Ok, wading shoes on!! I have just escaped Barking two and a half weeks ago. I hated it. I felt, not that it mattered, that I was a minority. I fully appreciate that I did not experience racism or the such as many ethnic minorities sadly do still.
From my own experiences, things do seem warped there - for example, families from black or asian families newborn babies are offered the BCG to protect against TB - however their white neighbours are not.
Like UCM I have met many people from all over the world who feel there are too many immigrants in the area right now. Family who have visited us there were shocked. It is an area of deprivation and poverty, shoddy council housing and high crime. My close friend is a second generation Asian and she also finds it a big problem.
I used to live opposite a B and B - last summer I posted about a murder there, which turned out to be one immigrant killing another. A one off I know, but hardly going to further the cause of immigrants in the hearts of the locals. I will admit at the time to really begrudging their existance just across the street from me.
Interestingly, this same B and B has just undergone a major extension. Before we realised how appalling this place was (we viewed a room - deeply unpleasant - wouldn't wish it on anyone), my mum was thinking of staying as it was so close. We were unable to book a room as their books were full with long term residents!
There are high levels of black on black crime in the area, several young men have been shot deadin recent months, including one triple shooting, resulting in one fatality in a pub I used to go to.
The are has so many problems, but I don't actually think it is as much an immigration problem as much as it is a housing problem. I think the area went downhill when Barking took the money to house other area's council tenants - a practice I actually am still led to believe goes on now. It is so sad to walk past rows of lovely victorian houses, which once would have been quite grand, now ill kept, derelict, or boarded and sealed up. Kind of gives you an insight for how lovely the area once was, as family friends who used to live there, have told me.
Having also worked in a inner city hospital for several years, and this is by no means scientific - but there does seem to have been a big jump in people who have travelled over to Britain to visit family in poor health - and then quickly get admitted to HIV/AIDS or TB. Often both.
I definately think there are issues. But I don't know what the answer is. It certainly isn't to vote BNP. I only hope that some positive can come from the olympics and that the whole are of north east London can benefit from some regeneration and funding. I am so so glad to be out now, life seems much more peaceful here (after 2.5 weeks only mind!).