‘Where are the extra police needed to stop this increase in crime?’

• EVERYBODY has noticed that the crime rate has increased by an alarming rate, not only in the evenings but during the day and even within supermarkets.

Some recent incidents have caused serious alarm.

A few weeks ago, a liquor store in Finchley Road suffered repeated break-ins making the store owners and employees wary about opening their store in the dark.

Nearby on Finchley Road near to Fairfax Road and close to the bus stop for number 31, there have been many robberies at night. Pedestrians have been warned not to walk on that side of the road after dark.

More recently, a corner shop near Finchley Road tube station was once again robbed and a store attendant suffered serious injuries.

Residents at the top of Broadhurst Gardens are scared to come out at night due to illegal drug dealing, drug taking, intimidation and threats.

The situation is made worse by the lack of lighting behind Waitrose at night.

A lady alighting from a taxi was robbed. A young man was beaten up and injured in his neck. Another man suffered a heart attack after being assaulted and later died.

These are recent incidents and, sadly, I could go on.

Where are the police patrols in the area?

Where are the extra police needed to stop this increase in crime?

I call on the council to allocate more funds for policing in the area. We need more patrols.

I call on the Metropolitan police to make these streets a priority and to end the crime wave developing in this area.

DON WILLIAMS
Conservative Candidate for South Hampstead