CCTV delays on Brandon estate in Southwark, where three teenagers died in 18 months, were in line with policy, says council

Delays installing CCTV on an estate where three teenagers died in 18 months were “in line with projects of that nature,” according to a progress report.

Residents of the Brandon Estate in Southwark, pictured above, have become increasingly frustrated by the council response to problems in the area.

They criticised the town hall response to the murders, heating breakdowns and delays in installing CCTV at a Southwark scrutiny committee meeting in November. An investigation into the CCTV delays will now be launched.

They were invited after a community meeting following the murder of 18-year-old Clinton Evbota, who became the third teenager to die on the estate in a year and a half.

Residents, councillors and officers will now meet regularly to review progress on that and access to the Jack Hobbs Club.

A progress report on what has been done since Clinton’s death was presented to cabinet via video conference on April 7 by Cllr Evelyn Akoto, member for community safety and public health.

According to the report, it took seven months to install CCTV cameras on the estate, from when discussions with Brandon Tenants and Residents Association chairpeople and ward councillors began in February 2019.

The six cameras were installed in November, but according to the report the “timescales for both the lead-in and the installation works are in-line with projects of this nature”.

“The CCTV team is continuing to work with residents, ward councillors and police colleagues,” it said.

The report said that “governance arrangements are in place to ensure increased lead member and ward councillor oversight, as well as increased oversight and engagement of residents,” while a log of residents’ issues has been in place since November, which is updated and shared weekly with TRA chairpeople and ward councillors.

“Since November 2019, the lead member, officers and TRA chairpeople have met on a number of occasions in relation to specific issues.

“Regular monthly meetings are now in place.

“In addition, the lead member is supported by a fortnightly teleconference with ward councillors and a weekly briefing with officers.

“A quarterly newsletter has been created to communicate key information to residents.

“The first edition was distributed to all residents across the Brandon Estate in December 2019,” according to the report.

Despite the council’s aim to open the young people’s hub at Jack Hobbs Club in April, it will not likely be open until June or later.

The Brandon Estate has also been included in the council’s review of district heating and officers are looking at the compensation structure if residents’ heating breaks down.

Cllr Akoto told the cabinet: “A lot of work has been done so far.

“We’ve had good communication and a good relationship with the community but there’s still outstanding work to do and we are confident that we’ll be able to finalise everything post Covid-19.”

Surrey Docks ward councillor Jane Salmon said she thought the report was “the best we can do at the moment”.

“There are so many problems on the Brandon, and so many issues, that I appreciate this report,” she said.