By Jude Townend
IN AN interview with Islington Now, former Islington Borough Commander DCS Barry Norman claimed he had not yet been paid any money from the Metropolitan Police as a race payout.
He said: “I haven’t been paid any money by anybody,” but added that he may yet receive compensation.
The ex-Borough Commander of Islington, who now heads a high-profile violent crime task force, led a corruption investigation into Chief Superintendent Ali Dizaei in 2003, which resulted in an Old Bailey trial.
Chief Superintendent Dizaei was later acquitted and subsequently awarded a £60,000 pay out. Documents leaked this week indicated that the former commander would receive £40,000 compensation as a result of allegations of racism made against him during the inquiry.
In a statement, the Metropolitan Police Association (MPA) confirmed the proposed payment to Mr Norman saying it was justified and appropriate.
“The proposal to make a payment to an officer, relating to a claim we understood he would bring, was discussed by members at great length and in private, as is always the case when matters relating to an individual officer are brought to the Authority. Agreement to a one-off payment was considered to be both justified and the most appropriate course of action.”
On Wednesday night, however, DCS Barry Norman dismissed suggestions that the case would damage his future.
“It is just an episode in one’s career. These things happen - keep moving. That’s it really.”
He said: “It’s always disappointing when things that are confidential leak into the press.
“I was fully aware [of the suggested payment], of course. I don’t think it is something I’m prepared to discuss any further than that.”
After a meeting this week with Martin Tiplady, the head of human resources at Scotland Yard, the Metropolitan Black Police Association have withdrawn their original statement threatening legal action against Scotland Yard. They will, however, still write a letter to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) regarding the payment due to be made to Mr Barry Norman.
IPCC spokesperson, Poppy Turner, told Islington Now: “We have not received a complaint as yet. Until we are aware of a complaint we cannot say how it will be dealt with.
“At the time of Operation Helios, complaints were made but we dealt with those in 2004. That has been done and dusted.
“A complaint has to be made in regards to a specific instance of police misconduct.”
But she said it was not within their remit to provide advice. “We wouldn’t encourage them [the Met BPA] to make a complaint.”
Tracy Gittens of the Met BPA said: “We are seeking advice and further compensation from them [the IPCC].”
Dr Dizaei, an Iranian born Muslim, has recently hit the headlines with publication of his autobiography last Monday, ‘Not One Of Us’ in which he claims he was targeted in the police investigation because of his race and colour and lays much of the blame on DCS Norman.
Thursday, 15 March 2007
Norman: I haven't been paid any money by anyone
Police 'automatically' stop black youths
By Helen Roxburgh
ISLINGTON councillors have admitted concerns about police intimidating innocent young black people, by stopping and searching them too often.
At a meeting of the Regeneration Committee, councillors expressed concern that police were not always sensitive when they approach young people, and that too often they searched the wrong people.
Cllr Julia Williams, Liberal Democrat councillor for Hillrise, said: “A lot of youths I meet complain that they get searched more because they are a particular ethnic minority.
“They [police] automatically pick on black people, and abuse them.”
Cllr Williams expressed concern that police were unnecessarily rough during stop and searches, and said that she believed certain youths were targeted more than others.
She said her son was regularly stopped and searched when he was in his teens. She believes he was targeted because he was black.
Alva Bailey, Islington Council’s Community Safety Manager, said that he believed police did intimidate young people when stopping and searching, often unintentionally.
He said the Safer Neighbourhood Teams - designated police officers for each area of the borough funded by the council - were less intimidating to the public because one of their key responsibilities is to build community trust in the police.
A report by the Metropolitan Police Authority shows that a black person is almost four times more likely to be searched than a white person in Islington, even though 75 per cent of the borough are white, with 6 per cent of the population describing themselves as black.
According to the report, for every 1000 black residents living in Islington, an average of 31 would have been searched between October and December last year. For white residents, only 8 per 1000 had been searched.
Cllr Greg Foxsmith, chair of the Regeneration Review Committee, commended the work of the Safer Neighbourhoods Team in improving community relations in the borough.
However, he also expressed concern that certain youths would be picked on more than others, and that the stop and searches might be perceived as discriminatory.
He said: “How do you do a stop and search without alienating some young people? The balance is through the Safer Neighbourhoods Teams and intelligence. We are very aware of that charge of picking on the wrong people.”
However, Mr Bailey said police could not abandon their policy of stop and search just because it might upset those being searched.
“Unfortunately it’s a necessary evil at this point,” he said.
Pensioner robbed by conmen 'detectives'
By Anh Nguyen
A PENSIONER was left feeling ‘sick’ after she was robbed by two people posing as police officers.
The pair made off with a money belt after gaining entry into the elderly woman’s flat by pretending to be plain clothed police detectiveÅs investigating a violent robbery in the block of flats off Canonbury Road.
Jennifer Bynes, 66, who walks with a stick, was returning from grocery shopping on Upper Street when she saw the man and woman waiting outside the communal entrance to her flat.
The young woman offered to carry Mrs Bynes’ shopping into her flat, insisting that they needed to speak to her husband.
“They got themselves in by saying that an old lady living in these flats had been assaulted and robbed,” said Mrs Bynes.
“They said they were making certain that everyone was safe because this old lady had been put into hospital and because the thief was a locksmith, they feared he would come back. They were trying to find out what things I had that was of value.”
Mrs Bynes told the fraudsters that her credit cards were in the money belt she wore around her waist, which also contained her keys and £12.
She said: “I only realized anything was wrong when they snatched the purse and ran out the back, through the garden.”
Although neither Mrs Bynes nor her husband Dennis, 67, who suffers from motor neurone disease which means he has no use of his arms, were hurt, they were both upset after the incident.
“I felt shaken and a bit sick, but didn’t want Dennis to see,” said Mrs Bynes. “He felt shaken and a bit sick too but he didn’t want me to see."
The incident is the second time Mrs Bynes has been robbed since moving into the area ten months ago.
Drug addicts shooting up in stairwell cupboards
By Alex Delaney
DRUG users are still sheltering in cupboards in an Islington housing estate despite the closure of its most notorious block.
Six Acres Estate on Seven Sisters Road remains one of the most dangerous and run-down in the borough after failed attempts by the Finsbury Park Safer Neighbourhood team and local housing agency , Homes for Islington, to resolve the problem.
After previously admitting that addicts used cupboards in stairwells in the condemned Churnfield block of the estate to keep warm and take drugs, PC Simon Hackworth said the problem had now moved to the nearby Fyfield block.
The cupboards are marked ‘Cupboards must remain locked at all times’ but the locks have been removed, allowing access to dangerous mains fuse boxes.
The block, which used to have an intercom system, now has no main entrance door, weakening security.
PC Simon Hackworth said: “There are people that go in there – if we find them we move them on or arrest them, depending on their behaviour and the amount of drugs they have on them.
“But the problem is getting better, and it doesn’t happen every day or every night.”
The remaining Churnfield residents were moved out last week, and the 72 flats were boarded up over the weekend.
But a local resident, who did not wish to be named, said: “Churnfield was the worst building, but Fyfield is nearly as bad – there is no security and addicts have just moved there now instead.
“Homes for Islington workers clean up the needles and nail up the cupboards, but that doesn’t stop them [the addicts] – they don’t have anywhere else to go.”
Homes for Islington are currently undertaking structural work on the estate, but said that security and renovation of public areas would not occur in the immediate future.
Albert Neal, project officer for the estate, said: “Churnfield will be demolished because a structural survey revealed problems with the foundations – Fyfield is staying where it is, although residents are getting new kitchens and windows – those works were more urgent than security.”
William Gibbs, 76, a resident on the estate, said: “There is a big problem with drugs on the whole estate, a lot of residents are too scared to go out of their flats at night-time, because they don’t feel safe.”
Big Brother is here to help you
By Alex Delaney
BIG Brother has gone interactive in Islington. A CCTV camera controlled by the touch of a button now stands on the corner of Holloway Road and Seven Sisters Road.
The button, fitted to electronic information stands throughout Islington, allows a person in an emergency to speak directly to the council’s 24 hour CCTV control room.
One man has already abused the emergency button, according to Marjory Peddie, Islington Council spokesperson. She said: “He kept pushing the button and then running up the Holloway Road. We have cameras all the way along so we were able to catch him and give him a warning.”
She said: “people have pushed the button by accident or because they were curious - in that case we just speak to them and tell them what it is really for.”
The kiosk has only been used for an emergency once since its installation in January when three women used it to inform the police they had their mobiles stolen.
The kiosk is labelled as an emergency help point with the Metropolitan police and Islington Council logo, but there is no information telling the public that the button is directly linked to a 24 hour CCTV centre, or what help the kiosk can offer.
Islington Council said they are using technology to fight crime and make the public feel safer. Cllr Marisha Ray, Islington Council’s Executive Member for Community Safety, said: “We are excited by this kiosk, which offers help on a level not available anywhere else in the country - the potential for future development is great. We hope that the kiosk will be a reassuring presence to help people feel safer, especially vulnerable people, as well as act as a deterrent for criminals.”
The kiosk is opposite City and Islington College. Sunina Mushtaq a spokeswoman for the college said: “I was unaware that this scheme was being started here, it is an important student safety issue.”
Boris bikes for the bomb
By Joanna Sugden
AFTER voting in favour of renewing the Trident missile, Boris Johnson told Islington cyclists that he was a “bicyclist for the bomb” last night.
Cycling to Islington from a Commons vote on the renewal of the Trident missile the Tory maverick told a packed meeting of cyclists how he voted.
“A bicyclist for the bomb, that’s what I am. Labour MPs have voted that Blair’s legacy should be a very big pointy object capable of hitting Luxembourg.”
The amassed bike enthusiasts did not applaud the MP’s comments about Trident but they were supportive of his suggestion of implementing “Shar’ia Law for bike thieves.”
Boris, who is also motoring correspondent for GQ magazine, admitted he was also a fan of cars. “Four wheels ok, two wheels better.”
Foster parents of 1000 kids celebrated
By Celia Paul
A COUPLE who have fostered more than 1000 children were recognised at the 2007 Islington Civic Awards this week.
Sandra and Patrick Shiels, who were nominated for the awards by their daughter Annmarie Porter, have been foster carers in Islington for more than 30 years.
Over that time they have adopted eight children, and are in the process of adopting another. Mrs Shiels has even taken in whole families, while her husband redecorated their homes for free.
Ms Porter said: “All of us are proud to be a part of such a big and diverse family, aged from six years of age to 62.
Mum and Dad have worked so hard, they really deserve this, especially because Dad has been having health problems lately.”
A total of ten local residents who are deeply involved in community work in the borough received awards. Other recipients of the annual awards included Perry Fung, centre manager of the Islington Chinese Association and Lunita Williams, a volunteer at Canonbury School.
Council leader James Kempton said: “These awards are about people who work tirelessly and selflessly for the good of others – who aren’t motivated by glory or honours but by giving something back to the community.”
Islington Mayor Jyoti Vaja said: “Ihese people offer others in the borough motivation and energy.”
Thursday, 8 March 2007
SEX SHOP TO OPEN BY PLAYGROUND
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Read More......Women's day fails to catch student imagination
By Alex Delaney
INTERNATIONAL Women’s Day is being celebrated at City University today and tomorrow.
Workshops will be held on women’s health in the workplace, and how to do business with the opposite sex. There will also be massages and Reiki on offer for those wanting to de-stress.
But some students felt that the event was under-publicised by a lethargic student union.
Sarah McGee, a student at City University said: “I don’t think the university is emphasising the importance of International Women’s Day.
“I hope that next year they try and raise the profile of the day and include subjects that are more relevant to our lives.”
Imogen Fluery, an organiser of the event, denied this accusation.
She said: “For the last two years we have marked International Women’s Day and it has been successful.
“We are booked up for the events this year and hope it will continue to grow.”
International Women’s Day is marked in 42 countries and began in the early twentieth century. In some countries the day is dignified with the status of an official holiday.
In Britain, however, the celebration goes largely unnoticed.
Last call for historic bingo hall
by Max Colchester
AFTER nearly 50 years Islington's historic Mecca bingo hall on Essex Road is to call its last number, leaving its 49,000 members in the lurch.
Rank, Mecca Bingo's parent company, has blamed the impending smoking ban for its decision to close the hall on March 25.
The company estimates that between 50 and 70 per cent of its customers smoke, and that the financial impact of the July 1 ban will result in a significant fall in business.
Already the company says that revenue has dropped 15 per cent in Scotland where the ban has been in place since last year.
Lesly Hughes, a spokesperson for Rank, said: " We don't want to have to close our bingo halls but we have no choice.
"Currently the government taxes our industry twice. This costs the industry £85m a year. Coupled with the smoking ban, this is reducing profits. As a result, we have to have to look at which areas are no longer commercially viable. The Essex Road Mecca was one of those."
But Labour Councillor Joan Coupland, said: "It's wrong for them to look at the effect the smoking ban has had on bingo halls in Scotland and say that just because people cannot smoke they are not going to come. I think they are just using that as an excuse."
Despite announcing an operating profit of £72m for its bingo enterprise, the company is still going ahead with its plans to cut 200 jobs and save £10m.
Rank explained that the Essex Road branch was chosen because of the close locality of another bingo hall at Hackney. Another issue was the fact that, as the hall is a grade two listed building and former cinema, it costs more to maintain.
The Islington hall is hoping to transfer its 30 staff to other halls.
Hughes said: "We will do everything we can to relocate them to different premises." One of the
managers at the Essex Road Mecca admitted he was worried about his future. He said: "At the moment I am not sure where we are going to go. It is all a bit uncertain."
Wednesday, 7 March 2007
Windmills just hot air
By Cordelia O'Neill
ISLINGTON Council's plan to install a wind turbine on Upper Street are to go ahead in spite of criticism from energy experts.
Two consultants told a sustainability committee meeting last night that the council should invest in energy saving measures such as draft excluders and loft insulation instead of “gimmicks.”
Planning permission has been granted early for the turbine to be built above the municipal offices on Upper Street, as long as no complaints are received from residents.
Islington Council, currently London’s most polluting borough, has invested £3 million of their 2007 budget to a new climate change fund, in a bid to drive down carbon emissions.
But critics estimate that the turbine will generate just 5% of the energy needed to run the building, and will waste precious resources.
Labour councillor James Murray said: “It’s basically a waste of money. When you have finite resources you have to concentrate on what’s effective. There wouldn’t be a problem if the offices were just more energy efficient to start with."
He added: “A wind turbine would be the icing on the cake. But you need to bake the cake before you can ice it. It’s a drop in the ocean. The turbine won’t power more than a couple of light bulbs in a basement toilet.”
But council leader James Kempton said: “We can’t be complacent on this issue. The council may be the biggest polluter, but 95 per cent of the emissions in Islington come from other places. That's why it is so important we all work together.
"I look forward to seeing lots more renewable energy across the borough, from solar panels to wind turbines, to biomass boilers and ground source heat pumps.”
Disabled man faces eviction
By Kevin Widdop
A DISABLED actor and writer will be made homeless within days to make way for young people coming out of council care, Islington Now has learned.
Firdaus Kanga, 47, who suffers from osteoporosis, has been given an accelerated eviction order to leave the purpose-built two storey building on Purley Place, off Upper Street in Islington.
In place of his house, the council are planning to build ten self-contained one-bedroom flats for young people leaving local authority care. The Community Housing Group (CHG), who own the house, says there is currently no demand for more disabled housing in Islington.
"I have always said that I would never compete with someone on the basis of need," said Mr Kanga.
"I don���t want to revenge or embarrass CHG, but I have been living there for ten years now. It comes down to how one human being treats another and I don���t feel I���m being treated fairly.���
The planned move has caused controversy in the local community, and Islington Council has said that it is going to undertake an assessment of how disabled housing is allotted.
Mr Kanga says no plans have been made yet to provide him with alternative accommodation.
His neighbour of ten years, Ranjit Krishna, 47, said he was appalled at the eviction of Mr Kanga.
���This is about one little guy taking on the housing association," he said.
"The Community Housing Group want to decommission the house and then make an assessment about whether there is a need for disabled housing in Islington. Surely they���re doing it the wrong way round?���
A petition against Mr Kanga's eviction was signed by 50 people and presented to the council last year.
Council planning documents state that the site will be for ���supported accommodation for young people leaving local authority care". Night support officers will be based in the front facing office, "to provide security and support to residents.���
The hostel has not been welcomed. Late last year the Islington planning committee rejected the council���s application because of concerns about the potential threat to the safety, security and privacy that the proposed hostel would cause the community.
Retired Graham Clipsham, 60, who also lives on Purley Place, said: ���Why should potential criminals be put before the disabled? An organisation with the word ���community��� should surely be acting in the interests of the community.���
A spokesperson for CHG said: ���I can confirm that the plans at Purley Place are to create ten self contained units for young people with support requirements in the borough.
���CHG are committed to Mr Kanga���s welfare and will continue to work with him and Islington Council to find alternative accommodation that meets his needs."
Tuesday, 6 March 2007
MP urges public to get up in arms about Trident
By Alex Delaney
PEOPLE need to do a better job of lobbying MPs against the replacement of Trident nuclear missiles, according to an Islington MP.
In a public meeting last weekend, Emily Thornberry, MP for Islington South and Finsbury, said that the debate in Parliament on March 14 would be crucial.
���We need to have support from the public, who need to realise that things are bit more subtle than just voting yes or no to the replacement of Trident,��� she said.
Ms Thornberry called on her constituents to write to her concerning Trident. ���I am immensely proud to be a Labour MP and I think we have done many good things," she said.
"But I have only received around 50 letters about Trident, which means it is hard for me to vote against its replacement on the 14 march.���
The government plans to replace the nuclear missiles based on submarines around the waters of Britain. The costs could rise to as much as ��15 billion, according to the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND).
Sophie Bolt, vice-chair of CND, said: ���Our spending priorities should be for children and social good. These weapons should not have any part in a so-called civilised society.��� Bolt went on say that a recent ICM poll showed that opposition to Trident has reached 59% of the British public.
Mary Edwards from Friends of the Earth argued that the problem of proliferation of nuclear weapons would continue if parliament voted to allow the replacement of Trident.
���Nuclear power is not a God-given right," she said. "We must learn to do without nuclear missiles and nuclear energy if we are to stop Iran and countries like it.���