Open letter to residents following Edmonton Stabbings

Tuesday 09th April 2019 14:32 EDT
 

Dear Residents,

I am writing to you following the five serious stabbing incidents that have occurred in the N18 area of Edmonton over the weekend and into Tuesday this week.

My thoughts are with the victims and their families. 

We have all been deeply unsettled following these seemingly random and unprovoked attacks on local people in our borough. I hope that I can give you some assurance from Enfield Council and update you on the role we play in supporting the Police when events like this occur.

Events of this nature are led by the Police, and the role of the council is to do everything we can to support them in their investigations. Council officers are in daily dialogue with the Police and I remain in direct contact with the Borough Commander.

Over past few days, we have assisted the Police with their enquiries by providing any helpful information we may have from across all our council departments. Council officers together with the Police have also been providing community support and reassurance where we can – but I know whilst Police investigations are in progress residents across Enfield continue to feel anxious.

In response, the Police are deploying extra officers into the area, many coming in from other parts of London.  Extra Police and specialist resources, both uniformed and plain clothes, are in the Edmonton area. A Section 60 notice has been requested and issued. This means that police officers can use enhanced search powers should they be required.       

This year our borough has already experienced too many incidents involving young people and violence. However, the Police have confirmed that the latest incidents in Edmonton are not being treated as gang related.

It has also been confirmed that arrests have been made in connection with the recent attacks and the investigation is progressing at pace. There are five crime scenes, meaning that there is a significant amount of CCTV and forensic material to collate and assess, which Police officers are working to process as fast as possible. 

I know the most important thing to you is feeling safe in the borough and that we are all able to return to our daily routine as swiftly as possible.

The Police are not advising people to stay indoors but are asking you to be alert and aware of your surroundings. In the meantime, if you have any information that can help with the investigation, however small, please report it to the Police on 101.  If you feel under threat, please contact the Police on 999 immediately.                                                                                                                               

Cllr Nesil Caliskan

Leader of Enfield Council


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