Decapitation in Nicola Edgington, a psychiatric patient who murdered a woman in Bexleyheath six years after killing her own mother has been jailed for “life” (37 years). She nearly decapitated Sally Hodkin in Bexleyheath and was also found guilty of SSCCGG Community Group trying to stab Kerry Clark shortly before. It has emerged police officers failed to carry out checks which would have Run by Sidcup residents for Sidcup residents revealed she had killed before. During the trial, the jury heard 999 calls made in the hours before the attacks, www.sidcupcommunitygroup.co.uk during which Edgington said: "I need for the police to come because I've had a March-April 2013 No. 40 nervous breakdown before and I killed someone." In the hours before the murder, Edgington called emergency services four times asking for help, saying she was hearing voices again and that she was going to kill somebody. She was taken to two different hospitals, although she was able to walk out. The Independent Police Complaints Commission found that officers and police staff failed to carry out a Police National Computer (PNC) check during their interactions with her on the day of the murder which would have alerted them to The Newsletter of the Sidcup Community Group her conviction for manslaughter. "Without this PNC check, both the police and staff at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, , were without crucial information which may have influenced their future decisions, increased the urgency of the situation and could have escalated the medical attention she was given." As is usual these Rotting before our eyes! days, nobody has been disciplined. Whilst it is easy to criticise the police, the real question is what this person was doing walking the streets having previously murdered her Mother. We will not rest until we receive an explanation. Oxleas is taking over the running of Queen Mary's "Hospital" with increased provision of adult mental care facilities.

Drug dealing in Sidcup High Street Reports of drug dealing in our High Street have resulted in prompt action by our Neighbourhood Police team. Four people have been arrested. If you have any information about this growing menace or about any other criminal activity, phone 020 8721 2576, email [email protected] or twitter @MPSBexley

The Sidcup Community Group was established in 2002. We are an independent and apolitical group receiving neither Council nor advertising funding. Membership is our only source of income. The views expressed in our newsletters and Web site are not necessarily those of this Group Web: www.sidcupcommunitygroup.co.uk Email: [email protected] Tel: 07795 600 565 (message service)

If you are not a member or wish to renew your membership, Send £5 in cash or a cheque made payable to Sidcup Community Group with you name, address, phone number and Email address to our treasurer 43 Parkhill Road, Sidcup, , DA15 7NJ

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Rotting before our eyes! Soft on car crime A local residents’ Association is fighting to save another of Sidcup’s few historic We are often told of police’s action against uninsured drivers. The latest buildings. Sidcup Place was built in 1740 with additions in the 1800s. It is owned press release last December related to Operation Cubo. “More than 270 drivers by Bexley Council and listed with English Heritage. Whitbread opened Brewers were stopped and 10 vehicles seized during a 15-hour police crackdown on Fayre in 1998 but due to the failure to comply with conditions imposed by English Bexley’s roads” proclaimed the headline in the local press. It was the -wide Heritage particularly with reference to the replacement fireplace both parties could operation’s 14th day of action and takes the total number of vehicles seized in not sign the lease. It was only the eagle eyes and persistence of the Manor House Bexley to 91 since it was launched by Commissioner Bernard Neighbourhood Residents’ Association that resulted in the fireplace being replaced Hogan-Howe in October 2011. and the lease signed after 11 years! Whitbread has an obligation to keep the According to Bexley Police’s Chief Inspector Mike Loebenberg “It’s part of what building in good repair. There have been water leaks from the roof (most of which the crime commissioner describes as the ‘total war on crime’, denying criminals have now been fixed but with unknown damage to the interior), smashed stained use of London’s roads who are putting the public at risk.” glass window on the south side and rotten window frames. The lease specifies Thanks to Jon Morgan, journalist at Auto Express magazine, we now know the that external painting and other maintenance should be done every five years. true results of the so called “tough” action on the scum in society who cost lawful Enforcement action has been promised by the Council but due to apparent drivers an absolute fortune. Nationwide, in 2011, less than 90,000 drivers were procrastination, the winter means that repairs are still on hold. fined by the courts of and Wales even though there were 1.2 million We have grave concerns about the condition of Sidcup place and the Council’s uninsured drivers on our roads. Even more shockingly, motorists who went to commitment to the few historic buildings left in Sidcup. As the Manor House court for driving without insurance were fined an average of just £288. The Neighbourhood Residents’ Association remind us, the neglect by the leaseholder maximum fine is £5,000. The disgusting fact is that the average fine is well under of Danson Mansion cost Bexley Tax payers a fortune to put right. half the cost of annual insurance. So much for us “all being in this together”!

Bexley’s Strategic Planning Proposals Decline of our High Street continues There are two areas of considerable interest and concern. Blockbusters – that will be a difficult hole to fill and Ebdon Travel who have moved The phrase "revitalise town centre(s)" is used, yet in Sidcup we have had excited to cheaper premises in Main Road. The International Business management posters announcing the regeneration of Sidcup Town Centre. A grant of £1.6m is college has relocated to Barking and John Curling Butchers in Main Road has mentioned together with a start date of March 2012. To date there is no evidence closed in the face of competition from supermarkets and the recession. of any work having been done, and Bexley must expect the rate payers being a little cynical when they see that more revitalisation is planned. Two questions for all Sidcup residents Within the paragraph Open Land, in the final line, is the item ..."management of We are not devoted to campaigning against Bexley Council. That is for others. the development of this land." This apparently includes Green Belt, and However, residents should be asking themselves two questions right now. Firstly, Metropolitan Open Land which hitherto had the presumption that it was protected. if we are “all in this together”, why is Bexley Council’s Chief Executive being paid This new change is very worrying, and whilst I know the government is urging one quarter of a Million Pounds (the sixth highest of 426 local authorities in the Councils to ease restrictions on Planning, the presumption that any land previously country) and at least seven other Council employees paid more than £100,000? protected may now be 'considered' for development will be scrutinised very Secondly, if these astronomical salaries are being paid to attract and retain the closely when the minutiae is published. best, why is it that Sidcup is in the mess it is?

Metal theft still NOT taken seriously Board Game Nights Bexley police have made a widely publicised arrest in a metal theft crackdown A new board game club has launched in the upstairs function room of Sidcup following new law changes. New legislation has been introduced making it illegal Place. You are invited to attend with or without a board game and join in the fun. for scrap dealers to buy metal from people for cash. Bexley police arrested a 34- Please email [email protected] for further information. year-old man on suspicion of handling stolen goods after finding 200 gas cylinders in a shipping container. Sidcup has suffered desecration of its war memorial and Interested in Folk Music and want to save a historic building? thousands of residents have suffered following power cable thefts. Commuters Join the Cray Side Folk Club which meets in the Seven Stars pub, Footscray High have suffered delays by criminals stealing live cables from the railway network. Street on Monday evenings. On the night of the 21st February 2013, BBC London News reported that following https://sites.google.com/site/orpingtonfridayfolk/home/crayside-folk-club extensive research in which four scrap metal dealers were filmed handling stolen material, four men were found guilty. They all walked free with suspended sentences. The government promised that a clear message would be sent to the Help trace Rioters from this area criminal fraternity and it certainly has been. “Help yourself!” The police want help to trace the remaining rioters yet to face justice Call the police on 020 7230 1129 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111