Road closures: Residents complain of ‘shocking crime rise’

Fears: Wordsworth Road in Stoke Newington. Photograph: Nicky Bowden

Stoke Newington residents have complained that road closures have led to a “shocking” rise in crime around Wordsworth Road – raising concerns about similar plans for nearby Walford Road.

The council last year closed off car access to Wordsworth Road at three junctions, with the aim of making it safer for cyclists using the superhighway that runs along it.

Locals say the changes have led to a “significant” increase in crime in the neighbourhood.

The council says confidential data, provided to it by the police and a “highly reliable indicator of change in crime”, has not identified a problem.

But university lecturer and local resident Caroline Bolam accused the Town Hall of “ghetto-ising” the area through its transport strategy.

She said: “I understand there is certain behaviour that the council cannot enforce, and only the police can prosecute. But the council needs to look at the impact of its traffic plans, and there has been a significant rise in crime since these closures were introduced.

“My concern is that the council is ghetto-ising the area – creating quiet alleyways with no cars or headlights where kids can congregate.”

Despite the closures being intended to make it safer for cyclists, Bolam believes they are actually in more danger than drivers.

She called on the council to take a more holisitic approach to its traffic plans, saying: “They seem to be focused only on traffic and pollution, and we need qualitative research rather than just facts and figures.”

She said the current approach is “divisive”, pitting people in neighbouring areas against one another, and compared it to tactics used by the governments of countries “where apartheid was allowed”.

A council spokesperson said it “takes account of Section 17 of the crime and disorder act when deciding upon any changes in the planned environment, in order to minimise harm, and the risk of crime and ASB”.

Divide: cycle superhighways have split opinion. Photograph: Stephen Craven (cc-by-sa/2.0)

Another resident, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of repercussions, last week reported two recent assaults to Hackney Council – one on Wordsworth Road and one nearby.

The first incident was an alleged attempted assault and bike theft involving a young girl who eventually managed to escape unharmed, and the second was a burglary on Prince George Road.

In an email to the council, the resident said: “Since the road closures this whole area has become much more dangerous. People know there will be very few cars shining their headlights.

“There is definitely a lot more late-night action going on, including what looks like drug dealing.”

Metropolitan Police statistics do not show a rise in the total number of crimes on or around Wordsworth Road between October 2016 and November 2017.

But there has been a spike in bicycle thefts in Clissold ward, which covers Butterfield Green – a small park next to Wordsworth Road and, according to locals, a crime hotspot.

Ms Bolam has also complained to the council about the difficulty of reporting crimes, describing the police’s system as “hit and miss”.

Decline: police numbers in Hackney are down by 24 per cent since 2010

Government cuts have meant Hackney has lost one in four of its police officers since 2010 – around 200 in total.

The Town Hall, which is running a campaign opposing the cuts, says crime across the borough is increasing as a result.

One resident, who also does not wish to be named but was closely involved in opposing the Wordsworth Road plans, said: “It’s getting out of hand in the area – the recent stabbings on Shakspeare Walk, the drug dealing – and the police can’t cope, undoubtedly due to cuts.

“The council’s ‘strategic’ actions – which they’ve been warned about repeatedly – are compounding the issue. Improving cycling should not come at this cost.”

After a heated ward forum last month, Shacklewell resident William Harris also raised fears about a potential rise in crime if the Town Hall’s Walford Road area plans go ahead.

A spokeperson for Hackney Council said: “Where road closures have been found to be a factor in rising crime, we have developed measures with local communities to minimise the risk to them and their properties.

“This has included awareness raising about improving security for example; by keeping foliage and hedges trimmed, maintaining visibility at the front of residences, whilst improving security at the rear, providing advice about household security, and providing residents with crime reduction products to help them improve household security.”

The Walford Road area consultation closed last month, and the council said it has received 2,200 responses.

The plans have been heavily criticised by parents.

A statement on the Town Hall’s website read: “We would like to make it clear that no decision has been made on whether to implement any of the proposals.

“This decision will be made in the coming months once the full analysis of the consultation responses and impacts on traffic and air quality has been completed and published.”

In an update on Cycle Superhighway 1 published yesterday, the council confirmed it will retain the Wordsworth Road closures, saying they have “succeeded in reducing traffic on the cycle route and improving air quality and road safety near the schools”.

Update: this article was amended at 09:10 on Wednesday 7 February 2018. Following feedback, a section of a quote and a road name have been removed for safety reasons.