Deptford High Street : two bookies robbed in two days...

Word on the street today: Ladbrokes was robbed yesterday. In the attack, a female member of staff was beaten about the head and is in hospital. The premises is now closed.

Around the corner in Evelyn Street, Coral's was also robbed, this morning. Meanwhile Monday began in the high street with an immigration raid, and police took several men away.

Update 27 June:
It seems the most important thing that happened on 24th June 2013 was the death of cyclist, Paul Hutcheson, on Loampit Vale. We are pretty sure there were other ways, Paul, you had in mind for bringing South East London to a standstill. RIP.

The furore over Paul's untimely death can be followed on many cycling forums, but check 853 blog for a perspective on proposed Cycle Super Highways. NewShopper on the scene here. East London Lines later and more considered here.

Meanwhile, we've still to check in with Brenda from Kim's newsagents on her Monday news feed about the Ladbrokes female staff member getting bashed about the head on Sunday. We know for sure there was an incident (Ladbrokes was closed, see above), but there is no 'official news' on it. Perhaps Bren heard the story that was going around on Monday morning about the Coral's robbery and got confused over what happened at Ladbrokes? A story appeared on Tuesday from NewShopper regarding the robbery at Corals on Evelyn Street on Monday morning. This sounded similar, in that a member of staff was assaulted, but it features a man, and not the young woman Brenda described (who she knew and was concerned for).

This is the NewShopper report of Monday morning's robbery at Coral's on Evelyn Street:

POLICE are investigating a Deptford bookmaker robbery which left a member of staff in hospital. Officers were called out to the Evelyn Street bookie on June 24 at around 9.33am. The victim, an employee, was followed into shop by one man when he was opening up and forced  to hand over large sums of money before the suspect fled

Police say the victim, who received an injury to his face, was taken to hospital initially but his injuries were not life threatening.

The Flying Squad are investigating but no arrests have been made so far.

Update 29 June:
The story is that a plank of wood was taken to a certain shop doorway and the young lady who works in Ladbrokes was hospitalised by that action. Maybe nothing was stolen and that is why it didn't make the news headlines, even though there were two people hospitalised in two days as a result of their jobs. Just Google Ladbrokes Robbery or Corals Robbery to get an idea of how betting shops play a part in the community nationwide. Some people are beaten to death.

Unfortunately, the news media is organised so that you only hear local news and have no idea what's happening in the rest of the country. Much of the time you don't even hear the local news either.

Linking crime to bookmakers – no problem!

Those who have been objecting to Betfred opening shop at the old Halifax site have been waiting to hear the decision of the Bristol Planning Inspectorate after Betfred appealed for the second time (see our January post).

Yesterday, anyone who had written an objection should have received an email from the Inspectorate notifying them of a new statement submitted by the appellant. In this 18-page document Betfred argue that the decision made by the Inspector against their last appeal on the grounds that betting shops in the area attract crime and antisocial behaviour was based on rather flimsy evidence.

However, as if on cue, the NewsShopper reports today that three men have been arrested over alleged drug dealing at Paddy Power.

On May 2, New Cross Safer Neighbourhoods Team arrested the men on suspicion of supplying Class B drugs from Paddy Power, Deptford High Street.

One man was searched in New Cross Road after leaving the betting shop and five wraps of Class A drugs were found on him. Officers then returned to the bookies, detaining and searching the punters inside. A further man was found in possession of Class A drugs and arrested, while another was given a cannabis warning.

At a linked address, police found scales, cling film and cutting implements believed to be used for preparing Class A drugs, along with three bags of cannabis and a can of CS gas.

Two men in their 20s have both been bailed pending further enquiries. 

This news will come as no surprise to some locals, one or two of whom have been following the manager's Twitter feed. So, it appears, have the police.

Meanwhile, Betfred whine on and on: 

"...no information is given as to the number of reportable crimes relating to Deptford High Street in general or in relation to other identified occupiers within the town centre to identify how the reportable crimes associated with betting shops compare with other shops on the High Street."

We suggest the Inspector has a chat with the staff at Greggs (who, coincidentally, recently saw fit to bring in some male staff) and to other shopkeepers such as Housewives Cash n' Carry about the massive level of blatant shoplifting – along with aggressive behaviour – committed by some betting shop regulars. The frequency of this petty crime means it is not worth reporting, since doing so is disruptive to trade. Nor are there local police resources to keep up with it. But Betfred go on:

"Having reviewed the list of reported crimes provided by the Licensing Officer, only one of these relates to a public order offence which could constitute antisocial behaviour, the majority of the other offences listed do not relate to crimes which would impact on neighbouring residents, only to the owners of the individual betting offices. Furthermore, no information is given as to the exact nature of the crimes, particularly in relation to the incidents of criminal damage to be able to adequately assess whether any of these incidents would have impacted on neighbouring residents.

No evidence has been put forward by the Council to support their case that a higher number of betting shops automatically results in more crime...Should an individual engage in criminal activity they are not more likely to do so because there are more betting shops. There is a case to be made that in fact it is more likely that with a higher number of betting shops it is less likely that large congregations of customers will result in a single shop and therefore crime and disturbance could decrease."

This last statement beggars belief. How little these people understand their customers! Punters will congregate where they find the best deals, and Betfred will no doubt aim to offer better deals than their rivals (if and when they get stake in our high street). In Paddy Power's case, the best deals have also included Class A drugs!

Betfred will argue that they'll run a cleaner shop than their (potential) next door neighbours – the very same promise made by those other identical corporate billion pound businesses when they moved into this 150 meter stretch. Paddy Power, meanwhile, continues to break local planning laws with their unauthorised building alterations, as well as breaching the terms of their gambling license by allowing crime to be conducted on their premises.

One of the Licensing Objectives is: "preventing gambling from being a source of crime or disorder, being associated with crime or disorder, or being used to support crime." This, as we have learned previously, is interpreted in law as crime = "serious organised crime" and disorder = "riots". So it will be business as usual at Paddy Power, who can now claim to be "creating a new job in a vibrant town centre".

Of course all this is not to say that all betting shop punters are criminals, or that all the blokes who hang outside for a tinny and a smoke are up to no good. Indeed the Safer Neighbourhood Teams know exactly who the regular offenders are. But it should be noted that Lewisham Met's Licensing Officer has failed to supply updated crime statistics to back up in law what everyone who lives or works on the high street knows to be the case. Betfred state: "It is also relevant that the Witness Statement prepared by the Licensing Officer is unchanged from the response provided in relation to the previous application submitted in February 2011." Such laziness may well lose the case on a technicality for the good people of Deptford.

Zero tolerance on the high street

Although the high street was as lively as ever in the Spring sunshine yesterday, certain usually more rowdy areas were eerily quiet. Can you guess what is missing in these pictures?

The street drinkers who gather outside the betting shops and on the anchor have been "moved along". These spots are now being policed by the Safer Neighbourhood Team (or whatever they're called now). The officers first took up their posts on Wednesday and it's thought they might be around for a couple of weeks. We are unable to confirm how long this will last at time of posting, and also didn't have time to find out where the drinkers have "moved along" to.

Mostly everyone seems to welcome the arrival at last of the police presence – or rather, the absence of the street drinking crowd. Signs stating the high street is a zero tolerance zone have been up for a long time, so congratulations must go to whoever has finally decided to actually put it into practice.

UPDATE 30/03/12: 4pm

Officers were called off early for the day, as the regulars began to gather outside Ladbrokes in anticipation of their leaving. The two-week initiative is drawing on officers from all surrounding wards and several 'dispersal notices' have been issued since it started. Well-known character Errol was fined £50 for 'getting a bit too feisty', but was back in his usual spot next to Paddy Power today.

UPDATE 13/04/12

This initiative didn't seem to last for more than a week. The Deptford Dame posted on 7 April about the antisocial behaviour being tolerated by local residents, one of whom has started a petition (click to sign) and has also received a response from Mayor Steve Bullock regarding the problem.

It appears the temporary police presence was the result of the Safer Lewisham Partnership's Designated Public Place Order (DPPO) being applied. "The DPPO can now be used in tandem with Police Dispersal powers that allow Police Officers to disperse individuals causing alcohol related disorder from a particular area for up to 48 hours. If the individual returns to the area within this time they will be arrested. The enforcement of these dispersal orders will begin shortly and it’s hoped this will have a significant impact on the drinking habits of the problematic drinkers in the High Street area." Read the Mayor's letter in full on the Deptford Dame's post.

Dung Brothers at it again (Betfred update)

Fred Done aka Done Brothers aka Betfred (who last year bought the Tote for £7b) invites you to take a punt

We regret to inform you that the Betfred saga is far from over. Having been turned down a second time by Lewisham Planning, they are now appealing again to the Government Planning Inspectorate in Bristol.

Comments previously submitted to the Council as objections have been forwarded to the Planning Inspectorate and will automatically be considered by the Inspector.

Any further observations you wish to make should be emailed by 17 February 2012 to: teamp6@pins.gsi.gov.uk.  Address your email to Ms Vicky Williams, and quote reference APP/C5690/A/11/2168006/NWF.

The usual jolly scene outside Ladbrokes and Paddy Power today.

Here's the Deptford Betting Map – updated since Better at no.14 became Jennings very recently. (Hales Gallery at no.70 was originally bought by Jennings who quickly sold out to Coral).


View D=f(m,b,c) Deptford High Street in a larger map

Also see 853's post about Coral taking over the Nationwide in Lewisham High Street. 

If you're unfamiliar with the history of Betfred's attempts to grab a share of the profits being made by their rivals already operating on Deptford High Street, you can read all our posts about last year's campaign against them here. Alternatively, for a brief summary, pop over to the Deptford Dame.