Pugwash

I am afraid that the days when it was normal to have a copper on the beat who was seen daily are long gone. Those of us who have lived in ED for years will remember our old beat officer Adrian Crust who spent around 10 years in the area. Adrian knew his patch and the informal chats he had with residents and businesses gave him essential information of crime/possible crime/concerns etc. Also for many years we had a local police station (plus police horses) where you could pop in to give/receive information. During the pandemic, the SNT held zoom meetings from their base at the time in Gipsy Hill. These were well advertised via social media and EDF - attendance varied from about 4 - 8 people. The SNT is now based along with many other teams in Peckham Police Station. Dulwich Hill Team cover from Crystal Palace Road, Forest Hill Road, Wood Vale plus the Dawson Heights Estate, They work on foot so are limited in what they can cover on a shift. At the moment they are down to 2 staff due to sickness. On their way to the Cuppa Session, they were stopped by a number of residents who had various concerns i.e car thefts/damage etc which they noted. Dulwich Library= this was used by SNT for a few sessions but was abandoned as residents felt uncomfortable in a public place with limited privacy. If privacy is requested in Christ Church- the police can access one of the vestry rooms. Whilst many of the regular attendees do have access to computers etc, the Wi Fi connection is not always brilliant in Christ Church. I will mention the idea of zoom meetings to the team when I next see them. The aim is to have monthly Cuppa Sessions during the day and continue with the evening quarterly meetings. Police visibility over the year has been patchy as they have been called to cover riots/demonstrations etc. Many people complain that the police do not do anything- what has been noticed that incidents are not being reported to the police. This came up at the evening meeting where several comments were made about incidents (mobile phone thefts) which were taking place around a specific area. Despite the number of incidents- the victims had not actually informed the police on the basis that the police would not do anything. Details were given to the officers present at the meeting.

It is to do with shift patterns, they were working 10 am - 7 pm. Many of those who spoke with the team today were retired. They hold meetings in the evenings every 3 months. The next one is the first week in December at 6.30. I believe it is the 4th but will double check and publish details nearer the time. Some time ago people complained that evening meetings were difficult to attend as could not get babysitters and wanted day time meetings. Being half term there were folk with children in the café, but were not interested in talking with the officers.

When our girls were young we took them to restaurants to inform them that there were certain establishments where children were permitted but they had to be on their best behaviour. It worked, Now with their own children (when they were under 11 years) similar expectations re behaviour but colouring books. pencils, comic to ward off boredom. Have been to pubs with our 8 and 10 year old grandchildren but for meals during the afternoons. Would not dream of taking them in the evening.

Pleased to announce that the above went ahead which gave a few residents of Dulwich Hill the opportunity to meet 2 of our local police team. Car and mobile phone thefts were concerns raised by local residents. Next Cuppa will take place on Monday 25th November 2024 at 11am Make a note in your diary

Dulwich Hill SNT will be at Christ Church Barry Road at 11 am Monday 21st October. They were previously holding these meetings at a pub in Forest Hill Road, It is an informal event and an opportunity for local residents and businesses to discuss concerns etc. Meet in the café area Obviously should there be an emergency/riot/protest etc - the above may not take place.

St Christopher's has suits but not sure of colours.

Have heard from several people who have booked into Plough, that food was not good. Included 2 friends who held a funeral reception there and although given the numbers attending- insufficient food was supplied. We have been on our own on Christmas Day for the past couple of years and dined very well on M & S ready meals - splashed out on some of their 'luxury food'. Only dined out on Christmas Day once at a pub. In laws did not want to cook so booked us in to a Harvester. Service very slow, food ok but having allowed 2-3 hours for meal, had to forgo dessert and coffee as our mini cab had arrived.

I ate my 3/4 sandwich in the M & S café - the woman who was operating the cash till had disappeared. Unlike most people I do not have a SMART phone only a very basic £50 Pay as you go phone with a rubbish camera. Also having had surgery earlier that day and not eaten for 8/9 hours - I was too hungry.

East Dulwich Community Centre, Darrell Road. SE22 9NL. Bring items on day of event 11 - 1 pm Take items 11- 2.30 pm. Items must be in good condition, easy to carry home. No PAINT, FOOD, or ELECTRICAL items. Centre reserves the right to refuse items. ALSO on same day BARA (Barry Area Residents' Association) Pumpkin Carving - a family event, all children must be accompanied/supervised by an adult. Limited numbers. Book by 18th October to reserve your pumpkin. Email [email protected] or phone 02086935536, Also being advertised in the What's on in East Dulwich section of EDF and also SE22 magazine. give and take oct 2024 (1).docx

Got a sandwich at St. Thomas' Hospital M & S on 7th October, when opened noticed that a slice of bread missing - in fact had 3/4 of sandwich. Could not be bothered to take back as I did not have card on me that day and paid in cash to the only staff member there manning the tills.

Our part of Barry Road always gets 2 copies of SE22 as they think it is 2 flats. Friends in Friern Road do not get copies.

A little worrying as our organisation placed an advert for 2 events taking place on 26th October, one of which asked for people to reply by 18th October.

Usually get our copy in the first couple of days of the month but nothing so far.

hours ag Thanks Pugwash, I feel that there is more that can be done about cash for crash, but rather than openly criticise the authorities, as can happen on other threads, I'll sent you a PM. No PM received.

What end of Friern Road? The annexe at the Friern Lower School (now Harris Boys) may have been a small school. The upper school in Goodrich Road (now Goodrich Primary) was a primary school in the 1930/40s I was at Friern School in the 1960s and never heard of an infant school in that decade.

This newsletter represents the topics that were discussed at our recent SNT Meeting at Christ Church.

This was discussed at the Dulwich Hill SNT on Monday evening. Police would like to be informed of all incidents to get a picture of the areas targeted. If they can build up a 'profile' it may be possible for unmarked cars/ and non uniformed officers to patrol those areas.

Discussed last night - Burglaries and theft from motor vehicles. Long discussion with lady from the School Patrol (parents who volunteer to be around at local secondary schools to prevent phone thefts/mugging etc). Also the recent concerns re scam accidents mopeds/bikes crashing into cars etc. Barry Road/Silvester Rds. Barry/Goodrich, Langton Rise/Wood Vale. A couple of people attending had this happen to them/family. Suspicious behaviour of a make hiding behind bike containers in Pellatt Road/CPR who may be involved. Police need to be informed of all incidents and locations. If activities identified around certain roads, police may be able to employ under cover officers in unmarked vehicles. Meeting lasted around 75 mintes.

SNT meetings are very flexible - we start off with various crime figures for the last 3 or so months. This is broken down into categories. which give rise to questions from the audience. People are encouraged to discuss items/situations/concerns with the police team. There is no written agenda- everyone can raise a concern etc. There is also an opportunity to talk privately to one of the police team. Items/concerns raised at previous meetings cover car theft, burglaries, anti social behaviour, general safety concerns, mobile phone thefts. unsafe driving including speeding etc. If you are a resident living in Dulwich Hill ward or have a business in the ward you are entitled to attend the meeting.

i did my child observation at a nursery in Camberwell. That was many years ago- not sure how young a baby would have to be to have access to a nursery. I had to do 90 minutes weekly for 6 weeks and keep a diary which later I transformed into an essay. One of my highest marks at Uni= 90%.

Growing up in the 1950/60s in ED. Our street was designated for slum clearance twice. Two families lived in the house, We were upstairs and although wired for light, not for power so could not have fridge or electric cooker. No bathroom just kitchen sink. Outside toilet shared with flat downstairs - we had to go through their sitting room to get to back door. Mould in rooms due to flat roof and blocked gutters. My Nan lived a bit further along in ED- solid house, gas heaters, kitchen had covered bath, corrugated plastic roof covered walkway to outside toilet. Mum and I managed to get a private rented flat in Forest Hill in the late 1960s, still shared a bathroom with 6 other people but at least it was indoors. The house we lived in ED is still standing - Southwark never went ahead with the slum clearance.

Time now changed from 6 30 to 6 pm.

if like me you do not have a mobile phone- you cannot take pictures of the scene. I would probably not give my insurance details over, but on returning home would notify both police and insurance company of this scam.

Yesterday driving down LL into Grove Vale on our way to Sainsburys, going slowly as a bus was about to depart from the Elsie Road bus stop when a young child on bike dashed across the road from Elsie Road to Kwik Fit. Child was about 3 or 4 riding a bike without pedals. Fortunately there was a gap in the traffic otherwise the child would have been killed. Noticed an adult (father?) on bike looking to do a right turn from Elsie Road- not sure whether he had anticipated crossing with the child by his side and that the child took it upon themselves to charge across the road. I am all for children learning how to be safe on the road but that struck me as irresponsible. I would have got off my bike and wheeled it on the pavement to the traffic lights outside the school so both of them could cross safely. It was around 3.30 pm with all the school traffic etc, Our 10 year old grandchild has recently graduated to a larger bike as her mother wishes her to cycle to secondary school eventually as where she lives in Durrington Sussex there very few bus routes to secondary schools. She rides on the pavements alone 'round the block' to give her confidence but her area is residential with light traffic and no shops, a far cry from London streets/traffic.

This. Young children cycling on pavements cannot be expected to be aware and mindful of pedestrians so their parents should be vigilant on their behalf. I agree that children need to use pavements for safety reasons and it is up to the parents to ensure that the children are made aware of other folk around them. Children need to cycle in front of the adults so that adult can spot any impending 'danger' .