Drug/drink addicts around the town centre, begging, urinating in public. General A.S.B

[Smokyk]

Does anybody else have a similar problem locally to them? I live in Catford (S.E London) and I'm honestly sick of the sight of it.

Whenever I go to my local Tesco I'm hounded by drug addicts for money. I can't sit down on a bench for 5 minutes to rest my legs without being approached (I'm 8 months pregnant)

There are a group of drinkers that sit near the Costa all day every day, spilling booze all over the place and pissing up the walls in full view of passing children (including mine) making the area smell like a urinal. There are signs saying it's a no drinking zone but they take no notice.

Yesterday we walked past one of these men openly smoking crack at the side of a shop making no effort to conceal it.

Another bloke, drunk as a skunk and in a group of several tried giving my DD (2) a high five and terrified her.

How tone deaf need you be to approach a lone pregnant woman with a toddler when you're out of your head and in a group?

I've been asked for cigarettes and verbally abused when I've said I don't smoke.

One of the well known beggers even harasses people inside cafes.

It's absolutely disgusting.

What is the answer? A petition? Or do us normal locals just have to accept it is what it is? I can't move.

Infact on the subject of homeless in the area.

I've come to know of one particular man that actually does sleep rough, I have never seen him behave the way that these people do. He has a tupperware box next to him for if people do want to give him some money but he doesn't approach people intimidating them into giving anything.

Totally different kettle of fish.

@Comedycook

It's not a nice area and there is a hospital on the main road...I don't particularly like walking around there with my children although clearly I remind my DC that they're immensely privileged and lucky if they do see someone mainlining heroin

waves

Hello neighbour! I'm sorry you have the misfortune to live locally too

@DetroitNeedsADog

No. It really is an attack on homeless people

I haven't always been a well behaved homeless person while I was out there. Abused by my father, on the streets at 17. Bad drug problem to cope with the pain. Prostituted. I might well have yelled at a few people, pissed and shit myself in public and shot drugs in bathrooms. I was damaged and suffering. These are someone's loved ones. Help them, don't judge them.

That's all the energy I have for this

Get a fucking heart, woman

Would you say that had they attacked and robbed OP?

I used to live there but have moved a mile or so down the road. Only go there now when we have hospital appointments. I suggest heading towards downham if you need shopping. A more pleasant experience!

I'm genuinely sorry for what you have been through, Detroit. I'm also sorry that you find my post so offensive. I hope you don't let it spoil your day. Be well.

I suggest heading towards downham if you need shopping. A more pleasant experience!

Noted, thanks. I'll be sure to do that

@Smokyk

Does anybody else have a similar problem locally to them? I live in Catford (S.E London) and I'm honestly sick of the sight of it.

Whenever I go to my local Tesco I'm hounded by drug addicts for money. I can't sit down on a bench for 5 minutes to rest my legs without being approached (I'm 8 months pregnant)

There are a group of drinkers that sit near the Costa all day every day, spilling booze all over the place and pissing up the walls in full view of passing children (including mine) making the area smell like a urinal. There are signs saying it's a no drinking zone but they take no notice.

Yesterday we walked past one of these men openly smoking crack at the side of a shop making no effort to conceal it.

Another bloke, drunk as a skunk and in a group of several tried giving my DD (2) a high five and terrified her.

How tone deaf need you be to approach a lone pregnant woman with a toddler when you're out of your head and in a group?

I've been asked for cigarettes and verbally abused when I've said I don't smoke.

One of the well known beggers even harasses people inside cafes.

It's absolutely disgusting.

What is the answer? A petition? Or do us normal locals just have to accept it is what it is? I can't move.

I name changed for this.

I live in catford as well. Lots of people call it crackford. Catford Broadway is awful. The police know what's going on . They are just not bothered. Catford is a horrible place. It's practically in your face.

Have you come across the female begger who comes out with loads of weird story's. She has often been laying on the floor of the path ways to people's houses . Also breaks into people's cars.

My kids dad said he bought them ice cream sat down to enjoy it next thing there is a drinker trying to sit next to him and chat with the kids then he started following him saying do you want me to carry your shopping . I did think to myself why you even thinking about sitting down In Catford. You should be able to though but sadly you can't. But im wondering if you needed to sit down would you be better to try and sit on the benches that are near Iceland. Its the main shopping bit and then there are couple security guys there you might feel a bit safer ?

I can't see a petition or simlar working sadly they don't care

@DetroitNeedsADog

Yes, you are immensely privileged if you are offended by the unhoused and the things they are driven to do. Enjoy your coffee while people are living outside suffering and having to cope with a society that judges them for their suffering. Waste of time explaining to people like you.

So when you were homeless, did you harass women and kids in the street? Asking because you seem to think it's OK and anyone who objects to this is privileged.

Have a look at the community trigger process.

www.lewishamhomes.org.uk/your-home/antisocial-behaviour/

@Smokyk you just reminded me . With some of your post. You know as you walk under the cat and to the right there is a black metal gate (recently removed) and an alley way. My daughter lived in a flat there . The amount of times she saw drugs being taken. People pissing up her door and people having sex giving bj s etc . She used to have to walk past with her child. And it's not like she could give it a wide birth it was a dead end alley way .

I doubt a 2 year old will take any notice of someone lying around messed up on drugs. The shouting at you & scaring her is out of order but I always feel bad for addicts if they are just live & let live.

Hi Crackford, nice to see a few locals on here who know exactly what I'm talking about (not so nice to be a local though, sorry to hear that)

Have you come across the female begger who comes out with loads of weird story's. She has often been laying on the floor of the path ways to people's houses . Also breaks into people's cars

Does she tend to stand outside Tesco begging too? If so I know exactly who you mean. She has approached me several times too.

The benches I usually sit on for a breather are the ones opposite Tesco as that's where I do my shopping. I'm quite slow and not great on my feet at the moment as I have SPD, but I'll bare that in mind about the Iceland ones for the benefit of having the security guards

Do you or @Comedycook know of 'Richard' too? He's a prominent character. Usually approaches people on benches or in cafes (yep, inside the actual cafes) asking for change.

He's tried propositioning my mum more than once when I've been with her in the area. He doesn't take no for an answer easily when you ask him to move along.

I don’t know London at all, but I’ve mentally added Catford to my list of places to avoid. It sounds horrific.

[quote Crackford]@Smokyk you just reminded me . With some of your post. You know as you walk under the cat and to the right there is a black metal gate (recently removed) and an alley way. My daughter lived in a flat there . The amount of times she saw drugs being taken. People pissing up her door and people having sex giving bj s etc . She used to have to walk past with her child. And it's not like she could give it a wide birth it was a dead end alley way .[/quote]
Your poor DD and her child. I know exactly where you mean yes. I've been chatting to another young woman today who's just around the corner above the slip way between catford broadway and Tesco and she has reported pretty much exactly the same things happening outside her flat.

I hope your DD is somewhere much safer now.

[quote CornishTiger]Have a look at the community trigger process.

www.lewishamhomes.org.uk/your-home/antisocial-behaviour/[/quote]
Thank you Cornish I'll have a look now.

No woman/child should accept being harrassed by men with their genitals out. Ffs.

Similar happenings a while back in the churchyard opposite my house - openly smoking crack and preparing heroin injections. In recovery myself from heroin addiction, so extremely triggering. One day I just saw red and stamped on their drugs (all arranged on the ground, like a picnic) wrong thing to do, but I was so very angry.

Speak to your community police, I reported whenever I saw the antisocial behaviour. There's now CCTV covering the area, and it seems to have discouraged this type of stuff.

Catford has always been like this, try going to Bromley or Downham or even Lewisham is better.

I think you are wrong about it not being the Government fault though. They have cut so much funding for Mental Health/Substance Abuse/Police. There is no one and no where left for them go for help.

I hope you can move soon.

@Smokyk you're getting a bit of a tough time here. I think that if most here lived in a similar area, they'd have a pretty big shock to the system, and their views would change quite rapidly.
I know mine did. When I moved here, I was very sympathetic. The sort of person to give money to anyone who was begging, however the constant begging and harassment for money, capless discarded needles everywhere, attempted muggings, the houses and cars in our area always being broken into, and the area not being safe for any of us to walk in because of these people makes it very hard to remain sympathetic.

Why is mumsnet such a zero sum place. You can have sympathy for addicts and wish not to be harassed and have your children harassed in your head at the same time
Sounds shit and miserable op.

@LaBellina

I would ignore the guilt tripping posters OP. You are perfectly reasonable to not want to deal with men exposing themselves to you and your toddler and harassing you, esspecially in your current pregnant state with a toddler in tow. People who think you’re unreasonable should give their head a good wobble. Or swap houses with you if it isn’t all that bad! See how long their sympathy lasts….

Agreed. If this was happening to me I would be inclined to call the police on 999 and tell them I was afraid.

15:31Marguerite2000. I feel sorry for you. I'm so glad I am not someone who sees life in that way.

@skodadoda unfortunately you can phone the police as much as you want, they're very unlikely to turn up and if they do they almost certainly won't do anything. This is just reality in the area I live in. Constant thefts and vandalism, but nothing gets done about it.

Yes dd has moved now not under a great situation but silver lining and all that. I used to live above the kebab shop called farooze? Think I spelt it wrong. Yes they hang about around Costa and the corner leading to Iceland. And near the council where Lewisham Homes and council tax office is.

Yes that's probably her 99% sure her dealer lives on my street

I don't know OP, I live nowhere near London but our town centre has gone to the dogs too. Lack of proper funding and infrastructure. Shops and cafe's shutting down. Its full of alcos and smackheads. The big problem round here is monkey dust and that stuff sends people nuts.

Its such a shame because even though its quite a poor area it was a vibrant place with lots to do, there's very little for young people here now.

@MumYourBabyGrewUpToBeACowboy

I doubt a 2 year old will take any notice of someone lying around messed up on drugs. The shouting at you & scaring her is out of order but I always feel bad for addicts if they are just live & let live.

Have you actually read any of the OP?!? They're not live and let live and that's the whole point ffs