I write regarding the relentless break-ins and muggings in the Enfield Wash area, with great concern.

The seed is already being sewn for a repeat of the 2011 riots and the parallels have already been drawn. The obvious lack of respect for property, people or the law highlight the fact that this is an inevitable bi-product of a society where disenfranchised youths lacking morals, respect, discipline or family values are allowed to run a mock on the streets causing havoc.

When the current coalition Government took away the funding for school leavers it started a spate of demonstrations, which all went on deaf ears. This caused simmering tensions to surface between the angry youths and the Government.

Similarly, the low prioritisation for investment in deprived areas and the obvious lack of policing is like opening the flood gates to crime and more riots are inevitable sooner or later. Just dressing up the situation is all well and good, but long-term business growth and tax incentives and employment initiatives for both young and old alike, are vital prerequisites to boosting Enfield Wash and other deprived areas, as well as a zero tolerance for those carrying knives or guns and tougher sentencing for perpetrators of these senseless muggings.

Do we want to turn these areas into by-gone ‘Bronx’ type ‘ghettoised’ places where people are afraid to walk the streets?

As a child, I remember these places being that of peace and tranquillity and having a good quality of life. Is this now a sign of the times that we must watch in horror as the beauty of these suburbs fall into decay?

The action that MP Nick De Bois is taking is a positive step, but the pontificating of the issues by Theresa May will do little to resolve things at grass roots level and may further exacerbate resentment of the Government when they see little being done to address the security and policing issues along the Hertford Road and particularly at Ponders End and as far as Enfield Wash. History has a habit of repeating itself. Let’s not have the prophecy come to fruition this time.

Andy Theodorou

Winchmore Hill, London