perspectives' - people's views of their patch in their own words.  If you have a perspective on Kings Cross drop me a line to [email protected]

Over to Leah:

'I wanted to write about the state of affairs in my patch of Kings Cross.  Having been brought up in Camden I was aware even as a young child that Kings Cross was a no go area full of prostitutes and drug addicts.  Apologies of those of you who lived there then and don't feel this is fair but thats what it seemed like when we passed through.  

'I moved to this part of Camden 6 years ago with, what I thought, was the knowledge that Kings Cross was now an up and coming area.  I thought it would be a safe place to bring up my child.  I now feel that was the wrong decision. I wanted to prove all the people who looked at me in shock when I said I live in Kings Cross wrong.  I wanted to be proud of what the area had to offer, like Camley Street, 1KX and the library.  I tried to ignore the absence of any trees, bushes or flowers on my street and the deaf ears of the council to make a positive difference to the lives of residents.  I've certainly tried to ignore the sirens, the pollution, the drunken revellers and the bass from the Scala on a saturday night.  I can't, however, ignore the blatant sex workers, drug addicts, street drinkers and beggars that are constantly increasing day by day.  

'I have been in touch with the local police and safer neighbourhood teams 3 times just this week.  I'm complaining to them about incidences taking place at 10am, 12pm, 3pm.  They are telling me its worse at night!!  They seem to think the increase is because they've been concentrating on the fall out of the riots.  I don't care why, I care about keeping my 13 year old daughter safe.  She walks to school every day past the car park on our street where the police have informed me, through CCTV footage, that sex work, drug taking, graffitti and urination are taking place every day (ok more at night!!).  The evidence is also there with used needles and condoms lying discarded.

'How can I stay in this area any longer?  Who benefits from the regeneration of Kings Cross?  All I see is more bars and clubs (where sex workers are targeting drunken men for their trade according to police) to keep the professionals and students happy, boutique shops and hotels for tourists, take away food (so people in this area can continue to be the unhealthiest in Camden) which contributes to huge amounts of litter on the street.

'Where are the facilities local people need?  Do I wait until 2015 to get a tree on my street, for the Euro car park owners to redesign their car park to ensure sex workers and drug addicts aren't able to use it as their own private playground?  Do I wait for my daughter to see something beyond her years?

'No.  I think despite her loving her Islington Secondary, the youth centre at Corams and her best friend up the road I won't wait.  Like many before me I think it is either time to take some action or leave for good.

'I have attached a photo of the car park on my street.

Message from our local police

MEssage in from Police Inspector Stuart Simpson:

'Over the weekend and into Monday morning there were a small number of incidents that occurred in Islington which were an overspill from Haringey by opportunistic criminal elements who chose to cause disorder and steal.

'We recognise that these incidents will have an impact on the local community but we would like to reassure all our communities that our local Safer Neighbourhood teams are out patrolling as usual on the wards.

'Our response teams will be also out patrolling and responding to calls from the community.We will have additional patrols on across the borough to provide reassurance and to prevent any further opportunistic criminality.

'We have an excellent community relationship with our partners including Islington Council and we are working together to continue to make Islington a safe place to live and work.

'We are appealing to all members of the community to call police on 101, if they notice anything untoward or suspicious. If it is an emergency, please dial 999.

Is Kings Cross station tannoy annoying you?

The tannoy from King's Cross station seems to have escaped beyond the platforms in recent days according to local resident Chris.  Has anyone else noticed platform announcements outside the station? Let us know in the comments and i'll see if Network Rail can fix it. Chris says:

'It's difficult to pinpoint where it's coming from. I'm on Battlebridge Basin, on the other side of King's Place (New Wharf Rd), and for the last week the sound of tannoys has been emanating very loudly from KX station, but I don't know the difference between the platforms.

'Normally, you can't hear the tannoys at all, but the volume has changed during the day - it doesn't seem to be at night. I wondered if they were testing a new system, or if a wall had been removed. I work at home and will try to work out exactly where it's coming from.'

The Cally is calm

Councillor Paul Convery has written about the Cally Road over on his blog.

'On the Cally, local councillors have been visiting businesses after shopkeepers closed-up early yesterday evening on fears of further trouble. Cllr Paul Convery said “I’m glad there has been no repeat of Sunday’s minor disturbance when one shop on the Cally was raided by youths and alcohol stolen. Shopkeepers are naturally worried but we all need to remain calm. The Council is doing business as normal, waste collections, street sweeping and all other public services are operating as usual.”

'On Sunday night, there had been minor attacks on shops in the Caledonian Road and Holloway Road and reports of aggressive behaviour by gangs of teenagers around the Angel.

'Overnight the police have reassured residents and shopkeepers that Safer Neighbourhood teams are out patrolling as usual and rapid response teams will be also out patrolling and responding to calls from the public. Police reinforcements have been brought-in from outside London so that local police teams are not drawn away from their home patch if further major incidents occur.'

What would you ask the Chief Inspector about policing in Islington - live web chat today 7-9pm on this site

There's a unique chance to chat with Chief Inspector Claire Clark and local Sergeant Michael Atkinson this evening between 7 and 9 - i'll be chairing it.  Just come to the www.kingscrossenvironment.com website and type away in the 'cover it live' chat window that will be there.  Or just come and watch other people ask questions.

There's a huge list of things we could cover - everything is on the table unless it prejudices a current investigation, risks contempt of court or puts someone in danger.

We could cover everything from minor but distressing crimes like phone and bike theft through to traic murders and the baleful often unspoken influence of serious organised crime in Kings Cross.  The Met has just concluded its Safer Neighbourhoods Review which could lead to fewer Sergeants in neighbourhood teams - will be great to hear what is happening there.

See you this evening.  If you can't make it email me a question and i'll ask it for you. 

Question the police this Thursday evening online from your own home - and some good news

You can take part in a live web chat with local police this thursday evening from the comfort of your own home.  Just come along to www.kingscrossenvironment.com and you will be able to pose questions live to Chief Inspector Claire Clark and Caledonian SNT Sergeant Michael Atkinson from seven to nine oclock in the evening. If you want me to ask a question for you, maybe anonymously then please email me on [email protected]

In the meantime here's some good news from the police.

>>A 15 year old boy was sentenced on Tuesday 7 June 2011, after he was arrested by Islington police officers following a 20 minute motorcycle chase.

He was sentenced at Highbury Corner Youth Court to a 12 months rehabilitation order and disqualified from driving for three years after pleading guilty to aggravated vehicle taking, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.

On 8 April, an officer from the Safer Neighbourhoods Task Force Motorcycle team was on patrol in the Bemerton area when he noticed a moped been driven dangerously. The officer indicated for the teenage driver to stop but he sped off.

Police cars from another borough, and local Islington response team officers gave chase but were unable to catch the motorcyclist as he drove through narrow alleyways.

After a 20 minute chase, the 15 year old boy crashed near the park in Bingfield Street, and was arrested. He was charged the next day.

The moped had been stolen on 1 April.

Police Constable Gyselings from the Safer Neighbourhoods Task Force Motorcycle team, who chased the bike, said:

"Our team has the specialist skills and resources to respond to any crimes committed using mopeds or motorbikes. We are committed to tackling crime and anti social behaviour across Islington and responding to concerns about drivers safely and effectively."

Police Constable Peta Wilson, who investigated the case, said: “This boy was driving extremely dangerously, going through lots of red lights, driving the wrong way up main roads and going round corners at great speed which could have resulted in a really bad accident. I am pleased he has been disqualified from driving and that the motorcycle has been returned to it’s rightful owner.”

Chat with the Chief Inspector and local police live online - Thursday 16 June 1900 on this website

This website has always worked closely with the police as the community has made the area safer over the years.  But in a busy modern life it isn't always easy to make the various police-community etc meetings.  Often, either the time is wrong or the location inconvenient - so we are delighted to host a live webchat for local people to ask questions or talk to local police officers on Thursday 16 June in the evening from seven o'clock.  

Chief Inspector Claire Clark and Caledonian SNT sergeant Michael Atkinson will be live online here at www.kingscrossenvironment.com from 1900 to 2100 (seven to nine oclock in the evening in old money). 

So if you can get online wherever you are between seven and nine - at home with the kids or watching TV, even at work then you should be able ask a question here, get an answer and then get on with your evening.  You can also email me questions in advance or on the evening to [email protected] and i shall ask them for you.  It's all a bit experimental, but if just one person is able to get an answer who wouldn't normally come to a community meeting then I'll be delighted.

Just come to www.kingscrossenvironment.com and you will be able to post questions live and see them answered live too (hopefully)!  No special skills needed - Just turn up and type.

For the technically minded we'll be using Coveritlive following the model of Ask the Commander in Stoke-on-Trent.  I am doing this at no cost to the police and receive no payment etc.

Fatal stabbing in King's Cross

There are unconfirmed reports of a murder in Argyle Street, just south of St Pancras station. Around 7 uniformed police officers were tonight manning a cordon covering the entire street, in place since the early evening. At least 5 plainclothes detectives were present, with several more in plastic forensic suits.

None of the officers would comment on the details or confirm a murder investigation was underway, but there are reports that the murderer escaped after the stabbing.

The crime took place at 24-28 Argyle Street, a mental health care home housed in three converted and interconnected terrace houses. A man waiting to be let through the cordon, who wished not to be named, said: "It's a home for people with mental illness. I live there, I've just come home and have been waiting to be let in... I've lived in the hostel for years, and nothing's really happened like this... there's 15 of us living there. I don't know who it is [who has been murdered]."
 
One detective was heard talking about "multiple incident scenes". It is not clear whether this incident is connected to other reports of a violent fight in King's Cross that happened around the same time.

Clare Hill

Underage Drinking in the Caledonian Road Area

Louise Brown, Senior Communications and Marketing Officer for Islington Council just advised The Community Bulletin Board that a new scheme has been launched to tackle underage drinking in the Caledonian Road area (click on map to enlarge).

The Community Alcohol Partnership (CAP) brings together the council, police, youth services and retailers to reduce the crime, anti-social behaviour and harm caused by underage drinking in the Caledonian Road area. The map attached shows the area the CAP is covering.
 
There are similar schemes around the country but this is the first inner London CAP. There is more information about the CAP in the press release at http://www.islington.gov.uk/Council/CouncilNews/PressOffice/2011/04/PR4369.asp and at www.islington.gov.uk/cap.
 
For those of you who are interested the Council is doing a resident survey at the outset of the project, to gauge residents perceptions of the issues. The link to the survey is on the website at www.islington.gov.uk/cap
 
If you have any questions, please let Louise Brown know -

Street issues in North Kings Cross

I set up this site in 2006 partly to help me keep track of local street issues after years of work with neighbours and local public services to help clean the neighbourhood up.  I did a walk on Saturday  around the North bit of Kings Cross and reported the usual haul of grafitti tags and snapped off trees.  Why not have a go yourself? It's good exercise and helps keep the neighbourhood clean.  If you ae lucky enough to have a modern phone you can take pics and email them as you go to [email protected]