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Estates of Tension

NCJ Number
140581
Journal
Police Volume: 24 Issue: 12 Dated: (August 1992) Pages: 16-17
Author(s)
Anonymous
Date Published
1992
Length
2 pages
Annotation
Violence in public housing in London, Salford, and many other areas of England has resulted in injuries to the police and reflects major problems needing attention by police and local governments.
Abstract
The Stonebridge Estate in Wembley has a reputation for open drug dealing, burglary, automobile theft, intimidation, and general lawlessness by local criminals who sell drugs to youth and oppose the efforts of the police. The area requires extensive efforts by the police and local government to improve conditions in the 1,700 apartments that house 5,000 people. Efforts include the establishment of a concierge system, removal of walkways between buildings, design of a new road, and efforts to improve communications between tenants and the police. In Orsdell estate in Salford, gangs, drug dealing, arson, and attacks on police have made the area a place where crime is extensive and residents live in fear. Two community police officers patrol the area, and the local government has spent large amounts of money to renovate the housing. However, unless efforts are focused on addressing unemployment and hopelessness among young adults, the problems will persist in urban areas in Great Britain. Photographs