‘We’ll be the Olympics drug capital’, says Proud Gallery owner Alex Proud - dealers could return if cop cash is axed

Published: 23 June 2011
by JOSIE HINTON

CAMDEN Town will become the “drug capital of north London” if a  dedicated police team disappears from the high street, a leading businessman has warned.

Gallery owner Alex Proud, who is vice-chairman of business group Camden Town Unlimited (CTU), made the claim in a letter to Camden’s community safety boss, Councillor Abdul Hai, on Friday.

He expressed fears that the Camden Town Tasking Team – a group of 18 Police Community Support Officers (PCSO) – could be taken off the high street when their funding expires next year. They have been credited with keeping drug dealers and shoplifters away from the thousands of tourists that visit the area’s busiest stretch each day.

The team’s funding is guaranteed until March 31 next year but so far Town Hall finance chiefs have made no definite plans to continue it.

Mr Proud said: “If we lose the PCSOs, at a stroke we will lose control of the high street to the drug dealers again, as has happened each time policing has been reduced in the past.

“Despite the huge successes in recent years, drug dealers can still be found in the town centre and are only kept at bay by the visible and excellent work of the PCSOs.

“Quite simply, if the PCSOs disappear on April 1, I can guarantee that Camden Town will be once again the drug capital of north London in time for the Olympics.”    

He also said that the failure to commit £400,000 for the team would be an “abdication of the council’s responsibility” in a partnership with the private sector which has compelled businesses to match funding for streetscape improvements.

Lib Dem Community Safety spokesman Matt Sanders described the council as “hypocritical” over its criticism of police funding cuts from City Hall while failing to guarantee cash for the tasking team.

“It’s time for Camden to put its money where its mouth is,” he added. “The PCSOs’ presence has completely transformed Camden Town and we don’t want to see a return of drug dealers hassling people on the high street.”

Councillor Abdul Hai insisted no decision had yet been made over the team’s future.

He said: “The council recognises that Camden Town is a very important social and business centre and funding for additional Police Community Support Officers for the area is in place until the end of the current financial year.

“No decision has yet been made by the council about the future funding of this additional PCSO resource, which is currently being considered as part of a council-wide review of patrolling services in the borough. 

“We will listen to the views of the community during the review and recommendations are due towards the end of the summer with decisions taken in due course.”