SHOPS in London’s crime-ridden East End are setting up havens of refuge’ for youngsters in trouble. They are forming a safe city alliance’ with church and community leaders to protect victims and help rid streets of violence
SHOPS are to become safe havens’ for youngsters in danger of attack on the streets of London’s crime-ridden East End.
Stores and business premises are forming a safe city alliance’ with church and community leaders to set up refuge points to protect victims and help rid the East End of its violence.
Traders and community leaders who’ve had enough of gang clashes and knife fights on their doorstep are to sign up to the alliance under the London Citizens organisation on Wednesday (July 29) to become City Safe’ havens.
MURDERED
Jude Padfield, from St Paul’s Church in Shadwell, said: “Safety at night has been a real issue.
“But the community has identified shops as safe places for people to go in their time of need.”
Over the last 18 months, 10 youngsters from London Citizens member groups have been murdered on the streets. Teenagers and young people under 25 are the age-groups most at risk.
Three meetings are being arranged on Wednesday for shops and businesses to sign up, at St Paul’s in Shadwell, the East London Mosque in Whitechapel and London University’s Queen Mary college in Mile End, in a move to reclaim the streets.’
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