Neil Reynolds, chair of Ealing Green Party writes of his concerns over Hanwell Broadway becoming an area where authorities have done little to deal with the rising number of people who suffer from alcohol and drug addictions. He says that when Ealing Green started knocking of doors in 2021 it was the biggest issue residents in the area were concerned about.
Mr Reynolds says “it will take political courage to deal with the root causes as well as the symptoms” and that “there are proven strategies that work based on harm reduction and treating this as a public health, not just a public order issue.”
“The situation on the streets of Hanwell Broadway and the area around the Uxbridge Road have attracted much comment, and finally some action from the authorities over the past week. The area has seen a growing number of people who suffer from addictions to alcohol and/or opiates, on the streets.
“This is not new, but the issue has gradually become more apparent since we emerged from lockdowns in 2021, and the numbers have increased again since the weather has become warmer and sunnier in the last month. When the Ealing Greens first started knocking on doors in the area in 2021 it was the issue that came up time and again, as their main concern.
“The council and police have relied on punitive measures, implementing a Public Spaces Prevention Order (PSPO) in 2019 which allows the police to ban people in groups of larger than three from drinking in an antisocial way as well imposing fines for those who are in possession of “psychoactive substances”. In 2022 shortly after the local Green Party started to raise the issue on our leaflets, the council removed the public seating by Hanwell clocktower after a police consultation. The logic seems to be that being sufficiently “tough” will deter people.
“Yet here we are, a year later, with police conducting patrols after reports of public substance abuse on twitter by local residents, (the same local residents say reports made through official channels were ignored). Notably one of the people dealt with by the police was sitting at the base of the clocktower in breach of the PSPO, just a few metres from the public benches that were taken out of use. Police action is not enough by itself.
I recommend following this account. It is not easy reading but it certainly reports on the reality of inaction and neglect in #Hanwell.
The authorities need to use the powers they have, and these people need assistance to ensure their harmful addictions are treated. https://t.co/7rris9uPhV
— Neil Reynolds (@Neil4W7andW13) May 25, 2023
“I am glad local people have finally been listened to and that this issue is again being dealt with, but I am concerned that the same mistakes and a pattern of superficially draconian, yet ultimately ineffective measures, is being repeated. Heroin and alcohol addictions cause obvious harm to the individual but also to local communities with theft (and similar crimes) associated with misuse.
“Much of this is caused by a national increase in poverty and homelessness,which result from a decade of neglect and austerity from failed Conservative and coalition governments. The solution to this is not easy, but there are proven strategies that work based on harm reduction and treating this as a public health, not just a public order issue.
“Some London boroughs are beginning to consider safe use spaces for substance use, to get those with addictions off the streets and into treatment programs. Ealing should be doing the same too, along with other, similar programmes. This is a long term social problem with no quick fixes, to pretend otherwise is an injustice to local residents who endure anti-social behaviour, and vulnerable people who need help.
“We all have a vested interest in tackling drug and alcohol addiction; electing Greens in your local area will make sure it gets the focus it needs. It will take political courage to deal with the root causes as well as the symptoms. Anyone who shows that, deserves our support.”
