Woolwich residents defend town centre after firework chaos causes safety concerns

By Kiro Evans, local democracy reporter

Woolwich residents have defended the town centre insisting it doesn’t have a problem with crime despite firework chaos on Halloween.

School chiefs had urged children to avoid the high street after a student was fatally stabbed in July.

Earlier this week 30 people were arrested and four police officers were badly injured after “hundreds” of people allegedly began throwing lit fireworks at each other on Halloween.

A woman and her two small children reportedly had fireworks thrown at them.

A few streets away at Parry Place, a 14-year-old boy was stabbed on the same night, but has not suffered any life-changing injuries.

It is one of a number of ugly incidents that has gripped Woolwich – but residents and councillors have rallied to defend the town.

Derrick Williams, 28, said he has “heard stories” but feels “pretty safe.”

His friend, 36-year-old Cornelius Tatum said: “I’ve only been here for a couple of weeks, but I agree. Out here I feel safe enough, but we are normally inside before 9pm.”

A 22-year-old, who did not wish to be named, said: “I’ve lived here for five years and I’ve always felt safe here.”

Other residents were more damning of the area, which is still reeling from the fatal stabbing of Tamin Ian Habimana.

Local resident Jan Abott said that although she felt safe, she acknowledged there were “a lot of youth problems”.

She said: “They’ve done away with the youth centres so young people have nowhere to go. There’s a lot of gangs here too.”

A man who only gave his name as Kim and works at the local off-licence near the town centre was left aghast at how defenceless police were, following the injuries four officers sustained after groups of people threw fireworks at each other.

He said: “Their parents don’t care, the community doesn’t care. I 100 per cent do not feel safe in Woolwich. There’s something every day and every week.”

Local councillor David Gardner played down suggestions the area had a major crime problem but he added that the district appeared to have attracted an outside crowd who are “determined to cause a scene”.

He said: “There can be no excuses for the behaviour in Woolwich Town Centre on Sunday night with young people throwing fireworks recklessly, a teenager stabbed and four police officers injured.

“Fireworks are very dangerous and it is illegal for anyone under 18 to handle them. Our thoughts are with the young person stabbed and hoping for a full recovery.”

He added that Woolwich appeared to have “attracted a crowd largely from outside the area determined to cause a scene which turned really nasty.”

“In general, [Woolwich] crime rates are only a touch above the London average and I am sure the council, our Safer Spaces team and the new police team will make a significant difference.”

Safer Schools Sergeant Geoff Warren said: “My team and many other officers were deployed in Woolwich Town Centre to deal with hundreds of youths, throwing fireworks, causing disorder and ‘hanging around’.

“There was also a young man stabbed in the town centre last night and a vulnerable member of the public receiving medical attention after a firework was thrown in his direction.

“Many fireworks were thrown in this busy area where young children, elderly and vulnerable people were present and it was only luck that prevented more people getting seriously hurt.

“Can I please appeal to your duty as a parent/guardian to ensure your child is not present unless accompanied by a responsible adult in Woolwich Town Centre in the evenings leading up to and including fireworks night.

“Even if your child was a spectator to what was going on they are responsible for creating physical cover in crimes being committed and an audience.”

General Gordon Square was sealed off to the public with large metal fences erected around it due firework-related disorder at the end of last month and will remain caged off until after Bonfire Night.

The closure of the square has been rolled out at the request of police to help local enforcement teams mount a targeted response quickly to areas they believed would be of concern.

The council and police are appealing to the public for any information that may help prevent further incidents.