The Guardian Community leaders yesterday admitted that the estate where Damilola lived and died suffers severe deprivation -but they insisted that huge efforts are being made to improve the situation. Residents claim that for years the area has suffered from an acute lack of investment. Housing and shopping areas have fallen into neglect.
Violence is common, drugs a massive problem and inter-gang rivalry a worrying feature.
Many locals believe they struggle to get work because employers are put off by their address. Though the latest statistics show that crime in general is down in the London borough of Southwark, violent crime is up. There were 854 instances of violent crime in October - 54 more than in the same month last year. The Bishop of Southwark, the Right Reverend Tom Butler, described the North Peckham estate as one of the toughest in Europe. But he said there was also cause for optimism that there could be a brighter future.