NEWS that CCTV could finally be on its way to Wanstead and Woodford is sure to be welcomed by residents.

Altogether 2,152 people supported the Guardian campaign in the year 2000 to introduce CCTV in Wanstead and Woodford shopping centres.

Despite the massive support the individual bids to the Home Office for closed circuit television were unsuccessful.

This snub from the Government coincided with the "closure" of Wanstead and Woodford police stations and a steeply rising crime rate, leaving residents at a great risk of becoming crime victims.

Whilst the Guardian continues to campaign for the police stations to be reopened it is great news that CCTV looks set to be on its way to Wanstead and Woodford.

Not only should it act as a deterrent, but it will certainly mean that more perpetrators will be brought to justice for their crimes.

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The organisation of last weekend's youth games was farcical, and led to the huge disappointment of dozens of Redbridge youngsters.

To award a winning trophy to them, and then so cruelly snatch it back the next day, with the announcement that they were actually sixth is surely not sportsmanship.

Usually the top 28 scores are taken into account for every borough, but this year all 38 scoring events were considered in error.

So while Redbridge had the highest number of points overall, it was placed sixth because of the way the rules work.

Surely, in this instance, after such a crucial mistake, two trophies should have been awarded.

July 18, 2002 14:00