Two distinct ways forward

Press cutting from Croydon Advertiser - Esther Sutton, landlady of the Green Dragon and Green Party candidate for Fairfield ward (2010 elections).

Meeting at the Oshwal Centre on London Road (mobile phone pic)

Reaction to the riot has been interesting to say the least. In a poll conducted by the Croydon Advertiser, 95 out of 100 feel that sentences aren't harsh enough!!!!

At a recent local party meeting (22nd August), Green Party member Esther Sutton conveyed her thoughts from the perspective of a business owner whose premises found itself in the middle of the riot zone. She also talked about what the Croydon Advertiser has dubbed the 'Window of Hope'. Hundreds of messages of hope and love for Croydon now appear on the pub's glass front.

Earlier on that evening, I went along to a meeting called by Malcolm Wicks - MP for Croydon North. It was very well attended, although I am uncertain to how many business owners who lost their livelihood were actually there. Inevitably, at least for the time I was there, it did turn into a forum for local people to vent their collective frustration both from the stage and the floor. There is a lot of anger. People need to be heard.

Malcolm gave a speech which caught the mood of the room. Why was the Borough Commander up at Scotland Yard on the night of the riot? Why was the pedestrianised zone protected by the police whereas the area north of West Croydon station left undefended? Just how many police officers were in Croydon that night - something he described as a "state secret" for the moment. In view of what has happened, the MP for Croydon North has correctly called for a full independent inquiry.

There were no representatives from the police or the council, apart Labour opposition councillors, which meant that a lot of questions remained answered.

As I left the packed meeting, a local resident, who left just after I did, told me that the meeting was a waste of time and Wicks was also a waste of time and that no one really feels the local area will change. For her, optimism appeared not to be the outcome of this meeting.

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Tags croydon, greenparty

Wisdom from the young...

Croydon Youth parliament have issued a statement on the recent unrest

Although there is no justification for the actions of the rioters in Croydon on the 8th of August, there must be an underlying issue behind this. It wasn't a coincidence that that these riots took place in deprived areas.

We acknowledge we are very fortunate to be living in this country, being taken care of, however somewhere something has gone wrong and a small minority of young people do not see a future for themselves and do not care about their communities. We do not condone looting, rioting, arson or violence and stress that this is no way to get a message across.

The suffering of local business and home owners will do nothing to achieve an aim. The actions of this very small minority only puts us back a step in trying to stop the discrimination against young people.

We feel there is a reason behind these riots and as a society we must recognise this and take responsibility for young people, to prevent this from happening again and restore hope in the future.

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Tags croydon, greenparty

Riots explained?

Croydon Green Party's recent statement on the riots pointed out that the reasons behind the riots were deep rooted and multifaceted. At our latest meeting, members formed a list of these factors, the idea being that if political parties failed to determine what the underlying causes for this unprecedented level of civil unrest in our borough, then what's to stop it happening again?

Members listed what they perceived to be reasons behind the riots. What quickly emerged was that some of the reasons behind the riots were more circumstantial and some were pre-disposing factors.

After much stimulating discussion, agreement was reached amongst members on what the predisposing factors behind the riots were:

• INEQUALITY WITHIN THE BOROUGH

The south of the borough has a pockets of astounding affluence, including a pocket known as 'Millionaires Row', whereas some of the northern wards are the among the most socially deprived in London. More equal societies do not experience this type social unrest.

• INEQUALITY/LACK OF (EMPLOYMENT) OPPORTUNITY AND A SENSE OF HELPLESSNESS FOR MANY YOUNG PEOPLE.

One of our members moved to the UK in 70s from Australia. He described how he wasn't aware of the concept of 'class' until he came to this country. In Australia he felt equal to everyone else.

• OTHER SOCIAL CLASSES, EG THE POLITICAL CLASS OR TAX AVOIDING SUPER RICH GETTING AWAY WITH IT.

Bang Olufsen TV (value £4500) stolen by rioter in Manchester. Bang and Olfufsen TV (value £8865) claimed by MP for Manchester Gorton, Gerald Kaufman, on expenses.

• A BREAKDOWN OF TRUST BETWEEN THE POLICE AND SECTIONS OF SOCIETY. STOP AND SEARCH IS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR

• MATERIALISM - THE STATUS DRIVEN CONSUMERIST SOCIETY WE LIVE IN
  

• DISCONNECTION AND DISENGAGEMENT - NOBODY CARES ABOUT ME, WHY SHOULD I CARE ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE

There are also some enabling/circumstantial factors which led to the riots in Croydon as well:

• OPPORTUNISM

• CROWD BEHAVIOUR

• SOCIAL NETWORKING THROUGH MOBILE TECHNOLOGY

One of members pointed out that 30 years ago rioters used CB radios.

• INSUFFICIENT POLICE NUMBERS AND AN APPARENT STRATEGY TO ONLY PROTECT THE CHAIN STORES/BANKS IN THE PEDESTRIANISED ZONE

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Tags croydon, greenparty

Dear BBC Newsquiz

Dear BBC Newsquiz,

The press cutting attached is from the Croydon Advertiser dated Friday August 19th.

I can't have been the only one to have noticed that, following the recent riots in Croydon, possibly the world's most famous independent furniture store, The House of Reeves, and by the way we're all thankful they are still trading, is having a special promotion on Fireside Chairs.

Kind Regards,

Shasha Khan
Croydon
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Tags croydon, greenparty

Placard success.

I recently received the above photo taken at UK UNCUT in Croydon. If memory serves me well, in the picture I am reading a text from a friend telling me that the placard is being tweeted about! It was a risqué placard BUT it captured the attention of many passers-by (of adult age) so much so, that shoppers were readily taking Anti Cuts/Tax Avoidance leaflets from me, wanting to find out more.

And no, I won't be proposing the 'motion' on the placard at Conference.
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Tags croydon, greenparty

News regarding Staples

Staples on Whitehorse Road, Croydon

Just round the corner from me is a Staples superstore - very handy for those last minute leaflets that need to be printed or photocopied. Speaking to staff outside the entrance the other day, one advised me the store is closed and won't re-open until mid to late September.

As we now are beginning to understand, upon seeing police lines positioned at the entrance to the pedestrianised zone, the opportunists, arsonists and muggers headed north up London Road towards the independent and ethnic stores WHICH WERE LEFT TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES. Some deviated towards the superstores on Whitehorse Road. Apparently, [unconfirmed] separate gangs arrived at the store to loot and set fire to it. Bizarrely, some stock has been recovered in the nearby Halfords and Tesco Express - also raided. The Croydon Advertiser lists individuals ( including their age and their home address) that have been charged with offences relating to Staples. One can see that a couple of those charged literally live a stone throw away from the store.

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Tags croydon, greenparty

Police presence in the town centre

'On the night of the riots' - Cutting from Croydon Guardian

The number of police officers in Croydon is two and half times more than usual. Arguably, the increased police presence means that residents and shopkeepers have never felt safer in and around the town centre. Shoppers are never more than a minute away from a pair of bobbies on the beat. Last night, when shopping for provisions, I felt reassured enough to lean my push bike against a grocers window on Station Road. Normally I'd lock my bike up with a 'D lock' and chain! These are indeed strange times.
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Tags croydon, greenparty

Reclaim the Streets

Letter from Ross Hemingway in the Croydon Guardian

Coincidently the headline on Ross' letter easily led to one think it was about the riots, especially as the front page had this image!
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Tags croydon, greenparty