Metropolitan Police Service

26thMay 2000

The tragic death of Diego Pineiro-Villar on Sunday 7th May 2000 has severely affected both the local community and the wider Spanish community across London. Our sympathies are with Diego's family, friends and neighbours at this most difficult time. My Operations Superintendent has had the opportunity to meet with Diego's family to offer our condolences and support. This horrific incident has caused understandable concern and distress for residents in the area, some of whom took actions that will be formally recognised at the end of proceedings. I have met with elected representatives and community association leaders and it was agreed that I should circulate this note to record my sincere condolences, and to give an accurate account of a policing initiative in the area which has received press coverage in relation to the incident.

In January this year the Home Office asked police forces across the country to bid for funds to tackle major policing problems in unique and closely evaluated ways. A total of £15 million has been made available for this initiative. My staff in Camden, working closely with colleagues in Westminster, proposed a bid for the Charing Cross Road area to combat the drugs market and associated issues of crime and disorder which are having such a negative impact on the lives of local people. The sum applied for was £2 million. This money can be used in a wide variety of ways to enable police and other agencies to combat identified local problems, and is in addition to the current allocated police budget.

A formal expression of interest was submitted to the Home Office in February and since that time the project has received growing support. We are very optimistic about our chances of success, but await a central decision on the allocation of funds. If the bid is successful, this initiative will bring additional resources to the area to assist in enforcement and creating a safer environment, along with essential services for all victims of drugs misuse.

Whatever the result of this bid, we will be working closely with elected representatives, council officials, community associations, residents and businesses from both Camden and Westminster to make a difference. A major imminent development will be the establishment of a dedicated team of police officers for the area drawn from both Camden and Westminster. They will be specifically targeting the drugs market with its associated crime and quality of life issues. At this time we are looking for suitable accommodation in the area to use as a base.

I look forward to the continued support of the community and major stakeholders in this process, who are an integral part of the project.

David Armond
Borough Commander
Camden

 

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