On Friday 5th November, Greenwich Citizens launched the first CitySafe Zone in the borough of Greenwich. The launch was the culmination of 18 months of patient work by local citizens to rebuild relationships between neighbours.
School children and parents have been placing safety as their top priority for change through their work with South London Citizens, and have come up with innovative and practical strategies to start tackling crime and anti-social behaviour near their schools.
Following the steps of Barry and Margaret Mizen, who, in memory of their murdered son Jimmy, have been working with South London Citizens and came up with the idea of establishing CitySafe Havens across our neighbourhoods – whereby shopkeepers pledge to report 100% crime and anti-social behaviour to the police, as well as spend time building links with their neighbours and offering their premises as places of refuge for those in immediate danger – Greenwich Citizens have approached around 60 shops in the Greenwich Town Centre area, along Trafalgar Road, and along Woolwich Road and got them to sign up to the CitySafe Havens Scheme.
Led by London Citizens, an independent charitable alliance of 200 institutions working to strengthen civil society, the CitySafe campaign has won the support of businesses and the attention of political leaders. Last year, Mayor Steve Bullock declared Lewisham Town Hall and Civic Centre the first civic safe havens in the country. London Mayor Boris Johnson soon followed, declaring City Hall the 200th safe haven.
As part of the celebration, teams of young people, teachers, neighbours, and members of the Police, visited the shops who have signed up to the scheme to thank them and give them flowers. A strong spirit of neighbourliness is what is at the heart of the CitySafe campaign.
Hazel Burnie, Headteacher at St Alfege with St Peter’s Primary School, said:
“We are a school that cares about our young people. This means that, as a school, we have to care about what goes on outside our buildings. Safety in our neighbourhood has an impact on our children’s well-being. CitySafe is about looking outwards: it takes schools out and brings real change to our community.”
Anna Morris, pupil at St Joseph’s Primary School, said:
“Now that I know some of the shopkeepers near my school, I feel much safer walking home. It’s great being part of a community where people work together to make me and my friends feel safer.”
Billy Mizen, brother of Jimmy Mizen, said:
“It takes an organised community to defeat violence. South London Citizens has helped us to get organised.”
Detective Chief Superintendent Richard Wood, Borough Commander for Greenwich Police, said:
“The CitySafe Campaign is a very clear example of what citizens can achieve when they work together. It addresses issues of safety in practical ways and helps members of the community work together with the Police. I am pleased to give the campaign my full support and I look forward to working with South London Citizens. ”
Mike Caterall, Florist on Trafalgar Road, East Greenwich, CitySafe Haven, said:
“I think CitySafe is a great idea, everyone should be treated fairly and we should all help out where we can and be good neighbours.”
For more details, please get in touch!
Sebastien Chapleau, Community Organiser (Greenwich Citizens)
Email: sebastien.chapleau@londoncitizens.org.uk
Mobile: 07970 527 622
