Hello everyone,
I have lived in Surbiton for nearly 30 years. In 2005 I moved into a housing association property in Victoria Avenue. What I wasn't told before I move in was that I would be under the local 'hell hole' of loud music, drunks, shouting at the back of the house in the middle of the night, and more 999 calls than I can say.
In September 2006 my wife was threatened by one of the upstairs 'guests' that he would attack my son and I in what can only be described as a sexual attack. Because this person has 'problems' no real action could be taken. In October 2006 there was a drugs raid which resulted in drugs being found and arrests.
There are ongoing proceedings surrounding these events. One thing is clear however and that is Surbiton is a fine old lady being mugged by the drug dealers, beggars and layabouts in the area. Some have blamed the local YMCA. We have all heard how it is not the resident's fault and that they themselves are victims. From my own knowledge I would say in general this is true, although they do have a element who cause trouble in the local area.
So what can we do about it? Well I for one will begin with my house, then the street, and then the local area.
How can this be done? In my experience by helping the police, reporting to the benefits offices, finding out who owns the 'problem' houses etc.
I have had enough of these parasites. I'm in my own fight and will help others. Together' instead of moaning' let's do something about this situation before it is too late!
Comments
I am shocked by the use of the words 'low-life'
Surbiton appears to me as a BNP party members dream, perhaps they should move their headquarters here?
I am positive that you would abhor being judged in such a crude and haphazard manner- so why is it okay to judge this 'low life' opposite the station like such a pathetic bunch of school children, egging each other on. The fact is that none of you know his history or his current situation in any significant detail. He just makes you feel uncomfortable and in 'Suburbiton' this is a hanging offence. I hate it, this stupid bubble.
So just calm down? He is not going to hurt you okay, he might just make you reassess what you thought your morals were, sorry that that is uncomfortable.
Emma, sorry to winkle your bubble.
You come across as a total hypocrite.
Just because a single member of the forum chose to use the term 'low life' you have crudely chosen to brand the entire population of Surbiton as BNP sympathisers - which is at best ill-informed in all respects.
The general gist of recent posts has been to better understand this beggar's history and current situation in more detail.
Nobody has said that they are offended because he is homeless - rather the offence is that it appears that he and his partner are con artists. What is wrong with having a moral code that prefers to give money to the support the genuinely homeless?
I am sorry to hear about Becki's cousin but I would be surprised if he was a perma-beggar like the embarresment that has taken up residency outside HSBC Bank opposite the staion. This scruffy con man acts like a magnet for all the other dross who then block the busiest pavement in town. Becki is right about giving food instead of cash but this bum is next to the cash machine for a reason, he knows that the cash dispensers do not give out sandwiches and you cannot trade sandwiches for White Lightening or betting slips. This guy is a disgraceful example to young kids and considering the huge amount of business rates the bank and other shops pay, moving/cautioning him should be a priority for the police
The 'homeless' guy who sits on the corner outside the HSBC bank is not homeless I'm sure
He and his delightful female pal reguarly have blazing rows enroute down St James Road, loose dog and can of white lightning in hand - presumably heading back to their state funded home??
Last heard her yelling at him to 'f**king get back up there and earn some f***ing money'.
Nice.
Needless to say I do not give him money .
Why can't he be moved on?
I totally agree that he is not sat by the cashpoint by coincidence.
If he were genuinely homeless I would be sympathetic, however having head their most recent row I believe he is a fraud.
You are correct - the lowlife who sits out side the HSBC bank in Surbiton is NOT homeless - the police have confirmed this to me and several other people I know who have complained about him. When he packs up at the end of each day and goes home he hides his fake luggage behind the estate agents near the bins and slides his 'homeless' signs behind the green telecoms cabinet next to HSBC - I have caught him in the act of doing it!! Have a look for yourself if you don't believe me! He and his sidekick are con artists! He begs for money and then proceeds to the Londis shop on Maple road to buy super strength beer (often shouting and swearing as he does so). He even borrows the dog from his female sidekick to get extra sympathy. The police seem to be powerless as every time they move him on he comes straight back.
I saw him at the bottom end of Kingston near the Kingston Tyre place. He seemed quite happy and chirpy with his dog and a bag full of take away, so clearly the man is a fraud-and also seems to have a new set of clothes every day. Funny that!
Peculiar how he and his cohort seem to have the cash to use a mobile, smoke, feed a dog and buy high strength cider but apparently not enough to eat or sleep.
Amazing,I have just returned from a walk into Surbiton to load up at the HSBC ATM and pavement was clear of low life.Continued to Nat West Bank to do some admin and even the pavement Caffs were free from low life (at least outside).
In fact I only saw 3 low lifes outside the Coronation and even they were quite sober and not begging,urinating or heaving and it was lunchtime so plenty of time for them to get smashed.
Have the cops been clearing the streets?
All of the guys who are complaining...should take a 25 minutes drive and go to areas like mitcham and then brixton....and then you would realize you are living in heaven.....!!
Well, maybe not quite heaven, but Surbiton IS very nice, evne when comapred to areas a lot further out of London, let alone those mentioned.
It should be pointed out that the original post was made two years ago, at a time that the YMCA had been allowed to run totally out of control, bringing problems to the whole town centre. The situation as improved since then (change in management there?). There may be the odd incident around the YMCA itself, but they don't seem to be dispatching the gangs of travelcard touts to the station anymore.
There is probably not another suburban town with less trouble than Surbiton, but we need to work to keep it that way!
I've just had a run in with a beggar outside a Surbiton chip shop. He wanted me to do him a favour, but I recognise him as a 'visitor' to a now well known drugs house in Victoria Avenue. I told him "not a hope in hell." He followed me into the shop, and I am with my young son. He manages to get £1 of chips from a friend already in there. He then proceeds to take most the sachets from the tables. What a surprise, he has just been signed off for a month!! Who'd give him a job!! Then he says he only has two weeks money, so no guesses how he's going to raise the other two weeks shortfall.
People! Stop giving these people money when they are begging as they all live somewhere. One day they could be your neighbours! Sympathy and assistance have their place, but they just laugh at you behind your backs, spend the money on drink and drugs, and then expect us to pay for their lifestyle!
You know what....we are the fools!!
You cannot say that applies to all people begging on the streets. My cousin lived on the streets and was in desperate need and he had a pair of loving parents who wanted him home but he refused to stay as he had suffered a nervous breakdown and wasn't thinking straight. He committed suicide in the end but he wasn't a drug addict or a bad person, nor was he laughing at people behind their backs, he was desperate and ill and probably incredibly grateful to anyone who helped. Buy them a sandwich rather than give money if you want to help though and are worried about drugs.
I agree, but the problem is that the number of antosocial people does not even need to increase in proportion to the rest of the population. Even one or two can make life a misery in a localised area.
I used to live opposite a Housing Association house. 95% of the residents were fine, but occasionally you would get a nightmare one, and the noise and problems would affect the whole area.
The problem is that the current government have lost control of the situation, and do not know how to deal with 'problem' people. Instead, they just place them into Housing Association and council housing which just :
1. Reduces the social housing stock for the people who really need it.
2. Has a knock on effect to the rest of the community as teachers, nurses etc cannot get into local housing which is given to non-productive people.
3. Has a further knock on effect to people in the direct area (£800k for a house in Victoria Avenue next to the sort of people you describe - no thanks!)
I agree that the people involved in creating these disturbances are responsible, but there is no real incentive for them to improve under the current government as they will not be rewarded for doing the right thing, or punished for doing the wrong thing.
Well I am a housing association tenant. I don't drink, smoke and take drugs....what a boring person!
The time is coming my friend when some of us are going to go public and speak out. I intend to shame those in power who allow this problem to continue.
The problems seem to be endemic to the urbanisation of the suburbs. As the population increases the influx of antisocial types will increase in proportion.
I agree that people should stop turning a blind eye, but their disconcern seems sadly linked to the town's growth and crowded living.