Inside Townley Court: A Community Under Siege in East London

[Social Media]

 

In the heart of Stratford, east London, lies Townley Court, an estate once seen as a decent place to live but now overrun by gangs, drug dealers, and sex workers. Residents here are living in constant fear, feeling abandoned by the authorities meant to protect them. With rising crime rates and police seeming to have 'given up', the community is left to fend for itself in an environment that feels increasingly lawless and dangerous.

 

Locals recount horrifying experiences of being mugged multiple times and witnessing sex acts on their way to school. Many residents are too scared to leave their homes or even look out their windows, having lost faith in the police's ability to provide protection. This fear is compounded by the blatant and brazen behavior of criminals, who operate openly, knowing there will be little to no consequence for their actions.

 

 

In April 2024 alone, the Metropolitan Police recorded 166 crimes in the area, with violence and sexual offenses accounting for a significant portion. Graffiti referencing a 'Demon Gang' has also appeared, further fueling the residents' fears that the situation is spiraling out of control.

 

One resident, a furious mother, shared doorbell camera footage of her nine-year-old son encountering a prostitute and her client having sex in the stairwell. Another resident described witnessing a sex act in broad daylight, within view of playing children. A disabled resident recounted a terrifying experience of having a gun pulled on him after challenging a gang inside his building. "We're under siege," said one resident who chose to remain anonymous. "It's like a horror show. It's so dangerous around here."

 

 

Another elderly resident has been mugged twice and recounted how the police never turned up after the latest attack, citing a lack of available vehicles. He described how one gang member smirked at him, boasting, "You can't do nothing."

 

The community's fear is palpable. One mother expressed her anxiety about even looking outside in case she is seen by the hostile elements prowling the estate. She added that criminals operate openly because they know that the police response, if it comes at all, will be inadequate. Police often drive past people openly using drugs and do nothing, further eroding any confidence the community might have in their protection.

 

 

Residents are so disillusioned that many have stopped calling the police altogether. One man noted, "The police talk to us like we're a crowd of idiots. They have a script, and they just stick to it." Another woman added, "It's like things have got out of control and they can't get it back now, so they've just given up."

 

The Metropolitan Police claim they are engaging with sex workers and conducting patrols to counter antisocial behavior, but residents see little evidence of this. The situation has deteriorated to such an extent that addicts and prostitutes have obtained keys used by firefighters, allowing them to enter residential blocks to use drugs, have sex, vomit, and defecate. Locals report that sex workers sometimes walk around naked, oblivious to the presence of children.

 

 

"I feel sorry for them," one man said. "They are humans like us. But we are not disturbing other people's lives. We don't need this happening right in front of our doors." Drug users hold noisy gatherings in doorways and gardens every night, with fights breaking out over drugs and knives.

 

A school worker who has lived on the estate for over 20 years said the situation is taking a toll on children. "It's just relentless," they said. "Sometimes I'm going to work on two, three hours' sleep. Some of the kids from around here are at my school and they're not sleeping either."

 

 

The community has grown accustomed to finding addicts passed out in the street. Last month, the London Ambulance Service was called to assist an unresponsive woman who remained in the same position all day. One man recounted being threatened with a machete after confronting a gang member, who then stole his children's trainers.

 

Residents have risked gathering evidence of the criminal activity, only to be ignored by authorities. When addicts realized locals were filming them, they started using umbrellas to hide their actions. Despite collecting photos and videos of a suspected drug dealer's car, no action seems to have been taken.

 

 

One man summed up the situation grimly: "Someone is going to get killed. We're all suffering." Authorities have admitted the issues often occur outside of operational hours, leading to "pointless" daylight patrols. Newham Council has promised overtime patrols and new locks for blocks of flats to prevent intruders from entering with fire keys.

 

A spokesperson for the Met Police stated: "We are working hard to tackle the issue in order to make residents feel safer. We have listened to concerns and are actively working with partners to reduce problems in the area. As part of this work, we have a Design Out Crime officer visiting the area. They will make recommendations on what needs to change."

 

However, for many residents, these promises ring hollow. A young woman whose parents bought their home on the estate in the 1990s expressed her disbelief at how things had deteriorated. "Stratford is a prime location. How can they let things get this bad? It's like they just don't give a damn."

 

The woman’s car was recently broken into, and when she started parking further away, she received a fine. "So they don't mind coming around here to give out parking tickets," she fumed. "It's embarrassing, as well as being unsafe. You don't want to invite people to your house. The police are doing absolutely nothing. Maybe, one of these days, if somebody gets hurt, then they will come."

 

One pensioner echoed this sentiment, saying: "It's like they are waiting for someone to actually get stabbed. I just don't know how it's going to end. It's got to be stopped, one way or another. It's going to get deadly otherwise."

 

As the community waits for effective action, they continue to live in fear, feeling abandoned by those meant to protect them. Until substantial changes are made, the residents of Townley Court remain under siege in their own homes, hoping for a day when they can feel safe once again.

 

Credit: Daily Mail 2024-06-17

 

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[Snackbar]

A harbinger of a Labour Party run council

[JeffersLos]

5 hours ago, Social Media said:

one gang member smirked at him, boasting, "You can't do nothing."

 

Double negative!! The jokes on him. 

[thaibeachlovers]

5 hours ago, Social Media said:

A spokesperson for the Met Police stated: "We are working hard to tackle the issue in order to make residents feel safer. We have listened to concerns and are actively working with partners to reduce problems in the area. As part of this work, we have a Design Out Crime officer visiting the area. They will make recommendations on what needs to change."

If anyone doesn't know what BS looks like it's the above, IMO.

 

Seems the plod are too busy arresting people for posting something on line to deal with actual criminals.

[Bkk Brian]

Just now, thaibeachlovers said:

If anyone doesn't know what BS looks like it's the above, IMO.

 

Seems the plod are too busy arresting people for posting something on line to deal with actual criminals.

Posting that you support terrorists online is a serious offense and also needs dealing with as much as you'd prefer the police to gloss over it.

[thaibeachlovers]

6 hours ago, Social Media said:

One pensioner echoed this sentiment, saying: "It's like they are waiting for someone to actually get stabbed. I just don't know how it's going to end. It's got to be stopped, one way or another. It's going to get deadly otherwise."

I can almost guarantee that if one of the victims killed one of the criminal scum the plod would be along pronto to arrest the one that did the community a favour.

[placeholder]

42 minutes ago, JeffersLos said:

 

Double negative!! The jokes on him. 

He will regret he ever said those words on the day that the grammar police SWAT team show up at his front door.

[steve187]

2 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

If anyone doesn't know what BS looks like it's the above, IMO.

 

Seems the plod are too busy arresting people for posting something on line to deal with actual criminals.

what a stupid post

[Chelseafan]

3 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

If anyone doesn't know what BS looks like it's the above, IMO.

 

Seems the plod are too busy arresting people for posting something on line to deal with actual criminals.

 

Meanwhile, I got a £100 speeding ticket for driving at 35mph in a 30 zone by a policeman with a speedgun!

 

 

[Purdey]

4 hours ago, Snackbar said:

A harbinger of a Labour Party run council

The conservatives have been in government since 2010. 

The council is not in charge of the police force.

[thaibeachlovers]

2 hours ago, steve187 said:

what a stupid post

In your opinion.

[Jaggg88]

6 hours ago, Purdey said:

The conservatives have been in government since 2010. 

The council is not in charge of the police force.

The Met Police are controlled by The London Labour Mayor's office - good old Sadiq Khan

[The Old Bull]

13 hours ago, Snackbar said:

A harbinger of a Labour Party run council

They should deal with what exists, the tories, not what might be.

[youreavinalaff]

9 hours ago, Chelseafan said:

 

Meanwhile, I got a £100 speeding ticket for driving at 35mph in a 30 zone by a policeman with a speedgun!

 

 

And? 

 

Traffic police are a different department.

[still kicking]

10 hours ago, steve187 said:

what a stupid post

What do you expect from someone who likes sheep 

[Woof999]

19 hours ago, Social Media said:

The Metropolitan Police claim they are engaging with sex workers

 

Do they get a policeman's discount?

[JonnyF]

On 6/17/2024 at 9:05 AM, JeffersLos said:

 

Double negative!! The jokes on him. 

 

He could care less.😄

 

Seriously though, if I was on that estate I'd hack into their Facebook accounts and make a joke about the LGBT flag. They'd be behind bars within the hour with Sadiq Khan's Met Police at the helm. 

[placeholder]

On 6/17/2024 at 9:35 AM, thaibeachlovers said:

I can almost guarantee that if one of the victims killed one of the criminal scum the plod would be along pronto to arrest the one that did the community a favour.

 

26 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

He could care less.😄

 

Seriously though, if I was on that estate I'd hack into their Facebook accounts and make a joke about the LGBT flag. They'd be behind bars within the hour with Sadiq Khan's Met Police at the helm. 

Any arguments that rely on contrary-to-fact assertions ought not to be taken seriously.

[herfiehandbag]

On 6/17/2024 at 3:33 AM, Social Media said:

A spokesperson for the Met Police stated: "We are working hard to tackle the issue in order to make residents feel safer. We have listened to concerns and are actively working with partners to reduce problems in the area. As part of this work, we have a Design Out Crime officer visiting the area. They will make recommendations on what needs to change."

For crying out loud stop mincing around, and arrest the criminals!

 

You are wet, timid, and have lost control.

Edited June 19 by herfiehandbag

[JonnyF]

40 minutes ago, placeholder said:

 

Any arguments that rely on contrary-to-fact assertions ought not to be taken seriously.

 

Oh really?

 

 

[placeholder]

3 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Oh really?

 

 

Did the party in question make some kind of contrary-to-fact assertion for which he was arrested?

[JonnyF]

1 minute ago, placeholder said:

Did the party in question make some kind of contrary-to-fact assertion for which he was arrested?

 

The "party in question" was arrested for tweeting a joke about the LGBT flag.

 

Which is exactly what I stated happened in the previous post. 

[placeholder]

Just now, JonnyF said:

 

The "party in question" was arrested for tweeting a joke about the LGBT flag.

 

Which is exactly what I stated happened in the previous post. 

The party in question also noted that other people were posting hateful stuff and hadn't been arrested. What you are doing is so typical of those trying to elicit outrage. You take one incident and then claim it's typical. Got any evidence that this wasn't an unusual case?

 

And what's really damning to the silly case you're trying to make her is that the incident you've cited took place in Hampshire. You might want to consult a map. Hampshire is not wholly or partly located inside the boundaries of London. What does this have to do with the Met police? You claim to live in the UK. Posts like your latest ones here leave that assertion open to doubt.

You've got nothing.

[JonnyF]

4 hours ago, placeholder said:

The party in question also noted that other people were posting hateful stuff and hadn't been arrested. What you are doing is so typical of those trying to elicit outrage. You take one incident and then claim it's typical. Got any evidence that this wasn't an unusual case?

 

Yes. It's a theme. 

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-merseyside-56154542

 

 

4 hours ago, placeholder said:

 

And what's really damning to the silly case you're trying to make her is that the incident you've cited took place in Hampshire. You might want to consult a map. Hampshire is not wholly or partly located inside the boundaries of London.

 

I didn't say it was exclusive to London. It just happens to be worse in London due to Khan.

 

4 hours ago, placeholder said:

 

 

What does this have to do with the Met police? You claim to live in the UK. Posts like your latest ones here leave that assertion open to doubt.

 

I live in Thailand and have since 2006. Never claimed to live in the UK since then. 

 

4 hours ago, placeholder said:

You've got nothing.

 

Time for a new catchphrase I think.

[placeholder]

22 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Yes. It's a theme. 

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-merseyside-56154542

So what? What evidentiary value does it have? What percentage of arrests and/or convictions have to do with this kind of crime?

[placeholder]

23 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

I didn't say it was exclusive to London. It just happens to be worse in London due to Khan.

The topic is about a community in London. Here's what you originally wrote:

You offered an hypothesis contrary to fact and to support it you cite an incident in Hampshire. You've still got nothing.

[JonnyF]

5 minutes ago, placeholder said:

So what? What evidentiary value does it have? What percentage of arrests and/or convictions have to do with this kind of crime?

 

Why don't you look it up and post a link?

 

Good lad...

[JonnyF]

3 minutes ago, placeholder said:

The topic is about a community in London. Here's what you originally wrote:

You offered an hypothesis contrary to fact and to support it you cite an incident in Hampshire. You've still got nothing.

 

Yes, within the hour in London.

 

Outside London, maybe several hours. 

 

Your point?

[placeholder]

 

10 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Yes, within the hour in London.

 

Outside London, maybe several hours. 

 

Your point?

Another unbacked assertion. And still standing by an irrelevant post about Hampshire.

[placeholder]

12 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Why don't you look it up and post a link?

 

Good lad...

You're the one who cites isolated events as some kind of proof. In a country with a population of about 70 million, that's not hard to do. The question is, does it actually have a measurable effect on policing? You've offered nothing to support that.