Cash boost for Crackdown Project

Hackney Council’s pioneering Crackdown project has received a cash injection of £100,000 from the Home Office, securing its ongoing operation for another year.

Crackdown is a partnership between local residents, the Council and local police. The project closes crack dens and provides support to residents in Hackney. Since April 2004 it has slashed the number of crack dens in the borough, raiding more than 280 and permanently closing 29.

Hackney’s Mayor Jules Pipe said: “We are committed to making Hackney a safer place to live. This £100,000 represents dozens more dens shut down and hundreds more families allowed to open their front door to a drug-free environment.”

He added: “It is a testament to the success of the team that the Home Office has funded Crackdown for another year. We will continue to make progress with the perpetrators of crack houses by providing drug rehabilitation treatment for drug users and social care services for vulnerable users.”

The Crackdown team receive anonymous tip-offs from local residents who can report using a free phone telephone number, e-mail and text address. They work closely with local police team around intelligence about activity.

Ian Brady, Deputy Director of the Respect Task Force said: “Operation Crackdown is having a real impact in Hackney so we are very pleased to be able to make Home Office funding available for another year. This initiative is a great example of how joined up, local action can have an impact on anti-social behaviour and reclaim blighted communities for the law abiding majority. The results speak for themselves and we look forward to hearing of similar success in the coming year."

Call the Crackdown Project Team in confidence to report a suspected crack den on 020 8356 3333, text 07976 911 165 or email crackdown@hackney.gov.uk

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Page updated: 15 Jun 2010