Robbery and assault of a child at Wandsworth's Southside Post Reply

[Community Editor]

Wandsworth Police have confirmed details of a very disturbing incident that took place at Wandsworth's Southside shopping centre in January this year. Our thoughts go out to the victim of this awful incident.

Details from Wandsworth Police's Twitter feed:

@MPSWandsworth
We are aware of a video circulating of an assault in Southfields causing concern to our community. On 18th Jan 2022 we attended Southside shopping centre about a robbery of a child. A 17y/o was arrested on 25th Feb & charged with Robbery. They are due in court at a later date.

This is thought to be an isolated incident. The public may see more officers from local teams in the area in the coming month due to increased patrols – please speak to them if you have any concerns. We are working closely with local businesses and security to prevent crime.

If you have any concerns or would like to speak to police about crime prevention please do not hesitate to contact your local neighbourhood officers. Details for each team can be found on our website: https://met.police.uk/a/your-area/

 

[windmill26]

This may be an isolating incident but Southside has had a number of unsettling episodes in the last few months.I have witness two and a friend witness one.I am glad about the extra patrol as this is something that Southside need to get on top of promptly before it becomes a no go area . 

[NVHusband]

This is concerning and not an isolated incident.

When you consider the trouble recently with:
- gangs of youths at McDonalds (Clapham Junction) and
- a number of other incidences at Southside involving gangs of youths
- not to mention muggings near Wandsworth Common station by gangs of youths
- and the gang of youths operating without fear near Earlsfield Sainsbury….

This issue is not isolated and has become a trend…!

I read about the recent Southside incident on social media. It is an awful daylight robbery by a gang of youths in front of other people and filming of it then sharing it… highlights that the thugs/ gangs are not afraid of the consequences.

How did it come to this?

Are the police treating us as fools and hoping we don’t see the trends playing out?

What schools do these pupils go to? Did this kind of thing always happen but now the gangs have just moved onto this area? Has the pandemic created a lost generation that this is the New Normal? Has the expansion of new Academies played a part of spreading the youths so that there is more friction between pupils from different postcodes?

Whatever the underlying cause, I don’t see this awful incident as isolated…

[Starr]

Southside has always been that way as far as I remember it. It's not somewhere I would.like my children to head to to hang out as they approach that age.
The car park seems dodgy sometimes and I never like having to even park there to shop.
I'm afraid it's a combination of police neglect and yes, lost youths that society has forgotten.

[muddyboots]

Such depressing news.

So from above posts I wonder which station is the safest for local secondary children travelling alone.

CJ: many people might be a bonus, but means waiting for G1 opposite Mc Donald’s which recently had issues.

Wandsworth common: had no idea of robberies there, smaller and calmer but also potentially a negative if not enough people about when something happens.

Earlsfield, how common are troubles by Sainsbury’s? Have used it in last to pick up but means child is alone when walking past Sainsbury’s…

Crazy.

I don’t like southside, pre-Covid when we Would take the children to the cinema there it was often a bit rowdy by the McD and KFC with larger groups hanging around by entrance.

[readysteadycook]

I had my (locked) bike stolen from the back entrance of Waitrose Southside - was only shopping for 10 mins. Lots of crime there 

[dimelda]

Starr:  I agree with you.  Southside has always had a poor image.  I'd no more take my child there than fly to the moon.  As long as it has 'food' outlets like McDonalds, Nandos, Five Guys, etc. which not only serve disgusting food, but also attract teenage school delinquents, it will be ever thus.   If the operators sensibly chose not to renew the contracts of these rubbish food outlets, it might then become a reasonably pleasant, and safe, place to visit and shop.

[Starr]

I don't think it's down to McDonald's and Co. Lots of people eat at these places not just delinquents. Im not a fan but my kids live Nandos and go with their dad. Southside also has Waitrose and planet Organic etc
Always feel poverty and deprivation around there has not caught up with the gentrification of that part of South London. Similar in other areas around the city. I know both Westfields can get rowdy too. I don't have answers but it's not down to presence of macdonalds but lack of direction or constructive things to do with one's time I guess!

[dimelda]

[font=var(--body-font),serif]Unfortunately, whether one likes it or not, McDonalds and the like do attract delinquent school children, who gather in groups, & cause mayhem for everyone around them.  Dispersal Zones have more than once been authorised by the police for the area outside McDonalds in Clapham Junction, where uncontrollable youths block the pavement & frighten shoppers.   But you’re right that Southside has a few ‘upmarket’ outlets – like those you mention – which, I’ll bet, would love to see the back of McDonalds, Nandos, Five Guys etc who give the shopping centre such a bad name.  You’re also spot on about gentrification rubbing shoulders with deprivation in the area.  ‘Malls’in general, once seen as a shopping panacea, from what one reads, have not been a great success  … anti-social behaviour in and around them being just one negative factor.  [/font]