Stay Signed In
Do you want to access your site more quickly on this computer? Check this box, and your username and password will be remembered for two weeks. Click logout to turn this off.
Stay Safe
Do not check this box if you are using a public computer. You don't want anyone seeing your personal info or messing with your site.
Although Croydon is an outer London borough predominantly outside the official London postal areas (and this website focuses on the official London postal areas) it is included on the gangsinlondon website because it is has the most intense gang problems of any outer London area. Whilst there are pockets of gangs in other outer areas in small defined areas such as Ilford, Southall and Wembley with gangs being also claimed in outlying areas such as Bexley, Kingston and Hillingdon - none are as significant as the London Borough of Croydon.
The media in Croydon are also very active in releasing articles focusing on the boroughs gang issues - the Croydon Guardian probably publishes more gang articles within it than any of London's most gang infested areas.
Croydon is one of London’s largest boroughs with a mix of deprived inner city like areas to the north and more affluent suburbs to the south. As an outer London borough it doesn’t experience a high crime rate overall, however, certain bits are well known gang areas that have established themselves rapidly over the last several years. The main areas of activity are Thornton Heath (CR7), Norwood (SE19/SE25) and Croydon Town (CR0/CR2).
Following the millennium Croydon borough saw massive increases in robbery, serious violence and drugs supply offences. In late 2000 there were a number of publicised ‘blitz’s’ on Yardie style crack-cocaine networks around the town, predominantly in the Waddon area. Reports of robberies and steaming crews, committed mostly by young people, were beginning to appear far more frequently – in one incident a packed 127 bus at school finishing time was steamed by a small gang of youths aged just 14 to 16. Haling Manor School became a robbery hotspot, being seen as a soft touch by gangs from the northern part of the borough.
In 2002 a teenage gang wearing black and white bandanas raided Blockbuster Videos in Thornton Heath. It was one of many such offences committed across south London by a gang called “The Money Makers”, mainly from Lewisham borough. Two of the members who were from Thornton Heath were among the 13 members jailed for a total of 18 years. The gang targeted well known high street stores and were remarked for being well-organised at what they did which made prosecution difficult.
In April 2005 a dispute between Stefan Persuad (left) and rival members from a gang known as Til Death (T.D) resulted in the 16 year olds death. The Stanley Technical College pupil fell into a coma and died after the altercation which took place on Davidson Road, South Norwood. One of those sentenced was released in 2007.
In late 2006 another teen from Croydon (Thornton Heath) became an innocent victim of gang rivalry owing to a dispute between two gangs not specific to Croydon borough themselves (S.U.K – Stick Up Kids from Battersea and T.Z – Terrorzone from Mitcham). Promising footballer Eugene Attram was fatally stabbed whilst on his way to a fireworks display. One of those suspected of Eugene’s murder was himself stabbed in a revenge attack.
After a running battle between 50 gang members resulting in several stab wounds followed by a 15 year old being knifed then police having to disperse 100 gang members from the hospital where the victim was being treated Croydon cabinet member for crime reduction Steve O’Connell was one of few in London to admit there is a problem with gangs in Croydon. Acknowledging the problem is part of the solution, something which many CDRPs and Councils are unwilling to do, certainly not publicly.
Croydon Gang Unit (April 2007 to April 2008)
Steve O’Connell stated that is was Croydon’s “most serious crime and disorder issue for 2007”. He called for more police on Croydon’s streets and Met Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair granted that a new temporary taskforce would be set up to include the Croydon area. By April 2007 a gang unit was formed in Croydon with an aim to have the problems under control in one year. The unit was set up to also look at the issues behind gang crime and the problems associated with it.
Following the units formation there were a number of media articles highlighting successes, a tactic often employed to raise profile and improve perceptions. In June 2007 Abubaker Egah, 19, (right) believed to be a gang leader of a small Somalian clique was sentenced for four years for numerous steaming robberies committed across south London on trains between Sutton and London Victoria. In another high profile article it was reported that police dragged teenage gang members from their beds in a raid aimed at cracking down on gangs. It came a day after an 18 year college pupil was stabbed to death in Croydon.
Commenting on the gang unit Detective Sergeant Simon Reddyhoff said “There is an emerging gang problem in Croydon and that is why we are here now. This operation was part of the gang unit that has been set up in Croydon to deal with the rise in incidents that we have had in the town recently”.
In July, the media campaign continued with two teen gang members being given ASBOs. Tyrell Ellis, 17, (left) from Upper Norwood and Jean Louis Tomety, 17, from Thornton Heath of a gang known as SMN (Strictly Merkin Niggaz/Shine My Nine..) were both convicted at Croydon Youth Court for gang related disorder incidents including street robbery and violence. Police also secured a dispersal order, another tool probably better for publicity than results, for Thornton Heath central for several months. In August 2007, four more young people were charged by Croydon police’s dedicated gang squad, 8 arrests were made in relation to attacks that had occurred in the North End area.
With the end of the gang unit drawing near there were more press releases unsurprisingly to highlight the success of it by realising its aim to get the gang problem under control in just 12 months. On March 17th 2008 it was reported that the leader of one of Croydon’s most prolific gangs DSN (Don’t Say Nothing) was jailed for 2 and a half years. The youth could not be named, however, was jailed alongside two other gang members including Jorge Ghunney, 18 (below left).
On the 1st of April 2008, exactly one year after the formation of Croydon’s gang unit the police claimed that the “GANGS HAVE HAD THEIR HEADS CUT OFF” after key figures in the groups had either been jailed or arrested. Following the imprisonment of the DSN leader Jean Luois Tomety, leader of DSN rivals SMN, was deported. The boroughs notorious Giwa brothers, both of DSN, were also jailed. In total 25 members of Croydon’s gangs are currently being held in custody.
The gang unit was narrow focused, seeming only to concentrate on gangs frequenting Croydon Town centre with little known about their efforts in Thornton Heath and Norwood and the outreaches of SW16 which encroach into the borough. It is probable that the police will become complacent again and with the school holidays approaching and a hot summer expected there is every opportunity for clashes to arise over the coming months between rival youth gangs?
