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Croydon is getting safer says borough commander
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| Chief Superintendent Gore says the borough is getting safer |
Croydon's top cop has said the borough is getting safer despite concerns over the number of teens carrying knives.
According to borough commander Chief Superintendent Mark Gore youth stabbings are not out of control.
Chief Supt Gore made the comments a week after Met figures showed overall reported crime in Croydon was falling.
But he admitted Croydon police had failed to hit a 20 per cent reduction target set by the Government in 2005.
Since then, reported crime has fallen by about 18.2 per cent, and Chief Supt Gore said most of that had been achieved after he took over in early 2006.
He said: "We have achieved something in the region of 14 per cent over the past two years since I have been here. I think that the overall message on that is that over the past five years we have seen crime reduce in this borough every year.
"If you look at it from 2003 to 2004 we had 22,088 crimes and in 2007 to 2008 we took it down to 18,077 crimes.
| "It’s a bit of a catch 22. I mean, you are concerned, but I haven’t noticed a huge increase in the number of stabbings." | | Chief Superintendent Mark Gore |
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"Unfortunately, the year that I arrived they had only achieved a half per cent reduction in crime. I mean, it is always going to be pretty challenging to try and hit a 20 per cent target."
He added: "Historically, there has been recognition of under-reporting of crime. I would say though, this year we have seen an increase in the amount of calls coming through to us."
On teen knife crime Chief Supt Gore said: "Everything that goes in the media concerns me. It's a bit of a catch 22. I mean, you are concerned, but I haven't noticed a huge increase in the number of stabbings.
"What does concern me is the number of young people who carry knives.
"I think some of them have a flawed belief that by carrying a knife it will offer protection and they obviously feel they have to protect themselves."
2:17pm Tuesday 6th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: SV, Croydon on 3:12pm Tue 6 May 08
So, if Croydon is so safe why have the local business community stumped up the money for an extra safer neighbourhood team to patrol the Town Centre?
Why do police officers only patrol the town centre in pairs? Is it not safe enough for them to actually mingle with the shoppers?
What is the action plan for tackling the Croydon College gangs post 3PM?
The council bought two detection arches last year, why are they not in regular use at Croydon College - where all the gangs come from?
So, if Croydon is so safe why have the local business community stumped up the money for an extra safer neighbourhood team to patrol the Town Centre?
Why do police officers only patrol the town centre in pairs? Is it not safe enough for them to actually mingle with the shoppers?
What is the action plan for tackling the Croydon College gangs post 3PM?
The council bought two detection arches last year, why are they not in regular use at Croydon College - where all the gangs come from?
Posted by: Bob Peel, Croydon on 3:47pm Tue 6 May 08
Of course it is Mr Gore
[bold]Teen stabbed after football game row[/bold]
11:57am today
A teenager was stabbed in Thornton Heath yesterday after a row broke out between him and another player in a football game.
Says it all that.
And what was happening in Valley Park on 5th May afternoon that needed so many Police, LAS and LFB?
Of course it is Mr Gore
Teen stabbed after football game row
11:57am today
A teenager was stabbed in Thornton Heath yesterday after a row broke out between him and another player in a football game.
Says it all that.
And what was happening in Valley Park on 5th May afternoon that needed so many Police, LAS and LFB?
Posted by: Sarah, Surrey on 4:47pm Tue 6 May 08
Get a grip!
Posted by: Jean, London on 5:22pm Tue 6 May 08
I think it is time Mr Gore was removed from his job.It is obvious he isnt up to it
I think it is time Mr Gore was removed from his job.It is obvious he isnt up to it
Posted by: JohnDoe, Surrey on 5:32pm Tue 6 May 08
I think it would be ridiculous to remove a man that has been in chargoe of a borough for two-years for someone who will just start all over again and probably have the same problems. What Gore needs to do is have a radical reshift of his priorities for fighting crime. Minor drug related crime should be decriminalised and more extreme offenders should be punished more severely.
I think it would be ridiculous to remove a man that has been in chargoe of a borough for two-years for someone who will just start all over again and probably have the same problems. What Gore needs to do is have a radical reshift of his priorities for fighting crime. Minor drug related crime should be decriminalised and more extreme offenders should be punished more severely.
Posted by: TrueLies on 6:01pm Tue 6 May 08
http://tinyurl.com/6
bbhob
It's clearly Gore who suffers from a flawed belief.
http://tinyurl.com/6
bbhob
It's clearly Gore who suffers from a flawed belief.
Posted by: ANNE GILES, SELSDON on 9:52pm Tue 6 May 08
I am temporarily back, using my real name again. I liked this article - it doesn't sound as though the paper is attacking Mark Gore on this occasion and is quoting what he has said correctly. Nice photograph too! Re Croydon College - why do some people think all the students there are bad? I have spoken to many of them, who are extremely nice students. Again - I often go into Croydon after 3 p.m. and it is perfectly O.K. The groups of teenagers I see are just happy teenagers. I think people see a group and think the group is a bad gang. Also - a lot of people posting on these sites are prejudiced against anyone who isn't white English and therefore see groups of other ethnic mixes as being "bad" gangs. They are all perfectly O.K. Anyway, I resigned as Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator today - not because of crime, not because of poor police support, but because of poor neighbour support.
I am temporarily back, using my real name again. I liked this article - it doesn't sound as though the paper is attacking Mark Gore on this occasion and is quoting what he has said correctly. Nice photograph too! Re Croydon College - why do some people think all the students there are bad? I have spoken to many of them, who are extremely nice students. Again - I often go into Croydon after 3 p.m. and it is perfectly O.K. The groups of teenagers I see are just happy teenagers. I think people see a group and think the group is a bad gang. Also - a lot of people posting on these sites are prejudiced against anyone who isn't white English and therefore see groups of other ethnic mixes as being "bad" gangs. They are all perfectly O.K. Anyway, I resigned as Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator today - not because of crime, not because of poor police support, but because of poor neighbour support.
Posted by: PATRICIA DENNIS, SOUTH CROYDON on 11:02am Wed 7 May 08
Makes a change for the papers not to be trying to tear him apart. Great relief!!
Makes a change for the papers not to be trying to tear him apart. Great relief!!
Posted by: j probert, bristol on 6:02pm Wed 7 May 08
what rubbish it is no safer now then 2/3 yrs ago. its just people dont bother reporting crime as the met do nothing about it and the ones they get to court then the justice system makes a mockery off....
what rubbish it is no safer now then 2/3 yrs ago. its just people dont bother reporting crime as the met do nothing about it and the ones they get to court then the justice system makes a mockery off....
Posted by: ANNE GILES, SELSDON on 10:02pm Wed 7 May 08
It is safer. People can't be bothered to report crime because they think police will do nothing - this is called having one's glass half empty. The police can only act if people report things. Having said that I was for many years (up until yesterday) a Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator and - whereas I found I was reporting things constantly, now there is not much to report. Behaviour seems to have improved somewhat.
It is safer. People can't be bothered to report crime because they think police will do nothing - this is called having one's glass half empty. The police can only act if people report things. Having said that I was for many years (up until yesterday) a Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator and - whereas I found I was reporting things constantly, now there is not much to report. Behaviour seems to have improved somewhat.
Posted by: Bob Peel, Croydon on 8:18am Thu 8 May 08
[quote][bold]ANNE GILES[/bold] wrote:
It is safer. People can\'t be bothered to report crime because they think police will do nothing - this is called having one\'s glass half empty. The police can only act if people report things. Having said that I was for many years (up until yesterday) a Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator and - whereas I found I was reporting things constantly, now there is not much to report. Behaviour seems to have improved somewhat.[/quote] Not correct.
You witness two scrotes wrecking a fence that was is perfectly good order prior to the kicking it has received.
You phone the Police Station. Your call is answered by an operator to whom you relate the facts. She puts you through to CAD. The phone rings and rings and rings and rings for twenty, thirty minutes.
Your call is eventually answered; you relate the same story to the Officer on the end who then asks, 'Is the Fence yours?' You reply,"No, it belongs to the house next door" to which the officer immediately replies, "If it's not yours, it's not Criminal Damage, goodbye."
And that Anne is what the police do to stop yet another statistic being generated to show a rise of Crime in Croydon.
What the officer didn't care to explain or even note when he trained is S1 Criminal Damage Act 1971
"Property belongs to any persion having custody or control of it, having a right [bold]or interest in it[/bold] or having a charge on it.
The upper management at Police stations are slippery, scheming and incooperative.
Public service - not in their eyes - its all about manipulation of statistics and presenting the *right* results to those faceless ones who set targets for a job they neither understand nor actively pursue as a career.
ANNE GILES wrote:
It is safer. People can\'t be bothered to report crime because they think police will do nothing - this is called having one\'s glass half empty. The police can only act if people report things. Having said that I was for many years (up until yesterday) a Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator and - whereas I found I was reporting things constantly, now there is not much to report. Behaviour seems to have improved somewhat.
Not correct.
You witness two scrotes wrecking a fence that was is perfectly good order prior to the kicking it has received.
You phone the Police Station. Your call is answered by an operator to whom you relate the facts. She puts you through to CAD. The phone rings and rings and rings and rings for twenty, thirty minutes.
Your call is eventually answered; you relate the same story to the Officer on the end who then asks, 'Is the Fence yours?' You reply,"No, it belongs to the house next door" to which the officer immediately replies, "If it's not yours, it's not Criminal Damage, goodbye."
And that Anne is what the police do to stop yet another statistic being generated to show a rise of Crime in Croydon.
What the officer didn't care to explain or even note when he trained is S1 Criminal Damage Act 1971
"Property belongs to any persion having custody or control of it, having a right
or interest in it or having a charge on it.
The upper management at Police stations are slippery, scheming and incooperative.
Public service - not in their eyes - its all about manipulation of statistics and presenting the *right* results to those faceless ones who set targets for a job they neither understand nor actively pursue as a career.
Posted by: ANNE GILES, SELSDON on 8:54am Thu 8 May 08
No, Bob - that is incorrect. You are a retired police officer, not a serving one. Therefore, you don't know what is happening now. What you are relating here is what used to happen before, in your opinion. It is only an opinion anyway. I have reported hundreds and hundreds of incidents of damaged property which isn't mine, and it HAS been taken seriously. Mind you, I only report these things to the Safer Neighbourhood Team for that area, and they are interested, and they do follow it up. I don't ring main numbers and speak to a clerk. I prefer speaking to a real police officer, but I find that sending e-mails is a better system for me. My only bad experience at telephone reporting was telling a Sergeant over the 'phone that a well known anti-social scooter rider had forced me off the road.The answer I got was that I should have let him run into the back of me and then claimed off his insurance. However, this is the first time I have had a silly response.
No, Bob - that is incorrect. You are a retired police officer, not a serving one. Therefore, you don't know what is happening now. What you are relating here is what used to happen before, in your opinion. It is only an opinion anyway. I have reported hundreds and hundreds of incidents of damaged property which isn't mine, and it HAS been taken seriously. Mind you, I only report these things to the Safer Neighbourhood Team for that area, and they are interested, and they do follow it up. I don't ring main numbers and speak to a clerk. I prefer speaking to a real police officer, but I find that sending e-mails is a better system for me. My only bad experience at telephone reporting was telling a Sergeant over the 'phone that a well known anti-social scooter rider had forced me off the road.The answer I got was that I should have let him run into the back of me and then claimed off his insurance. However, this is the first time I have had a silly response.
Posted by: Dan M Hicks, Croydon on 10:42am Thu 8 May 08
Its people like you Anne that cause the police to be wasting time on petty crimes like fences and scooters. If two kids decide to kick a fence down... go out there and swing your handbag... if a scooter is forcing you out of the road... run the yobbo down!
2 stabbings in a week is what needs to be reported to police not petty crimes. Those people should be dealt with by people other than the law... let the police ATTEMPT to do their job rather than wasting their time talking to kids mothers!
Gore is a nob... Croydon is getting worse... and mostly because its the "gateway to the UK" having the home office here!
Its people like you Anne that cause the police to be wasting time on petty crimes like fences and scooters. If two kids decide to kick a fence down... go out there and swing your handbag... if a scooter is forcing you out of the road... run the yobbo down!
2 stabbings in a week is what needs to be reported to police not petty crimes. Those people should be dealt with by people other than the law... let the police ATTEMPT to do their job rather than wasting their time talking to kids mothers!
Gore is a nob... Croydon is getting worse... and mostly because its the "gateway to the UK" having the home office here!
Posted by: ANNE GILES, SELSDON on 1:29pm Thu 8 May 08
What a very silly thing to say. ALL crime should be reported and dealt with. Police are always grateful for information passed on - whether it is about major or petty crimes. They are the only people qualified to act on it. Running yobbos on scooters down is a major crime and no self-respecting citizen is going to attack teenagers who are vandalising fences. The correct way is to get the properly trained people to deal with it - and this is what they do. We have an excellent dispersal order in Selsdon which is working very well. Shopkeepers and residents need to feel safe.
What a very silly thing to say. ALL crime should be reported and dealt with. Police are always grateful for information passed on - whether it is about major or petty crimes. They are the only people qualified to act on it. Running yobbos on scooters down is a major crime and no self-respecting citizen is going to attack teenagers who are vandalising fences. The correct way is to get the properly trained people to deal with it - and this is what they do. We have an excellent dispersal order in Selsdon which is working very well. Shopkeepers and residents need to feel safe.
Posted by: ANNE GILES, SELSDON on 1:36pm Thu 8 May 08
I also object to people using these web pages to make nasty comments about people. Yes - give one's point of view, but why call Mark Gore names? When you use the word "nob" - do you mean "snob"? That is certainly not what he is. Surely your own inverted snobbery is equally bad? Whenever anyone becomes successful, those who do not have the same ability seem to spend their time continually slating them. How nasty and how unnecessary!
I also object to people using these web pages to make nasty comments about people. Yes - give one's point of view, but why call Mark Gore names? When you use the word "nob" - do you mean "snob"? That is certainly not what he is. Surely your own inverted snobbery is equally bad? Whenever anyone becomes successful, those who do not have the same ability seem to spend their time continually slating them. How nasty and how unnecessary!
Posted by: ANNE GILES, SELSDON on 1:48pm Thu 8 May 08
I put a couple of replies in to the above, which were immediately wiped off. I'll try again. People like myself do not cause police to waste time. Telling people to swing handbags or run boys down is telling them to commit offences, for which they would be arrested. All crime should be reported - petty or major, and police are usually very grateful for all information given. We have a good dispersal order in Selsdon now which is working very well. Also - please do not insult Mark Gore by calling him nasty names. He is a very kind hearted fellow.
I put a couple of replies in to the above, which were immediately wiped off. I'll try again. People like myself do not cause police to waste time. Telling people to swing handbags or run boys down is telling them to commit offences, for which they would be arrested. All crime should be reported - petty or major, and police are usually very grateful for all information given. We have a good dispersal order in Selsdon now which is working very well. Also - please do not insult Mark Gore by calling him nasty names. He is a very kind hearted fellow.
Posted by: Bob Peel, Croydon on 3:38pm Thu 8 May 08
I'm sorry Anne; I am not wrong in what I have said.
I know exactly what occurs as I have two serving police officers in my family. (In fact our pic appeared on the front the 'The Job' quite a few years back when the twins passed out at Hendon).
Anyway, you cannot state out of hand as what I have said is incorrect because you were not party to the events.
Can you tell me why, when I enlightened the constable with whom I was dealing about the law surrounding Criminal Damage and demanded his collar number so I could report him as being complicit in the offence the matter suddenly became reportable? In fact he couldn't do enough to help.
You're a little misguided in your opinion of the police.
Basically you have a bunch of dámn good persons, sometimes led by those with a backbone, which is good. More often of not they are led by career oriented individuals who care only for their advancement and do all their bosses demand without any thought for the effects.
I'm sorry Anne; I am not wrong in what I have said.
I know exactly what occurs as I have two serving police officers in my family. (In fact our pic appeared on the front the 'The Job' quite a few years back when the twins passed out at Hendon).
Anyway, you cannot state out of hand as what I have said is incorrect because you were not party to the events.
Can you tell me why, when I enlightened the constable with whom I was dealing about the law surrounding Criminal Damage and demanded his collar number so I could report him as being complicit in the offence the matter suddenly became reportable? In fact he couldn't do enough to help.
You're a little misguided in your opinion of the police.
Basically you have a bunch of dámn good persons, sometimes led by those with a backbone, which is good. More often of not they are led by career oriented individuals who care only for their advancement and do all their bosses demand without any thought for the effects.
Posted by: Book 90, behind the front counter at ZY on 3:52pm Thu 8 May 08
That's right Bob, you miserable old sot - tell it as it really is!
Just remembered that call you took from ZA and you were stopped by 'Oscar' outside John Newnham School because one headlight was out -- the start of the rot in the Job. I'll bet that over-officious jobsworthy black-rat is the the Borough Commander now! Another red entry!
That's right Bob, you miserable old sot - tell it as it really is!
Just remembered that call you took from ZA and you were stopped by 'Oscar' outside John Newnham School because one headlight was out -- the start of the rot in the Job. I'll bet that over-officious jobsworthy black-rat is the the Borough Commander now! Another red entry!
Posted by: ANNE GILES, SELSDON on 5:16pm Thu 8 May 08
What is wrong with stopping someone who has one headlight not working? Anyway, Bob - I, too, have relations in the police force - loads of them. Their views are as far removed from yours as chalk and cheese. I have twice reported things via the main 'phone number and have been treated very well. My sister and also a friend were burgled and were treated excellently. However, when it comes to reporting vandalism, etc., it is best to speak to your Safer Neighbourhood Team, I find,if the event has already taken place. If it is crime in progress, then 999 is the correct number, not the police station. They will come, but it all depends on priorities at the time. I will never believe you and I will continue to support police and Mark Gore. So no matter what you say, I stick to my guns, I am afraid. Nothing wrong with agreeing to differ!!
What is wrong with stopping someone who has one headlight not working? Anyway, Bob - I, too, have relations in the police force - loads of them. Their views are as far removed from yours as chalk and cheese. I have twice reported things via the main 'phone number and have been treated very well. My sister and also a friend were burgled and were treated excellently. However, when it comes to reporting vandalism, etc., it is best to speak to your Safer Neighbourhood Team, I find,if the event has already taken place. If it is crime in progress, then 999 is the correct number, not the police station. They will come, but it all depends on priorities at the time. I will never believe you and I will continue to support police and Mark Gore. So no matter what you say, I stick to my guns, I am afraid. Nothing wrong with agreeing to differ!!
Posted by: Bob Peel, Croydon on 12:54pm Fri 9 May 08
[italic]What is wrong with stopping someone who has one headlight not working?[/italic]
Nothing at all, except the vehicle which had the defective headlamp was a panda whose crew were on an active call of 'Suspects On,'not surprisingly in Selsdon Village.
My ex-colleague 'Book90' is stirring it a little.
However, he is right in what he is alluding too since the Traffic Officer ordered us back to ZA to use a non-existant replacement vehicle.
We ignored him, ran to the venue, and made an arrest for burglary.
It didn't end there because we were reported by the two pipped prát - and guess what? It didn't actually go anywhere.
It's idiots like that traffic berk who have ruined the Job; now we have like - and they're running things.
What is wrong with stopping someone who has one headlight not working?
Nothing at all, except the vehicle which had the defective headlamp was a panda whose crew were on an active call of 'Suspects On,'not surprisingly in Selsdon Village.
My ex-colleague 'Book90' is stirring it a little.
However, he is right in what he is alluding too since the Traffic Officer ordered us back to ZA to use a non-existant replacement vehicle.
We ignored him, ran to the venue, and made an arrest for burglary.
It didn't end there because we were reported by the two pipped prát - and guess what? It didn't actually go anywhere.
It's idiots like that traffic berk who have ruined the Job; now we have like - and they're running things.
Posted by: ANNE GILES, SELSDON on 3:26pm Fri 9 May 08
Mmmm - that seems to have been rather unfair, but you did the right thing. I have a story in this paper next week, hopefully, about my resignation from Neighbourhood Watch. I shall continue to report things all over the borough, unofficially. The lack of support eventually got to me. I discovered that I was only acceptable as a happy and supportive person, but not acceptable when the one needing support was myself. I have not had a single e-mail from anyone in the police force since my resignation saying "thank you" or "sorry", though three neighbours did say I had done a stirling job. My rose-tinted spectacles have not only fallen off, but been shattered into tiny little pieces!!!
Mmmm - that seems to have been rather unfair, but you did the right thing. I have a story in this paper next week, hopefully, about my resignation from Neighbourhood Watch. I shall continue to report things all over the borough, unofficially. The lack of support eventually got to me. I discovered that I was only acceptable as a happy and supportive person, but not acceptable when the one needing support was myself. I have not had a single e-mail from anyone in the police force since my resignation saying "thank you" or "sorry", though three neighbours did say I had done a stirling job. My rose-tinted spectacles have not only fallen off, but been shattered into tiny little pieces!!!
Posted by: ANNE GILES, selsdon on 9:53pm Fri 9 May 08
Maybe I should go to the optician and get them mended.
Maybe I should go to the optician and get them mended.
Posted by: Bob Peel, Croydon on 11:01am Mon 12 May 08
I'm sure you did the job to the best of your abilities Anne.
The problem with voluntary groups is always the same = you have a very small core of dedicated hard workers and then there's the rest. Some will be very adept at doing nothing, yet taking all the credit.
I suspect that is what you have encountered.
I'm sure you did the job to the best of your abilities Anne.
The problem with voluntary groups is always the same = you have a very small core of dedicated hard workers and then there's the rest. Some will be very adept at doing nothing, yet taking all the credit.
I suspect that is what you have encountered.
Posted by: ANNE GILES, SELSDON on 3:45pm Mon 12 May 08
Yes - you are right. Whenever I went on holiday I e-mailed people telling them which police numbers to ring. I would return and be told that gangs had been around, but nobody had bothered to call the police. New Year's Eve I went to Spain and a 16 year old boy in the next street texted me to say a gang were racing around on scooters in my street. At my own cost, I had to use my laptop and mobile 'phone to inform police by 'phone and by e-mail. I also rang the boy to get descriptions. On my return, neighbours said they had neither seen nor heard anything. Some months ago, the Chairman of our Residents' Association and I agreed to be photographed outside Selsdon shops for a story about anti-social scooter riding. Residents and shopkeepers refused to take part, despite having complained. I will always help police and some residents, though.
Yes - you are right. Whenever I went on holiday I e-mailed people telling them which police numbers to ring. I would return and be told that gangs had been around, but nobody had bothered to call the police. New Year's Eve I went to Spain and a 16 year old boy in the next street texted me to say a gang were racing around on scooters in my street. At my own cost, I had to use my laptop and mobile 'phone to inform police by 'phone and by e-mail. I also rang the boy to get descriptions. On my return, neighbours said they had neither seen nor heard anything. Some months ago, the Chairman of our Residents' Association and I agreed to be photographed outside Selsdon shops for a story about anti-social scooter riding. Residents and shopkeepers refused to take part, despite having complained. I will always help police and some residents, though.
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