The Brit School – and how The Big Lunch – what it is Croydon Crunch – what students like Katie Melua and how you could have its aims are and how it have helped its reputation. your fill. can help you. Page 6 Page 9 Page 15 Issue 31 - July 2009 yourYour monthly community newspaper fromcroydon your council www.croydon.gov.uk Extra powers to keep streets safe The streets of Croydon should be cleaner and safer thanks to extension of neighbourhood enforcement officers’ powers, as John Bownas explains. All summer long Antisocial behaviour confiscated from anybody £75 fixed penalty notice. scheme in these difficult Wondering what will be a prime target drinking within Croydon’s Tracey Bellamy, a Neo cases will hinge not to do with the kids of new powers granted no-drinking zones or from since October 2007, said: only on officers like over the schools’ by the police to the those thought to be under “Being able to demand Tracey making use of summer break? borough’s neighbourhood 18. Tobacco can be taken names and addresses is their new powers, but Does six enforcement officers from anyone believed to really useful in cases where also on the support they weeks seem (Neos). be under the age of 16. people refuse to cooperate. receive from the police. like a lifetime? The council’s uniformed The majority of local “What they need When people refuse to If you enforcement team is businesses and residents to understand is that if cooperate, and won’t give answered among the first in London should welcome this they don’t give us the their details for checking, yes to either empowered to confiscate step, as they will benefit information then they’re a quick call on the radio – or, worse, alcohol and tobacco. from officers now being just making things will bring in police. both – those They can also more able to keep the worse for themselves, assistance and ensure that questions, now insist that those streets clean and safe. because refusing to give nearby CCTV cameras are we have suspected of antisocial Anybody failing to name and address to trained on the incident. the answer behaviour give them heed instructions, or an accredited person is Ch Supt Adrian for you. their name and address. caught littering, can find another offence in itself.” Roberts, Croydon’s The 36-page Alcohol can be themselves issued with a The success of the borough commander, is Croydon Summer across the borough. confident that his officers Activities 2009, And the range will attend to help officers delivered free with of things to do like Tracey whenever it this edition of Your stretches from Baby is practical to do so. Croydon, is bursting Rhymetime, through He said: “I’ve been with great ideas that a variety of sports, pushing for this new are guaranteed to art groups, street initiative for some keep even the most dance, cookery and time, and I’m glad that energetic of young film-making, to horse Croydon is leading bodies occupied riding and ice skating. the way in London. all summer long. So, as you can “It’s important that Working with see, there really the partnership between partner agencies, is something for the council and the police Summer Uni, Croydon everybody. is a strong one, and my Youth Service and Pull out your copy officers understand that local businesses, the of Croydon Summer the work being done by council’s guide offers Activities 2009 and keep the Neos frees them up to hundreds of activities, it somewhere safe for tackle more serious crimes. events and courses easy reference over the “It’s for this reason for young people summer – and to make that, whenever they do ranging in age from sure each day is filled need help, we’ll always babies and toddlers to with an enjoyable and try to be on the scene 19-year-olds at venues worthwhile activity. New powers: Neos can now demand offenders’ names and addresses as soon as possible.” This newspaper is printed on environmentally friendly paper from a sustainable source, and produced at lower cost than the previous Your Croydon magazine. 2 yournews July 2009 | Your Croydon Knife sale prosecution for town’s oldest store Online – and on The council’s Safe for All campaign, designed to halt knife culture, has seen the 14th prosecution arising from a series of test purchases. air for a week The oldest department Airwaves set to hum during July. store in Croydon’s town centre has been Not many people know from programme ideas to prosecuted by the council that Croydon can boast writing and performing for selling knives to its own radio station. jingles, and broadcasting. underage school children. Available online all Each year, St Mary’s Allders pleaded guilty year, and at 87.7FM for Junior School is also to the charge at Croydon a week this summer – involved in creating Magistrates’ Court in between 8 and 17 July the breakfast show. June, and was ordered to – BritFM broadcasts Year 10 pupils pay more than £3,000 in from a small studio in enter an X Factor-style fines and costs. the Brit School for the competition and the The case is the Performing Arts and winners are invited to council’s 14th successful Technology in Selhurst. the Brit School studio prosecution following a Students write, to record their show. series of test purchases produce and present the For more details last year on a wide range radio features as part and to listen to the of shops selling knives, of their studies and are station online, log onto which was part of the involved in everything www.britfm.org.uk borough’s youth crime campaign Operation Safe for All. Help for Park Place traders Launched last autumn, the campaign seeks to Illegal sale: knife set sold by Allders 16-year-old sales assistant to two underage teenagers Council steps in to reassure businesses. reduce the impact of young volunteers working previously been given costs and charges of £515. youth violence in the with the council officers advice from the council’s Councillor Gavin Negotiations with agreement with developer borough through the use were able to buy a set of trading standards service Barwell, cabinet member traders affected by the Minerva plc due to lack of of stronger enforcement six large kitchen knives about age-restricted sales. for community services Park Place development satisfactory progress – had and targeted prevention. from the North End store In mitigation, Allders and cohesion, said: “It is have been taken over been negotiating directly Council trading in December last year. said that various systems very disappointing that by Croydon Council, with the developer standards officers The 15-year-old girl had been put in place to this well-respected town- underlining its expressed over blight claims. conducted the test and 14-year-old boy were prevent sales, including centre store has broken intention of moving However the council purchases with the view sold the knives in the removal of all single the law in this way and the project forward. has informed Minerva that of illustrating to traders kitchen department of the knives, and has now made I hope this case acts as Traders affected by the it will be dealing directly that the sale of potential store by a part-time shop the decision to remove a warning to others – major retail development with traders to ensure weapons to children will assistant, who was aged boxed knives as well. we will not hesitate to – currently under review they have confidence that not be tolerated. only 16. The store was fined prosecute anyone who after the council broke the council is committed The court was told that The store had £3,000 and ordered to pay sells knives to children.” off its development to resolving issues. yournews 2 yourspace 18 yourcommunity 6 yourenvironment 19 Take advantage of our specialfeature 12 yoursafety 20 competitive advertising rates yourbusiness 14 yourheritage 21 FULL HALF QUARTER yourfinances 15 yourevents 22 page from £990 page from £444 page from £222 355x259mm 148x259mm 148x127mm youreducation 16 yourdiary 23 If you would like your business to benefit from advertising in one of the country’s Editorial team leading community newspapers and would like more information, a copy of our rate card or a booking form, please call: Paula Howell & 020 8760 5644 Editor: Fred Hall Reporter: Alison Turner Reporter: John Bownas Email: yourcroydon@ Email: yourcroydon@ Email: yourcroydon@ The next issue of Your Croydon will be published on Monday, 27 July. croydon.gov.uk croydon.gov.uk croydon.gov.uk Tel: 020 8760 5644 Tel: 020 8760 5644 Tel: 020 8760 5644 Commercial advertising is welcome, but inclusion of an advertisement does not indicate council endorsement of any products or services mentioned. If Reporter: Richard Gibbs Reporter: Helen Parrott Advertising: Paula Howell you know a resident who has not received a copy, please email their name, Email: yourcroydon@ Email: yourcroydon@ Email: yourcroydon@ address and telephone number to: www.yourcroydon.gov.org croydon.gov.uk croydon.gov.uk croydon.gov.uk Tel: 020 8760 5644 Tel: 020 8760 5644 Tel: 020 8760 5644 This newspaper is printed on environmentally friendly, Produced by croydondesign the in-house business within Croydon Council. TCF (totally chlorine free) paper, produced from a [email protected] 90158/150M/4 sustainable source. When you have finished with this newspaper please recycle it. www.croydon.gov.uk yournews 3 Adrian steps up to The freedom of travel take top police job Still going strong after 25 years, the Freedom Pass is to get a new look.