Police at Warwick Gardens (October 11)

[OliviaB]

Warwick Gardens was sealed off by police this morning - anyone know what happened?

Cheers

[mima08]

No, but I saw there was a tent like marquee over an area at the bottom and the Police were be speaking to a lady. Didn't want to stare but wondering what happened as I walk through there every day.

[gm99]

A murder according to a cop at the entrance to the park.

[thecaptain]

nice

[OliviaB]

Scary, I walk through there every morning and evening. Any idea what time of day it happened?

[DonGee]

where is Warwick Gardens?

[Beryl20]

I drove past Warwick Gardens half an hour ago: - SOCO people robing up in their white suits...

[sandy_rose]

The estate opposite fire station on corner of Talfourd and Peckham road was cordoned off last night and still is now, I wonder if it's related? Unpleasant to say the least.

[OD]

@Sandy_rose - its actually a half-way house type place not an estate. The entire bottom half of Talfourd road was cordoned off as a crime scene for most of yesterday from early evening. The police re-opened the road leaving only the half-way house taped off and police car in the drive.

[toffeese15]

I wondered that, and assumed they were searching the park as it was a logical place to hide a weapon. However, it appears to be a separate incident. According to one of the policeman on duty at the park this afternoon, there was a 'serious assault' in the park between 9 and 10 last night. That would imply that there were two major incidents in the area over the past 24 hours.

[Beryl20]

Goodness, I was in The Victoria last night; 9 - 11pm; for a quiet supper with two friends. Didn't see any police vehicles or ambulances screaming past...?

[DrinkingBuddy]

http://www.london24.com/news/murder_investigation_launched_after_peckham_stabbing_1_1653109

[Saila]

I read that a woman was raped in warick gardens

The stabbing at the bottom of talfourd rd was yesterday afternoon

Very sad

[toffeese15]

Actually, we have just had a crime leaflet put through our letter box (on Lyndhurst Grove, backs on to Warwick Gardens) saying it was a "serious sexual assault on a female between 10pm and 10.45." So, not a murder, but something equally grim.

[gm99]

Presumably the cop who said the Warwick Gardens incident was a murder had got her wires crossed, given the arrest on suspicion of murder in the Talfourd Road case.

[taper]

Awful. I would caution against going through WG in the dark. Unfortunately there have been quite a few nasty incidents there in the last few years.

[northlondoner]

Where is Warwick Gardens?

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Site of the original Peckham Rye. Runs along the railway between Lyndhurst Way and Lyndhurst Grove in Peckham.

[ratty]

I lived on Lyndhurst Grv at no 90 for years and we used to back on to the park. Always said there would be an attack in it as it seemed so isolated at night.

[organicoscar]

hmmmmm why not ask the officers when you were there? you people are so nosey

[Lisa and Lloyd]

There was a rape of a young woman, walking from Peckham Rye station from Holly Road, and going through Warwick Gardens. She was, as the police put it, "seriously sexually assaulted" and was taken to hospital.

The same week there was a knife murder, I'm told, on Denman Road.

So, two horrible incidents in one week, sadly.

[HannahSE23]

Very sad to hear about this.

Sadly that park's always been a bit dodgy. I grew up in Shenley Road in the early 80s and I remember several incidents back then including the murder of a pregnant teenager. We always hoped the space would be 'reclaimed' by local residents and turned into somewhere friendly and safe.

[Beulah]

It was a rape.

And let's not blame the victim eh?

She had every right to expect to walk home at whatever time of night without being attacked by total scum like this.

If it's a "dodgy area" then we should make it safe - I don't want any no-go areas in my manor do you?

*************

This is from the police appeal:

The 24 year old female victim was walking home from work in Warwick

Gardens, Peckham at approximately 22.35 after getting of a train at

Peckham Rye station.

A man approached her from behind and placed his arm around her shoulder

asking the victim if he could talk to her.

The victim then screamed and was immediately grabbed by the throat and

led into shrubbery close to the railway line and raped.

The attacker then left the park in the direction of Lyndhurst Way, SE15.

Her attacker is described as a black man, in his late twenties or early

thirties, between five feet ten and six feet tall with a strong African

accent. He was wearing a light or grey tracksuit.

Anyone with information are asked to call detectives on 020 8721 4640;

or if you wish to remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

No arrests, enquiries continue.

****************

Let's help the police find this POS.

If he's done it once he's gonna do it again.

[taper]

"We always hoped the space would be 'reclaimed' by local residents and turned into somewhere friendly and safe."

It has. The park has just been awarded a green flag and has improved massively over the last five years in terms of amenities, usage and the support of local people. But incidents like this are impossible to prevent entirely in a space that's open 24 hours.

[Saila]

hmmmm

let's hope they've got some evidence