A COMMUNITY activist who won national acclaim for tackling drug dealers has warned that plans to cut back frontline council officers who patrol the streets will see crack cocaine flood back onto her Camden Town estate.

Silla Carron, who tirelessly fought to improve conditions on the Clarence Way estate, said the drug is already beginning to reappear and that Town Hall proposals to change the street warden scheme would only make this worse. 

“It’s heading back to the bad old days,” she said. “I’ve got crack on my estate, so here we go again. It’s a total repeat and the council are taking away the one thing that is so important to the tenants and to community safety and that’s the street wardens. Their sheer experience and knowledge, you just cannot put a price on that.”

Following a successful pilot scheme on Ms Carron’s estate, street wardens were introduced in six other parts of the borough that have suffered  problems associated with drugs and street drinking. 

'We need help': Silla Carron shows Michael Howard around the Clarence Way Estate during his time as Home Secretary

They patrol problem streets with the aim of “providing a reassuring presence” and operate as the eyes and ears of police, reporting any suspicious activity before it flares up. 

But Camden Council is now reviewing the scheme as it looks to reduce spending following massive cuts in the funding it receives from the government.  

Councillor Jonathan Simpson, cabinet member for community safety, warned:  “These savings will impact on the services the council provides around crime reduction and community safety.”

He said the council was aware “that people value the work that our community wardens do,” adding that any changes will be “considered carefully”.

Silla Carron was handed her Pride Of Britain award by Carol Vorderman

Ms Carron said: “The wardens know the faces around here, they know the drug dealers, they know where the drops are. They also know the kids, and can see when they’re starting to get problems. They’re priceless. 

“I’ve known some of our street wardens to take money out of their own pocket and buy somebody on the street a pair of trainers and socks.”

Ms Carron waged a decade-long battle to rid her estate of drugs and the associated anti-social behaviour, eventually securing extra police patrols and winning funding to build children’s play parks – and even a crazy golf course. 

Silla Carron became known to people outside in Camden while filming the Estate We're In

In 2006, she was named Neighbour of the Year at the Pride of Britain Awards and went on to make two documentary series with the BBC in which she helped transform housing estates across the country. 

Ms Carron said that, while she has suffered with ill health, “there is absolutely nothing wrong with my mouth”. “I’ve had people threaten to shoot me, people say they’re going to drive their car through my window,” she said. “They tried to burn down my house last year. 

“Of course I’m worried. Who wouldn’t be? But I’d be more worried if they carry on doing what they are allowed to do. That’s more frightening than anything is. If enough people stick together you’d be amazed how much power we’ve got.”

Silla Carron explaining some of the estate's problems with drug dealers to Boris Johnson

Cllr Simpson said: “We intend to run a consultation asking people to give their views about how the savings can be made, so we can ensure we use the reduced resources that remain available effectively in terms of making Camden safer.”