Café owner calls for yobs to be locked out of town centre alleyway
by Lucy Buckland
A café owner has called on drug taking thugs to be locked out of a town centre alleyway.
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LOCK DOWN: Nazim Utku wants the alley behind his cafe in Coulsdon to be gated to stop trouble
Nazim Utku said the passage behind Kings Café in Chipstead Valley Road, Coulsdon, is a magnet for teenagers who take drugs and drink.
Mr Utku, who has run the café for two years, said thieves who broke in and stole his till in October used the alleyway to get into the building.
He told the Advertiser: "It is perfect for people because there are no cameras and it is dark. It is not only the drinking and the smoking of hash. It is the rubbish they leave behind.
"Bottles of vodka and cans of beer are left behind by the groups who stumble out of the pub on a Saturday, and there is nothing we can do about it. It is disgusting behaviour."
Mr Utku, who has run the café with his wife Ann for nearly three years, said he has been campaigning for a gate to lock out the troublemakers for over a year.
"The problem is no one seems to listen," he explained.
"The council and the police all say they want to help, but this is happening all the time, at least three times a week."
In a business plan leaked to the Advertiser, Coulsdon district manager Christine Samson, who works for Croydon Enterprise states alley gates – funded by Croydon Business – could be put into the town centre.
Although the report states there is "low crime overall" in Coulsdon, Mr Utku said he didn't call the police every time an incident happened behind his business.
He explained: "Sometimes you think you should call the police when you hear people screaming and shouting because there might be some trouble, but usually I don't because it would take too long for them to come. If there is big trouble I will always call them."
Mr Utku said the gates would also bring a feeling of community to the shops on Chipstead Valley Road as everyone would have a key.
The café owner said he has petitioned Ms Samson for the gates and she had seemed keen.
But she was unavailable for comment as the Advertiser went to press.
Coulsdon Safer Neighbourhood Team PC George Booth said: "We patrol around the alleyway regularly and this has never been drawn up as a major issue
"Gates would be a great idea, but it would have to be practically worked out with the council as there are many people who have flats and shops."
Coulsdon West councillor Brian Cakebread welcomed the idea of alley gates.
He said: "I am thrilled the traders are looking at ways to make Coulsdon safer and more attractive. From my point of view if the gates are closed and not locked it would definitely improve the aesthetics of the town centre and discourage people littering the alley.."
19 Comments
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by Fred, ..
Friday, November 20 2009, 3:45PM
“Dont forget to give them your business card nothing can be done without them you know!!”
by Anon, Anon
Thursday, November 19 2009, 11:14PM
“good point mr angry
but then people would moan that theres a water shortage...”
by Mr.Angry, Purley
Thursday, November 19 2009, 2:17PM
“Druggies and drunks?What about the Russian way and turn water hoses on them.
That would 'tank' 'em up for free!”
by Anon, Anon
Wednesday, November 18 2009, 6:23PM
“Postcard you mean you dont have a business card tut tut...”
by RPB, Coulsdon
Wednesday, November 18 2009, 3:57PM
“Look, WTF, you're being extremely selective in cherry-picking parts of the story to suit your argument and totally ignoring others - such as the part which says "the passage behind Kings Café in Chipstead Valley Road, Coulsdon, is a magnet for teenagers who take drugs and drink."
But that's besides the point really. This story does raise an important question. What's the best way to stamp out antisocial behaviour?
I don't think you can ignore it. I don't think you can confront it yourself. What other options are there? I agree that in an ideal world the police could be left to solve serious crime rather than tackling antisocial behaviour - but if people feel intimidated or threatened by it, what other choice is there than calling the police?
Suggestions on a postcard.”
by Annie, >>
Wednesday, November 18 2009, 2:15PM
“Anne stop with the sermons go preach somewhere else.”
by WTF, Selsdon
Wednesday, November 18 2009, 1:21PM
“RPB, Hmmmmm, You seem to be trying to make a point but failing.
Can you point out the part in the story where it refers to antisocial children? It states that people tend to 'stumble' out of the pub. I am guessing that the pub are strict about the age of the people they serve so we are talking 18+ years of age. Do I think it is acceptable - No, actually I don't.
The issue this man has seems to be around beer cans and empty bottles in what already looks like a messy alley way (another poor Advertiser photo).
So break it down. Some people are drinking in a public place, making noise and leaving litter. What would you like a rapid response unit to do - issue a litter fine and shoo them along to the next alley, park, churchyard, industrial estate?
That warrants a 999 call does it? Gate the area off? If this warrants the gating off of the area then the whole of Croydon would be fenced off.
Yes there is a problem - but a 999 call? Wake up, please.”
by Riaz, Purley
Wednesday, November 18 2009, 1:05PM
“Mike, one or two police officers ? So he deserves one or two police officers to look after an alley does he ? He gets his own private police service ? You really are a prat arnt you.”
by ANNE, SELSDON
Wednesday, November 18 2009, 12:16PM
“999 is for crime in progress - the other police reporting number is for crime which has already occurred. If a gang is behind your property behaving in an anti-social manner, then that is happening NOW and 999 can be called. What they do is they ask what is happening. Police will come - but they will put other calls first if they are busy - i.e. murder or robbery, traffic accidents, etc. I have been thanked profusely by police when we dialled 999 at a time when scooter riders were racing up and down Addington Road causing mayhem. They came. The boys were spoken to. Crime in progress means any tipe of offence - which includes anti-social behaviour - under age drinking, drug taking, etc. etc. If you ring your local SNT, they do not deal with calls where they are required to attend straight away - and they do work shifts, so they are not there all the time. Glad to see someone sensible is putting comments in!!”
by Mike, Old Coulsdon
Tuesday, November 17 2009, 11:21PM
“Riaz, Purley did i touch a nerve ! one or two police officers would do the trick, not the whole police force as u r implying !”