Blackstock Road, stormed by cops, gets its own police base

Published: 28 May 2010
by RÓISÍN GADELRAB

A CAFÉ owner whose business was shut down by police after customers turned it into a “den of thieves” has welcomed the opening of a new police station in an old carpet warehouse in Finsbury Park.

The move – in response to concerns from businesses and residents – comes two years after 600 police in riot gear stormed Blackstock Road in an operation to wipe out a multi-million pound black market street trading racket.

Noureddine Zedoud, who has now reopened La Roma café in Blackstock Road, welcomed the opening of the police station, which will be shared by Safer Neighbourhoods teams from Highbury West and Hackney’s Brownswood ward.

A judge shut down Mr Zedoud’s cafe in November last year after police revealed how customers had used it as a base from which to trade stolen goods. At the time district judge Ian Baker described the café as a “den of thieves”, saying he had “considerable sympathy” for Mr Zedoud, who had inherited a “poisoned chalice”.

Mr Zedoud said: “When I heard the police station’s opening in Blackstock Road I was the most happy person in the street. It will help a lot. People stand outside the shops and bother the people going and coming.” 

He paid tribute to the help he had received from police, particularly Sergeant Rob O’Connor from the Highbury West team. 

“A lot has improved,” he said. “When I first came I found it very hard. It was difficult to control my own customers. I killed my business because I got all the people to leave. 

“Now we have women coming in here. Business is slowly building up again. It’s quiet and nice and people can enjoy their coffee.”

Sadia Moh, of the Arab Advice Bureau, said the new police station made the area feel safer, adding: “Because it’s so close it will make an impact on anti-social behaviour and crime, especially on Blackstock Road.” 

Sgt O’Connor said that after the raid on the street in 2008 officers asked residents and businesses what they wanted from police. “One of the things they asked for was a police station,” he said. “They wanted to see a presence, officers walking out, coming in and engaging with them. 

“Traditionally, the problems centred around the cafés and businesses on Blackstock Road at the Finsbury Park end. People were selling stolen goods, mobile phones, laptops. There was intimidation.”

The station will house two police teams, each made up of a sergeant, two PCs and three police community support officers.