New Brockley Co-Op damaged in riots
Last night, Brockley was lucky to emerge relatively unscathed from the riots. As looting swirled around SE4, in Lewisham, Deptford, Peckham, New Cross, East Dulwich, Lee, the Old Kent Road and Catford, the distant sound of sirens racing to another location and the occasional whiff of smoke were most people's experience.
However, last night it appeared that the Brockley Cross Business Centre was broken in to and this morning, there are reports that the new Co-Op, which opened only days ago in west Brockley, was vandalised. We're trying to get more details. If anyone has a photo, please let us know.
We'd like to think that Brockley's escape was due to the warmth of our hearts, the cohesiveness of our community and the responsible attitude towards social media engendered by the Brockley Central massive. However, the more realistic explanation is that Brockley was saved by the inadequateness of its high street - unlike all the areas that were hit, it doesn't have a strong identity as a central location for people to gather and loot. Its status among property writers as "London's best kept secret" applies equally well among looters.
Or maybe the Orange mobile signal was so bad that flash-looting by mobile became technically impossible.
23 comments:
I was worried about Brockley being next, but so glad it weathered the storm. Wake up, London. This is not the way!! Show us what "community" really means.
On the topic of the CoOp can I just say that I recently went there last weekend and it was amazing!
Staff helpfuly, store layour impressive, a good selection of products (how many different types of olive oil????) and also good value.
If you are in the area - take a look!
PS: I do not work for CoOp
Same over in Honor Oak Park. The lack of a "proper" high street meant that there was no desirable epicentre for people to loot.
Also it was conincidentally a Monday night when several of our restaurants are closed for the night anyway.
I have a unit there, I'm away and can't get hold of anyone. Reports please?
Yes, for one night only, I was thankful for our paltry collection of shops. Even if they were all left wide open ready for looting, it would be hard to come out with anything better than some nice coffee beans or a few bottles of whisky. Mind you, that didn't stop looters going to Iceland etc. What an embarrassing night to be a Londoner... such senselessness. PS. Agree about the new Co-op. It is (was?) great!
the close of youth centre, the fail of community, the anger of pointless ..all these shall the big society is after all a joke.
People are venting off their fury and the fear of the future....reset the society needs time and a better gov...
@anon 9.52. I have heard quite a few commentators ascribe anger and frustration and lack of opportunities to these protestors, but you are being over-generous. These aren't people who want jobs but can't find them, or wish they had a chess club they could go to... they're opportunistic vandals who think they can get some stuff for free without being caught and have a laugh with their mates smashing stuff up.
The frustration and justifiable anger at the increasing inequality of society exists in our society of course, but my impression is that it is not these people who are rioting. Just a bunch of oiks (including lots of kids)
If it's "fear of the future" it is allied to total, but total, stupidity - riot and looting and trashing local business is hardly the way to encourage investment and jobs.
It's as Diane Abbot said - "recreational looting". "Recreation" = an exciting way to spend a warm, light summer evening. "Looting" = criminal damage and theft.
And the Honor Oak Youth Centre hasn't closed - so no reason to wreck the first new shop in the area for years. Drove past it for the first time early yesterday evening - looked very smart and nice. How ironic.
I think thats why the looters didn't head to grove park, theres nothing here!
That's terrible news about the new Co-Op if it's true! What a waste!
I was also grateful last night that Grove Park has only a couple of chippies and not much else...the bad stuff came awfully close, with Bromley on one side and Lee Green on the other...
Well there isnt a JD Sports or a TV shop in Brockley is there - lets not get romantic about it folks. These people wanted gear they could use or sell...
Lets not get Roamntic about it folks - there was no JD Sports or TV's to be had in Brockley was there?
Just cycled past the Co-op, which is now closed. A couple of windows have been put through and there is an completely open panel. So presumably it may have been looted for booze as well.
There are a couple of guys from an interiors company there, whether for the glazing or the inside is damaged I don't know too.
I live just down the road and have been to Co-op several times, it's a great addition, not just to Brockley but also to the estate which often looks empty and uninviting. Great welcome for a new business.
These people are scum.
"the close of youth centre, the fail of community, the anger of pointless ..all these shall the big society is after all a joke.
People are venting off their fury and the fear of the future....reset the society needs time and a better gov..."
No. Let's not warrant these actions with a sense of purpose. Whichever way you slice this there is no political motivation behind this, no one campaigning against cuts, for a better life for the community, it's just pure and simple greed and desire for consumable goods... That's it.
Walking to nursery this morning with my daughter, I was relieved to see that everything around Crofton Park was undamaged as far as I could tell.
I agree that this is down to Brockley/CP not having any high-value stores - although given that people broke into Greggs (really? You wanted pasties THAT much?) I think we can also consider ourselves lucky. I guess as Nick says, there just isn't enough all in one place to attract a crowd. Thank goodness.
bored kids -
no holidays booked
boot camp
why not block all the mobiles and stop the internet along with sky news telling them that if there´s a fire the brigade need the police to attend - tell them all the problems with the force so around the country others decide to join the bandwagon
sad days for the country
" People are venting off their fury and the fear of the future....reset the society needs time and a better gov..."
Rubbish. The people fall into two main categories: copycat looters or teenagers who want 'excitement' and think society has failed them.
Those in the second group may have some greviance but the problem lies not with government but with their parents who need to take responsibility for once.
If government has failed it is by being overprotective of these teenagers: I know precisely what would have happened to me if my parents had even thought I had I been involved in something like that!
I don't think we should be congratulating ourselves too soon on having escaped the worst of it - who knows how things will develop? I hope the extra police will squash any new violence, but I've a feeling we haven't seen the end of it.
Do you remember when you were say 15 and someone was holding a party? you and some mates may have tired to gatecrash. Would have caused some problems, I went to one where an uninvited guest stole my mate Danny's Fila top while he was comatose. To compund the scurilous atacke, he emptied a jar of pickled onions over him. Nowadays a teenage party can attract hundreds and wreck a house, the kids are the same but they are much easier to organise.
Yesterday was appaling but the game changer is the ease of communication?
Just my off the cuff analysis. Probably a whole host of reasons but kids aint born bad.
If we really want to stop this happening again, maybe we should get out on the streets a protect our community.
The Turkish shop keepers in Dalston showed us the way.
Dr Zuess:
No, children aren't born bad. They are brought up badly.
"Do you remember when you were say 15 and someone was holding a party? you and some mates may have tired (tried) to gatecrash."
Yes and we would have done so peacefully. We would not thought of doing anything else. And if the thought had crossed our minds, we would have rejected it because, if we hadn't either our friends' parents or our parents would have extracted suitable penalties.
Co-op was actually looted twice in the riots, on consecutive nights. The damage is still being repaired, I think they are quite paranoid about security now.
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