The Met Pledge To Clean Up Camden's Streets

By Londonist_ben Last edited 204 months ago

Last Updated 22 October 2007

The Met Pledge To Clean Up Camden's Streets
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Travis Bickle: All the animals come out at night - whores, skunk pussies, buggers, queens, fairies, dopers, junkies, sick, venal. Someday a real rain will come and wash all this scum off the streets.

Below is a genuine conversation this Londonista has had whilst walking through Camden -

Drug dealer: (over the hubbub of "skunk, weed, hash, skunk, weed") AK47? Anyone want AK47?

Londonist: (to friend, perhaps a little too loudly in hindsight) Bloody hell.

Drug dealer: What's that my friend? AK47?

Londonist: You're selling assault rifles?

Drug dealer: Naaaah mate, it's AK47 skunk! Want some?

Londonist: No thanks.

Drug dealer: If you want a shooter, go and see my man Neil, he's over by HSBC in a bandana.

Londonist: Ok, thanks!

Most people have had a similar experience in Camden. Most people also find it hard to believe that drug dealers seem to be able to hawk illegal substances in public as if they were selling fruit and veg in a market, it really is absurd. Surely they'd be so easy to arrest? That's why we're dubious about the Met's new two year drive to smash "aggressive drug dealing" although the increase in police officers and a crack squad of 18 drug busting community support officers can only be a good thing. We'll see in two years.