Recruiting for Code 7's Lambeth School Patrols

Lambeth struggles with increasing rates of youth violence. Last summer a series of after school fights took place that were serious and could have resulted in serious injury or worse. Possession of a knives by school children is rising as young children try and protect themselves from attack.

In response local charity Code Seven, held three community consultation meetings and as a result of community demand, Lambeth School Patrols was born.

We believe in self help and and are now ready to recruit people to its school patrols. We will offer training and a support package to volunteers. Please help us help ourselves and lets show London that black people are capable of taking action against violence.

Please share and attend. Book now on https://Ispcode7.eventbrite.co.uk

Police Operation SWAMP 81 Returns To Brixton This Thursday

No to Operation SWAMP Brixton 2014. (Now cancelled!) 

Saturation Policing Aggravates Police/Community Relations

This Thursday 6th March 2014 will see the return of the discredited policing tactic Operation SWAMP to central Brixton. The discredited policing tactic that saw hundreds of officers literally swamp local communities triggered the civil rights uprising of 1981.

Now refreshed and re-branded as a Lambeth Council led initiative and beautifully named  Brixton Unites, the tactic sees its return under the broad banner of the Met Commissioners Total Policing initiative.

Given the total breakdown of relationships between the Metropolitan Police and the local Black community, the local council has been persuaded to take the lead in an attempt to soften the impact on what will be a extremely aggressive enforcement activity whose stated aim is 'to make Brixton feel safer'.

What is planned is unprecedented in the local area in terms of its scale and the fact that no consultation has taken. No surprise there given the mayor of London and Met Commissioners appalling record on community engagement.

The SWAMP Brixton day will begin with Trident Anti Gang Unit raids starting around 6am and last until the early evening.

In addition there will be drug enforcement units using sniffer drugs in the center of Brixton, parking enforcement will be ruthlessly enforced and Traffic police cars will be stopped and checked for tax and insurance, British Transport Police will check tickets at the Tube and use drugs dogs in the station. Immigration officers from UKBA will be targeting suspected illegal immigrants and Council Officers will hit all the shops with health and safety inspections, rough sleepers will be moved on and street drinkers arrested.

There will be a huge search for weapons. Abandoned vehicles will be towed away and the Truancy team will be targeting children throughout the day. All this will be filmed by the BBC as part of a documentary on the MPS.


What is remarkable is virtually no consultation has taken place with local communities about this massive enforcement operation taking place in two days time.  Neither the Council nor the Police have seen fit to consult in any meaningful manner beyond their usual group of compliant pro police partners.




Given that tensions are running high in the aftermath of the Mark Duggan verdict this operation feels both oppressive and disproportionate. It is beyond belief that no one thought it necessary to consult with the community about this Total Policing operation designed to send a clear political message form the Met "We control the streets" and Council seeking to luck tough on crime in the run up to local elections in May.

This operation must not be allowed to go ahead if the important principle of policing b consent is to mean anything at all. At the last public meeting recently organised by the Mayor Office for Policing and Crime in Lambeth resulted in the Met the sheer anger at the Met and the Mayor was palpable.


It is my view that this SWAMP operation is designed to send a clear message to local communities and that is the Police are a law unto themselves. The focus will be on the Coldharbpour Lane ward where we have seen an influx of new well organised middle class resident,  slumming it from Chelsea and demanding that police and Council take actions

I hear that new residents on Coldharbour Lane are already making noise complaints about established black business of many years standing who for years have played music outside their shops.As these new resident move in they demand the ambiance and policing that they enjoyed in areas such as Chelsea and Richmond.  This SWAMP policing operations also speaks to the politics of policing, post the Mark Duggan verdict, it has a focus on press public relations management, short term electoral gain,  reputation management and gentrification than it has to do with tackling crime.

If this goes ahead,  we need as many people out monitoring and  filming activity, providing rights on arrest cards, immigration advice, taking pictures and advising juveniles of their legal rights. I intend to be out there for the entire day and would encourage others to come and join me. I will be in Windrush Square Brixton from 1pm please join me.

No doubt this operation is more to do with the ongoing rapid gentrification of Brixton than it has to do with tackling crime.

We simply cannot allow these bully boy policing tactics to take place in Brixton, the Council and the police simply cannot be allowed to impose a style of policing upon our local community at the behest of another.

Community consultation cannot be simply dismissed as an unnecessary adjunct to tackling crime particularly in areas where relations with the police are strained. Lack of communication in such circumstances could potentially be catastrophic. We cannot have drug dogs, immigration deportation teams, traffic enforcement cops British Transport police parking officers and many others simply swamp a community where relations are so bad.

There is a meeting of Lambeth Police Consultative group taking place this evening Tuesday 4th March at 5.30 at the Karibu Education Center Gresham Road SW9 where I will be raising these and other issues. Please do come along and have your say.

No to Operation SWAMP Brixton 2014

Community Police Consultative Group for Lambeth (CPCG) monthly meeting: Tuesday 06 September 2011 at 6:00pm

http://www.lambethcpcg.org.uk/

"Want to hear what happened to the IPCC investigation into Smiley Culture? Want to discuss the riots and the policing response in Brixton.? Attend this meeting and please publicise far and wide.

Community Police Consultative Group for Lambeth (CPCG)
monthly meeting.  Be there:  I will be." Lee Jasper

CPCG SEPTEMBER 2011 PUBLIC MEETING

Tuesday 06 September 2011 at 6:00pm

Assembly Hall, Lambeth Town Hall
Acre Lane, SW2 1RW

http://s120873475.websitehome.co.uk/future-meetings/

For Kingsley Burrell, Smiley Culture and Demetre Fraser

Left to right: Kingsley Burrell, Demetre Fraser, Smiley Culture. R.I.P.

The Black community’s history as a people both in here the UK and the wider world can be viewed as a series of on going struggles for equality and freedom. That history is punctuated with critical moments that represent significant and important milestones in our fight for justice and equality.
The ending of slavery, the right to vote, the campaigns for the independence of former British colonies, the civil rights struggle, the ending of the colour bar, the murder of Stephen Lawrence all represent such key moments.

Of late over the last decade marching lost its meaning and with the Public inquiry into the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence many Black activists simply laid down their banners and placards assuming that racism was defeated they went back to their home and families.

In 2011 the tragedy surrounding the deaths of three Black men in close succession, Smiley Culture, Kingsley Burrell and Demetre Fraser has reignited the black community’s passion for justice . Battered by the cuts and thousands of black men and women being made redundant, savage cuts to the black voluntary sector has left us dazed but determined to fight back.

Whilst the twin headed hydra of crime and poverty has unleashed a bloody war among our young people.
Despite this there is something moving within the black community, and I have never seen such anger and outrage. Packed public meetings and passionate demands for justice are the canary’s in the coal mine. Largely unnoticed by the mainstream politicians and the press the black community is returning to its campaigning roots. There is a feeling in the air that compels us to march for justice.

Tired of the constant attack on our culture ,exhausted by the state mis-education of our children, desperate to secure our children’s future, against a backdrop of our communities slipping silently into a social abyss as a result of consecutive Governments neglect, we are now awaking from our slumber to take to the streets.
Saturday 2nd July 2011 the city of Birmingham saw unprecedented scenes as the city that is now the black deaths in custody capital of the UK came to a standstill. Over 1000 people gathered from around the country to march in support of the Kingsley Burrell Campaign for Justice. Kingsley died after being forcibly arrested by the West Midlands Police earlier this year.

The march was vibrant and dynamic. We were led by a sound system pumping out revolutionary reggae anthems. There were families with children and a broad range of campaigns representing a number of Asian and white communities who joined the march in solidarity. It was a fatalistic sight made more glorious by the wonderful sunshine and the myriad of red, green and gold banners and flags.

We made our way from Hockley, Kingsley’s family home to the HQ of the West Midlands Police in the centre of town. Half way through the march the Sikh Gudwara on Soho Road in a touching gesture of solidarity provided refreshment to the marchers as we passed their temple.
When the police started to try and kettle our march we immediately sat down and occupied the road determined to stay there until the police backed off. They did so and we continued with our march.
We brought Birmingham came to a complete standstill as we marched and chanted for justice. There were speeches at the HQ of the West Midland Police from all the family campaigns who spoke eloquently and with a searing pain that left and indelible mark on all who heard their testimony.

We committed ourselves to the long hard road to justice recognizing the challenge and the difficulty we were no less inspired. We have had virtually no real press coverage of this hugely successful march the media black out was almost total. But go and look on Facebbok to witness what happened for yourself and what you will see will amaze you.

The Black community now sees itself self in a fight for its very survival. Saturday we marched for justice and tomorrow we march for peace aimed at stopping the madness of youth violence. We march today in order to secure our future.
As the mother of Demetre Fraser told the marchers at the rally,
“I looked at the papers when Kingsley died and I felt for his mother. I put the paper down and decided to do nothing about it. Yesterday its was Kingsley, before that Smiley today it's Demetre and I am that mother. Tomorrow it could be you”

Why are we marching again? Because justice demands it, our history dictates we must, it’s in our political DNA and our future that we do so. The mainstream press and politicians don’t get it but they never do. The marching season is back in fashion and poor black and white communities are taking to the streets demanding justice.

Protestors marching for justice in Birmingham on the 2nd July 2011.

Lee Jasper

(First published at OBV: the home of black politics http://www.obv.org.uk/ )

PRESS RELEASE: London communities to take a stand against violence

SACRYD: STRATEGIC ALLIANCE OF COMMUNITIES REJECTING YOUTH DESTRUCTION
	Press Release

LONDON COMMUNITIES TO TAKE A STAND AGAINST VIOLENCE

SACRYD, IS PLANNING A COORDINATED DAY OF ACTION AGAINST THE INCREASING VIOLENCE THAT IS IMPACTING UPON COMMUNITIES ACROSS LONDON.

Background

SACYRD is a new campaigning organisation a social enterprise company with charitable objectives founded in 2010. Our name stands for Strategic Alliance of Communities Rejecting Youth Destruction.

SACRYD is made up of people and organisations from the voluntary, faith and private sectors, including parents, young people, local Government and health organisations, all of whom are committed to tackling violence with a focus on knife, gun and violent crime in our communities.  SACRYD is supported by organisations such as The Black Police Association, The Damiola Trust, The Peace Alliance and the famous Eastside Academy.

All of those involved in SACRYD recognise the need for a dynamic campaigning community n organisation that can advocate and champion the need for the urgent adoption of a community led strategic preventative public health approach to reducing violence.  We are campaigning for Government to return the 100% confiscated criminal assets to the community to0 fund anti violence initiatives. Over £120 million is confiscated and that money is sent straight to the Treasury.

Carol Stewart Chairperson of SACRYD said “ Our primary objectives are to raise the level of awareness, of both politician’s and the wider community of the proven and tangible benefits of adopting a preventive public health approach. In addition to advocating and driving the political empowerment of local disenfranchised communities in taking the lead in owning and responding to the problem of violence.

Lee Jasper Secretary of SACRYD stated

“ At a time of increasing austerity confiscated criminal assets should be returned to communities to fund community projects designed to deter and prevent young people becoming seduced into a life of crime. If a crack dealer is running a crack house on an estate we should take his cash and open a community centre. That would inspire confidence  in criminal justice system as well, at a time of cuts to public spending , this cash should fund local initiatives to combat crime.”

He added

“Our objectives are to demonstrate both the level of anger and concern at the continued and unacceptable levels murder and youth violence affecting young people.  We intend to challenge both the failures of statutory agencies and community indifference by seeking to facilitate community empowerment and local leadership in delivering a public health approach to reducing violence. We want a renewed focus on prevention and early intervention not just a focus on enforcement. The balance is not right.

A planning meeting for this event will take place on Wednesday 20th July 6pm-9pm @ Greater London Authority, City Hall, The Queen's Walk, London SE1 2AA.

For more information contact Lee Jasper

General Secretary SACRYD 07984 181797

www.sacryd.org

-End-

Lambeth shootings, Black community takes charge

Lambeth is in the grip of a vicious gang war that has escalated out of control. With Church congregations being shot at, little girls gunned down in crossfire, drive by machine gun killings and the latest assassination that took place in the Tulse Hill estate have left the community reeling in shock, anger and despair.
Last night I attended a meeting of Lambeth Police Consultative Group. I am board member of this group and all our members are anxious, worried and frightened for the safety of themselves, their family and friends. The worry is palpable with certain parks and public places being seen as no go areas at particular times of the day and night.

Lambeth feels like a city under siege and the recent escalation and terrifying display of wanton violence, a blatant disregard for public safety, combined with a open defiance of the law has drained away the last remaining confidence of a community who believe they have been comprehensively failed by the local council, the Mayors office and the Metropolitan Police Service.

Last night’s meeting signified a significant turning point for Lambeth communities. It finally dawned on people that the statutory authorities are paying nothing more than lip service to the issue of youth violence. The kind of “We feel your pain" warm words that are designed to patronise and placate angry communities were the order of the day. In Lambeth we have had more strategies to tackle this issue than sand on a beach. The Mayors much trumpeted determination to put this issue on the top of his agenda working night and day to put an end to the scourge of youth crime now seems like a hollow electioneering sound bite.

Whatever the violent crime statistics in other London boroughs Lambeth remains one of the most violent localities in the UK.

The Council stated that it was drawing up yet another ‘strategy’ the 10th in 8 years. It was preparing to ‘consult’ with communities and had established yet another “community reference group”. The meeting collectively groaned suffering what I term ‘consultative abuse’. This condition results from when a community is literally exhausted with repeatedly being asked what should be done only to have their recommendations ignored and then being asked to periodically repeat this process time after time. It’s a form of madness.

We heard that the Youth Offending Team cannot now manage its workload because of cuts. Over 200 dangerous and prolific offenders are being left unsupervised because of staff cut backs. These dangerous youths cannot now be supervised on a daily basis and are left to roam the streets.

We heard from a man who had sought to work with some young people on a local estate during the recent half term and during the current explosion of violence. He recounted to his great surprise that local youth and community centres on the two estates he visited in Lambeth were closed because of cuts. The Council was challenged about the decimation of the youth service at a time when youth violence was increasing.

Trident, people asked,  who is bringing in the guns and selling them to the youth and why are the police, with all their sophisticated surveillance equipment and detective know how unable to stop the guns and deal with a small bunch of out of control teenagers? The point was made time and time again these are not hardened criminals these are little boys with guns.

Trident complained about the lack of witness we complained about the poor quality of witness protection and the acute housing shortage that left potential witnesses living on the same estate as the accused. Their use of super-grasses in failed criminal trials came under fire and they were told that people would give evidence if they felt that they and their families could be given proper protection. Gangs will be ruthless in targeting anyone they believe is close to someone that is intending to give evidence.

This poses one of the biggest challenges to the judicial system and the gangs and the community knows that the system is not capable of moving large numbers of people into secure and safe accommodation. This means that threats can be made to friend’s cousins anyone who they believe may influence a potential witness decision to give evidence. It’s the single most effective tactic they have and they use it ruthlessly, The fact of the matter is the police do not have the resources to adequately protect potential witnesses and their families.

So the gangs rule with a climate of intimidation and fear and no one believes the police when they say come forward we can protect you.

The case of the young man in Peckham, who having agreed to give evidence about the gun running activities of a local gang was found shot dead and set alight in a car in broad daylight, was recounted to the horror of those in attendance.

The meeting spoke of the need for community leadership and parental responsibility. The conclusion was that the authorities could not be relied upon to effectively tackle this issue. The community had to take moral and political charge of proposing solutions and holding to account those whose responsibility it is to safeguard communities.

The community will be coming together to form a body that will push for a preventative, early intervention and diversion agenda. The community has zero confidence in either the police or the council’s ability to deal with the issues. In short the council and the Mayors Office need to give the power and the resources to the community and let is deal with establishing a moral campaign and manage the youth centres and wider services. That's the promise of big society isn’t it?

Lee Jasper

(First published at Operation Black Vote: The Home of Black Politics  http://www.obv.org.uk)