An abandoned house in Stcokwell that had become a haven for drug users and fly tippers was blitzed this week by the council and local partners, in response to concerns that the house was a health hazard and contributed to crime in the area. Eight local offenders also took part in the clean-up operation through a 'payback' scheme, which sees offenders giving something back to the community as part of their punishment.
Local residents became increasingly concerned about the property in Clapham Road, Stockwell, after drug users created a 'den' in the undergrowth and the area was filled with discarded needles, broken beer bottles, rubbish and food remnants. There was so much rubbish that after just two hours, the clean-up team had filled eight buckets with discarded needles and other cast-offs. The house's location near to a nursery school was also an increasing worry for parents and teachers.
The privately owned property, locally referred to as 'the Doctor's surgery', was left to go to rack and ruin after the owner abandoned it in April of this year.
Lambeth's Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, Donatus Anyanwu, said: "Offenders should give something back to the local communities. Cleaning this abandoned, private property is the sort of project that makes a visible difference and helps to make people feel better about their neighbourhoods. It also sends a strong message that we are making minor criminals pay for their misdemeanours."
Matt, an offender involved in the community payback scheme, added: “It’s jobs like this that make us want to do the work. I’ve got kids and the possibility of a child wandering into a place like this doesn’t bear thinking about.”
Sergeant Geoff Ross from Stockwell Safer Neighbourhoods Team, said: "Clearing up this eyesore, which was being used by drug users and becoming a health hazard, will definitely improve the appearance of the area and reduce anti social behaviour. I'd like to thank the council for working with us on this and for overcoming the barriers involved in dealing with a private property of this sort."
Local resident Shawn Collick said: "I think it's good that this site is being cleaned up. It was a haven for drug users and drunks, also had rats and in time a child would have got injured. It was an eyesore for the community and I hope it stays in a hygienic and presentable condition. The guy who owns this property should be held to account for this mess."
The clean-up was carried out by Lambeth council's street care, public health and community safety teams, as well as the Stockwell Safer Neighbourhood team and London Probation's Community Payback scheme. Community Payback gives low risk offenders the opportunity to 'pay back' to local communities as part of their punishment, by doing work which helps to improve and enhance the environment. The council's street care team worked with the London Probation Service and the police to put in place this particular programme.
