Finsbury Park residents are calling for stronger action from the Metropolitan Police and Islington Council over concerns about suspected drug dealing, drug use, and antisocial behaviour in the area.
Chris Travers, who has lived in the area for 25 years, started a petition that has gained more than 1,000 signatures from concerned locals.
Travers said he was prompted to start the petition after repeatedly seeing suspected drug activity near M&S and the station on his journey home from work.
He described witnessing people “dealing and taking drugs”, appearing to be “spaced-out”, and believes the police need more resources to tackle the issues.
Travers said: “People need to recognise it’s an emergency, not just a social decay.
“It needs a significant new intervention to shock the system.”
He also raised concerns about families passing through the area, stating that people are using doorways and the area outside the nearby nursery to engage in anti-social behaviour.
He is particularly concerned following an incident involving a six-year-old child who stepped on a used needle in the park last year.
Another resident, Ana Skelton, who has lived in the area for three years, said she has noticed changes since this summer, with more groups gathering in the area, particularly in the evenings.
She also said that some areas of the park were poorly lit and called for more lighting to be installed, adding that the dark areas can be “a little disconcerting”.
Islington councillor Caroline Allen said drug-related concerns were regularly raised by residents and that people were becoming frustrated with the response.
She said residents often felt passed between the council and police, with neither taking clear responsibility.
Allen also questioned the effectiveness of the current approach, describing enforcement as a “whack-a-mole” situation, where activity moves from one location to another rather than addressing the underlying problem.
She has called for better coordination between councils, police and support services, arguing that drug use should also be treated as a “public health” issue.
Tollington ward councillor Johnathan Ward also called for more health-based solutions.
He said, “It is very distressing to see people vulnerable in the street.”
The Metropolitan Police published a local priority on 27th October titled ‘Drugs related ASB’.
It states officers will patrol identified areas, disperse people involved in antisocial behaviour and work with partner agencies to address underlying causes.
Islington Council and the Met Police declined to respond to a request for comment.
A spokesperson from Haringey Council said, “We continue to work closely with Voluntary and Community Sector organisations, NHS partners, and the Metropolitan Police in taking a public health approach to tackle the root causes of drug-related ASB, to ensure sustainable reductions in drug-related harm, as well as keep our residents safe.”
Featured Image Credit: Ana Skelton
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