Question (2) :   When and why did you start up the RCSF?

Answer :   Reportedly, “Youth Crime” has long been the most common type of crime in the Rotherhithe Community Council Area.  Things got rather bad in 2003 that a special top-level “Rotherhithe & Bermondsey Community Policing Strategy Meeting” was called on 5 June 2003 that was attended by the then newly appointed Southwark Borough Police Commander Chief Superintendent Ian Thomas, Valerie Shawcross AM (GLA Member for Lambeth & Southwark and Chair of London Fire & Emergency Planning Authority),  Simon Hughes MP for North Southwark & Bermondsey,  Cllr. Beverley Bassom (Southwark Council’s Executive Member for Housing and Rotherhithe & Bermondsey Police Sector Chair),  Cllr. Richard Porter (Southwark Council’s Executive Member for Community Safety),  Jackie Rose (representing David Brunskill, Rotherhithe Resident & Chair of Canada Water Consultative Forum),  Gary Glover (Bermondsey Resident & Chair of North Southwark & Bermondsey Liberal Democratic Party) and myself.  It was decided at the meeting that it would be really useful to have a “Rotherhithe Community Safety Forum” to help build a “Local Intelligence Network” and promote the much needed “2-Way Communication” and “Public Trust” without which “Community Policing” will be very difficult if not impossible.  I volunteered to help and my offer was accepted and warmly welcome by Chief Superintendent Ian Thomas who has since been a strong supporter of RCSF until he left his post.

Web Link for information : http://rotherhithe.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!FC4C191A8F51F272!603.entry  

Question (3) :  What does RCSF do?

Answer :   RCSF aims to help build a safer, more caring and more giving Rotherhithe Community where people will want to live, visit and work.  RCSF firmly believes that a strong community gives the best chance of success in combating “Crime” and the “Fear of Crime”.  A growing proportion of our collective effort is channelled towards community-building projects – especially in tackling the “Causes of Crime” like the much talked about lack of positive activities for the local youths. 

RCSF has two Principal Businesses Activities: 

a)    Community Safety Information, Education & “RCSF Contacts List”

Knowledge is Power.  RCSF actively manages the flow of “Community Safety Information” to its members and the public at large for achieving its publicly declared business objectives via the use of “RCSF Circulars”, “RCSF Web Blog” and above all, the “Words of Mouth”. by anyone who wants to help.

Web Link to RCSF Blog :  http://rotherhithe.spaces.live.com

b)    RCSF Special Projects

RCSF Members and other individuals/groups may be called upon to form “Temporary Multi-Skilled, Multi-Disciplinary Special Project Teams” as and when it is deemed necessary for achieving the publicly declared business objectives of RCSF.  “Special Projects” are considered on a case-by-case basis to decide if the direct involvement of RCSF is deemed necessary and desirable.  All the “Rotherhithe Community Safety Lessons Learned & Success Stories” are widely shared if appropriate to build a “Rotherhithe Community Safety Forum Knowledge Bank” for information distribution, public reassurance and to promote the community involvement and public support of RCSF and our partner organisations.  For example:

i)    The high profile “Rotherhithe & Surrey Quays Residents Crime Survey 2004/5” Public Launch & Envelop Stuffing Day at Holy Trinity Church Hall on 11 September 2004 and distribution of the survey results.. 

Web Link for information :  http://rotherhithe.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!FC4C191A8F51F272!198.entry

Group Photo by Kam : http://www.flickr.com/photos/16999050@N00/155562652/

ii)    The big scale “London Buses & Surrey Quays Leisure Park Public Safety Project in 2007” that involved top politicians at The London Assembly and Southwark Council, Southwark Police, Transport for London and Local Community Groups in response a number of Rotherhithe Youths being mugged by a youth gang on a Route 188 Bus just before Christmas on 8 December 2006.    

Web Link to Part (1 of 15)  :  http://rotherhithe0001a.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!13812BBE54BAD78D!252.entry

iii)    The Southwark Councils Crime Surveillance & Public Safety CCTV Projects at the Albion Channel, Canada Water, Russia Dock Woodland and Surrey Water – including the soon-to-come “Talking CCTV”.

Web Link to Part (1 of 4)  :  http://rotherhithe.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!FC4C191A8F51F272!710.entry

iv)    The high profile CRAM (Combating Reckless & Anti-Social Motorcycles) Campaign in response to the “Trophy of Defiance” as reported in a full-page photo-report in South London Press on 14 March 2008.

Web Link for information :  http://rotherhithe0003.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!4337256240820D27!334.entry  

Question (4) :   Who are the RCSF Members & What are the Codes of Conduct?

Answer :   RCSF is a highly diversified “Multi-Agency Community Safety Partnership” that actively helps bring “People of Rotherhithe” and the “Rotherhithe Community Safety Service Providers”, especially those of us who are too busy to attend formal meetings, to work collectively and positively together for our common good. Most of RCSF's business is done via emails and each RCSF Member can choose his/her level of involvement. Membership of RCSF is free of charge, voluntary and opened to all the “Residents”, “Workers” and “Visitors” of Rotherhithe and anyone else who wishes to “Benefit From” RCSF and “Contribute To” our Common Cause.  “Respect For All”, “Duty of Care”, “Integrity” and “Taking Responsibility for One’s Words & Actions” are expected from RCSF Members at all times.  

RCSF has 138 individual/group members as on 1 April 2008 in the “RCSF Permanent Email Group” who are from different walks of life, backgrounds and age groups including Valerie Shawcross AM (London Assembly Member for Lambeth & Southwark and Chair of London Fire & Emergency Planning Authority), Safer Neighbourhood Police Teams for Rotherhithe Ward and Surrey Docks Ward, Southwark Councillors & Southwark Council Officers like Jonathon Toy (Head of Community Safety) and Gill Davies (Head of Environment & Housing), Rotherhithe Community Council Members, Southwark Council Tenants, Private Residents, Tenants & Residents Associations, Local Businesses, Local Churches, Local Schools and other Community Groups.  RCSF actively seeks to use our membership base, other network connections and communication channels to provide non-financial support for other community-building efforts if and when it is deemed possible and desirable.  The “RCSF Circulars” and “RCSF Web Blog” reach a lot more people than the “RCSF Permanent Email Group Members”.

Web Link to “RCSF Permanent Email Group” :  http://rotherhithe.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!FC4C191A8F51F272!746.entry

Question (5) :   What was the most important incident that has helped the development of RCSF?

Answer :   The near-fatal attack of the 23-year foreign student and former Rotherhithe Resident, Manuel Dessolis, by a gang of youths in Russia Dock Woodland on 21 September 2003 that shook the Rotherhithe Community and helped brought the People of Rotherhithe and the Rotherhithe Community Service Providers to work together via the RCSF.

Web Link for information :  http://rotherhithe.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!FC4C191A8F51F272!118.entry  

Question (6) :   What was the most important event that has helped the public recognition of RCSF?

Answer :   When Police Minister Hazel Blears MP, Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Sir Ian Blair, Southwark Borough Police Commander Ian Thomas visited me for a door-step interview on 3 November 2003 to help launch Home Office’s “Community Policing Initiative”.  BBC was so impressed that they invited me for a BBV Breakfast TV Interview by Natasha Kaplinsky the following morning.  This has generated a lot of positive excitement and a sense of hard-earned pride among not only the many hard-working RCSF Members but also for the wider Rotherhithe Community at large. 

Web Link for information :  http://rotherhithe.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!FC4C191A8F51F272!116.entry  

Question (7) :   What has been RCSF’s most successful Publicity Campaign?

Answer :   The “Rotherhithe Young Crimewatchers Scheme Poster Campaign” launched on 5 May 2005 that can still be seen on public display in some very high visibility places like at the main entrance of Surrey Docks Health Center and on the community notice board at Canada Water Underground Train Station.  Many people seem to love this poster and hold on to it while all the other posters have all come and gone.

Web Link for information :  http://rotherhithe.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!FC4C191A8F51F272!108.entry  

Question (8) :   What has RCSF done to help combat Youth Crime in Rotherhithe?

Answer :   By tackling the “Crime” (via crime reporting, crime prevention advice) as well as the “Causes of Crime” like the much talked about lack of youth provisions in Rotherhithe. 

We need much more activities for children in Rotherhithe to keep them off the street as well as longer in-school and after-school programs to help them develop as individuals and to prepare for their future.  I heard that Venezuela has over 250, 000 children in over 150 orchestras in the country playing instruments that could change their lives even if they don't become musicians.  Their school day with orchestra practice goes until 6:00 P.M.  They then go home, eat, study and go to bed.  Reportedly, every child in Venezuela plays a musical instrument.  If a poor third world country can do it, why can't one of the greatest cities and countries in the world?  London even wanted to shut down THE LONDON BUBBLE Theatre Company that is well-known for its youth work through theatre-making instead of supporting and expanding it.

RCSF has lent support via free publicity, photo-reports and news reader’s letters to some very high profile public events like:

a)    Rotherhithe Bike Magic Day on 4 March 2006

Web Link for information :  http://rotherhithe.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!FC4C191A8F51F272!410.entry

b)    Rotherhithe Angling Club – support for various public events and the production of a general information sheet for publicity and information distribution.

 Web Link for information :  http://rotherhithe.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!FC4C191A8F51F272!122.entry

c)    Public support for the “Save London Bubble Campaign”

Web Link for information :  http://www.flickr.com/photos/16999050@N00/2233794024/

d)    Public support for the “Kids@StaveHill Arts Project”

Web Link for information :   http://www.flickr.com/photos/16999050@N00/2401279959/

e)    Public support for the St. John's Roman Catholic Primary School Environmental Week 2008

Web Link for information :   http://www.flickr.com/photos/16999050@N00/2407342255/

Question (9) :   What is your latest project for RCSF and why was it chosen?

Answer :   RCSF's Ecology & Wildlife Photos Collection which allows free viewing and downloading of individual photos by clicking each selected photo in turn.  It also allows free viewing of the slideshow by accessing the web link below and then click "View as Slideshow" at the top right of the screen :  http://www.flickr.com/photos/16999050@N00/sets/72157604053249144/

The recent photo of the “Kingfisher of Rotherhithe” by Steve Cornish (Chair of The Friends of Russia Dock Woodland and Chair of Downtown Defence Campaign) has caused a lot of positive excitement both in Rotherhithe and further afield which I hope will help further promote public recognition, interest and the enjoyment of the many beautiful places in Rotherhithe and the wildlife therein.

Web Link for information :   http://www.flickr.com/photos/16999050@N00/2403613441/

Russia Dock Woodland which includes Stave Hill Ecology Park is extremely important due to "Global Warming".  The saving of the trees and natural wildlife habitat needs to be protected because of "global warming".  There is also a public recognition that many woodland birds are rapidly declining in the UK due to the disappearance of woodlands because of insensitive property development like the proposed “Downtown Site” which RCSF has helped campaign against by being a high profile long-term supporter of the local lobby group, Downtown Defence Campaign (DDC).

 Web Link for information :   http://www.flickr.com/photos/16999050@N00/231349334/

Question (10) :   You have a reputation of someone who loves writing.  What was your favourite writing?

Answer :   "Bird Boxes To Freedom" - A Heart-Warming "Community-Building" Success Story of Rotherhithe :  http://rotherhithe.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!FC4C191A8F51F272!446.entry  Cllr. Jenny Jones liked my story too as you can see in her email of 6 April 2006 that can be accessed via the web link above.

Question (11) :   What do you like most about your job?

Answer :   I am most grateful for the opportunity to give something back to the Rotherhithe Community that I dearly love and work with the many wonderful people that I would not have met otherwise.  For example:

a)   When Jack Pringle, President of the Royal Institute of British Architects visited Rotherhithe on 18-10-2005 (Tuesday) for the Stage 2 assessment meeting with RCSF Representatives for the "Deputy Prime Minister's Award for Sustainable Communities 2005", Ian Moore, Manager of Surrey Quays Shopping Centre has kindly volunteered the free use of conference facility and extended the offer to future meetings as and when they arise.

 Web Link for information : http://rotherhithe.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!FC4C191A8F51F272!200.entry

b)     Request of public support for Stave Hill Ecology Park’s Fund Raising & Green Pennant Award Projects

Some high profile support have been quickly secured from some very busy politicians of different parties around the very busy Christmas and New Year holiday period at around the start of 2008 including:

-    Rotherhithe Community Council

Web Link for information :  http://www.flickr.com/photos/16999050@N00/2233055373/

-     Cllr. Jenny Jones AM

Web Link for information :  http://www.flickr.com/photos/16999050@N00/2187837335/

-    Val Shawcross AM

Web Link for information :  http://www.flickr.com/photos/16999050@N00/2189800486/

Question (12) :   What is the biggest challenge in running RCSF?

Answer :   To find time to do all the projects that I would like to get involved with.

Question (13) :   What can be done to help RCSF?

Answer :   More publicity about RCSF, its work and opportunities for making contributions to our collective community-building efforts – like this “In The Chair Interview” by South London Press.

Question (14) :   What is your biggest ambition for RCSF?

Answer :   There has been major progress since the start of RCSF including the strengthening of “Community Spirit” and “Community Safety Local Intelligence Network” as well as the introduction of “Safer Neighbourhood Police Teams” and “Rotherhithe Community Wardens” in 2004.  The “Best Case Scenario” is for the RCSF to run out of reasons for its continual existence when both “Crime” and the “Fear of Crime” have been successfully and completely conquered forever.  Until then, the “Ownership”, “Management”, “Organisation” and “Business Objectives & Practices” of RCSF are subject to continual “Internal Review” and “Public Scrutiny” in response to the ever-changing “Circumstances” and the many “Opportunities” as and when they arise.

END  OF  PROPOSED  "IN  THE  CHAIR"  INTERVIEW  REPORT  (DRAFT @ 16-4-2008)

Message: Apr 15 2008, 01:19 PM
From: sameversden@slp.co.uk (Sam Eversden - News Editor at the South London Press)
To: Kam Hong Leung
Subject: South London Press

Hello Kam,

My name is Sam Eversden, I'm the news editor at the South London Press and I was wondering if you would be interested in taking part in one of our regular features called In the Chair.   You may be familiar with it but basically it's an extended interview with people of interest from around South London. my colleague Lindsay put your name forward because of your work with the Rotherhithe Community Safety Forum. All I'd need is 10 to 15 minutes on the phone with you to do an interview and a picture of yourself. It's a good chance to publicise your work and the activities that are going on down at Russia Dock. At a push it could be done by email but over the phone would be preferred. What do you think, would you be interested? If so please get back to me today by email or phone and let me know. My number is 020 8710 6434. I look forward to hearing from you.

Best regards

Sam Eversden

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