Local campaigner say East Ham High Street ‘a magnet for criminal gangs’, reports Aidan White

a group of local residents hold placards — Ann-Marie Ashton and concerned East Ham resident campaigners

A wave of crime, threatening behaviour and anti-social conduct along East Ham High Street has prompted demands from concerned local residents for urgent action to combat lawlessness in the area.

The High Street, says local campaigner Ann-Marie Ashton, has become a magnet for criminal gangs and anti-social behaviour. There are 14 betting shops, three casinos and intimidating crowds of people gather along the street.

There have been numerous reports of pickpocketing, shoplifting and violent behaviour. “My mum has had her phone stolen twice and her bag stolen in the past year alone,” said Ann-Marie, a geography teacher who four months ago founded an action group, the Friends of East High Street to highlight the crisis.

She told Newham Voices: “We need something to be done. We need to feel there is some light at the end of the tunnel.”

She pointed to the targeting of the local Greggs store which closed temporarily on 17 April because of constant shoplifting and anti-social behaviour – “not on a daily basis, it was hourly”.

Ann-Marie who has three children, aged one, four and 12, was born in the area and moved out in 2003. On her return three years ago she was struck by the deterioration in law and order.

She formed the Friends of East Ham High Street after consulting with local East Ham MP Sir Stephen Timms. The group now numbers almost 80 local residents and supporters working together to clean up the area. It was also supported by many members of Born Everywhere Made in Newham, the 700-strong local WhatsApp group in which Ann-Marie also plays a leading role.

“Our aim is to celebrate what’s good, challenge what’s bad and getting good people connected,” she said. On 4th April she and a group of supporters took their campaign to Scotland Yard “to make sure the Met knows about East Ham” and to call for a permanent police presence in the area, perhaps in one of the empty retail units along the High Street.

Later in the day they held a brief demonstration outside East Ham Station and, shockingly, just afterwards AnnMarie had her phone stolen, raising a concern that she was personally being targeted by local crooks.

“It’s quite a scary place these days,” says Ann-Marie, “and it’s slightly worrying if I’m making myself a target as I’m easy to spot with my double buggy.”

At the end of January this year the police Safe Neighbourhood Team for the area took up local complaints, and promised to respond with increased patrols, distribution of leaflets, and engagement with potentially vulnerable people as well as plans for increased use of CCTV to combat ATM distraction thefts and identify offenders.

The police action, however, was short-lived says AnnMarie. “There was, briefly, a police response and more police were around a couple of months ago,” she said, “but they quickly disappeared. I cycle up and down the High Street every day for work and the situation is as bad as ever.”

She says that although she supports the work of the police, many people these days are less confident about officially reporting incidents of petty crime and bad behaviour.

There has also been the use of local private security patrols to combat anti-social behaviour and issue on the spot fines, but Ann-Marie says this has alienated some local residents who feel targeted over trivial incidents of street littering, as distinct from tackling the broader problem of serious crime in the High Street.

Additionally, residents and victims of criminals are unsure of whether to call 999 or 101. “Many feel if the incident is not major and life threatening (and therefore a 999 call) the police are unlikely to provide much help,” she said.

“More people are reporting incidents on social media rather than going to the police,” she says. “They are looking for sympathy and support and some feel it’s a waste of time to make a report to the police.”

But despite the continuing difficulties and personal concerns, Ann-Marie says she’s not intimidated or deterred by the bullying or threatening atmosphere of the area. “I just want it to change,” she says, “I’m not losing faith and I’m just happy to shine a light on it all.”

For more information contact: www.bemadeinnewham.com

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