News in Brief August 2009
Shopkeeper’s DVD prosecution
The owner of a Mare Street shop has been prosecuted, after a large number of counterfeit DVDs was seized by the Council’s Trading Standards team.
Hung Trinh, owner of London Starnight Supermarket, pleaded guilty at Thames Magistrates Court, on 29 July, to offences under the Video Recordings Act 1984.
When Trading Standards visited the shop, they also found four DVD recording towers with duplicating equipment capable of producing nine DVDs at a time, as well as computer hardware.
The British Board of Film Classification confirmed that none of the DVD titles seized and submitted for examination had been granted a classification certificate.
Trinh was sentenced to eight weeks imprisonment suspended for two years. He was ordered to pay the Council’s full costs of £1,792, and was electronically tagged and subject to a curfew for 60 days. He also forfeited all the DVDs, computer hardware and duplicating equipment.
Cllr Alan Laing, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said: “This is yet another successful outcome in the Council’s fight to rid the borough of counterfeit and black-market goods.”
24 August 2009
CCTV helps catch rapist
A joint effort by the Council’s CCTV Service Team and Hackney Police has helped to put a dangerous sex offender behind bars.
Paul Heath, 32, was jailed indefinitely last week having been found guilty of raping a woman in Stoke Newington.
Heath was identified after the Council’s CCTV Service reviewed hours of CCTV footage and obtained good facial images of the suspect.
When the images were passed to the police, an officer identified the suspect from memories of previous offences.
As a result of this joint effort, Heath was arrested the following day.
Cllr Alan Laing, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said: “This was an unspeakable crime and I want to commend the tireless work of the CCTV team and Hackney Police in bringing this man to justice.”
24 August 2009
Lord of the swing
It's not often you get to dance precariously atop London landmarks – but for one hour Hackney resident Scott Pulpit bopped and lindy hopped.
The One and Other art project invited 2,400 performers to become a ‘living monument’ for an hour each, by occupying Trafalgar Square’s Fourth Plinth. Scott and his Hackney swing dance school, Swing Patrol, transformed the area into a 1930s-style jitterbug haven.
Around 100 members of the school followed the dance instructor’s moves as he demonstrated from the plinth above, with a huge number of spectators watching from the sidelines.
24 August 2009
Bid to limit betting shops
Hackney has applied to the Government for stronger powers to control the concentration of betting shops.
There are more than 60 bookmakers in Hackney, which is over three times the local authority average. Following concern from residents and ward councillors that such a high concentration affects the most vulnerable members of society, the Council has applied under the Sustainable Communities Act. It wants stronger planning and licensing legislation so that it can control the number of bookmakers opening in an area. Of more than 500 local people responding through Hackney’s consultation e-panel, 64 per cent support the idea.
Jules Pipe, Mayor of Hackney, said: “We have applied for stronger powers because residents cannot understand why we are prevented from meeting their needs in this matter, in line with the Government’s place-shaping agenda for councils.”
24 August 2009
On top of regeneration
Deputy Mayor of London, Sir Simon Milton, visited Hackney for a tour of the borough’s regeneration projects.
Sir Simon, who has responsibility for Planning and Sustainable Development at the Greater London Authority, was shown the Woodberry Down Estate, Dalston town centre and the major Dalston Square redevelopment.
Cllr Guy Nicholson, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and the 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games, said: “Sir Simon’s visit was an ideal opportunity to demonstrate to City Hall that such work in Hackney is making good progress despite the current economic climate.”
24 August 2009
Words on fire
Hackney-born poet John Hegley is among the names heading up Write to Ignite, the annual Hackney Word festival, in September.
A programme of events and workshops across the borough focusing on word in its many forms will take place throughout the month, displaying some of the best writers and spoken word performers in the UK.
The event kicks off on 4 September at Stoke Newington Library Gallery with an evening of readings from former Children’s laureate Michael Rosen and performances from multidisciplinary artist Malika Booker.
Also at this event local comedy poet Neal Zetter (above), writer of such poems as ‘Let Me Date Your Mum’ and ‘In Love with a Dalek’ will be conveying his own words of wisdom – or otherwise.
For info visit: www.writetoignite.co.uk
24 August 2009
Have you registered to vote?
Residents are being urged to fill in and return their annual canvass forms. The forms are being sent to every household in the borough during August. Those who fail to return them by 30 November risk a £1,000 fine.
Annual canvass forms let the Council know who is eligible to vote, but credit reference companies also use the electoral register to check addresses. Signing up for other Council services, including paying Council Tax, does not register residents to vote.
Residents should send completed forms to: Electoral Services, Hackney Town Hall, Mare Street, E8 1EA.
If there are no changes to a household’s details, forms can be completed by 24-hour freephone on 0800 1972280; by text message to 80212; or online at: www.registerbyinternet.com/hackney
24 August 2009
New security measures for Hackney estates
New security measures including lighting and safer communal door entry systems have been installed in buildings on Hackney estates. More than 13,500 homes across the borough have received stronger doors – which have been hailed by the police – while hundreds of door entry systems have been installed. Estate lighting has also been upgraded.
Louisa Zaky, a resident of Harman Street estate in Hoxton, said: “The doors have really helped us. You no longer have people coming in and out of the blocks and we feel safe walking into our house.”
According to the latest British Crime survey, published by the Home Office in April, there has been close to a 40 per cent drop in crime in the borough over the last five years.
Cllr Alcock, Deputy Mayor of Hackney said: “It is important that we feel safe and protected when at home. That is why we will continue to invest in these vital improvements to our estates.”
Hackney Homes is also offering estate tenants the chance to win £500 cash for paying their rent on time this summer. For more info visit www.hackneyhomes.org.uk.
August 3 2009
Fun close to home
More than 650 residents headed to Fun Days recently at Woodberry Down and St John’s Estates. As well as showcasing dance performances, arts and recycling activities, and featuring a children’s entertainer, the Woodberry Down Fun Day doubled as a project update for regeneration in the area.
Attendees met staff from housing services business, Genesis Housing Group, about the development of the local community-based housing association. In addition, a football tournament took place and the Ginga de Quilombo Capoeira duo gave a Brazilian martial art capoerira demonstration.
Cllr Karen Alcock, Deputy Mayor of Hackney, said: “Woodberry Down’s fun day shows how passionate the community is about their neighbourhood and I’m delighted so many residents came out to meet their neighbours.”
At St John’s, visitors got a chance to find out about works to be carried out as part of the Decent Home programme, and to have some fun. Vanessa Mahi, a Hackney Homes resident who attended the fun day said: “Today has been lots of fun and I’ve learned about the future of Hackney from the Olympic stall.”
The days were organised by Hackney Homes, which manages the Council’s social housing. Rupert Tyson, Chairman of the Hackney Homes Board, said: “We are committed to these days and are glad that Tenants and Residents Associations have worked so closely with us to bring them to their estates this year.”
August 3 2009
Farewell to Henry at 113
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Clapton-born Henry Allingham, the world’s oldest man, First World War veteran, and founder member of the Royal Air Force, passed away on 18 July, aged 113. His life spanned three centuries and six monarchs, and he is survived by five grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren,14 great-great-grandchildren and one great-great-great grandchild. In February he made a final trip to Hackney from his Brighton care home to meet children from Northwold School after they had written to him about a Clapton clean-up campaign. Tributes have been made across the country, including from the Prime Minister and the Queen, noting Henry’s bravery, compassion and even-handedness. Henry had admitted that he was ready for death, saying: “I can’t go on any more, I’ve given all I can.” |
August 3 2009
Page updated: 15 Jun 2010
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