Murder – Northlands Street, E-fit released.

Following a community meeting regarding the tragic recent murder on Northlands Street, we are posting the letter below with details of the incident and observations on the area. If you have information regarding this case please contact the incident room 02087214906.

Police investigating the murder of Andrew Pratt have released an e-fit image of a man they wish to speak to in relation to the incident.

At 10.45pm on Saturday 2 August, 43 Year old Andrew Pratt was fatally stabbed on Northlands Street, having walked there from Coldharbour lane.

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Thank you to those of you who attended this meeting last night (4th September) or sent apologies but asked to be kept informed.

The meeting was addressed by Detective Inspector John Oldham from the investigation team who described current police understanding of the circumstances of the murder of Andrew Pratt and answered questions. A team of 35 is working on this case: to date noone has been charged and police are still trying to identify the suspect. Research and behaviour suggest that he is a local drug addict.

A “photo fit” image has been released: http://cms.met.police.uk/news/appeals/murder/e_fit_released_in_camberwell_murder_inquiry )

Anyone with information is asked to call the incident room at Lewisham on 020 8721 4906. If you wish to remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111

I then gave a summary of crime figures in Southwell Road/Harbour Road/Vaughan Road/Northlands Street. Prior to and since the murder no street robberies nor violent crime have been reported in these streets for 12 months. This is in line with the rest of Lambeth where street crime has fallen dramatically since last year. House burglary is the most common crime reported with 11 during the last twelve months (Southwell Road accounting for seven). Most of these burglaries could have been prevented if windows had been locked shut or if the front door had been locked with a “Chubb” mortice lock instead of merely a “Yale”. Most burglaries occur during the daytime when houses are unoccupied.

The work of the local Herne Hill ward “safer neighbourhood” police team was then explained. I supervise a team of 5 patrol officers ( 2 PCs and 3 PCSOs) dedicated to dealing with longer term, non-emergency crime and disorder problems.

We can be contacted on our mobile phone via: 0208 721 2824 or HerneHill.SNT@met.police.uk
My team complements the existing 24 hours emergency “response” officers based at Brixton police station: tel 999 (emergency) or 0208 326 1212 (non-emergency).

We work in partnership with Lambeth Council who play a key role in reducing crime and fear of crime. Lambeth Council Community Safety coordinator Rachel Gailey (RGailey@lambeth.gov.uk) and local Councillor Kirsty McHugh (kmchugh@lambeth.gov.uk) were present and explained their roles.

It was suggested that the Loughborough Junction area would benefit from a cohesive residents’ group or forum to represent local opinion. Such a group, if established, could influence the safer neighbourhood police team’s local priorities through our 3 monthly community pane meetings.

Yours sincerely
Tom Cornish
Sergeant
Herne Hill ward “safer neighbourhood” police team
http://www.met.police.uk/saferneighbourhoods/

May Poll – Is Loughborough Junction Improving?

When we moved here six years ago, friends thought we were crazy, Loughborough Junction was a place to pass through but not stop. It had a reputation which it probably deserved, regardless of this having walked around and seen the sites including the Green Man which was still open, and people smoking weed at the Ruskin park playground, we took the plunge. Why did we move here again?

It was quite a shock having moved from Pimlico. “Home James” was a notorious gambling and drug dealing taxi company who supplied the local area including groups of dealers who loitered around on Coldharbour lane, Local prostitutes worked the streets and would just use people’s gardens (including ours).

Something had to be done, the community demanded better, an increased police presence, the closure of Home James, the betting shop, a crack down on the street dealers, the closure of a brothel on Coldharbour Lane and the closure of the Warrior, the Green Man and the demolition of a pub on the Herne Hill Road (The Anchor?) all contributed to a sharp turn for the better.

Since then Loughborough Junction has in our view got significantly better, none of the above are now an issue. New shops and refurbished housing are replacing the old Loughborough Junction haunts. The area is improving quickly and needs recognising as a valuable location in the centre of Camberwell, Herne Hill and Brixton.

Without question Loughborough Junction has further to go but for the time being it is a safe and well serviced neighbourhood.

The May Poll recorded 20 Votes – 80% voted Yes and 20% voted No.
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