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I t’s time to get tough
• THE Lib Dems’ decision to abandon support for the use of a dispersal order at Caledonian Park and Market Road illustrates yet again their failure to take a tough stance against anti-social behaviour in Islington.
Council support for a dispersal order was agreed in a motion brought by myself and fellow Holloway and Labour councillor Paul Smith to the December full council meeting, which passed successfully.
But at this week’s executive meeting, the Lib Dems backtracked, labelling it “not applicable” and instead merely agreeing “to note the partnership work already being done in the area”. We shouldn’t be too surprised by this laissez-faire Lib Dem attitude. Lib Dem community safety chief Terry Stacy has a track record of not supporting this, and previously stated in a letter to the Tribune: “It is important that ideas for dispersal zones come from the community, not politicians.”
What he is failing to recognise is that the Holloway ward councillors brought this motion forward precisely because 63 members of the community had signed a petition calling for a dispersal order – presented to the October 9 council meeting – and Islington Labour are on their side.
It’s about time Cllr Stacy and the Lib Dems began listening to the concerns of local people whose lives are blighted by sex workers, drug dealers and anti-social behaviour on their doorstep, and who would not be calling for tougher measures if the status quo “partnership work” of which he is so fond was really making a difference.
CLLR NATASHA CHATTERJEE
Labour, Holloway ward
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