A man says his pleas for a CCTV camera at the spot where a 16-year-old was stabbed to death were ignored.
The resident of Kendal Avenue in Edmonton – who did not wish to be named due to fears it would make him a target – says he asked Enfield Council to install a camera in nearby Kendal Gardens to combat fly-tipping last September.
He claims the camera would have covered the section of the cul-de-sac where 16-year-old Taye Faik was fatally stabbed on Sunday evening (October 1).
Although the camera would have targeted fly-tipping, he believes that it would have acted as a “deterrent” against other crime.
The resident said: “Last year, in 2022, I was emailing [leader of Enfield Council] Nesil Caliskan about putting a camera up in Kendal Gardens because there was a lot of fly-tipping.
“That road there, where the camera [would have been], a lot of people stop off for drug-dealing.
“That spot there is where the kid got attacked. Put a camera somewhere and it becomes a deterrent.”
Enfield Independent has seen an email addressed to the man from September 5 last year in which he is told the council only has a limited number of CCTV units available to monitor fly-tipping.
The email suggests that the area would be assessed to see if it could be added to the sites covered by cameras, which rotate every eight weeks.
But the resident claims no CCTV camera has ever been installed at the site since his concern was raised.
He added that he felt he had been “ignored” by the council.
When approached with the resident's claims, Enfield Council declined to comment, citing the ongoing police investigation.
The resident has also claimed that the area around Kendal Avenue has become “a crime spot” over the past two years.
He said: “Kendal Avenue is in a beautiful spot for drug dealers, stabbings and now fatality.”
According to Metropolitan Police data for Haslebury ward, where Kendal Gardens and Kendal Avenue are located, drug offences over the last 12 months fell by 35% when compared to the year before.
This was accompanied by a 3% drop in overall crime over the same period.
A spokesperson for the force acknowledged that this might not be a “true reflection” of what is actually happening on the ground.
Anyone with information about the fatal stabbing of Taye Faik has been urged to contact police on 101, quoting the reference 7767/01oct.
To remain anonymous, contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online.
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