Daily, outside our Synagogue in Prentis Road, I pick up empty beer cans, bottles, etc and realise that the street drinkers are back on our premises. Today, at 9:00 am 2nd August, I caught three of them, at the side of the synagogue, under our office window, drinking, and urinating. I gave them a very strong lecture and they did go and I did inform them that the police were aware of their "activities".
I expect they will be back, but it is a daily occurence, and a daily clear up and clean up with bleach and hot water. It has to stop!! Today I picked up a used rubber glove, and I know I should not have done so, but I did..(I did wash my hands afterwards). What to do? I have told the SN team and have spoken to them but moving the drinkers off the green has once again, moved them back to Prentis Road. Ruth Edwards
The SN Team are aware of the
The SN Team are aware of the situation. It's an issue we all need to discuss; if we move drinkers off the Green they will most likely congregate elsewhere. There has to be a wider policy framework to deal with the root problem which is more than lads having the occasional drink. Shall we make it the first item of policy discussion at the next meeting?
Drunks, Homelessness, Prostitutes and Drug Addicts
In my experience there are an abundence of homeless, Prostitutes and Drug Addicts that congregate around the St Leonard's church area. This issue first came to public light in the 80's.
"During the late 80s, homelessness became an increasingly visible problem in Streatham and the surrounding area. While media attention focused on the problems in central London, there was no service available locally for homeless people.
As a result a temporary Christmas centre opened in 1989, jointly organised by the congregations of English Martyrs and St Leonard's churches in Streatham, with the support of many others in the local community."
Source - Spires - South London-based charity
However it is clear that this is still an issue today. Recently I was in KFC (next to the Police Station) and one homeless/drug addict guy came up and started begging customers for money. If they refused he would get offensive and threatening. At the time I compalined to the Manager and commented that if I was the Manager, I would not tolerate this threatening behaviour to customers.
The KFC manager went on to explain that this person was well known and that they felt exasperated and did not know what to do about the situation. Apparently the police also knew this person and they did not know what to do either.
Dan
Editor
StreathamLife.co.uk