Over the past few years the part of London where I live has been going steadily downhill - but it is only now that a few galvanising issues have meant that it has become really obvious.
The causes must be eroded council and police funding due to austerity, coupled with the cost of living crisis - and they have meant that problems that have historically been “further away” have crept across the postcode and around main hubs like the local library, park and tube station.
The problems are principally drug dealers dealing in brought daylight and with impunity, and a general feeling of increased lawlessness.
There are encampments of addicts around the tube station, and more people generally who obviously need support on the streets.
The other week my dc’s bag was stolen on a fairly isolated street - days later the same people were hassling commuters who had just left the train station - we are talking not late and in full view of other people. The police who came to talk to my dc after the first incident said that “half of London is at it”.
My dc are now worried about getting home after dark and the routes they can take but all the routes are badly lit and have isolated sections.
People sometimes squeeze through the barrier at the station - not unusual, but noticeable that the station staff don’t do much if they see - maybe they feel threatened. There seem to be more altercations between people at the station too but maybe that is a subjective/anecdotal thing - (eg. the other day someone was shouting at someone else that they were going to kill them and my friend who witnessed this called the police).
In a local Facebook group it’s clear that all of this is a concern for many including local councillors, and there is talk of community action - but realistically what could that be?
I am wondering if people have seen where they live go downhill in the same way, and what local action might have helped or how things have got better if at all?