When the going gets tough … call in the university
After almost a year spent ignoring the drug-dealing problem on Blackbird Leys, the Oxford Mail has recently run a number of high profile stories relating to the issue.
The trial and sentencing earlier this month of five drug dealers operating outside the Blackbird pub last year received plenty of coverage. Most reports in the local press and TV gave the impression that these arrests had ‘solved’ the crack-cocaine and heroin dealing problem on the estate.
In one front page article the police actually claimed they had ‘banished the menace of Yardie gangs’ on Blackbird Leys (‘Yardie problem over, say police’, Oxford Mail, 8 July).
As most residents are only too aware, the problem is far from being solved and has, if anything, got worse. As testimony to this reality the Oxford Mail has announced that the ‘scale of drug abuse on the Blackbird Leys estate … is to be researched by Oxford Brooks University,’ (‘Drug Issue to be studied’, 6 July). According to the Mail the ‘long-term aim is to let the community take a lead in combating problems with crack cocaine and heroin.’
While the Leys Independent welcomes any research which can help tackle the problem this whole approach looks decidedly curious. If the community is to take the lead then why weren’t all the representatives of the community consulted rather than just the Labour councillors?
The Oxford Mail is fully aware that the IWCA has campaigned tirelessly on this issue and has already started to promote community action to tackle heroin and crack dealing. By contrast, New Labour has completely ignored the issue up till now. Evidently, the recent IWCA public meeting has forced a change of tactics.
It was claimed that the Leys Linx Partnership came up with the idea for the research ‘following consultation with the community’. However, no one spoken to by the Leys Independent had even heard of this ‘consultation’ exercise. Interestingly, the chair of Leys Linx is none other than David Truesdale of Oxford Citizens Housing Association, another organisation which has previously come in for criticism for dragging its feet over the drugs issue.
If, as a result of grassroots pressure, there has been a genuine change of heart then the new study is to be welcomed. On the other hand, the scheme could just be a superficial attempt to boost the tarnished image of New Labour, the housing associations and the police on Blackbird Leys.
For instance, why commission a study when the nature and scale of the problem is obviously widely understood? If a crime epidemic broke out in leafy North Oxford would the authorities invite in criminologists to research the matter? No, we would be bound to see swift action from the police.
Let’s hope that despite all this some useful information comes out of the Oxford Brookes study. The IWCA will be following the results with a keen interest.
Leys Independent, Issue 14, July 2002
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