Yep im going. As for the TV thing, erm pass, looks another stitch up like the thrown out the cup thing. Funny hahaha... not!

The BNP moved out yonks ago but there are still many who still make the connection with Welling, probably because there are still racial attacks in  Welling/Bexleyheath area and its environs.

Forgive me Flatgooner but I have to point out that you need to read more than the newspaper headline, the BNP would hardly be involved in Birmingham’s highly publicised racial unrest since it is a black gang v an Asian gang conflict which flared up following the alleged rape of a Jamaican girl by Asians. 

 

The fear is that a race war will break out and this is fuelled by the rumour that two of the most violent black gangs, the Burger Bar Boys and the Johnson Crew, who normally are normally engaged in their own turf war, have put their differences aside and will unite against any Pakistani community attacks.

 

Whilst we have been spared the highly publicised racial troubles of Bristol, Oldham and Bradford, the latest published (as far as I am aware) facts on racial incidents in Bexley are those contained in the report London Borough of Bexley Crime and Disorder Audit 2004.

 

The actual number of racially motivated incidents is relatively low in comparison to other Boroughs but as the police themselves point out around 8% of our population are from ethnic minorities whereas the Greater London average is 29%.  Between 2001 and 2004 the number of racially motivated offences increased by 18% and over 85% of the offenders during the 3 years were white.

 

From the top of my head, other than the anecdotal, I can recall the following incidents in the last few months

Asian woman abused at Shoulder of Mutton Green

Belvedere Mosque attacked by inept fire bombers who failed to start a fire.

Residents in Woolwich Road Bexleyheath moved to safety after attacks by the RA (Race Attack) gang.

!8 members of RA gang arrested in dawn swoop – five recent incidents detailed in press.

 

The Council is also finalising a strategy for dealing with racism in its schools.  One of the significant factors of racially motivated incidents being the number of them initiated by the under 20 age group.

 

I think there is enough there to substantiate my expressed view but perhaps you disagree and only believe there is a problem when a riot breaks out.

since when did i say all race attacks were white versus other. A white man attacks a black man it is a racist attack? a black man attacks an indian it is just an attack?

since when did i say there is only a problem when there is a riot?

wa all know that racist attacks have increased recently but I wonder what could have spurred these bigots on? maybe the events in july could have helped. I didnt say we dont have a problem but i said that it is about the average. I am sure when red ken and sir ian blair were asking for people not to attack muslims they weren't thinking of the welling and bexleyheath as the hotbed of racial attacks

You can make up a lot out of statistics. Since you seem to have this report to hand what does it say about violent crime in genaral gone up more that 18% in 3 years has it? Well that must be because of binge drinking.

yes there are local initiatives taking place but i bet in the large majority of local councils are taking these steps also.

Ahem!! I was born in Brixton too and brought up in railton road area!

Flatgooner, since the thread was about the BNP, and in the absence of anything to indicate you were widening the discussion, I think it was quite reasonable to take your comments as relating to white on black racist attacks.  Added to this was your comment about areas with a mosque, though you seemed not to be aware of the Belvedere mosque and the attack on it.

The comment about riots was made quite simply because of your statement 'for racial attacks try Birmingham' which just happens to have hit the headlines for that very reason.

To answer the fresh points you have raised my responses which reflect my opinions are as follows

What spurs the bigots on is as I stated in my later posting - ignorance, political ineptitude, and the imposition of political correctness which in many cases is so far over the top in its interpretation that it serves to breed resentment which in turn leads to intolerance.

The statistics, and we can't ignore them, show that there is an increase of racially motivated incidents in our area which may be reflected nationwide but that does not mean we should sit back and say "Oh well we're no different to anywhere else"  The Council, the police and community organisations are certainly concerned about it, perhaps in part because  our ethnic population is relatively small when compared with other areas but despite this the problem is growing.  They are taking a proactive role to try and tackle the problem and are gaining some success, a fact which has been recognised nationally.

I would hope that Red Ken and Sir Ian Blair were not thinking about Bexley Borough when they were asking people not to attack Muslims, the vast majority of whom are appalled by the acts of terrorism perpretated by the Islamic extremists. Why? because in terms of the size of Muslim Communities in Greater London we probably have one of the lowest.

Crimes of violence did indeed increase by more than racially motivated crime.  It increased by 21% and represented 20% of Bexley's notifiable offences.  The highest intensity of this crime is the area between the Broadway and Crook Log.  As far as binge drinking goes forgive me if I am wrong but from the tone of your posting I get the feeling that you are hostile to that view so I will quote directly from the document. 

“The area forms a ‘cluster’ of public houses, restaurants and off-licenses with alcohol available until late at night at many outlets. The links between alcohol and violent crime are well-established and it would be reasonable to suggest that there may be some link between the accessibility of alcohol in this area and the higher level of violence against the person offences. Welling Town Centre and Sidcup Town Centre may experience similar problems but to a lesser extent for the same reason.”

“However, it is very apparent that incidents of violence against the person consistently occur more often on Friday and Saturday than any other day of the week. In respect of the Broadway area, this does point to a correlation between violent offending as a consequence of larger numbers of people frequenting the town centre at the weekend and that, as with incidents of disorder and anti-social behaviour, alcohol consumption is an influential factor.”

The above police view is supported by the London Ambulance Service.

If you are really interested the 145 page document is available on the internet at http://www.bexley.gov.uk/service/bcsp/pdfs/crimeaudit04.pdf

Our differences would I suggest largely arise from a lack of clarity in what was written.  I have responded to your points but would suggest that if you wish to continue the discussion further you do it via PM since sooner or later either JGFC or TG is going to hit the delete key cos this is after all a football forum and not a political platform.

 

 

 

 

Any more Lambeth Boys out there?

I practically lived over that Pool in the summer.

I even went over on a Christmas morning with the Icicles Club one year. Bunch of nutters used to swim every day. We had to break the ice to get in the water. Never again.

Someone told me that it's been restored to it's former glory now with the fountains working and the small tuck shop open again. I keep meaning to have a nostalgic trip back there.

This is worth a look http://www.thelido.co.uk/