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Huge police raid has created a no-go area
• WE, the Algerian community and businesses in the area, feel it is our duty to express the concerns and unease felt by us following the raid in Blackstock Road last week. Those of us who work and live in the Finsbury Park area feel that community relations have suffered almost irretrievably since the raid on Blackstock Road.
The Algerian community feel we have contributed to the diversity and rich cultural heritage of London and the area for some time. Like most Londoners, we feel we have a right to live in an area which is crime-free, tolerant and safe for ourselves and our family members.
We, therefore, agree that effective policing is not only necessary but conducive to engendering good community relations with the police.
However, the advent of 600 police officers was both unnecessary and disproportionate to the perceived threat in Blackstock Road. It is our considered opinion that such an exhibition serves a sinister ulterior motive. The presence of such huge numbers of police officers serves no other purpose than to effectively terrorise our community, and killed our business endeavour.
This part of Finsbury Park has been deemed to be a no-go area since the raid, confidence in the business sector has suffered significantly and relations between police and local inhabitants have caused an already broad gap to widen even further.
We feel Finsbury Park has been made a scapegoat in response to a nationwide escalation of crime. We are opposed to individuals utilising the area for criminal activity and would do all we can to assist in bringing about positive change to the area.
MOHAMED NACER
Arab Advice Bureau
Seven Sisters Road, N4
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