Addressing ASB and Public Safety in New Inn Yard/Batemanrow Area

1. New inn Yard / Batemanrow area. Bus stop Demolished and boarded –up. Lights not working Lights not working Car Park Shop / petrol station. Shop Main Problem areas for residents.

2. New inn Yard / Bateman row area. As a result of a complaint from residents within the above address area, where it is alleged that there was drug dealing and people of all ages urinating and vomiting in the street, it was arranged to met a representative from the residents association. At 5pm on Thursday the 12th of December 2013 I met with Mr. Andy Kanter one of the residents. Mr. Kanter took me on an educational ASB tour of the area which included Bateman row, French Place, Dereham Place, Reliance Square and Anning Street. During the tour we spoke with a business manager (ladies Yoga club) who highlighted the problem within her business area. Mr. Kanter stated that the urinating and the vomiting was getting so bad that he was tasking himself to take 100 photographs called 100 vomits and he was of the opinion that he could have that figure within a week if not two. He stated that the problem was simply getting out of hand. I asked about the drugs allegation and he stated that this appeared to have gone away but it appears to come in waves. About four weeks ago there was a lot of dealing but in the past four weeks this had gone. He acknowledged the local authority’s efforts in cleaning up the street and keeping them clean, he stated they are doing a splendid job. But this is simply not stopping the problem and it is not very nice to have to negotiate around a river of vomit and urine in the morning when going to work. Under section 17 of the crime and disorder act 1998 Hackney Homes are committed to doing their best to eliminate crime, the fear of crime and ASB within their areas and the borough of Hackney. I attended on two occasions, a number of photographs were taken during my survey and these are available on request. One of the visits was during the hours of darkness. This report should be an appropriate, realistic and a cost effective solution to the existing problem. Initially the complaint was about the lighting and there was talks about installing CCTV cameras. My findings was although the lighting was not first class (where there was lighting) it was somewhat fit for purpose I believe it would be a waste of money to upgrade the lighting. With the present lighting the colour rendition would I believe not be suitable for CCTV and to be honest lighting in this case would be ignored. Also CCTV would only record something happening it would not stop it occurring. There is a lot of private CCTV systems in the area .and it is not stopping them urinating in the street. Before I met Mr. Kanter I attended the area earlier and had a walk around on my own, during which I observed a male urinating in Anning Street. I also noted areas in which I believed there may be problems and these were confirmed by Mr. Kanter. I spoke with the manager of the ladies Yoga club and she complained of persons using her yard (Reliance Square) to shoot-up and sell

3. New inn Yard / Bateman row area. • drugs. The yard was gated and there was a car blocking the closure of this gate. She also took me to an area to the rear of the club where again drugs were been used, the gate was unlocked and there was no way of locking it. She was advised to keep this door locked and if necessary put some anti-climbing measures to prevent them climbing over, and don’t forget the signage. She was also advised to close the main gate and install some kind of intercom system for her customers. • As you are so aware there are almost no public toilets within the city and this is for security purposes; for our safety. In Manchester for example there were ninety (90) such facilities now today there is only one (1), but that is life today. We are obliged to protect the public from persons with major criminal intent such as planting a bomb. There are many arguments for and against placing portable toilets in an area such as Bateman Row. But to be honest I have patrolled an area near Trafalgar Square where these toilets are installed and I have seen people urinating about ten feet away from the toilet and yet the toilet was not in use. When a person gets drunk they will urinate anywhere they can, lights or cameras will not stop them. • Shoreditch is a very vibrant area with many clubs, pubs, strip clubs (largest number in London) and eating establishments. As we are all very much aware when a person gets a few drinks the will nearly always go for a meal or at least a take away. A combination of drink and food will lead to the problems the residents are experiencing within the area above. The problem may be that the area is simply saturated with establishments and the area simply cannot cope with such crowds. There are not enough toilet facilities within the establishments to cater for the crowds that are allowed in and as a result the patrons urinate around the corner and the street cleaning team are expected to clean up the mess. • Urinating in public; is it legal or illegal? • The rights and wrongs of this quandary have been tested in court after a couple in Somerset, tried to force their local • council to close a lay-by near their home which passing motorists regularly used for open-air "comfort breaks". Lord • Justice Ward - sitting with Lords Justice Longmore and Patten at the Court of appeal - ruled that the urinating • drivers' impact was not "cumulatively intolerable" because they were not "obviously visible“. • In another case;- a man in Romford Essex received a fixed penalty notice, he failed to pay the fine, it went to court • and he had to pay £235.00.

4. New inn Yard / Bateman row area. • This is someone exposing themselves in a public place ."For this reason, the Glastonbury Festival regularly deploys a “ • green police" force which threatens revelers with expulsion if they fail to use toilets, amid fears that excess urination • could affect the local water, polluting rivers and streams. "At the end of the day it's about decency. • Local authorities in Chester launched a crackdown after fears that well-refreshed revelers were causing irreparable • damage to the city's medieval walkways. • There was widespread public anger at student Philip Laing, was caught urinating on a Sheffield war memorial in 2009. • Police in Manchester have buckets and mops and task those who are caught urinating in the street to clean it up or face • a fine. • And the practice can be deemed "disorderly behaviour" in England and Wales, an offence punishable with a fine under the 1986 Public Order Act. • How do we deal with this problem? • As stated I believe lights or CCTV will not solve this filthy problem. It must be terrible to have to negotiate vomit combined with a river of urine and the constant stench of urine in the area. What about the health of any children who have to walk through this, what about tourism and new businesses in the area? We have got to act and act now.The spectacle of drunken revelers fouling town centers and areas such as this in the early hours is regularly held up as a symptom of societal decline. Shoreditch area is a vibrant area and we should not allow these people to drag this area into decline, remember the broken window syndrome. It does not always refer to windows. • There have been many solutions to this problem in other countries, in the past, here are some examples;- • Sensors which activate a lawn sprinkler system when a person goes to use the area covered as a toilet. • In America and Japan they paint national flags on the ground covering the areas.

5. New inn Yard / Bateman row area. How do we deal with this problem? • Run a wire along with two insulating connectors – NO ELECTRICITY, no one will know and they will not try it. (Not recommended!). • Fit signs; an example’ “We cut the dicks off every third person who urinates here, by the way, the second one just left” I have received information that both the Tesco express and the Co-Op shop are closing. I checked this out and the Co- operative shop and Texaco petrol station are the only ones that are closing. It is not known what is going in its place. My recommendations; I understand the frustration of both the residents and the businesses within this area having to put up with this disgusting carry-on every night. I believe the best approach is a multi agency approach to the problem which includes residents, businesses, local authority and police in a joint effort to stop this. • The local people should keep their area clean (remember the broken window syndrome), and this includes outside your home, do not throw rubbish on the street and if there is rubbish then pick it up and place it in a bin. The local people must work with the police, the local authority and the businesses. 2. Local businesses should do the same and do not leave anything in flower beds, large timber planks in the street which is seating for these people. You must also work with the residents, police and local authority. 3. The local authority should keep up the good work in keeping the area clean and tidy. You must also work with the other parties. The local authority wardens should patrol the area and work closely with the police service. 4.The police Safer Neighbourhood and Night economy teams should patrol the area for a set period of time (to create precedence) and have a zero tolerance approach to urinating in the street.

6. New inn Yard / Bateman row area. • 5. Local authority teams, local authority licensing team, Police Licensing team, Safer Neighbourhood team, • Crime Prevention Design Advisor, Local residents, local businesses and anyone who has responsibility for • the area should get together a task team and visit all businesses asking for their support for a program of educating • their patrons in having respect for the neighbourhood and their neighbours. If necessary put up posters (similar to • below) advertising no urinating in the street or you will be fined, Zero tolerance. • Drinks companies might sponsor a beer matt design and print for the Shoreditch area requesting respect for their • neighbours and neighbourhood. • 7. Drinks companies might even sponsor a portable toilet (good advertising). • A study could and should be carried out to see if the area is saturated with • establishments and what could be done to assist. • Whomever is securing the petrol station/shop area should be advised to use fencing which people can see through • and not just board using the usual boards which will only exaggerate the problem. When the garage/petrol station closes it is vital that the above recommendations are implemented. 10. This task team should follow up on a three monthly basis to see if the program is successful. PC Sean Whelan CPO CPDA PMAA. DISCLAIMER:Crime prevention advice is given freely without the intention of creating a contract. The Metropolitan Police Service and Hackney Homes do not take responsibility for the advice given or the content of external websites.