Catford residents have been left shaken and demanding more action to make their streets safe again.
The latest string of knife attacks has reignited debate over how much attention is really being paid to this corner of south east London.
The News Shopper visited Catford town centre on Thursday (October 23) to hear how locals are feeling in the aftermath, and whether enough is being done to prevent yet more violence.
A week of violence
Police and paramedics were called to Winslade Way, near Catford Mews, at around 7.30pm on Monday (October 21), after a man was stabbed.
He was treated at the scene before being taken to hospital “as a priority.”
His condition remains unknown, and no arrests have been made.
That attack came a day after a teenage boy was stabbed on Canadian Avenue (October 20), leaving him with injuries that were not life-threatening.
At around 8am on October 15, a man was found with stab wounds in Mountsfield Park and remains in hospital.
That same day, in the early hours of the morning, Sanchini Thompson was fatally stabbed on Rushey Green.
He later died in hospital, and police confirmed a 33-year-old man was arrested in Scotland on October 21 in connection with the incident.
‘I’m scared to walk on the streets’
For many residents, the repeated headlines have hit close to home.
Bianca, who lives in Eltham, told the News Shopper that she feels “unsafe”, and is “scared to walk on the streets” with her children.
She said: “It’s very concerning.
“I don’t think the police do enough.
“I am scared to walk on the streets with my kids, scared to take the bus, to wait at the bus stop and all these things.
“I’ve spent a lot of money on Ubers because I am scared to be on the streets.
“I don’t feel safe in this country – I’m not from here, but I’ve lived in the country for nine years.
“I don’t go out in the dark.”
‘There’s nothing for young people to do’
For Sean, 55, who has lived in Catford for 20 years, the issue runs deeper than policing.
He believes it’s a matter of lost direction and lack of early guidance for young people.
He told the News Shopper: “I feel like this is what is going to happen when there’s nothing to do.
“There’s no one for these youngsters to check in with.
“Groups of lads are going to do what they do at a certain age in their life.
“But when they’ve got their peers and nothing there, they’re going to make the rules themselves.
“All it takes is one bad apple in a group who the rest are fearful of to create a bad group.
“The young guys don’t know how to deal with it and they’re in trouble.
“When they all get dragged into a situation like this, it’s bad, but if you take the bad apple out, they’re a nice group of guys.
“It’s a cycle.”
Sean believes dropping subjects such as French or German in primary school should be replaced with lessons on “ethics and humanity”.
He explained: “Kids go to school for five years learning French and don’t remember it – with schools around here, they should drop it.
“Instead of teaching kids maths at 5 or 6, teach them empathy, and they will pick up maths in secondary school.
“They don’t really pick it up in primary school, they’re still playing and learning so they’re learning about their own feelings.
“Why not teach them about feelings at that young age?
“Teach them about being a nice person, not following the alpha man of the group, unless he’s a good guy.
“Hurt people hurt people, and that’s what’s happening in Catford.”
‘Catford is what it is’
Others said the problems feel deep-rooted and reflective of a wider decline in community support and visibility.
Tia, who works in Catford but lives in Dagenham, said she feels “generally safe” during the day but not at night.
She said: “Catford is what it is, it needs a little upgrade and some attention.
“When it comes to knife crime, or any kind of crime, it needs police attention.
“As you can see, there’s no police walking around, so maybe they need to get back to doing what they used to do back in the day – which might bring down crime rates.
“Obviously with drugs and alcohol too.
“I feel generally safe around here in broad daylight, but if I had to come out here at nighttime maybe I would feel unsafe.”
Densel, from Ealing, agreed: “I think there could be more police patrols.
“I probably wouldn’t come here out at night just because of what you hear in the news.”
‘Officers are on the ground’
Superintendent Charlene Pavitt, who leads policing in Lewisham, confirmed that officers are now “on the ground” in Catford, with increased patrols to “keep the public safe”.
She said: “We are currently investigating four knife related incidents across Catford.
“This has understandably caused concern within the community.
“I have ensured that officers are on the ground, with increased patrols to keep the public safe.
“At this stage of our investigation, we believe the incidents are not connected.
“Our understanding is they are isolated, and do not pose a threat to the wider public.
“Active enquiries remain ongoing into each incident, including searching for those responsible.
“If you have any information that can assist police, then please do come forward.
“If you have any information for police, then please call 101 stating CAD6958/21Oct.”
‘The morale is really down’
Emma from Deptford said her workplace had to close for two days after one of the stabbings nearby.
“The morale is really down,” she said.
“I just feel bad for the guy – he was 27-years-old.”
Sarfraz, who has worked at One Pot on Rushey Green for the past three months, has noticed the tension in the area.
He told the News Shopper: “I’ve heard about the stabbings – I saw the road was sealed for two days.
“It happens in the whole of London, but in this area, I am seeing it regularly.
“It’s the action of the UK government to take care of the police.
“It’s creating a lot of problems for internationals and nationals.
“They should take care about it and take street action – this would be helpful for people.”
‘It’s everywhere – but it’s here too’
Malgrrzata, from nearby Lewisham Park, said she still feels “okay” walking around Catford during the day, but knows many others don’t share her confidence.
She said: “I did hear about the stabbings.
“There needs to be more education on knife crime.
“My grandchildren are learning about it in school.”
