Forum Topic

Street drinking in 'around ealing'

I just picked up the latest copy of 'around ealing' and read an article under the headings 'community safety' and 'making Ealing safer' which was about five people who had recently received ASBOs for their street drinking. I was very concerned that the article published the names, ages and street addresses of these people, although one if not two of them were homeless. The article also noted that their anti-social behaviour included begging. One of the conditions of their ASBOs is that they shouldn't drink and if they are seen to be doing so we are advised to call the police. I really feel that this is not the best way to help people who suffer from alcoholism (and I do appreciate that the article says they've turned down offers of help from the police, but if I was poor, homeless and an alcohol I certainly wouldn't trust the police), and it further promotes the stigmatisation and criminalisation of people who suffer from this neurological disease and who are extremely vulnerable.If anyone wants to see the article it is available here. The format and images only further perpetuate the idea that these people are nothing more than dangerous criminals.I was very upset to see this in a magazine supposedly about community. http://www.ealing.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/4368/around_ealing_julyaugust_2012

Kirsty Murdoch ● 5055d6 Comments

So upset that you shared the link so even more of us could see them....

James Rogers ● 5053d

The photos  of the 5 Individuals who had become a problem within the areas they frequented, will be of little comfort to the people troubled by their behaviour.Publishing their photographs were considered as an attempt to warn those who came in contact with them.They were a known problem to the authorities. I doubt they will show even the slightest bit of concern over the publication. Alcoholics need stronger motivation to change .

Os A Whittle ● 5053d

Re  Does the Council believe it is helpful to 'name            xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx    maybe Ranjit Dheer in issueing the details  thought he was protecting the public at large but to give out the addresses I think is going too far. IF these are  dangerous, as implied, photos would be sufficient, their addresses being an intrusion into THEIR " privacy "?.

Tony Price ● 5053d

Full agree.This link will take you straight to the page in question:http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/614912e6#/614912e6/26

Bud Richards ● 5053d

Kirsty and Eric, you are absolutely right. As we can only second guess the reason for publishing addresses, how about asking the Editor to respond to your legitimate point on this forum?

Ben Owen ● 5053d

I agree that identifying these 5 people by photo, name and address in this public publication is a stunning error of judgement. 137,000 copies of 'Around Ealing' are printed and distributed.Does the Council believe it is helpful to 'name and shame' these people who are likely to be suffering from mental health illneses/disabilities? Perhaps we can expect more of this naming and shaming in future issues of 'Around Ealing'. Possible candidates for photo, name and address include:1. The Councillor and Council Officer responsible for the new and incompetent domestic waste and recyling collection service.2. The Councillor recently found guilty of breaching the Council's Code of Conduct by, for example, advising a member of the public not to cooperaste with a Police investigaion and by seeking to delay the enforcement of planning control because of lobbying from a person with an interest in the land. 3. The person who has no doubt already taken the decision to close Ealing Hospital's Accident and Emergency department.

Eric Alan Leach ● 5055d