Kennington News

A HIGH-PROFILE drugs raid on a Rasta temple has reduced crime in the area by half.

Figures released by the Met show there were 154 reported crimes in the area around the temple in St Agnes Place,Kennington, in the two months before the raid.

In the following two months there were 74 reported crimes - a drop of 52 per cent.

Superintendent Alastair Sutherland said the raid on April 12 had been a success for the "for-gotten community" of St Agnes Place.

He said: "These people have had to live here in fear of crime over the years suffering daily harassment.

"They deserve to be able to feel safe in their own homes and not to have to live with an overwhelming fear of crime."

The temple was raided by more than 60 officers, some of them armed, who used stun grenades to storm the building, making 21 arrests.

Three men are due to appear in court on drugs offences and another three are being held on immigration matters.

The raid was the result of a long-term police operation which saw the temple being put under 24-hour surveillance since January.

Father Christopher Pearson, of St Agnes' Church, two minutes' walk from the temple, said the majority of his parishioners welcomed the raid.

He added: "On the Sunday after the raid a cheer went up in church.

"People looking at St Agnes didn't see theregular people who live here.

"These people wouldn't go out-side their homes and wouldn't have friends visit them.

"I had parishioners who would spend every weekend with relatives because of all the noise and parties.

"Walking down here from the park you were regularly approached by dealers and there were abandoned cars and even a yacht dumped on the street."

The raid came 16 months after another 21 separate squats in the street were cleared. Lambeth council housing officers and cops evicted around 150 people from the street which had been home to squatters for more than 30 years.

Council say £4million was lost in rent over three decades.

The buildings are being demolished and Lambeth council plans to build social housing on the site.