17 December (Part 1) - Bexley council fails its residents yet again
Binsey Walk, Thamesmead was the scene of another very nasty crime last week, fewer than two months after
the knife murder in Wolvercote Road
less than half a mile away.
The police have been mounting extra patrols in the area following the murder but it has not deterred
a knife wielding rapist. Despite community meetings and the optimism expressed by politicians, charities
and some residents, there can be no denying that Thamesmead is not the safest place in the borough.
Despite that, Bexley council has treated it as if it is a peaceful
sleepy suburb, there is not a single council operated CCTV camera to be seen anywhere.
Nowhere else in Bexley is the council’s long term policy of neglecting the north more apparent.
Money was piled into Bexley village following an argument outside a kebab shop
during which a man was shoved and tripped over a kerb, banging his head on it
with fatal results. CCTV was quickly deployed. The same privileges were afforded
to Crayford with no preceding tragedy. For Thamesmead - nothing. People
die and seventeen year olds are raped. Bexley council has a lot to answer for.
The attacker is described as black, of average build, approximately 5ft 8in tall and around
25 years old wearing dark blue jeans, black Adidas trainers and a dark hooded coat.
Teresa Pearce MP has asked Bexley council what progress has been made towards
installing CCTV since cabinet member Alex Sawyer admitted that Bexley council
had ignored all previous requests for CCTV at
the
public meeting in November. No prizes for guessing the answer to that one.
News Shopper’s report. (Subsequently
arrested and charged.)