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www.islington.gov.uk Issue 10, 2002
Congratulations!
Better results
This year’s provisional GCSE results
are much better than last year. The
percentage of pupils gaining five or
more A* – C grades is up to 34%.
Last year the final figure was 28.7%.
This is evidence that real progress is
being made and gives everyone
confidence that Islington’s secondary
schools can and will continue to
improve. Congratulations to all
students, staff and school governors
for their commitment and hard work.
Amma Adje, three As, six Bs, two Cs and Judith Wanga, five As, three Cs
and an E, both from Mount Carmel who have the best ever results for an
Islington school.
More street wardens – latest!
Daniel Kelly, two A*, six As, a B and a C and Kieran Reilly, A* in
nine subjects – a record for St Aloysius college.
Islington Council has just been
awarded £842,000 by the
government for 12 extra wardens
who will patrol crime hot spots in
Archway, Upper St, Holloway and
Finsbury Park.
These wardens will join the 14 who
are making a difference to over
14,300 households in the
Caledonian Road area.
The wardens, who are expected to
be on the streets by Christmas, will
work with the police to tackle crime
and anti-social behaviour.
Look inside for more about what’s happening in and around Islington…
free smoke alarms summer university scruffs aquaterra flash bang wallop

Welcome
Welcome to
Issue 10
of Islington
From Helen Bailey,
Chief Executive
I am delighted to welcome you for
the first time since I became Chief
Executive of Islington Council.
Islington has come a long way in
the last few years. The council will
continue to work hard to make
Islington the best place for people
to live, work and learn. We will
make the most of Islington’s green
spaces and our local environment.
We will also continue to
regenerate the borough and make
real opportunities for local people
to learn, whatever their age.
We know that local people are
concerned about crime and
anti-social behaviour. We will use
a variety of measures, including a
targeted programme of improved
street lighting, to make the streets
of the borough safer.
We also know that Islington is
home to an increasingly diverse
community with changing needs.
The council will continue to
improve its services and ask you
how we can do better.
It’s really important to know what
people who live and work in
Islington think about our services
and I will be reading your
comments with interest.
Arsenal update
On 31 July the High Court dismissed
an application for a judicial review of
Islington Council’s decision to award
planning permission to the
new Arsenal stadium at
Ashburton Grove and
related developments at
Highbury and Lough
Road.
Islington Council were subject
to a rigorous examination of
their processes. Finding in the
council’s favour Lord Chief
Justice Duncan Ouseley said: “No
facet was overlooked by the
claimant’s QC who subjected London
Borough of Islington to a thorough inspection
and audit.”
An appeal has been submitted by the two
private individuals who made the application.
The Court of Appeal will decide whether to
hear it or not.
Members of the public can see
planning documents concerning the
Arsenal stadium and related
developments. Please call Ann
Davies on 020 7527 2984.
For any questions about the legal
process, please call Deborah Cluett
on 020 7527 3171.
Eye eye
Following a highly successful celebrity
launch with TV’s Su Pollard, Islington
Council’s environmental community
volunteers initiative – “Eyes for
Islington” – has just recruited its 400th
member.
Recruitment for the scheme is supported by
outdoor advertising on bus shelters and
lamposts, stories in the local papers and
word of mouth. Since recruitment started in
March 2002, volunteers have been signing up
at the rate of nearly three per day.
The Eyes campaign aims to tackle problems
of fly tipping, dog fouling, graffiti and
vandalism. It uses a network of community
volunteers or ‘Eyes’ to pinpoint the precise
location of these ‘envirocrimes’. This helps
the council to deal with them.
The council hopes to expand the scheme to
schools later this year.
The council has made a Compulsory
Purchase Order concerning 130 plots of land
affected by the new Arsenal football ground at
Ashburton Grove and related
developments at Lough Road
and Highbury.
They have received 30
statutory objections – where
the objector has an interest in
the property as tenant or owner
– and over 60 non-statutory
objections.
These objections will be considered by
the Secretary of State, John Prescott, at
a public enquiry to be held in January 2003.
Throughout this project, particular
attention has been paid to try to minimise
the level of disruption to residents and
local businesses as much as possible.
If you have any queries or concerns
relating to the construction activity only,
please call the community information line
on 0845 600 2020 (local call rates) or
e-mail info@aotm.com.
Arsenal's construction advisors Sir Robert
McAlpine Ltd will be distributing regular
newsletters to local households and
running this community information line
during site working hours.
✆
Could
you use your eyes
for Islington?
Please call Pat or Mia on
020 7527 2023.
Your Shout
Below are some of the letters, e-mails and phone calls we received in response to the last issue
Graffiti @
During the run up to the election the
council made a noticeable effort to keep
Upper Street and surrounding areas clean
in terms of graffiti removal. Since the
election these efforts seem to have
stopped and Upper Street, Camden
Passage etc are again covered in graffiti.
Are the council planning any action to
keep the streets clean once again?
Islington Council shares your concern
about the graffiti which blights some
parts of our borough and, for some
residents, contributes to the fear of
crime. The A1 graffiti removal this
spring was made possible because of a
successful bid for additional funding,
the timetable had nothing to do with
the election. The council will be
making more bids for funding. If these
bids are successful, they will let you
know through Islington and the
local press.
You can report graffiti on housing
estates to estate offices. Graffiti in
Islington’s parks should be reported to
Greenspace on 020 7527 4971. The
council try to remove obscene and
racist graffiti first.
In the meantime, the council is testing
another graffiti removal initiative, on
private property using its contractor
ICSL. Under this scheme, property
owners can give their consent for ICSL
to remove graffiti from their property.
To find out more contact
020 7527 4692.
Free smoke alarms ✆
I live on one of Islington’s estates. I have
been told that you will not receive a free
New A-Z published
The latest guide to council and local
services is now available. The guide
gives you information about different
council services as well as services
provided by other organisations in
the borough. You can get copies at
all council offices. You can also view
the A-Z on-line on the council’s
website www.islington.gov.uk
smoke alarm for your council property
unless you receive benefits. Is that true?
Please read the story on page 4 about
smoke alarms. And no, you do not need
to be on benefits to take advantage of
the free smoke alarm scheme.
Controlled Parking Zones ✆
I live in a controlled parking zone.
Although I don’t own a car, I do hire
one from time to time. Are there any
concessions available for people who
live in CPZ areas and hire a car from
time to time?
If you live in a CPZ and hire a car from
time to time, there are a number of
things you can do. Firstly, the council’s
permits office issues residents permits
for periods of 1, 2, 3, 6, and 12 months.
A one month permit costs £13 (or £10
for vehicles under 1400cc or which
have “greener” fuels such as lpg,
electric, hybrid, and so on). The permits
office will need proof of vehicle hire
and residency. Whilst permits are
issued to specific vehicle registrations,
registration can be changed during the
life of a permit if you can show that you
had hired a different vehicle. You can
contact staff in the permits section on
020 7527 1338/39/40.
If your hired car is only parked for
short periods during controlled hours,
you could use pay and display parking
at a cost of between £1.20 and £2.40
per hour, depending on the zone.
Visitor vouchers are available for many
controlled zones. These allow parking
for up to 3 hours or 6 with two
vouchers displayed. Residents can use
Your Views…
Do you think we are doing the
right things?
Is there anything you think we
have done well?
How could we improve our service
to you?
What do you want to see in this
newsletter?
We want to hear what you have to say.
So, if you want to make a comment
about any aspect or the services we
provide, please:
Phone: 020 7527 3416
E-mail: residents.news@islington.gov.uk
Write to: Helen Bailey, Chief Executive
Islington Council, Town Hall,
Upper Street, N1 2UD
Tell us what you think. After all, if you
don’t tell us something is wrong we can’t
do anything about it…
We look forward to your feedback.
these vouchers on their own hired cars
if they wish.
New rules for permits and concessions
are being considering and if these are
approved, the council will tell residents
more in due course.
How do you live life to the full?
Research into what people in
Islington do in their spare time
has been fed into a draft 3 year
plan for developing
opportunities in the borough for
people who live, work or study
here. The aim is to provide
leisure and cultural activities
Islington people enjoy.
✆
If
you would like to see the
draft plan and make any
comments on it, please
contact the Arts and
Heritage Service, Town
Hall, Upper Street, N1, call
020 7527 3338. It is also
on the council's website
www.islington.gov.uk
2 3

Happy 400th Birthday
Move out of London?
Keep Safe
TV presenter and British wheelchair
basketball star Ade Adepitan
presented awards to winners of a
children’s poster competition,
aiming to raise awareness about the
personal safety of Islington’s
disabled children.
Currently starring in one of the BBC’s
adverts featuring wheelchair dancers, Ade
is supporting Islington’s Area Child
Protection Committee in its initiative to
keep disabled children safe from abuse or
neglect.
The Keep Safe campaign is the first of its
kind. It’s all about protecting vulnerable
kids and giving them the power to say
‘Stop’ and tell others when they feel
people have behaved badly towards them.
Its main features are training professionals
to spot where disabled children are likely
to suffer significant harm, abuse or
neglect, and giving those children the
means of expression to understand and
describe inappropriate acts towards them.
Ade Adepitan survived polio as a young
boy and has gone on to compete as a
wheelchair basketball player at
international level. His TV credits include
BBC’s daily ‘X-change’ programme, ‘Tiger
Tiger’ for Channel 5 and various holiday
programmes for BBC1 and LWT.
✆
For
more information on
Keep Safe please call
020 7527 3394.
Should you have concerns
about any children, here
are some useful numbers
Police Child Protection
Unit 020 7421 0307
Education Welfare
020 7527 5833
to the New River
The New River was
built to bring fresh
water to London from
Ware in Hertfordshire.
The watercourse
was made possible by
a collaboration
between Sir Hugh
Myddleton and King
James I.
An improvement project
at Astey’s Row N1 has
already given the New
River a major face lift.
Pathways have been
repaired and following the
identification of a rare
species of fern in the area a couple of years
ago, the whole area has been replanted
making this the largest public 'fernery' in
London.
Asylum Seekers Soccer
Premiership soccer scouts will be
eyeing up the international talent in
Islington’s newest football club next
season.
Friends United F.C. is part of an initiative
giving opportunities for young men aged 16+
in the borough. The club, run by volunteers
from Islington Council’s education service is
mainly for unaccompanied asylum seekers
living locally.
And the players from places such as Kosovo,
Eritrea, Somalia and the Ivory Coast even beat
a team of MPs recently in a friendly tournament
organised by the Refugee Council.
“It’s all about helping these young men
develop life skills and self-confidence in a safe
This partnership project increases the quality
and quantity of open space in the borough.
A new signage panel will tell the story of the
New River and provide a map for walkers.
and supportive environment,” says Marie Fry
who works in education welfare and helped
set up the team.
“Most of these boys have no experience of
living in a multi-cultural society and it is
important they get to know each other and
work together as a team, so they integrate
rather than staying in their own communities.”
The team has been befriended by doublewinners
Arsenal who provide training facilities.
They play most Saturdays at the Douglas Eyre
Sports Centre in Walthamstow.
They are coached by volunteers but do need
help in running the team, organising fixtures
and sponsorship. Anyone with relevant skills
or energy, or just interested in helping, should
write to the Education Service,
Laycock Street, London, N1 1TH.
✆
For
more information
on asylum issues,
contact
Tola Akinde-Hummel
in Islington Council’s
Asylum Team,
on
020 7527 7138.
Tenants who want to can move to
another area as part of Islington
Council’s innovative scheme to help
tackle the borough's severe housing
shortage.
Islington has 4,500 people on the waiting list
for a home, 7,000 people on the transfer list
waiting to move to another home and 1,600
living in temporary accommodation.
Mr and Mrs Chipperfield found a spacious
house with a good sized kitchen, bathroom,
car parking facilities and a paved garden.
They decided to move in December 2001 so
they could be nearer their disabled daughter
who lives in Leicester. The new house is
located in pleasant surroundings and they live
close to local transport and amenities.
Mr and Mrs Chipperfield couldn’t be happier
with their home: ‘We are so, so happy with
our new house. It’s lovely!’. They have moved
People are set to become safer in their
homes thanks to an innovative fire
safety scheme – one of the first in the
country – that will see a free plug-in
smoke alarm fitted into council homes
in the borough.
Up to 30,585 homes in Islington will benefit
from the scheme which aims to fit at least
one smoke alarm in every council home
during the next year. The council is also
looking at installing specialist alarms for
hearing impaired tenants.
to an area, which
they describe as
clean, safe, less noisy
and hectic and they
feel this has improved
their general quality
of life.
This scheme can help
council tenants in
Islington move to
areas such as
Wolverhampton,
Leeds, Manchester,
Lincoln, Coventry,
Burnley, Liverpool and
Leicester.
You can apply if
you are a council tenant, homeless and
living in temporary accomodation, or
waiting to be rehoused from the council’s
rehousing register.
Free Smoke Alarms
Harry and Betty
Chipperfield couldn’t
be happier
The scheme is a partnership between
Islington Council, London Fire Brigade,
Caxton Islington who will be fitting the
alarms and Sprue Aegis plc, the parent
company of FireAngel the manufacturers.
Tenants who want to know more about
the scheme should look out for posters
and leaflets with the slogan ‘Fire – a cause
for alarm’ that are available in fire stations,
housing offices, libraries and other council
buildings.
Teresa Coyle who lives on the Andover Estate, N7 said: “I think it is a brilliant initiative and I think
it will be welcomed by every tenant in the borough. Anything that is going to help save lives,
especially those of vulnerable tenants, must gain 100% support.”
✆
If
you want more
information please contact
housing services
020 75``27 4372 or visit
Islington Council’s website
on www.islington.gov.uk
and search for ‘mobility’.
Estate
security
A new concierge system is
bringing security benefits to
tenants of Islington Council’s
Michael Cliffe House, EC1.
“We are really pleased with the new
concierge system and the staff who
are responsible for maintaining the
project. It has made a real difference
to the quality of life of residents on
the estate”, said Matthew
Humphries, secretary of the tenants
association. The new system costs
£4.16 per week per tenant.
The concierge system aims to
reduce vandalism, crime, graffiti and
other anti-social behaviour. It
includes CCTV cameras – which
record 24 hours a day – and a
reception area which is managed for
up to 16 hours a day.
All residents on the Finsbury Estate
will be given a door entry key card
and visitors will be given a code to
get access to the block. Only
people with either of these will be
able to gain access to Michael Cliffe
House through the door entry
system.
4
5

Summer University a great success
✆
For
more information about Islington Council’s
summer university please contact
020 7527 5558 or email
summeruniversity@islington.gov.uk
Islington’s summer university
gives young people in the borough
the chance to brush up on their
school work or try something
completely different.
This year it was a great success with over
500 students taking part in more than 60
classes. The choice was endless, with
classes in IT, languages, maths and
computers, visual arts, and performing
arts.
Students who have taken part not only
say that summer university is fun and
good for your social life, it can also help
improve exam grades, help plan for the
future and build confidence.
Classes run every August and are open to
young people aged 10 – 19 who live or
go to school in the borough.
Dreamwork Youth Arts offered young
people the chance to work with the
Young Pleasance Theatre Group. Giving
them the chance to work with directors,
choreographers, voice coaches and
crew to develop acting, dancing and
singing skills. This culminated in a show
Bright Flight written and performed by
the young people.
Wannabe journalists spent the day at the Guardian Archive and Visitor Centre Newsroom, giving
them the chance to experience life as a journalist and produce their own front page. While in the
newsroom they were able to use state of the art technology and had the opportunity to research,
write, edit, select stories, caption photographs and lay out a page.
Gotcha!
Islington resident Aisha Ouriga
was sentenced to a 200 hour
Community Punishment Order
and was ordered to pay costs of
£2,110 after she pleaded guilty
to illegally claiming a total of
£13,866.06 in housing and
council tax benefit at Highbury
Magistrates Court.
An investigation was launched by
Islington Council’s housing benefit
fraud team as a result of an
anonymous tip-off.
If you have information about any type
of benefit fraud please contact the
council’s hotline on
020 7527 4877. Lines are open
from 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday,
messages can be left at all other
times. All calls are strictly confidential.
Information can also be e-mailed to
hbinvestigation@islington.gov.uk
Cardiff here we come!
300 young people from Islington
were given the opportunity to go to
Cardiff to see Arsenal kick off their
season by beating Liverpool 1-0 in the
Community Shield.
The lucky youngsters were chosen based on
their achievements in education, informal
learning, volunteering and citizenship – and
particularly those who would not usually get
the chance to watch Arsenal play. The 300
tickets were given to the council by
McDonalds.
Dino says: “Don’t give your dog a bad name!”
Saturday 17 August saw the second
Scruffs Dog Show at Barnard Park, N1.
During a lighthearted afternoon of fun and
competition, council staff were on hand to
promote Islington's responsible dog
ownership campaign – “Don't give a dog a
bad name!”.
The council is not anti-dog – but wants to
tackle the menace of dog mess.
Recent adoption of
the Dogs Act means
that legally
enforceable fines can
now be levied on
inconsiderate owners
from this September.
Islington wins
£1.8 million
european
funding
Money from the European Social Fund
(ESF) is on its way to Islington. It will
be used for various vocational training
projects and will benefit hundreds of
local residents and small businesses.
Islington's allocation of ESF funding
was the third highest in London.
Of the £1.8 million, Islington Council was
awarded £1 million for its work with small
businesses in the borough as well as some
funding for training refugees and people in
the care sector.
City and Islington College received £0.5
million to run a series of classes for local
residents including training for women in IT
and basic skills courses.
More ESF bidding rounds are expected this
autumn and early next year. Islington Council
will be working with local partners to ensure
that the borough benefits from these funds.
✆
officer
For further information
contact Tony Swash,
Islington Council's european
on 020 7257 3496.
During the board game challenge over 20 young people devised their own board game
and challenged a group of adults to try to beat them.
Alternatively, you can call the
National Fraud Watch Hotline free
of charge on 0500 500 777.
If you have a dog,
please clean up after it
or you will be liable to a
£50 penalty.
✆
To receive a copy
of this leaflet, call
020 7527 4926.
Dino and friends at Scruffs
6
7

Islington's
tackling traffic
Residents were asked about proposed
Controlled Parking Zones (CPZ) in
Archway, Tufnell Park and Thornhill
in July.
Archway and Tufnell Park zones have been
approved, and a decision on Thornhill is
expected in October. Barnsbury North CPZ
will be implemented by the end of the year.
A 6 month review of the Whittington and
Canonbury zones is due this autumn.
People in east Canonbury, west Canonbury and
Barnsbury north will be asked what they think of
possible traffic reduction schemes this autumn.
People in the Barnsbury and Amwell areas have
already been asked about traffic reduction and as
a result people in Barnsbury are now being
consulted on the detailed proposals for a 20 mph
zone in their area. Consultation on a 20 mph
zone in Amwell will take place later this year.
8
Get energised!
Every home in
Islington is wasting
energy. That's the
message of Energy
Efficiency Week.
Wasted energy costs the average UK
household up to £200 per year in
unnecessary fuel bills, it’s bad news for
our pockets and the environment.
So please contact Islington's energy
efficiency advice centre at 159 Upper
Street, Islington, London N1 1RE
FREEPHONE 0800 838650. Open
Monday to Friday between 9.00 am and
5.00 pm. E-mail
energy.advice@islington.gov.uk
Out of step
Local resident Kenneth Griffith, film
maker and Boer War expert features at
the Islington Museum from 23 October
to 22 December 2002.
He started his career as an actor in 1941
playing a wide variety of roles appearing with
Peter Sellers and Peter O'Toole. More recently
he was in Four Weddings and a Funeral.
Ken also makes documentaries which often
tackle controversial subjects and he has the
largest collection of artefacts from the Anglo-
Boer war in private hands in this country.
Congestion Charging
London Mayor, Ken Livingstone will
make his final decision this autumn,
about whether to proceed with
congestion charging in central London
from 17 February 2003. If, as
expected, he gives the scheme the
go-ahead, Transport for London will
contact Islington residents over the
next few months to provide more
information about it.
Once it is introduced, anyone (except those
excluded, exempt or discounted) driving or
parking a vehicle on public roads in the
congestion charging zone from 7.00am to
6.30pm, Monday to Friday, will have to pay a
daily charge of £5.
The congestion charging zone is bounded
by the "Inner Ring Road" including Euston
Road, Pentonville Road and City Road –
from Angel to Tower Bridge, Elephant and
Castle, Vauxhall Bridge Road, Park Lane
and Marylebone Road. Charges will only
apply to vehicles travelling inside the
St.
Pancras
Key
King's
Cross
Angel
The exhibition will chart Ken's career and will
include a selection of items from his collection.
There will be a display of the contribution that
black people made to the Boer War illustrated
with images from the museum in Bloemfontein.
And there will be information about Islington's
Boer War VC Henry Glasock.
Islington Museum, Islington Town Hall, Upper
Street, N1. Open Wednesday to Saturday,
11am-5pm and Sunday 2-4pm.
✆
Call
King's Cross Rd
Islington borough boundary
£5 entry below this line
Tube stations
Pentonville Rd
Penton Rise
Pentonville Rd
Farringdon Rd
Rosebery Ave
Angel
Frederick's Row
Clerkenwell Rd
Farringdon
020 7527 2837, or e-mail
islington.museum@islington.gov.uk
boundary road, not those on it.
Emergency services’ vehicles, London licenced
black cabs and minicabs, bicycles and
motorbikes are among those groups exempt
from paying the congestion charge. Blue
badge holders are entitled to a 100% discount.
Islington residents living within the congestion
charging zone will be entitled to a 90%
discount from the charge.
If Ken Livingstone does give congestion
charging the green light for February 17 2003,
you should receive a leaflet explaining
congestion charging in more detail before the
end of November, telling you what you
need to do next.
Wakley St
✆
For
Goswell Rd
City Rd
more information
before then, you can log
on to
www.cclondon.com,
or call 0845 900 1234
Old St
Old St
Old St
Liverpool
Street
Aquaterra Leisure is a charity that runs the seven leisure centres
in Islington with financial assistance from Islington Council.
Water babies
Parents of children as young as six
months are queuing up to join the latest
craze – water exercises for babies.
Sarah Smyth who teaches the classes says:
Futebol de Salao
Gunners in Islington, a partnership
between Aquaterrra, Islington
Council and the Arsenal brings a
touch of samba magic out of Brazil
and into the English game. This is
a fast moving, five-a-side ball game
for boys and girls aged 7-12 years.
It uses a rather unusual ball which is
much smaller and heavier than an
ordinary ball. The emphasis is on skill and
individual confidence with the ball.
Because of the way the ball is weighted it
lets the children control the ball more.
The idea is to first master the ball, then
you can master the game.
✆
Contact Michael MacNeill,
Football Development Manager, on
020 7686 8810 or
michael.macneill@aquaterra.org
.
“The classes help the baby to feel settled and
enjoy being in water. The mother learns how
to relax and strengthen the bond with her
baby. Also, mothers like the fact that the
techniques taught in the class can be done in
the bath at home.”
At first sight, as seven mums slip into the pool
and form into a circle, the
babies seem altogether too
boisterous. Yet during the
classes, the delight of the
babies is obvious and their
mothers’ pleasure is tangible.
The sound of seven babies
chortling as they are
rhythmically bounced or gently
swung in the water is
remarkable. They love it and
their faces show it.
It is £32 for a ten-week course
at Highbury Pool and
Ironmonger Row Baths.
Babies can only start the
course when they have had all
their jabs.
✆
To
find out more
please call
020 7253 4401
✆
Visit
Lunchtime energy
✆
Check
the website
www.aquaterra.org or
phone 020 7253 5365
for more information.
Mini Tennis
Know a Tim Henman or Venus Williams
wannabe? They can learn how to be an
all round star player on the new Mini
Tennis courses run at Islington Tennis
Centre.
Mini Tennis is a game for players of 4 to 11
years old who get to learn all the skills and
tactics of the real game. They are taught by
Lawn Tennis Association qualified coaches.
Anthony Jarrett, manager of the Islington
Tennis Centre said: “The LTA have invested a
great deal of time and
money into developing
Mini Tennis. I am
confident that any
child can
progress in the
game as they
move through the
different levels.”
✆
For
out the class finder
service on
www.aquaterra.org or
phone 020 7253 2346
more
information please
phone 020 7700 1370.
Based minutes away from
Old Street and Angel tube
stations, Finsbury Leisure
Centre in Central Street is
one of the few clubs to run
‘pay-as-you-go’ exercise
classes in the area. This
means you are free to drop
into classes as you like and
there is no need to sign up
for a year’s membership.
Classes vary from yoga, body
max, step, circuit training and
pilates. There is something to suit
everyone’s needs. Go ahead –
tear yourself from the desk and
take up lunchtime
classes. It will boost
your energy levels,
tone you up and
make you feel good.
9

Affordable homes
for Islington
A progressive programme to increase
the availability of affordable, decent
homes by encouraging owners to bring
empty properties in the borough back
into use has its first happy families.
Work started in Holloway Road in November
2001 with a partnership between Islington
Council and Solon Housing Association. A
number of families have already moved into
the nine two bedroom self-contained flats
within the last month.
Hornsey Road properties have been under
renovation since August 2001 and consist of
two three bedroom flats and six two bedroom
flats. Some of the homes are located above
shops using converted, unused or derelict
space.
Niami Muhamed, who recently signed a 25
year temporary contract for one of homes on
Hornsey Road, was previously living in a one
bedroom flat with her three children. After
moving into a new house with three
bedrooms and a garden she said: “I think my
new house is lovely and it means I have a
better quality of life”.
On 30 July 2002 at Highbury
Magistrates Court, Nicholas Fowler
pleaded guilty to a charge under the
Explosives Act 1875 for failing to store
fireworks correctly at his City Road
premises. He was fined £350 ordered
to pay costs of £150.
✆
For
Flash bang wallop
✆
For
more information
call Claudette Morgan
020 7527 6364.
advice about how
fireworks can be
stored, and how many,
contact trading
standards on
020 7527 3198.
A couple of weeks earlier Jacqueline Stokes
was fined £200 and ordered to pay costs of
£150 after trading standards visited her shop
at Newington Green and discovered fireworks
in open boxes in a store room and also found
that the amounts in the shop exceeded the
maximum weight of 250kg.
All shopkeepers who
sell fireworks must
store them safely
Handy contacts
in this issue
A-Z Online
www.islington.gov.uk
Aquaterra
020 7253 5365
www.aquaterra.org
Arsenal Community Information
Line 0845 600 2020
Congestion Charging
0845 900 1234
www.cclondon.com
Council Benefit Fraud Hotline
020 7527 4877
binvestigation@islington.gov.uk
Education Welfare
020 7527 5833
Energy efficiency advice
0800 838650
energy.advice@islington.gov.uk
European funding
020 7527 3496
Eyes for Islington
020 7527 2023
Football Development Manager
020 7686 8810
michael.macneill@aquaterra.org
Graffiti removal (parks)
020 7253 5365
020 7527 4971
Graffiti removal (private property)
020 7527 4692
Move out of London?
020 7527 4372
Asylum Team
020 7527 7138
Islington Museum
020 7527 2837
islington.museum@islington.gov.uk
Keep Safe
020 7527 3394
National Fraud Watch Hotline
0500 500 777
Parking permits
020 7527 1338/39/40
Police Child Protection Unit
020 7421 0307
Summer University
020 7527 5558
summeruniversity@islington.gov.uk
Trading Standards
020 7527 3198
Your Views
020 7527 3416
residents.news@islington.gov.uk
11

Beating the bogus caller
Who’s that at your front door?
Don’t allow strangers into your
home unless you are sure of
their official identification
It’s a familiar story – an elderly
resident of Canonbury Road who lives
alone opened her door to a bogus
caller pretending to be from the
water board. He said something about
needing access because there was a
burst pipe in the street, briefly flashed
an official-looking badge, and
understandably she let him in. Later
that evening she discovered her purse
and jewellery box were gone.
Burglaries involving confidence tricksters
conning their way into people’s homes and
Crime prevention expert PC
Adam Lindsay says
✔ put the door bar or chain on the
door in case someone tries to
pressure you into opening the
door
✔ don’t be fooled by official-looking
overalls or identity cards
✔ check anyone’s details before
letting them in. Look up the
number of their company in the
phone book or on a recent bill –
don’t just check it on the card
they have given you
✔ tell them to wait while you call the
company to check that their
officials are in the area
✔ bogus callers often say they need
help outside urgently or ask for a
glass of water. Only help if you
have someone else with you – if
you choose not to help, it is not
rude or unfriendly
✔ call 999 and report any suspicious
callers immediately – police would
rather be called to a false alarm
than someone was robbed
✔ try to keep in mind a good
description of the person and tell
someone or write it down
immediately
Stop, chain, check.
robbing them are a
problem. And it’s
usually the elderly who
are targeted because
they are more easily
confused – and often
willing to help.
Police Action
“We are tackling this particularly nasty crime
in a new, more pro-active way,” says
Detective Inspector Paul Whatmore who
is spearheading an initiative to make
catching these burglars a priority in the
local burglary squad.
“This involves closer working with both
victims and the utility companies whose
officials are usually impersonated.”
The new strategy centres centres on
improving the identification information given
by victims of crime. And making sure no one
disturbs the crime scene until police forensic
teams get there.
Older people remember
“Older people can often remember more than
they think, and we need to pursue their
evidence further with the help of
computerised images,” says DI Whatmore.
“Also forensic evidence is vital and if
neighbours and relatives come to help, they
must keep well clear of any rooms the
burglars have been in which must be left as
untouched and sterile as possible.”
Islington police also want to make it more
difficult for thieves to pretend to be on official
business by working with companies to
increase security measures.
“This is a particularly nasty deception
because it deliberately targets vulnerable
people who are more easily confused,”
says DI Whatmore. “They are often seen as
rich-pickings because they sometimes keep
valuables and cash in their homes but for
them the knock-on effects can be very
long-lasting.”
Official visitors should always arrange an
appointment beforehand – if you are alone
and not expecting a visitor, don’t be afraid to
ask them to call back later when someone is
with you.
✆
For
further crime
prevention advice, call
PC Adam Lindsay on
020 7421 0226
12
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