COUNCIL efforts to break the cycle of youth crime and anti-social behaviour around Woolwich Common have made an impact but there is still a long way to go.

That's the view of residents from Herbert Road and the Barnfield Estate, after a three-month programme of extra policing.

Since February, two dedicated patrol officers have been assigned to help kick-start Greenwich Council's Pathfinder scheme, which was developed by the authority to tackle Woolwich Common's designation as a "deprived" Neighbourhood Renewal area by the Government.

It aims to offer youngsters advice and activities at its drop-in centre on the estate and to improve the community's sense of identity.

Tigah Hewitt runs the centre on Barnfield Estate. He said: "A few years ago there were some racial incidents but now people mix better. There are people from all cultures and races here and things are definitely improving."

At a review meeting, police and council staff involved with Pathfinder met to assess what progress had been made.

It was revealed by the end of the three-month project, burglary decreased by 65 per cent, disorder by 15 per cent, racial crime by 14 per cent, and violent crime by eight per cent. There has been a seven per cent rise in street crime since last year, compared with an average 70 per cent rise across London.

Inspector Dayne Pearson of Greenwich Police explained this was a result of targeting force resources into prevention.

He said: " We stopped 247 people during that period, of which 97 have been arrested for charges including robbery, drug dealing, assault and drunkenness.

"We are achieving what we set out to do but the challenge is to continue to improve the environment around Woolwich Common."

Mum Joanne Oliver, who lives on the Barnfield Estate, told the News Shopper: "It's not so bad here on the estate, except for the noise. Gangs of kids fill the basketball court outside and shout and scream all night, and there's a fair bit of fighting.

She added: "I don't think there's much for them to occupy themselves with."

csteel@london.newsquest.co.uk

July 16, 2002 17:00