I was on my way back from the sorting office in Church Hill earlier to collect a letter when I noticed a sign in the window of the aptly named off-license called High Spirits. It seems the owners of this High Street business have been asked by the police to refuse to sell eggs and flour to anyone under the age of 16. The Safer Neighbourhood Team are apparently concerned that these dangerous objects in the hands of local school children are getting to be serious problem and Something Must Be Done in the run up to Halloween.
Meanwhile, the Borough Commander is admitting that Waltham Forest is one of six boroughs identified by the Met as being of "most concern" regarding serious youth violence and knife crime. Speaking at a recent Council meeting, Chief Supt Benbow also admitted we are still fifth highest in London for youth crime. Taking eggs and flour out of the hands of these dangerous criminals seems like a practical first step.
When I was younger I lived in a small town that made arrangements with the local high school to clean up the town after Halloween. The kids could use eggs, but nothing which would cause permanent damage - a deal made between the town and kids. It was a lot of fun as even the police got involved in the egging as the big event was to try and hit the lights on the car. Knowing this was the plan the police lured about 200 kids into an alley where on the roof tops sat the ready made swat team armed with a dozen eggs. Whomp, the kids never knew what hit them... all in good fun, all laughed, and it did build up the relationship between the police and kids. The next day, as promised, the high school went down with buckets and cleaned up the mess.