Residents in northwest London have been told by police to “play classical music” to deter criminals after a spate of drug-fuelled crimes and robberies in the area.
I would claim astonishment but I fear it wouldn't be believed. Nothing the Met do astonishes me anymore.
Car windows have been smashed and drug deals have been reported in broad daylight in St John’s Wood, with one person found taking crack cocaine on a doorstep. One resident claimed he was threatened by a drug dealer and warned he would be “shot and chopped up” after confronting them, the Sun reports. Another resident, a businessman who lives near the Abbey Road recording studio, told the newspaper he had sent pictures of similar offences to the Met Police in the hope they would solve the issue.
Fancy expecting the Met, of all farces, to be interested in ordinary crime!
In response, he said he had received an email from a police constable advising him that should he witness an incident, he should film it, if safe to do so, and call 999. The email added: “You can also contact your housing association/the council and ask them to play classical music as this has proven to deter and prevent crimes.”
Which is why I often hear it in my local Tube station. While the staff ignore the thugs pushing their way through the barriers because they clearly haven't bought a ticket. The only time I don't see this is when the police attend to man a knife arch.
Strangely the email also added that music should not be played at excessive volume “as that can cause other complaints”.
And god forbid there be complaints! Crime can be tolerated, but not complaints.
The Met told the Standard: “While clearly well-intentioned, the advice in the email sent to the resident in this case doesn’t reflect Met policy.”
Translation: "Shit! He said the quiet part out loud!"
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