Pete Pope RIP

Local community 'activist' Pete Pope died on Friday night after a long battle with cancer.

The video above is an interview with Pete talking about regeneration in Deptford and was filmed in 2007 by Gopi Sastri, Ellie Walton and Salim A Syed for Deptford TV.

More about Pete over at Transpontine. 

UPDATE 24-05-2012: Funeral Details

Deptford Misc has posted the details of Pete's funeral. To keep updated join the mailing list.
In brief:
Friday 15th June 10.45am
Hither Green Crematorium SE6 1TP
Refreshments from 11.30am at Dog & Bell SE8 3JD
There will be a Mass cycle ride from Deptford to the crematorium, and the Humanist service will be conducted by Billy Jenkins.

Update on cold callers + bogus official warning

We posted in April about the EON rep who was using rather unconventional methods to sign up new customers. Jim in Farrer House wrote to Lewisham Trading Standards about it. When he didn't get an acknowledgement of his email, he contacted Crossfields' Estate's new Tenancy Officer, Kerrie Taylor*, who got in touch with Trading Standards on Jim's behalf. This prompted a reply on 1st May from the Senior Trading Standards Enforcement Officer, Duncan Brand.

Mr Brand apologised for his tardy response and said he would be contacting EON. He requested that if Jim knew anyone who has signed up to EON as a result of this salesman's tactics then they should "contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Advice Service on 08454 040506 for advice about their rights. If there is a breach of the legislation we enforce they will pass the details to us. Finally, if you would like a No Cold Calling sticker to display on your property then let me know." Jim was tempted to tell Mr Brand where to stick his sticker.

Bogus official operating

Soon after, Crosswhatfields received an alert from the Met Police on 4th May (our apologies for this late posting). The police warning is seemingly unconnected to the EON story, but the advice line number given at the bottom (Consumer Direct) is the same as the one given above.

Lewisham Police and Lewisham Council are again urging residents especially the vulnerable to be on their guard following three burglaries today (04.04.12) where the suspects have  professed to be working on behalf of the council.

Residents are reminded that anyone from Lewisham Council, Lewisham Homes or the Police will always have official documentation or ID to prove who they are.

Bogus callers succeed because they sound believable, so don't be fooled. Make sure in your own mind that they are whom they claim to be by following these simple steps:

• Think before you open the door – use your chain and spy hole or look out of the window to see if you recognise them.

• Ask callers for proof of identity. Genuine tradesmen should carry an identification card with their photograph on. Check this carefully. If you are unsure, telephone the company the caller claims to represent. 

• The Utilities now offer a password identification system. Any caller from one of these companies should be able to give a pre-arranged password as additional proof of identity. 

• Beware of callers who attempt to distract you by claiming that they have seen something untoward in your rear garden or somewhere which may encourage you to leave your house – they may have an accomplice awaiting this distraction. 

• If you are not convinced of the identity of the caller, don't let them in. Ask the caller to come back later and arrange for a friend, relative or neighbour to be present on their return or ask the caller to contact this person. 

• All police officers carry a warrant card with their name, rank & photograph. To confirm an officer’s identity the public are encouraged to dial Lewisham Police on 101 or contact your local Safer Neighbourhoods Team

For more information about what to do about cold callers or to report a persistent cold caller, contact Consumer Direct on 08454 040506.

Residents wishing to find out more information about cold calling zones can contact Lewisham Council Trading Standards on 020 8314 7759. 

Neighbourhood Community Safety Team

Safer Neighbourhoods Team

* Contact Kerrie Taylor (Lewisham Homes Tenancy Plus Officer):
020 863 4802 / 07710 387942  Email kerrie.taylor@lewishamhomes.org.uk

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.

Fireworks display – with a military twist

As we posted here a couple of weeks ago after a tip-off from a reader who keeps an eye on Port of London 'notices to mariners', there will be a fireworks display lasting about 10 minutes from barges positioned mid-stream in Greenwich Reach off the Old Royal Naval College tomorrow, Saturday 5th May at 9.45pm.

We've been wondering what celebration might be taking place. We may now have our answer. Can it have something to do with HMS Ocean coming to Greenwich? There are always a few crackers going off when the Navy are in town...

Here is the Navy's largest ship navigating down the Thames around midday today. Click here to see the BBC video.

The BBC reports: A large-scale exercise to test the military contribution to the Olympics security effort has been taking place. Tests of air defence missile systems at six sites across London using dummy armaments have begun. And Typhoon jets, based at RAF Northolt in west London, will take to the skies over south-east England with Lynx, Sea King and Puma helicopters.

Exercise Olympic Guardian, which goes on until 10 May, will also see HMS Ocean sail to Greenwich in the capital. Military chiefs have warned residents of an increase in loud air activity.

Er...no they haven't.

Meanwhile, the Blackheath Bugle has been keeping a wary eye on the Blackheath Missiles and has alerted us to this scary BBC video, filmed yesterday when the army demonstrated their weapons capability on our lovely heath.

Also see our March 20th post about the military build up in Greenwich.

Vote Match

Don't forget to vote today – at Deptford Lounge until 10pm. You don't need your polling card.

If you're still undecided, here's a useful online tool: www.votematch.org.uk
The results may surprise you, but will more than likely confirm your original decision, if you were wavering...