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A CLAMPDOWN on Christmas crime in Camden Town has won the praise of residents and traders, but they insist the high-profile police presence must continue into the New Year, writes Kim Janssen. Heavily-publicised police operations against drug dealers, binge drinkers and petty criminals have seen officers out in record numbers over the past fortnight. They have included Operation Martell, which has resulted in dozens of drug-related arrests, Operation Optic, which sees unruly drinkers handed £80 spot fines, and a town centre dispersal zone, from which police can ban trouble-makers for 24 hours. A police cabin parked outside the Electric Ballroom in the High Street and manned until late at night is also credited with scaring off criminals. Residents and traders in Inverness Street, which has been blighted by drug dealers, say they have not seen their street so safe in months. Chris Singham, who owns a string of restaurants, bars and cafés in Camden Town, including several in Inverness Street, said: “It has been wonderful. If there were this many police out every night we wouldn’t have any problems in Camden Town.” And an Inverness Street resident, still so scared of dealers returning that he asked not to be named, added: “For the first time in months I feel safe going to my front door at night. “The number of police about has been fantastic and the drug dealers have just disappeared from Inverness Street.” Last Wednesday the New Journal pounded Camden Town with officers working on Operation Optic – the borough’s crackdown on binge drinkers – and found the streets virtually deserted. Officers conceded that the holiday season partially accounted for the empty streets but insisted their presence was the main factor. Sergant Matt Walters, leading the patrols on Wednesday, added: “It’s been very quiet. The operations have had a clear effect.” The current operations against dealers and unruly drinkers come to an end in January but Borough Commander Mark Heath says he has new measures planned. |
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