Andrew Dismore

Police were called to a violent confrontation at a staircase on Watling Avenue in Burnt Oak on 8^th February, leading to the arrest of one woman for Domestic Common Assault and S5 Public Order Offences, after passing children and their parents witnessed the incident.

In response, the Police have requested a Gating Order to block off the steps leading from Watling Avenue to Market Lane and Back Lane and are in consultation with the Council in respect of putting a Public Spaces Protection Order in around the locality, local parks and approximately a two-mile radius from Watling Avenue. In addition the Police are working closely with Barnet Drug and Alcohol Service and local support services to get street drinkers off the streets and into rehabilitation projects.

On Monday 9th March Barnet Council will be putting yellow lines down Market Lane, this will allow the Council to use the CPN process for any vehicles parking and blocking the route to the TfL substation. Litter bins were placed down Market lane and Back Lane to reduce littering in the form of beer cans being thrown in the river and undergrowth and along the footpath.

Andrew Dismore, Labour London Assembly Member for Barnet and Camden, is a member of the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee. he said:

‘There has long been a problem of street drinking on Watling Avenue, which I have raised many times, both as the London Assembly Member and when I was MP for Hendon. A stronger approach is needed here, to keep the shopping parade clean and in good order. Under the Conservative Council, Burnt Oak is now the 5^th worst town centre in the country. Burnt Oak needs a Labour Council that will take the area seriously after May 3^rd.’

Sara Conway, a local community activist and Labour candidate for Burnt Oak in the May Council elections said:

‘Action by the Police and Council are welcome, and I hope it reassures the local community, who have had enough of being abandoned by the Conservatives. A Labour administration in Barnet would have a much more positive outlook for Burnt Oak, and we need to move on from hearing stories like these as we know there is so much potential here. Children here should be able to walk home from school without seeing these types of incidents.’