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'Shank town' brings in the cleaners to drive crime off the streets
Rob Singh, Evening Standard2 Oct 2008
A neighbourhood nicknamed "shank town" after a spate of stabbings is to adopt New York's approach to fighting crime.
Enfield council is using the "broken windows" theory in Edmonton in the hope it will halt killings, robberies and anti-social behaviour.
Scores of street cleaners, jet washers and environmental crime officers are carrying out a deep clean and fining litterers this week as part of the drive to make the area safer.
The thinking behind their strategy is that a problem ignored, even one as apparently minor as a broken window, sends out a signal that disorder is tolerated - encouraging more serious crime and vandalism.
Former New York police chief Bill Bratton applied the same theory to the streets of his city, and to people who committed small crimes such as farejumping, through the Nineties. He was backed by mayors Rudy Giuliani and Michael Bloomberg with spectacular success.
Now residents have labelled Edmonton "shank town" - shank is street slang for being knifed - after five of the 27 teenagers killed in London this year died in the area. Four of the killings were drug or gang related.
The cleaning operation is part of Operation Lyon, the joint council and police project designed to tackle antisocial behaviour, violent crime, burglary, robbery and motor vehicle crime across the borough.
Terry Neville, Enfield council's cabinet member for environment, said: "Our staff will be carrying out a major deep clean in Edmonton as well as other hotspots of litter and crime in the borough.
"The broken window theory, linking the local environment and how clean and tidy the streets are and crime levels, has been established ever since the zero-tolerance agenda in New York in the Nineties.
"Since New York got tough on grime crime, serious crime dramatically fell and the city has become much safer. It's important for people to understand that clean streets mean safe streets."
New York was transformed by the policing strategy. It saw a reduction in low-level crime, improved quality of life, and a massive drop in the murder rate. The city went from the crime capital of America to the safest large urban area in the country for five years in a row.
Environmental crime officers will issue on the spot fines for anyone found littering in Edmonton.
There, the high volume of reported flytipping and litter in the wards of Edmonton Green, Lower Edmonton, Upper Edmonton and Haselbury closely corresponds to higher levels of crime.
"This operation is all about making Edmonton safer and cleaner for decent, hard-working families. We want people to know that Edmonton is on the up," Mr Neville added.
Reader views (28)
I live in an area of Edmonton, with above national averages of crime (see MPS Crime Map)and believe crime is under-reported or the statistics manipulated to portray a better image.
It is a rare or nonexistant occurrence to see a police officer walking the beat during hours of darkness, or for that matter, during the day. Does anyone recall seeing any police officer patroling the streets on a rainy day, it just doesn't happen. We appear to have a fair-weather force.
In the evenings and throughout the night, it is common to see groups of youths on street corners or outside take-aways, smoking dope, being loud, intimidating passers by and littering the streets; Prostitutes and beggers walk the streets apparently unhindered by police; Drug actiivity is commonly seen on the streets at night.
These are just a few examples that tell us policing in Edmonton is a failure. Put more police on patrol in the back roads and exercise zero tolerance.
Not to blame the police entirely, the courts should issue more severe penalties for the offender and make the offenders compensate their victims, as well as paying for the legal costs.
- Pm, Edmonton, 01/04/2010 09:43
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you guys should understand that cleaner streets means nothing, they can look good during the day, but at night the same old filth comes out. and i am 1 of those who rob and sell drugs at night. and no police or camera can do anything
- Dealer, Edmonton UK, 31/03/2009 01:26
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Eddie is right - Edmonton needs its own specific plan - I fail to see how cleaning up chewing gum is going to stop gang murders. They could do with cleaning up my road mind you. I wish people would stop leaving their HUMAN excretion on the pavement, that and blood are what I have to deal with on leaving the house.
- Paul, South Tottenham, 11/12/2008 08:09
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bet you all in london are looking forward to next years years notting hill carnage fest
- Frank, stoke-on-trent england, 17/10/2008 03:33
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In my 'hood no one is stupid enough to bring a knife to a gunfight
- Er Eed, San Bruno USA, 14/10/2008 17:50
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To compare the issues of NYC in the late 1980's early 90's to London today is absurd.
The broken windows theory made sense for NYC. Times square was incredibly squalid. Prostitutes lined the streets, the south bronx was a no mans land with burnt down buildings, the subway was coated with graffiti and was actually filled with crime. London on the other hand has issues with youth crime, and that is the problem. To compare Edmonton to East new york, come on?!!
The tube is safe but the buses (especially the night buses) are definately not. I do not see the youths disrespecting buses I see them disrespecting the bus passengers.
Barcelona is coated in graffiti and feels dirty (chewing gum stench of urine)Las ramblas?, but it does not have anything near to the violent youth crime problem we do. Dirt is not the cause of this problem, spend that money on some new goal posts and some mentors. Even that would make a difference.
Just for once could London councils stop copying other countries to answer are problems. Why do we have buses designed for grid systems? Why do we have crime reduction tactics that are from the USA? Why do we constantly look for a quick easy answer for our crime problems!
- Eddie, north london, 13/10/2008 05:48
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The use of the Broken Window theory for tackling crime in London isn't new. Westminster City Council has been using the theory for tackling anti-social behaviour and "environmental" crime for about 5 years now with their innovative Civic Watch programme.
- Clare, London, 08/10/2008 13:34
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'The liberal elite have again got it wrong time and time again and once they admit that black youths commit more crime then something can be done. We should stop jumping on people just because their views are different. I thought we lived in a free society where we had free speech?
Yes, you have free spech martin, and yes black youth do commit crime as do whites and asians. I DO NOT BELIEVE YOU WHEN YOU CLAIM THAT BLACKS COMMIT MORE CRIME. I put that in capital letters so that it is easy for you to read. Before you mouth off about your statistics, surely the ethnic/economic make up of an area has to be considered - unfortunately people like you are free to spout their racist bile and present it as fact. I just hope your employer who has provided you with the tools to be racist is reading this. People like you do not help matters. I would also like to ask Steve in Marylebone (hardly the epitome of class), just how many families he knows in Edmonton?
- Kh, London UK, 08/10/2008 12:35
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Edmonton........an old saying springs to mind.
You cant make a silk purse out of a sows ear.
You can put most of the type of people that live there, into belgravia and knightsbridge, and it would still turn into a slum.
- P I Staker, London, 06/10/2008 19:48
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Lb of London. Some immigrants are white, you know! The East End had a huge Jewish population before the Bangladeshis moved in, and Clerkenwell was populated by Italian families. If you think Italians are incapable of criminal activities try living in Naples or Sicily. Read your history books - all this was well before the 1950s. But I guess the white ones are alright in your book. Why don't you grow up and stop presenting right wing propaganda as fact!
- Lindsay, London, 06/10/2008 14:38
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Adam,
It makes no sense to lock up people who possess a weapon in self-defense. Personally I'm glad that I left Britain and am now living in a country where the Supreme Court recognizes the right of self defense not only as implicit in the Bill of Rights but also as an inherent natural right that transcends human law.
- Andrea, Wisconsin, USA, 03/10/2008 01:01
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I work in crime statistics and places with high immigration and people from ethnic minorities commit more crime. FACT. Also, the excuse of current politicians that poor areas/low income is the reason behind high crime is wrong. It's mainly to do with family, strong role models and good parenting.
The liberal elite have again got it wrong time and time again and once they admit that black youths commit more crime then something can be done. We should stop jumping on people just because their views are different. I thought we lived in a free society where we had free speech?
- Martin, London, 02/10/2008 21:39
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- Lindsay, london
Grow up and face facts.
Up until 1950's London was vast majority white. So that ridiculous myth that 'this is how it's always been' is exactly that, a myth.
And lets be honest, a ethnic minority is vertually always involved in these teen murders.
Tell me i'm wrong....
- Lb, London, 02/10/2008 19:57
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Thought it was going to be Croydon after I first saw the headline. Knife ridden, crime ridden, ganster ridden, rubbish, spit and chewing gum ridden.
- Jackie, surrey, Coulsdon nr, Croydon ~(unfortunately), 02/10/2008 19:52
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I agree that zero-tolerance policing does have an impact at reducing violent crime - but having seen some of the comments that only immigrants are the cause of knife crime - tsk-tsk - I also blame the chavs in our country for causing it as well - why do they have to be so aggressive?
- Kev, Milton Keynes, 02/10/2008 17:36
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They're throwing good money after bad...
- Helen, Edmonton, London, 02/10/2008 17:29
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Steve hits the nail on the head!
- Gjc, NYC, 02/10/2008 16:38
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Where in the article does it blame immigrants for the crime levels in Edmonton, Brandon Thomas? Have you conducted a scientific analysis of who is responsible? Do you work for the Metropolitan Police crime statistics unit? Multiculturalism is what this city is, and always was, built on. Presumably you want to live in a white ghetto - oh, I see you live in South Kensington, so I guess you already do.
- Lindsay, london, 02/10/2008 16:32
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Persemillion,
Steve in Marylebone works in Edmonton.It would be unfair to pass comment otherwise.
- Steve, Marylebone, 02/10/2008 14:58
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Ahh just one of the benefits of uncontrolled mass immigration, isn't multiculturism and great!
- Brandon Thomas, London SW7, 02/10/2008 13:08
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Firstly, how many knife carrieers have been thrown in Jail? How many residents of Edmonton are on the dole or drawing benefits? Shankers rhymes with..... and that's what most of the rubbish are.
- Frederick, London, UK, 02/10/2008 13:03
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Nice to see Steve in Marylebone is such an expert on Edmonton
- Persemillion, London N17, 02/10/2008 12:37
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I totally agree with Adam.
- Dom, London, 02/10/2008 12:28
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Great comments and so accurate, especially about locking us the scum with weapons and ejecting the other 100% who have no right to be here!!!!
- Lucy, London, 02/10/2008 12:23
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Steve, what a sad idiot you truley are. "No Hard working families" I hope your day job keeps you at a very safe distance from being able to influence anything serious? Perhaps you are one of those spivs in ivory towers. In any case I hope the local Council police and other agencies continue to try new approaches to tackling serious crime and Yes the Grime!!
BJ
Edmonton
- Bj, uk, 02/10/2008 12:22
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Nothing like telling knife wielding thugs to pick up litter to sort out a community. How about treating the causes at root - like booting out illegal asylums seekers, locking up knife carriers, taking away the excessive benefits for our rapidly multiplying workshy chav underclass, whilst putting some money into education and sports opportunities, as well as community schemes that go beyond 'promoting diversity' and give the youth of this nation a future to be positive about.
- Dj, london, 02/10/2008 12:16
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This is only part of the solution. The other policy that needs to be reinforced is to lock up for 10 years or more those found in possession of a weapon. Lock them up for life if they use it in a fight. Deport those with no right to be here. Recind the right to stay for those granted citizenship if they commit a crime - any crime.
- Adam, Harrow, UK, 02/10/2008 10:48
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Edmonton is truly a lawless hovel.Nothing can change it apart from a mass exodus.
As for the hard working families?They don't have a days work in them.I bet even the cleaners come from neighboring boroughs.
Sorry it's harsh but it's the way it is.
- Steve, Marylebone, 02/10/2008 10:44
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