tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89863445653896346952024-02-07T04:39:49.575-08:00Blood and PropertyI've lived in Hackney for 10 years, not voting, not knowing who my MP or councillors are and not paying attention to Hackney current affairs. Am I missing anything?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger447125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986344565389634695.post-84878755933218367042015-04-26T10:38:00.000-07:002015-04-26T15:21:29.617-07:00Should Hackney politicians have serious views on the supernatural?Last week, during a shameful episode of self-Googling, I discovered that a 2009 Blood and Property post had been revisited by Iain Sinclair in his 2011 book Ghost Milk. Here's a link to the excerpt in Google Books: <a href="http://bit.ly/1GeCbXe">http://bit.ly/1GeCbXe </a><br />
<br />
The original posts he referred to were:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://bloodandproperty.blogspot.co.uk/2009/10/is-supernatural-significant.html">Is the supernatural significant</a> (in Hackney politics)?<br />
Survey responses in <a href="http://bloodandproperty.blogspot.co.uk/2009/10/does-your-councillor-believe-in-ghosts_23.html">Do Hackney Politicians believe in ghosts?</a><br />
This was <a href="http://bloodandproperty.blogspot.co.uk/2009/10/psychology-professor-interprets-hackney.html">interpreted by Chris French</a>, Psychology professor at Goldsmiths.<br />
And Iain provided a quote about it too at the time: <a href="http://bloodandproperty.blogspot.co.uk/2009/11/sinclair-scorns-councillor-ghost.html">Sinclair scorns councillor ghost stories</a>.<br />
<br />
With the General Election coming up, is it worth putting a question like this to Meg or Diane? Last time (2010) Meg said: 'To be brutally honest I've got better things to do with my time than answer questions like that' - but she did <a href="http://bloodandproperty.blogspot.co.uk/2010/03/meg-hillier-answers-blood-and-property_22.html">answer lots of other questions</a> about what she hoped to do as an opposition MP.<br />
<br />
Otherwise, to find out what policies you really like when the party labels are removed take this survey here: <a href="http://voteforpolicies.org.uk/">Voteforpolicies.org.uk</a>.<br />
<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Blood and Property</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986344565389634695.post-57087708049915628462014-10-23T06:18:00.000-07:002014-10-23T06:18:58.556-07:00Old horror in Hackney shop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT2qzkjGhgnsJQsc1uWK3qqqkupDb8vYfklyaNoK9B0JatijIsqpOYmR8yxasF0J4Kt7muwD1CyMUnISKfRQdxJ2-I13aTBbX8Sz4tdPl4E7H_lNMt9rfM0agOWT55wSPO3gGjIpFbRL8M/s1600/IMG_0026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT2qzkjGhgnsJQsc1uWK3qqqkupDb8vYfklyaNoK9B0JatijIsqpOYmR8yxasF0J4Kt7muwD1CyMUnISKfRQdxJ2-I13aTBbX8Sz4tdPl4E7H_lNMt9rfM0agOWT55wSPO3gGjIpFbRL8M/s1600/IMG_0026.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
As halloween approaches I remembered this 'incredible, eye popping, horror extravaganza'. It was for sale in the Dalston - either in the St Vincent second hand shop or Oxfam in 2010 - I didn't buy it, it may still be haunting the shelves. </div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Blood and Property</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986344565389634695.post-89998463353477534802014-10-23T06:06:00.002-07:002014-10-23T06:06:57.681-07:00Creationism banned from schools - will this affect Yesodey Hatorah? I haven't posted anything for a long time because I moved out of Hackney. I am not sure what to do with this blog, any thoughts?<br />
<br />
Anyway, below is a story I saw in June that I thought might have some relevance to Yesodey Hatorah. I believe the school's curriculum has some unconventional faith-based characteristics.<br />
<br />
'Creationism cannot be taught as a valid scientific theory in any free school or academy, the government has said': <a href="http://www.politics.co.uk/news/2014/06/18/secular-triumph-as-government-bans-creationism-from-free-sch">http://www.politics.co.uk/news/2014/06/18/secular-triumph-as-government-bans-creationism-from-free-sch</a><br />
<br />
No doubt Rabbi Pinter could explain whether it is relevant - I haven't asked him.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Blood and Property</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986344565389634695.post-19152843840987702052014-04-03T02:50:00.002-07:002014-04-03T02:50:56.125-07:00BSix College head signs letter objecting to £45m Harris Academy in WestminsterThe Independent has published a <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/letters/letters-goves-45-million-sixth-form-college-9226170.html">letter from the heads</a> of London's 12 sixth form colleges.<br />
<br />
The letter outlines the cuts faced by the colleges and then says: '..it is entirely unjust that £45m has been found to establish an institution that will educate less than a fifth of the number of students currently enrolled at some of the existing sixth form colleges in London.'
<br />
<br />
One of the signatories is, Ken Warman, Principal of BSix Brooke House Sixth Form College in Clapton.
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Blood and Property</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986344565389634695.post-78583210572016646932014-01-07T15:48:00.000-08:002014-01-07T15:51:44.027-08:00Six month hostage claim doesn't look so unlikely anymore...Back in 2010 Blood and Property reported a case of a <a href="http://bloodandproperty.blogspot.co.uk/2010/08/held-hostage-for-6-months.html">67-year-old man claiming to have been held hostage in his flat for six months</a>.<br />
<br />
At the time the allegation appeared highly unlikely.<br />
<br />
Whether or not the claim was ever true it doesn't sound so extraordinary after these cases:<br />
a) September <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-14871318">2011 police raided a traveller site</a> in Leighton Buzzard leading to a case described in court as the first ‘quasi-slavery trial in this country for over 200 years'.<br />
b) November 2013 three women believed to have been <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-25040741">held as slaves for 30 years</a>. <br />
c) January 2014 S<a href="http://news.sky.com/story/1191670/sheffield-family-jailed-over-slave-beatings">heffield family jailed over slave beatings </a><br />
<br />
The 2010 allegations in Hackney were thought to be a case of visitors refusing to leave a man's flat. The police charged the suspects for burglary, not for holding a man hostage but a statement from Hackney Police said: "The victim has been spoken to and does not wish the suspect to be arrested. A first instance harassment warning has been issued and if the suspect re-attends the address, then he may be arrested for harassment."<div class="blogger-post-footer">Blood and Property</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986344565389634695.post-54459018507213886502013-11-14T10:17:00.002-08:002013-11-14T10:17:46.259-08:00Gove praises Hackney's social work cuts Taken from the Evening Standard, November 12 2013 <a href="http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/michael-gove-praises-hackney-jobs-losses-and-pledges-to-shakeup-social-care-8934169.html">http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/michael-gove-praises-hackney-jobs-losses-and-pledges-to-shakeup-social-care-8934169.html</a><br />
<br />
Michael Gove praised Hackney for cutting back a third of its social workers:<br />
<br />
Hackney has bucked the trend, he said, with a model that “relied on holding social workers and managers to the highest professional standards: up to a third of staff have had to move on.
“I am determined to spread this rigour throughout the children’s social care profession.”
He added: “The London Borough of Hackney has every social – and economic – problem you could think of in modern Britain concentrated in its few square miles.
“It also has some of the best - and most innovative social workers.
“And they have developed an approach towards their practice which explicitly rejects the idea of their families as passive and powerless victims of circumstance or social workers as dispensers of other agencies’ services.”<div class="blogger-post-footer">Blood and Property</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986344565389634695.post-90089415364910111842013-10-28T04:07:00.000-07:002013-10-28T08:04:17.362-07:00Yesoday Hatorah sixth most 'exclusive' state school in EnglandAccording to research from the Daily Telegraph the <a href="http://www.education.gov.uk/cgi-bin/schools/performance/school.pl?urn=133599">Yesodey Hatorah School</a> in Stamford Hill is one of the most exclusive state schools in the country.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The survey says that the percentage of children eligible for free school meals in the local area is above 37 per cent while only 1.6 per cent of pupils in the school claim free meals.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There's a bit more about the schools admissions here on If you tickle us... a Q&A on admissions:</div>
<div>
<a href="http://ifyoutickleus.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/yesodey-hatorah-senior-girls-school.html">http://ifyoutickleus.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/yesodey-hatorah-senior-girls-school.html</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
For more on the school and its headmaster Abraham Pinter: </div>
<div>
<a href="http://bloodandproperty.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/yesodey%20hatorah%20school"> http://bloodandproperty.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/yesodey%20hatorah%20school</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Blood and Property</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986344565389634695.post-1423553904761329912013-09-11T06:20:00.001-07:002013-09-11T06:20:19.934-07:00London Fields wild flowers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This appears to have worked. The fence is down. And it smells too.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilOdIR1kvHoSAfSoUMdVKRZSDZpKoGla6b4_Q1TFomTMdaerY5OCzIXimuHZUaryOiXtKNtXinXjJg7B0HbWUNu-46hwr2ghmB04fRIPelYZ0-yN462OOP_G23mD0eqSztsuNntMvkfJnB/s1600/IMG_2951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilOdIR1kvHoSAfSoUMdVKRZSDZpKoGla6b4_Q1TFomTMdaerY5OCzIXimuHZUaryOiXtKNtXinXjJg7B0HbWUNu-46hwr2ghmB04fRIPelYZ0-yN462OOP_G23mD0eqSztsuNntMvkfJnB/s320/IMG_2951.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7G3XnCy0ojqpgxtdchYgIw46E3AytwZ6GIdbIHr6oEm3ZQ6M8YpCERIWOfgrWswXmUgEAVZPY6pNN-Xh17HVL5l70hqjrurXJSelaJOifzcxUvTwKxFyV4ZGpNbZVS5m_bVJv862VCyxg/s1600/IMG_3085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7G3XnCy0ojqpgxtdchYgIw46E3AytwZ6GIdbIHr6oEm3ZQ6M8YpCERIWOfgrWswXmUgEAVZPY6pNN-Xh17HVL5l70hqjrurXJSelaJOifzcxUvTwKxFyV4ZGpNbZVS5m_bVJv862VCyxg/s320/IMG_3085.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Lots of other people have taken pictures too: </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="http://www.kinseysblog.co.uk/wildflowers-in-london-fields/">http://www.kinseysblog.co.uk/wildflowers-in-london-fields/</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
and </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Yeah! Hackney:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="http://bit.ly/19GhYeD">http://bit.ly/19GhYeD</a></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Blood and Property</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986344565389634695.post-32688406655098727842013-09-06T04:50:00.003-07:002013-09-06T04:52:28.544-07:00Meg Vs Diane + bad broadband connectivity in ShoreditchMeg Hillier gave a frank interview to Blood and Property back in 2010 before the election.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://bloodandproperty.blogspot.co.uk/2010/03/meg-hillier-answers-blood-and-property_22.html">http://bloodandproperty.blogspot.co.uk/2010/03/meg-hillier-answers-blood-and-property_22.html</a><br />
<br />
In it she said: "Were the Conservatives to get in they would be bored of the word Hackney because I’d be bringing it up so often. I’d be looking endlessly at the Parliamentary end of things, looking at the detail of everything going through, every funding formula, any slight amendment or tweak that could benefit Hackney. Whether or not we could ever change it is another question but we would have to be ever vigilant."<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
An unscientific survey shows she is doing better than Diane Abbott: 89 mentions of Hackney in a search of Meg's speeches/comments in They Work for You compared to 40 mentions by Diane. That's in the period from the General Election until now. But it's not a scientific result!<br />
<br />
Dianne: <a href="http://www.theyworkforyou.com/search/?s=%28HACKNEY%29+speaker%3A10001&from=6%2F5%2F2010&to=&person=&section=&column=">http://www.theyworkforyou.com/search/?s=%28HACKNEY%29+speaker%3A10001&from=6%2F5%2F2010&to=&person=&section=&column= </a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1-7bar-s3pljPk6PDvhAmnMp6BrrdZRvmEjbTm13dp317y7-xzPh9g8TM71GTe9a62CIr4h08HDwM3V3bLfmlRv6hMTUj0Am3eI3IfL2ZBlcz6FVaMu3Tfn3ct3Rp17daK7P-oj6chd2/s1600/DIANE.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1-7bar-s3pljPk6PDvhAmnMp6BrrdZRvmEjbTm13dp317y7-xzPh9g8TM71GTe9a62CIr4h08HDwM3V3bLfmlRv6hMTUj0Am3eI3IfL2ZBlcz6FVaMu3Tfn3ct3Rp17daK7P-oj6chd2/s1600/DIANE.png" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Meg: <a href="http://www.theyworkforyou.com/search/?s=%28HACKNEY%29+speaker%3A11605&from=6%2F5%2F2010&to=&person=&section=&column=">http://www.theyworkforyou.com/search/?s=%28HACKNEY%29+speaker%3A11605&from=6%2F5%2F2010&to=&person=&section=&column=</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEids0Cckihvvofm1fuTUQnbJHKDe5_rc1lQ4bv6znNXRN58D6tTxhlO-xJYVs129HmClTFW9RRq2Izq_ILydd2NVNdxA5mJVIcfs3TF9zCSMEQ0SHumrx4porLge9Wp6pQQQXtE2JhHuavZ/s1600/Meg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEids0Cckihvvofm1fuTUQnbJHKDe5_rc1lQ4bv6znNXRN58D6tTxhlO-xJYVs129HmClTFW9RRq2Izq_ILydd2NVNdxA5mJVIcfs3TF9zCSMEQ0SHumrx4porLge9Wp6pQQQXtE2JhHuavZ/s1600/Meg.png" height="176" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
This example arrived via '<a href="http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2013-09-05a.453.2&s=speaker%3A11605#g455.0">They work for you</a>' this morning:<br />
<br />
<br />
Meg Hillier:<br />
<br />
"I represent Shoreditch, which has a reputation for being a very connected, tech-focused area of London, yet I am inundated with complaints from businesses and residents about the problems of physical connectivity, the time it takes to make the connection, and particularly about the virtual monopoly of BT Openreach, the charges it makes, and the service it provides to businesses such as Perseverance Works. Will the Minister meet me to discuss this and see what can be done to make sure that we have proper connectivity in Hackney?"<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Blood and Property</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986344565389634695.post-37073505981405667092013-07-31T06:33:00.000-07:002013-07-31T06:33:32.602-07:00Hackney 'superhead' suspended over contracts for boyfriend"A superhead described by education secretary Michael Gove as “magnificent” has been suspended after it emerged that his boyfriend heads a company that provides IT services to his schools."<br />
<br />
Or a council plot - according to the Evening Standard:<br />
<a href="http://www.standard.co.uk/news/education/superhead-hailed-magnificent-by-michael-gove-suspended-after-contracts-went-to-his-boyfriends-it-firm-8736007.html">http://www.standard.co.uk/news/education/superhead-hailed-magnificent-by-michael-gove-suspended-after-contracts-went-to-his-boyfriends-it-firm-8736007.html</a><br />
<br />
Hackney Gazette report from January:<br />
<a href="http://www.hackneygazette.co.uk/news/concerns_over_hackney_superhead_s_five_school_academy_bid_1_1799811">http://www.hackneygazette.co.uk/news/concerns_over_hackney_superhead_s_five_school_academy_bid_1_1799811</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Blood and Property</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986344565389634695.post-38789488965181439932012-12-05T17:27:00.002-08:002012-12-05T17:27:41.100-08:00JSA claimants rise above 10,000 again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Hackney JSA claimant numbers rose above 10,000 again for the first time since June.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-hL-sAzIyw4rnffXy7k5Kar1QuDFTmFFVUnZyb6dHWQUtvt72SgVKR1Dc6jP8tGBjORhqlD5FjSsWpqG-515oW11u_HGZ-7Ee7XHekhwPwfXHAKg6nVRZ7xIxg1lKjD6Ao6KXxetoO2I/s1600/hack2012.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-hL-sAzIyw4rnffXy7k5Kar1QuDFTmFFVUnZyb6dHWQUtvt72SgVKR1Dc6jP8tGBjORhqlD5FjSsWpqG-515oW11u_HGZ-7Ee7XHekhwPwfXHAKg6nVRZ7xIxg1lKjD6Ao6KXxetoO2I/s320/hack2012.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The rate - percentage of the working populations aged between 16-64 and 16-24 (<a href="http://bloodandproperty.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/hoxton-is-worst-ward-for-longterm-youth.html">youth unemployment</a>) - both rose in October.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCI1Ri2HVVFM-smf5NzmaNgYT-gq56A08AYQDIhZaH_7gMuZ3_bm-kTYzwDqnSZ23jqchJvSOeVhg4E8qRIOmxZTd5USOPUmxybQQd-IkGgjg4fA2v6CyCXd82d7NEtwN2nN717ekDmRBx/s1600/hackney.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCI1Ri2HVVFM-smf5NzmaNgYT-gq56A08AYQDIhZaH_7gMuZ3_bm-kTYzwDqnSZ23jqchJvSOeVhg4E8qRIOmxZTd5USOPUmxybQQd-IkGgjg4fA2v6CyCXd82d7NEtwN2nN717ekDmRBx/s320/hackney.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Over the long term percentage of JSA claimants remains lowish.....<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4x0XwRG3zR8BJerVwEQy3hTl850GRiJ4_D0OIcZ9cjBcj-jx2rQ-o_FI5V0FskwTNlcyY_Y0723RxTJ659pWsCHIKfNturCSYcQsjTE_NE-SjjAyh4S1I0cKiz0hDn37gIN2xl2u23c7/s1600/hackney+long.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4x0XwRG3zR8BJerVwEQy3hTl850GRiJ4_D0OIcZ9cjBcj-jx2rQ-o_FI5V0FskwTNlcyY_Y0723RxTJ659pWsCHIKfNturCSYcQsjTE_NE-SjjAyh4S1I0cKiz0hDn37gIN2xl2u23c7/s320/hackney+long.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Blood and Property</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986344565389634695.post-12035009306985617032012-10-14T16:26:00.000-07:002012-10-14T16:26:09.750-07:00Hackney's development is not just a local concernAccording to an <a href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/47216c22-1493-11e2-aa93-00144feabdc0.html#axzz29JULJGCp">article in the Financial Times</a> Hackney Council is "teaming up with landlords, architects and property developers to mastermind a 'fashion hub'..." building on the success of the Burberry factory outlet in Chatham Place. <br />
<br />
The target, it seems, is Chinese cash. The article said many of the 600,000 shoppers per year who visit the Burberry store are Asian. But Councillor Guy Nicholson, Hackney council cabinet member for regeneration said: "Pretty much none of those visitors remain and start to engage in the local economy in any way."<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMs7kvHuJFxYc2_JMsNFupRe3ngHNcJ8dUna4aQ3FJYxiinNCQB2bMdHvX7svzrh1gxUT9XyobXr5gfbl6o5gb-bPT2a-OQ4X9NOUylpDcLXqvsNX_4E1A4hr_Jqff7uxN2l1DQT2v-Lq0/s1600/dalston+sq.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMs7kvHuJFxYc2_JMsNFupRe3ngHNcJ8dUna4aQ3FJYxiinNCQB2bMdHvX7svzrh1gxUT9XyobXr5gfbl6o5gb-bPT2a-OQ4X9NOUylpDcLXqvsNX_4E1A4hr_Jqff7uxN2l1DQT2v-Lq0/s320/dalston+sq.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
However a sales plan for Barratt Development's Dalston Square (above) suggests that some Chinese cash is already engaged in Hackney's local economy. (<a href="http://bloodandproperty.blogspot.co.uk/2009/11/blood-and-property-gangs-and-house.html">Mentioned here in 2009</a>)<br />
<br />
An article in the South China Morning Post also suggests the Dalston Square <a href="http://www.scmp.com/article/729978/location-everything-so-double-check-it">sales pitch to Chinese investors might have used some poetic licence</a>.<br />
<br />
So while everyone in Hackney is keen to engage visitors in the local economy, it looks like there might already be some property investors from Hong Kong who want the same thing too.<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Blood and Property</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986344565389634695.post-24481694741587917922012-10-07T17:00:00.000-07:002012-10-07T17:01:10.907-07:00Has the Hackney Gazette been gutted?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSjB8CYwKOYZ7GmNuar4wCxOmcNEeRxk6lvtEWX_rEgQ_vuUdE-19xo0VlrbMmIfXUeT4kzXWUKP5Mo1nAnZIoAIqiKCPsDLQq4mo001GcWLJe7UTySMHAxQFiV75GKgkO6JF_pAMOUV6U/s1600/hackgaz.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSjB8CYwKOYZ7GmNuar4wCxOmcNEeRxk6lvtEWX_rEgQ_vuUdE-19xo0VlrbMmIfXUeT4kzXWUKP5Mo1nAnZIoAIqiKCPsDLQq4mo001GcWLJe7UTySMHAxQFiV75GKgkO6JF_pAMOUV6U/s400/hackgaz.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.archant.co.uk/publications_newspapers.aspx">Archant</a>, the private company which owns the <a href="http://www.hackneygazette.co.uk/home/about-hackney-gazette">Hackney Gazette</a>, has said the paper's editorial team will be merging with the Islington Gazette before a redesign for the paper (full statement below).<br />
<br />
A press officer at Archant told Blood and Property that the Hackney Gazette title would remain but could not comment on whether it was true that the paper would only have one dedicated member of staff or that it's longstanding news editor was being moved to the East London Advertiser.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
The changes follow those made in <a href="http://bloodandproperty.blogspot.co.uk/2010/11/hackney-gazette-and-ela-leave-east-end.html">November 2010 when the Hackney Gazette and the East London Advertiser were moved</a> out of their offices on Cambridge Heath Road in Bethnal Green to Ilford.<br />
<br />
Archant claims the changes will help deliver 'higher paginations and increased news content providing better newspapers' but the company's financial statements suggest a managed decline for its London titles.<br />
<br />
It is believed that the circulation figures and advertising revenues of titles like the Hackney Gazette have plummeted - however Archant no longer provides circulation figures (<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/greenslade/2012/sep/26/archant-digital-media?newsfeed=true">Guardian</a> and <a href="http://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2012/news/abc-figures-no-regional-dailies-see-sales-increase/">ABC figures</a>) for its London titles.<br />
<br />
In its <a href="http://www.archant.co.uk/assets/downloads/Archant%20Interim%202012.pdf">2012 interim report</a> the company implied that it would be looking to build on success rather than attempt to rescue failing titles: 'We are firm in the view that it is right to continue to increase expenditure in areas where we believe we can generate growth.'<br />
<br />
London didn't appear to be one of those areas. The report said: 'Total newspaper and printing turnover, at £43.2m fell by 1.5%. The decline in revenues resulted principally from reductions in print advertising revenues, down 1.1% on a like for
like basis.... Circulation volume
performance was good, with <b>growth in our titles outside London</b>.'<br />
<br />
In Archant's <a href="http://www.archant.co.uk/assets/downloads/ARA2011.pdf">2011 annual report</a> the company only mentioned the Gazette to say that it had recognised the National Union of Journalists' members at the paper. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The Archant announcement in full:<br />
<br />
Archant London has announced a number of changes in its London portfolio, extending its flagship Ham & High title, combining editorial resources across the Gazette titles in Islington and Hackney and moving the North London Journal series from print into a digital-only product.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The Ham & High series is to be relaunching in mid-October with a new design, additional pagination, a new paid-for edition 'The Broadway' covering Muswell Hill and Crouch End and with expanded free distribution of 3,000 copies via letterbox distribution in Hampstead Garden Suburb.
Archant London MD, Will Hattam, said: 'London is an ever-changing city, with its series of "villages" constantly redefining themselves. Our publishing needs to evolve to reflect the needs of each area in which we publish, which means that we need constantly to review our circulation areas, formats and distribution.'<br />
<br />
In further changes, the Journal series in Hornsey & Muswell Hill and Tottenham & Wood Green will cease publication in print and will move to a digital-only format.<br />
<br />
The editorial teams on the Islington Gazette and Hackney Gazette will be merging, and the titles redesigned with higher paginations and increased news content providing better newspapers to serve the needs of advertisers and readers.
Hattam added: 'Our newspapers play a pivotal role in the community life of North London by providing a vibrant, effective and sustainable media. We are committed to continue to play this key role in producing both print and digital formats.'<div class="blogger-post-footer">Blood and Property</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986344565389634695.post-88553657882998603922012-09-13T16:33:00.001-07:002012-09-13T16:34:43.615-07:00Chatsworth Road inspection by GLA's economy committeeAs part of its <a href="http://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/Empty%20shops%20investigation%20-%20Call%20for%20views%20and%20information-Sept.pdf">investigation into empty shops</a> the Greater London Authority's Economy Committee will be taking a look at Chatsworth Road today - Friday 14 September.<br />
<br />
The investigation is looking for solutions and Chatsworth Road may have <a href="http://bloodandproperty.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/chatsworth-road-coffee-conurbation.html">some</a> and <a href="http://bloodandproperty.blogspot.co.uk/2010/09/creperie-confirms-chatsworth-road-has.html">more</a>.<br />
<br />
But it is also looking at other problems:<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
"In recent years empty high street units have increasingly been filled by certain types of business. For instance betting shops, payday loan stores, pawnbrokers and fast
food takeaways have increased in number. This has led to concerns about a lack of diversity on the high street."<br />
<br />
And asks: "Does London need to control the spread of certain types of shop, and if so how can this be done?"<br />
<br />
Not so long ago these betting shops and pawnbrokers and fried chicken shops were springing up all over Hackney and they are still there on Chatsworth Road and Lower Clapton Road.<br />
<br />
That trend may have been overtaken by the coffee shops, bars and hair salons but should the betting shops, pawn shops and massage parlours be written-off?<br />
<br />
<b>What it was like...</b><br />
<br />
Back in 2006 Hackney Downs resident and the FT's Undercover Economist Tim Harford gave a flavour of how things were in a blog post called <a href="http://timharford.com/2006/03/fried-chicken-versus-fresh-air/">Fried chicken versus fresh air</a>: "Family Harford is now safely installed in one of the grimmest parts of Hackney. Just outside the back door is a “massage parlour”, a kebab shop, a jerk chicken joint and a betting shop, not to mention flowers for the young man who was recently shot dead outside a local nightclub. At the front is a row of abandoned cars, courtesy of the garage just across the road and the other one just round the corner. Delis are there none."<br />
<br />
He <a href="http://bloodandproperty.blogspot.co.uk/2010/09/ft-sceptical-about-iran-and-chatsworth.html">changed his tune a bit in 2010, particularly on Chatsworth Road</a>.<br />
<br />
But has this problem gone away?<br />
<br />
In 2010 <a href="http://bloodandproperty.blogspot.co.uk/2010/04/hackney-bookies-takes-big-lib-dem-bet.html">Diane Abbott's website</a> (25 March 2010) said: "Hackney currently has 69 betting shops which is three times the national average.
“Applications like this are turning Hackney into a mini Las Vegas.” (It was also a <a href="http://bloodandproperty.blogspot.co.uk/2010/04/hackney-bookies-takes-big-lib-dem-bet.html">key issue in the 2010 election</a>)<br />
<br />
Also, in 2011 and 2012, in the wake of the riots, <a href="http://bloodandproperty.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/are-streets-of-hackney-lined-with-gold.html">a number of pawnbrokers opened up in Hackney Central</a>.<br />
<br />
Anyway, the issues will be explored further on 19 September when the committee will question experts about the scale and causes of shop vacancies and possible solutions which will be webcast.
Shopkeepers with views can email the committee at economycommittee@london.gov.uk and there are more details here: <a href="http://www.london.gov.uk/who-runs-london/the-london-assembly/assembly_investigation/empty-shops">http://www.london.gov.uk/who-runs-london/the-london-assembly/assembly_investigation/empty-shops </a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Blood and Property</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986344565389634695.post-19869556595087899712012-08-19T16:03:00.000-07:002012-08-19T16:08:31.999-07:00North Mid's skids: human faeces left outside new hospital<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsIOmtHFWoWf3XsMVuo_xV9qUfgl6CU4wKkPc8W-BCLJmCShSJL4912zRf3Yj2jvwNz_w4McAMQWbYB9nvqxqx1ZAPiKXOITO0wOsWYbhyphenhyphenHMnfQrO1YZLk9Vyux1zPbIqnlLCPI7QiRVmv/s1600/IMG_1761.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsIOmtHFWoWf3XsMVuo_xV9qUfgl6CU4wKkPc8W-BCLJmCShSJL4912zRf3Yj2jvwNz_w4McAMQWbYB9nvqxqx1ZAPiKXOITO0wOsWYbhyphenhyphenHMnfQrO1YZLk9Vyux1zPbIqnlLCPI7QiRVmv/s320/IMG_1761.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I went to see a friend at <a href="http://www.northmid.nhs.uk/forpatients/default.aspx?id=87&sid=17">North Middlesex University Hospital</a> this evening (Sunday). He is a smoker and we sat outside the <a href="http://careers.bmj.com/employer-profile-page/North%20Middlesex%20University%20Hospital%20NHS%20Trust">£121 million recently refurbished</a> hospital while he had a fag.<br />
<br />
We sat on a bench to the side of the main entrance and I noticed a trail of what looked like mud on the ground next to the bench. Then I heard a couple of people lingering nearby dissuading their friends from walking into the area due to the "human shit" on the floor.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpXbPtkhyphenhyphenaqxH1WnKDo9AsUXbhPEYYNcntZG9BcGvTjrYhYY97V4dk-EkceagfHC-dF7dN9-bTO4sLv_f8tWUi8npL2eV7vf9kpgJ9cp7HAG3FTG2msz-3M5iHm5zVCdAYnl6c78xua5nH/s1600/IMG_1762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpXbPtkhyphenhyphenaqxH1WnKDo9AsUXbhPEYYNcntZG9BcGvTjrYhYY97V4dk-EkceagfHC-dF7dN9-bTO4sLv_f8tWUi8npL2eV7vf9kpgJ9cp7HAG3FTG2msz-3M5iHm5zVCdAYnl6c78xua5nH/s320/IMG_1762.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I asked my friend if it was indeed human shit and he said yes, adding that it had been there since Friday when an unfortunate patient smoker had been caught short. My friend has worse things to worry about at the moment, but I couldn't help wondering why no one had cleaned it up.<br />
<br />
We are not supposed to judge books by their covers but some covers are harder to get past than others.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Blood and Property</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986344565389634695.post-32045029108037467242012-07-18T16:57:00.000-07:002012-07-18T16:57:53.680-07:00Chatsworth Road coffee conurbation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKckkGQLM-DkOOM4MBD1c33o06GEirLw5FpzAymTa8yuiWFNJPMe3rYPw3Yz_dd5bEAsrk7Eou0bWXcbq4QEWce-EWTHGUuZUNRJnkj2ptJxmuk61eFjyti-w-zMgxcgrgVLdmRTkpMED/s1600/IMG_1631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKckkGQLM-DkOOM4MBD1c33o06GEirLw5FpzAymTa8yuiWFNJPMe3rYPw3Yz_dd5bEAsrk7Eou0bWXcbq4QEWce-EWTHGUuZUNRJnkj2ptJxmuk61eFjyti-w-zMgxcgrgVLdmRTkpMED/s320/IMG_1631.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.cooperandwolf.co.uk/">Cooper and Wolf</a> opens up at the north end while <a href="http://www.ilovemarkets.com/hackney/directory/food/46b-espresso-hut">46b espresso hut</a> opens to the south.<br />
Both maintain <a href="http://bloodandproperty.blogspot.co.uk/2010/09/creperie-confirms-chatsworth-road-has.html">the Chatsworth Road grey</a> theme and could add to the road's reputation as the <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/jul/07/chatsworth-road-frontline-hackney-gentrification">frontline of Hackney's gentrification</a>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-vbtl_I44pAzG2HzkoOf8q2j6JvnyU16w9BW3RYt4kkKxhMClMh6Pa0GoSuI-avCH9juNAV4ExmPacpsQiana1ZN5Q_tzoJGfVJ2rIYjoxIGwSPuX9ePvVNPIYGMw-21o2SFCKqZv1ZsM/s1600/IMG_1635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-vbtl_I44pAzG2HzkoOf8q2j6JvnyU16w9BW3RYt4kkKxhMClMh6Pa0GoSuI-avCH9juNAV4ExmPacpsQiana1ZN5Q_tzoJGfVJ2rIYjoxIGwSPuX9ePvVNPIYGMw-21o2SFCKqZv1ZsM/s320/IMG_1635.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Blood and Property</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986344565389634695.post-15987870825110597102012-07-15T16:21:00.000-07:002012-07-15T16:29:17.380-07:00Thousands of East Londoners in employment experiment<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Research done in 2005 found that y<span style="background-color: white;">oung people and men on the dole slow down their job searches if they are not watched closely - the findings have inspired a new experiment on East London's unemployed. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;">This requires thousands of JSA claimants to sign-on once a week rather than once every two weeks and will therefore increase the workload of a <a href="http://bloodandproperty.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/hackney-jobcentre-cuts-staff-as.html">diminished Jobcentre workforce</a>. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;">The <a href="http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/rports2005-2006/rrep382.pdf">original research</a></span><span style="background-color: white;"> did the opposite and greatly lowered the number of visits that unemployed people claiming Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) had to make to Jobcentres. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The aim of the original research was to find out if JSA claimants would carry on looking for jobs if left to their own devices. If it had been successful it would have resulted in a cut in the workload of jobcentre staff. It wasn't successful.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Three experiments done in 2005:</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;">The first was to make no demands on new JSA claimants for the first 13 weeks of unemployment with one random call in. This saw claims increase by 6.1 days in length. The second was the same but over a 6 week period. This saw claims increase by 5.8 days in length. The last was to review the progress of Jobseekers over the phone which saw claims increase by 6.6 days. </span></div>
<br />
Excusal of signing for 13 weeks nationally (with a random call-in) would be expected
to result in an increase of 6.1 days in the average length of claim.<br />
<br />
The research said: "These three pilots appeared to have a larger negative effect on men than on women.
There is also evidence that the excusal pilots had a larger effect on young people."<br />
<br />
The results, it said, suggested that: "It is the frequency of intervention rather than the
quality of that intervention which is important in maintaining off-flows. However,
the negative effect of the telephone pilot suggests that the intervention does need
to be face-to-face to be fully effective."<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In effect it found that, left to their own devices, jobseekers will cost the system more. <span style="background-color: white;">"</span><span style="background-color: white;">The size of the effects of the.... signings pilots </span><span style="background-color: white;">suggests that the extra benefit payments required are likely to be greater than the </span><span style="background-color: white;">administrative savings. Therefore, it is recommended that these are not rolled out </span><span style="background-color: white;">nationally."</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The new experiment looks like it hopes to push men and young people (<a href="http://bloodandproperty.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/hoxton-is-worst-ward-for-longterm-youth.html">a particular problem in Hackney</a>) in the other direction. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
One thing that might need to be factored into this new experiment though is that the Hackney's unemployment rate is now higher and the number of jobs on offer is lower. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;">The chart below (click to enlarge) shows how Hackney's unemployment rate has changed in relation to economic change charting the productive power (GDP) of the UK against the proportion claiming JSA. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNkT92HdisiLt-2SMG_FUz0Fm7H6EMRLdgfPxDM_ybidhoyJpf6MEjVMw8ChS5e_VBMG7Kfk5Y2YD16jHjOSNf1S2hR9la2PPNjFD8FGqdt6bW9k9UbfduRhu1nC8ApUeKNIVeRrpLcevL/s1600/HackneyJSAVsGDP.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNkT92HdisiLt-2SMG_FUz0Fm7H6EMRLdgfPxDM_ybidhoyJpf6MEjVMw8ChS5e_VBMG7Kfk5Y2YD16jHjOSNf1S2hR9la2PPNjFD8FGqdt6bW9k9UbfduRhu1nC8ApUeKNIVeRrpLcevL/s320/HackneyJSAVsGDP.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
As <a href="http://bloodandproperty.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/government-pilot-increases-workload-at.html">I was one of those selected for the test</a> and the Department of Work and Pensions press office didn't want to provide details about the scheme I put in a Freedom of Information Request and the details are here: </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<b>1. How are people chosen to be put onto this pilot scheme? If it is random how is randomness is achieved?</b><br />
<br />
All JSA claimants reaching 13 weeks of their claim in the two trial districts (East London and West of Scotland) should be put onto the trial. Participants are randomly assigned to either the treatment group (weekly signing) or the control group (fortnightly signing). The random allocation is achieved through an algorithm based on each individual’s National Insurance Number.<br />
<br />
<b>2. Is there any written material available to explain the process of selection?</b><br />
<br />
Jobcentre Plus adviser guidance sets out the actions that staff should take when recruiting trial participants and is cited below:<br />
<br />
All claimants who made their claim on or after 28 November 2011 must be identified.
When these claimants attend their Jobsearch Review in week 12 or 13 of their claim the following additional actions must be taken:<br />
<br />
• The Signing Trials Evaluation Tool is completed to determine if they are randomly allocated to the ‘Control’ Group or the ‘Treatment’ Group.<br />
<br />
• The Pilot Marker is set on LMS [Labour Market System] to record the allocated Group. The Pilot Marker is set by accessing the ‘New Initiative’ hotspot in LMS and selecting the ‘FJR Weekly Signing’ option. The following options will be available and should be selected to reflect the outcome of the Signing Trials Evaluation Tool:<br />
<br />
o Treatment – Used when a claimant is allocated to Weekly Signing;<br />
<br />
o Control – Used when a claimant is allocated into the Control Group; and<br />
<br />
o Exit Trial –Used only in exceptional cases and must be agreed with the District SPOC [Single Point of Contact]. <span style="background-color: white;">This will be used for claimants who have died and other exceptional circumstances. This stage will be monitored to ensure correct usage.” </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<b> 3. I was told by a member of staff at a Jobcentre that the test was done verbally using six questions and that the decision about whether to put someone on the weekly signing was based on the answers to those questions - could this be correct?</b><br />
<br />
This is incorrect. Whether a person is allocated to the treatment or control group depends on their National Insurance Number. The 6 questions asked of participants as part of the Signing Trials Evaluation Tool are voluntary, and are asked to enable more detailed analysis of trial results (for example, whether weekly signing is more or less effective for people closer to the labour market).
<br />
<br />
<b>4. How long is the trial due to go on for?</b><br />
<br />
The trial will run for 12 months after the last person has been recruited (anticipated to be until July 2013).<br />
<br />
<b>5. a) If someone is put on the weekly signing trial are they on the scheme for a specific period? </b><br />
<br />
Participants are on the trial until they leave benefits or join the Work Programme (up to a final cut off point of 12 months form the date of the last person joining the trial – see answer to q 4).<br />
<br />
b)If they get a job and sign-off, what happens when they sign back on again. Are they put back on weekly signing if they sign on again? Yes, assuming that they sign back on within the duration of the trial – see answer to q 4.<br />
<br />
<b>6. Was the motive for introducing the pilot scheme based on any particular research - if so could you tell me what that was and who wrote it?</b><br />
<br />
The trial is being run to update the Department’s evidence base on Fortnightly Jobsearch Reviews and is informed by a series of pilots run in 2005, results from which are published in Middlemas, J. (2006) Jobseekers Allowance Intervention Pilots Quantitative Evaluation (DWP Research Report 382). This report is available at the following link:
<a href="http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/rports2005-2006/rrep382.pdf">http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/rports2005-2006/rrep382.pdf </a><br />
<br />
<b>7. How many people are signed up on the pilot now and what is the target figure for the pilot - is there maximum or minimum number needed to make it statistically useful?</b><br />
<br />
As of 29 June 2012 there were 11,440 people on the trial. The target figure is 12,000 people (6,000 in the treatment group and 6,000 in the control group). This is the minimum number judged necessary to detect a statistically significant difference between the treatment and control groups.<br />
<br />
<b>8. Could you tell me where, and how many job centres are involved in the trial?</b><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">All Jobcentres in 2 trial districts (East of London and West of Scotland) are involved in the trial, a total of 40 offices.</span><br />
<br />
<b>9. Does the pilot scheme have an estimated cost?</b><br />
<br />
The trial is being run as part of normal DWP operations and does not attract additional costs.<br />
<br />
<b>10. Is it fair to assume that this scheme will increase the workload of jobcentre staff?</b><br />
<br />
This is one of the things that the trial seeks to test and will be considered as part of the trial evaluation.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Blood and Property</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986344565389634695.post-8375206832366829162012-07-02T17:28:00.002-07:002012-07-02T17:41:03.972-07:00Hoxton is worst ward for longterm youth unemployment<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ5fogsTEzV99rKUqNAmTUmzgPZPUKTwLXoYNFa7W6BoYl385EbPlw_uuzBhzG2lavSIBUJiwUHGU0qpPDSGBB5jpUJyZOD9d0VVJ-igvNbuPvsXc-Jq6uUs0PWZqtHOySjMxuvUGqllVg/s1600/YouthunempWards.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ5fogsTEzV99rKUqNAmTUmzgPZPUKTwLXoYNFa7W6BoYl385EbPlw_uuzBhzG2lavSIBUJiwUHGU0qpPDSGBB5jpUJyZOD9d0VVJ-igvNbuPvsXc-Jq6uUs0PWZqtHOySjMxuvUGqllVg/s320/YouthunempWards.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Of all the wards in Hackney, Hoxton has the highest number and proportion of 18-24-year-olds who have been claiming Job Seekers Allowance for more than a year.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">This week the</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><a href="http://www.hackneygazette.co.uk/news/jenette_arnold_calls_on_boris_to_tackle_alarming_youth_unemployment_rise_1_1424916"><span style="background-color: white;">Hackney Gazette reported Jennette Arnold's concerns about a </span><span style="background-color: white;">186.4%</span></a><span style="background-color: white;"> rise in longterm youth unemployment Hackney between May 2011 and May 2012. </span><span style="background-color: white;">Arnold, GLA member for Hackney, Islington and Waltham Forest combined this and the scarcity of jobs to criticise Boris Johnson - </span><a href="http://www.jennettearnold.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=233:jennette-arnold-slams-qout-of-touchq-mayor-as-long-term-youth-unemployment-spirals-in-north-east-london&catid=5:news-and-views&Itemid=11">Her argument in more detail</a><span style="background-color: white;">.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4hcS_M3B3ZpygSTVXzoxhLDB2BuL3VdQyLlNks_NgSkkaiFSLg1l4lE-anDrjz6rC2ws1GbXOzTnKipVJsMIxITepq98EjlZm3rtWk5N1VCDmOqmeGsIS7tERAYS9CxEAiT0H29fr2q65/s1600/YouthunemLongterm.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4hcS_M3B3ZpygSTVXzoxhLDB2BuL3VdQyLlNks_NgSkkaiFSLg1l4lE-anDrjz6rC2ws1GbXOzTnKipVJsMIxITepq98EjlZm3rtWk5N1VCDmOqmeGsIS7tERAYS9CxEAiT0H29fr2q65/s320/YouthunemLongterm.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">The chart above shows that while Hackney longterm youth unemployment is high, Islington has the highest number of unemployed youths.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">The actual number of 18-25 year-olds in Hackney who have been out of work for more than a year is 315. That, according to Nomis, is 1.5% of all the borough's 18-25 year olds. I couldn't find a figure for Hackney's 18-25-year-old population but, working backwards from these figures there are about 21,700 which sort of fits in with the <a href="http://www.hackney.gov.uk/xp-factsandfigures-mye.htm">borough's population estimates</a>. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">In comparison to other boroughs, Hackney's 1.5% level of youth unemployment is high, but it is not the highest. It is lower than Waltham Forest and Tower Hamlets and equal to Newham and Lambeth (chart below). However Jennette Arnold's three boroughs do have the greatest numbers and proportions of longterm youth unemployment. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5HhMlO-Pg3GK5YAXVgWefQRbssS4s_e1qKEWuOlvrw0WwfjdkoUmdBNc5NfWW6ffDqq1m5pUtCWp-NgAauB7F0qAEhiLYg142PjZ9jT9VFJNBpF4COCDrhAJNO6F1VSRbXAVw7FUdjvtP/s1600/youth%25unempborough.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5HhMlO-Pg3GK5YAXVgWefQRbssS4s_e1qKEWuOlvrw0WwfjdkoUmdBNc5NfWW6ffDqq1m5pUtCWp-NgAauB7F0qAEhiLYg142PjZ9jT9VFJNBpF4COCDrhAJNO6F1VSRbXAVw7FUdjvtP/s320/youth%25unempborough.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><b>Hoxton</b> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">In Hackney the problem exists in all wards but the chart below shows that one stands out as the worst for youth unemployment: Hoxton (<a href="http://www.hackney.gov.uk/Assets/Documents/hoxton-ward-profile.pdf">ward profile</a>).</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ5fogsTEzV99rKUqNAmTUmzgPZPUKTwLXoYNFa7W6BoYl385EbPlw_uuzBhzG2lavSIBUJiwUHGU0qpPDSGBB5jpUJyZOD9d0VVJ-igvNbuPvsXc-Jq6uUs0PWZqtHOySjMxuvUGqllVg/s1600/YouthunempWards.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ5fogsTEzV99rKUqNAmTUmzgPZPUKTwLXoYNFa7W6BoYl385EbPlw_uuzBhzG2lavSIBUJiwUHGU0qpPDSGBB5jpUJyZOD9d0VVJ-igvNbuPvsXc-Jq6uUs0PWZqtHOySjMxuvUGqllVg/s320/YouthunempWards.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Hoxton has had 40 longterm unemployed youths for the last two months.<br />
<br />
It also has the second highest level of overall youth unemployment in the borough with 145 of its 18-25-year-olds unemployed and claiming Job Seekers Allowance.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioLTGoMRk4ONo1sFKk5e_0Ld5E1tmCwBDmS-QrAnjBHemWvQ3S3jbTqIwyye24is97d0bfhIuk5NkKTcZPSvOvKrci1p8IKiAC9wLhcd8N_VjYdMRgTSWHmVJBq_6jmuskfQ0Z-WG9TjBZ/s1600/youthbarward.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioLTGoMRk4ONo1sFKk5e_0Ld5E1tmCwBDmS-QrAnjBHemWvQ3S3jbTqIwyye24is97d0bfhIuk5NkKTcZPSvOvKrci1p8IKiAC9wLhcd8N_VjYdMRgTSWHmVJBq_6jmuskfQ0Z-WG9TjBZ/s320/youthbarward.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Within Hoxton's population of unemployed youth there is a significantly higher proportion of longterm unemployment. Of the 145 Hoxton 18-25 year-olds who claim Job Seekers Allowance, 40, or nearly 30%, have been doing so for longer than a year.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWrUpmqBElJzER8Gep9z4tB275sSxFn7xYEYQVfStRMfomT8e8fJWPL0yxCMoCJ1wPctu2dONbgv3-gp80s__Hud4fzj3Xe9luQbpURkrYkEArmLWPbA6XNPaqhyfTs4p_r4-j7Kuw7HNY/s1600/you%25thunempward.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWrUpmqBElJzER8Gep9z4tB275sSxFn7xYEYQVfStRMfomT8e8fJWPL0yxCMoCJ1wPctu2dONbgv3-gp80s__Hud4fzj3Xe9luQbpURkrYkEArmLWPbA6XNPaqhyfTs4p_r4-j7Kuw7HNY/s320/you%25thunempward.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
(The figures here refer long term unemployed youth population (40 in Hoxton) divided by number of 18-25 year JSA claimants (140 in Hoxton) in each ward using May 2012 figures.)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">How does that correspond with the rest of the borough? It is hard to put this into context as I couldn't find up-to-date figures for the numbers of 18-25-year-olds in each Hackney ward. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">However, according to <a href="http://www.hackney.gov.uk/hackney-ward-profiles-2007.htm">Hackney ward profiles</a> (2007) Hoxton had a total population of 10,698 of which 9.4% were 18-24-year-olds. This meant Hoxton's youth population was around 1,005 which was lower than a sample of others wards I looked at: Wick 1,304 and Victoria 1,230 and Haggerston 1,202. But these were figures from 2007 and a lot could have changed since then. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Over all though the chart below shows that Hackney youth unemployment - all, not just longterm - while high is not the highest among similar inner city London boroughs. Details of this and general unemployment levels in Hackney were discussed in a <a href="http://bloodandproperty.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/unemployment-down-except-in.html">previous post</a>.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwF5NbNJ8HLm9r0jXnBJFvl2qhXURJoT3wc71PqvmQILzdbBo9fsQei7QUg4hcwle_waib75U3pKJBbQw1-EwD4XSL_c7isHowY3lKRAfMPEcwdbN5ssA1pCXSSEuHEkCdBCzoKaPm3GHT/s1600/Youthunemploymenttotal.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwF5NbNJ8HLm9r0jXnBJFvl2qhXURJoT3wc71PqvmQILzdbBo9fsQei7QUg4hcwle_waib75U3pKJBbQw1-EwD4XSL_c7isHowY3lKRAfMPEcwdbN5ssA1pCXSSEuHEkCdBCzoKaPm3GHT/s320/Youthunemploymenttotal.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
Some of official figures are here: <a href="http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/lmp/la/2038431862/subreports/ccadr_time_series/report.aspx?">http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/lmp/la/2038431862/subreports/ccadr_time_series/report.aspx?</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Blood and Property</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986344565389634695.post-62374212882611273632012-06-25T07:26:00.000-07:002012-06-25T07:26:38.803-07:00Unemployment down except in Queensbridge: Pipe fears Boris betrayal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This is a brief look at how unemployment and Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) claims have fallen again in Hackney and whether the economics suggest that this is likely to continue. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKW1cmyWmvm3OZJ-b7M2bUhPqG6u_z25D3UvjzQCa4Q_t161pv51mimqH-5abmMC8y-OZC3ODWQY58NoZzxyaRy9LUf0yLIXjCO-n8btniUnspQLDIcTsnufl7Co8NMpgh7EdbvgU8_Jur/s1600/JSA18-24ward.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKW1cmyWmvm3OZJ-b7M2bUhPqG6u_z25D3UvjzQCa4Q_t161pv51mimqH-5abmMC8y-OZC3ODWQY58NoZzxyaRy9LUf0yLIXjCO-n8btniUnspQLDIcTsnufl7Co8NMpgh7EdbvgU8_Jur/s320/JSA18-24ward.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">I'm afraid there are a lot of charts here. If you want a closer look, click on them and they should expand. The data comes from the government's labour market statistics site </span><a href="http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/lmp/la/2038431862/report.aspx?town=hackney" style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">Nomis</a><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;">The employment prospects for young people are a major concern. The chart above shows the number of 16-24 year-olds claiming Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) in each ward in Hackney and how that has changed over time. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The number of young people claiming JSA appears to have fallen in most wards since the beginning of the year. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The chart below shows what has happened to young people in each ward over the last three months. The only wards that have<span style="background-color: white;"> seen an increase in 18-24 year-old JSA claimants in that period are <a href="http://www.hackney.gov.uk/Assets/Documents/springfield-ward-profile.pdf">Springfield</a> and <a href="http://www.hackney.gov.uk/Assets/Documents/clissold-ward-profile.pdf">Clissold</a>. However these figures would probably be more useful if seen as proportions of the working population in each ward which I haven't done.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqhDLW3AZ4R10BKCyIl2mP4v9sbijZjmBt2ytQk8E6DtWmDVmH8agoaUpzICUavxIg0NXLmiPJk5X1Wcv4EIWxVunfn23lcO1PoOeGyHA2bs-IKbpXvuIOloTXcpyX7U6LxjODseiKy5vq/s1600/Change18JSA.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="116" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqhDLW3AZ4R10BKCyIl2mP4v9sbijZjmBt2ytQk8E6DtWmDVmH8agoaUpzICUavxIg0NXLmiPJk5X1Wcv4EIWxVunfn23lcO1PoOeGyHA2bs-IKbpXvuIOloTXcpyX7U6LxjODseiKy5vq/s320/Change18JSA.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The proportion of Hackney's total working population claiming JSA has fallen for the third month in a row. All wards except <a href="http://www.hackney.gov.uk/Assets/Documents/queensbridge-ward-profile.pdf">Queensbridge</a> have seen numbers of claimants fall.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwEBvt8pANycwjqxbLLP-bYsuYH8qSO5J79TfD0-qAvZhY4gTjSbNMFvTDjyMWT4aoxRFhVyaquFc90GenWMjdigh1Wld_jd34MZE75nls7GTxx5kBsmdR4ZTSz4celF-uheBz-S8RtN4j/s1600/JSAwardMay2012.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwEBvt8pANycwjqxbLLP-bYsuYH8qSO5J79TfD0-qAvZhY4gTjSbNMFvTDjyMWT4aoxRFhVyaquFc90GenWMjdigh1Wld_jd34MZE75nls7GTxx5kBsmdR4ZTSz4celF-uheBz-S8RtN4j/s320/JSAwardMay2012.png" width="320" /></a></div>
As the chart below shows, Hackney's claimant count is falling in line with the rest of London and the UK . Although some news reports said JSA claimant counts were rising while unemployment was falling (<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-18518286">BBC</a>) they were using GB figures not UK ones. If Northern Ireland is excluded (which for some reason Nomis does) the JSA claimant counts fell in the UK.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv64oQrjxiXyl2jnPlfIZzWTzw2jvMOnJEwnsq_T81oVtkDlztOOjDExEF6stjWikkCl6N68sm3UAjIxrSSYNbHUoogr3qU146H83SHagOodoOPcrURHjg6JSe3uK7mBJY0Kxa5a16MWo8/s1600/JSAmay2012UK.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv64oQrjxiXyl2jnPlfIZzWTzw2jvMOnJEwnsq_T81oVtkDlztOOjDExEF6stjWikkCl6N68sm3UAjIxrSSYNbHUoogr3qU146H83SHagOodoOPcrURHjg6JSe3uK7mBJY0Kxa5a16MWo8/s320/JSAmay2012UK.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The problem is that the jobs data look too good to be true <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17836624">based on the UK's economic performance</a>. The country has fallen into a recession for the second time since the financial crisis began in 2007.<br />
<br />
The question is if the UK economy is shrinking, how can more people be working? <a href="http://www.economicsuk.com/blog/001690.html#more">David Smith had a look at this problem in the Sunday Times</a> (this is his blog which gets you around the pay wall!)<br />
<br />
At the same time Hackney has an economy of its own. In a letter to the FT today (June 25) Hackney Mayor Jules Pipe outlined his concerns about the Olympics legacy.<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">The </span><a href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/9193fc5c-ba2f-11e1-84dc-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1ylPucIZY" style="background-color: white;">FT had reported</a><span style="background-color: white;"> that Boris Johnson's advisers had been weighing-up the costs of selling or demolishing the Olympic International Broadcast Centre . </span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">In his <a href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/b185c6ee-bbc9-11e1-9436-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1ylPucIZY">letter to the FT</a> Jules Pipe addressed this suggestion saying: "We are an area of rapid economic growth, where technology and creative digital sectors are thriving and creating highly skilled jobs. East London is fast becoming the UK’s Silicon Valley. We are forging international business partnerships and investors from all over the world will be coming to Hackney during the Games.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">"Our creative small and medium-sized enterprise sector needs somewhere to expand and grow. The Olympic press and broadcast centres can provide that opportunity – and this is a vision that has been endorsed by the prime minister and by UK Trade Investment. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">"Whatever happens to the International Broadcast Centre building, we need a commitment now from the mayor of London to delivering the amount of employment space that was promised. What we do not need is retail space and housing that, using the government's affordability criteria, is well out of the reach of most Hackney people. A failure to realise the potential of this site will be a betrayal of the promises in the 2005 bid, and more importantly, a betrayal of the businesses and residents of east London."</span><br />
<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Blood and Property</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986344565389634695.post-19679357093554646442012-06-25T01:17:00.002-07:002012-06-25T02:40:27.834-07:00UPDATE: Murder suspect tasered on Kingsland Road<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh36l2q3sCdxMWFUZe9rNC7Fw3tYRelkMj61_GddzIHZwDGsr3jrs8TdR_f5if6hvEs1qCWXjLD5Vn-rYoCQZrdBCnTMeTrwCEtGbiFBCjpMH5Ojm0t_aHtyQO7IVHiCS9vp_E9a4067qjQ/s1600/kingsland+5pm+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="59" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh36l2q3sCdxMWFUZe9rNC7Fw3tYRelkMj61_GddzIHZwDGsr3jrs8TdR_f5if6hvEs1qCWXjLD5Vn-rYoCQZrdBCnTMeTrwCEtGbiFBCjpMH5Ojm0t_aHtyQO7IVHiCS9vp_E9a4067qjQ/s320/kingsland+5pm+2.png" width="320" /></a></div>
UPDATE: A murder suspect (Now charged, details below) was injured when police fired a taser during his arrest on Friday afternoon (22 June).<br />
<br />
The incident that has been reported to the police watchdog the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Directorate_of_Professional_Standards">Directorate of Professional Standards</a>.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
In a statement the police said: "Police carried out a proactive, intelligence led operation at the A10, near the junction with Richmond Road, Dalston at approx 1650hrs on Friday, 22 June.<br />
<br />
"A male suspect was detained - taser was discharged. This caused a facial injury and the male was taken to a London hospital as a precautionary measure.<br />
<br />
"The Directorate of Professional Standards has been informed as is standard procedure.<br />
<br />
"The male was arrested in connection with an ongoing murder investigation."<br />
<br />
The suspect was Dwayne Fulgence (28) of no fixed abode, charged with the murder of Marlon Campbell, 23, on 16 June 2012 in Bellingham SE6. Details of the charges can be <a href="http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/9779378.Man_charged_with_murder_of_Marlon_Campbell_in_Bellingham/">found here</a> which include the possession of a firearm and the intent to endanger life. Apparently <a href="http://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/news/crime/marlon_campbell_shooting_murder_dwayne_james_fulgence_lushingham_road_bellingham_lewisham_1_1420101">four other people were arrested too</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
Kingsland Road was closed for a while. <span style="background-color: white;">I imagine to gather evidence to explain whatever it was that happened.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">I was passing by on my bike and took a picture. (</span><a href="http://bloodandproperty.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/drug-dealer-car-chase-and-smash.html" style="background-color: white;">The last incident I saw at this junction</a><span style="background-color: white;">)</span><span style="background-color: white;">.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Blood and Property</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986344565389634695.post-11436630594426819482012-06-12T04:42:00.001-07:002012-06-12T04:44:26.246-07:00Government pilot increases workload at Hackney JobcentresHackney Jobcentre Plus is taking part in a pilot scheme which requires some Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) claimants to sign-on every week rather than every two weeks.<br />
<br />
I am one of the 10,600 unemployed people in Hackney claiming Job Seekers Allowance and I was put on the pilot a couple of weeks ago.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
When claimants sign-on they are supposed to provide a list of applications/interviews to prove that they are looking for a job. Jobcentre staff are supposed to check this.<br />
<br />
<b>Problem 1</b><br />
<br />
As has been noted (<a href="http://bloodandproperty.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/will-strikes-shut-hackney-jobcentre.html">1</a> and <a href="http://bloodandproperty.blogspot.co.uk/2009/09/jobcentre-reorganised-can-it-cope.html">2</a>) Jobcentre staff often don't have time to check job searches. It happened to me again last week and earlier this year (link <a href="http://bloodandproperty.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/will-strikes-shut-hackney-jobcentre.html">1</a>) it wasn't checked for well over a month.<br />
<br />
<b>Problem 2</b><br />
<br />
As <a href="http://bloodandproperty.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/hackney-jobcentre-cuts-staff-as.html">noted on this site before</a>, staffing levels at Hackney Jobcentres have fallen as the number of unemployed people in the borough has risen.<br />
<br />
The Department for Work and Pensions (<a href="http://www.dwp.gov.uk/">DWP</a>) told Blood and Property that it was looking into whether it could provide details on where this pilot is running, for how long and why. <br />
<br />
The next monthly figures for JSA claimants are due out this week. Last month this blog looked at the <a href="http://bloodandproperty.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/what-is-unemployment-level-in-your-ward.html">breakdown across different wards</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Blood and Property</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986344565389634695.post-68599257841614860332012-05-17T09:54:00.000-07:002012-05-18T04:29:37.639-07:00What is the unemployment level in your ward?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQCrr6-GSwEz0wiZeJAod6QiPqrtws2xK-bIWnDmcd1FYHJKfBHELU_izmUWGbeBIl6DiX32v5cjCl9ZbcYaArDfiVbek_WL_Y_aj2TELLky8N_9tqaZgIIBaNm11y4GkdpxXBvag0EnLP/s1600/apriljsawardbar.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQCrr6-GSwEz0wiZeJAod6QiPqrtws2xK-bIWnDmcd1FYHJKfBHELU_izmUWGbeBIl6DiX32v5cjCl9ZbcYaArDfiVbek_WL_Y_aj2TELLky8N_9tqaZgIIBaNm11y4GkdpxXBvag0EnLP/s320/apriljsawardbar.png" width="320" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The bar chart above (click on it to enlarge it) shows the level of unemployment in Hackney wards. Or rather it shows the percentage of the working population in each ward that is claiming Job Seekers Allowance (JSA). This excludes people who aren't looking for work like students and people who are sick. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The picture is only a snapshot taken in April 2012 and doesn't show whether the situation is getting better or worse in each ward. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In the last couple of months the situation in Hackney has improved - the number of claimants has fallen to its lowest level for more than a year.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEzyNDNSZIQrFYmbA0tsAg6fLhVmOyTDeiTiPVvYfs4SRcSxzcR3bvvkCJZfGyanyq_Y9F1d4DI-HcybHxOnqLdxMcTagkuHmdpGvxgu_6lMOvkZOFVMVcxpvMORfg2-WLN_Ymbg-qPhO8/s1600/apriljsahackney.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEzyNDNSZIQrFYmbA0tsAg6fLhVmOyTDeiTiPVvYfs4SRcSxzcR3bvvkCJZfGyanyq_Y9F1d4DI-HcybHxOnqLdxMcTagkuHmdpGvxgu_6lMOvkZOFVMVcxpvMORfg2-WLN_Ymbg-qPhO8/s320/apriljsahackney.png" width="290" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
However some wards in the borough have bucked this trend and not seen the number of job seekers fall over the same period. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV_NNIXKEzSBzfNRBLLVO0Tv3AOATAeHsw04YrY3JGX6bW3667kGI5ZwM9JQKEeQ3S0KG8uXIjw7euL1r5RJK9oJiGbFlmn1AdQ3bPKia9ekchHCHpaVJSdECBrWa1w808hOhW2vr0YEZq/s1600/Apriljsawardrise.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV_NNIXKEzSBzfNRBLLVO0Tv3AOATAeHsw04YrY3JGX6bW3667kGI5ZwM9JQKEeQ3S0KG8uXIjw7euL1r5RJK9oJiGbFlmn1AdQ3bPKia9ekchHCHpaVJSdECBrWa1w808hOhW2vr0YEZq/s320/Apriljsawardrise.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The confusing spaghetti of lines below shows that there is also quite a wide - and possibly growing - discrepancy between wards with some having JSA rates as low as 4% and others as high as 9%.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBHyzKglfg8bHMZq0q-yAOt_W5_w2NbZnl080OfABcR7SalHpypRWhEmucXN46KwD_WPyxV5PhUWbfBk4ZlxrR2pb0iUf-qyW9uNX9OPYhDS8fW0cz7GInQ5cMqw0O4jXKz_FGt1Wd5p2M/s1600/apriljsaallwards.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBHyzKglfg8bHMZq0q-yAOt_W5_w2NbZnl080OfABcR7SalHpypRWhEmucXN46KwD_WPyxV5PhUWbfBk4ZlxrR2pb0iUf-qyW9uNX9OPYhDS8fW0cz7GInQ5cMqw0O4jXKz_FGt1Wd5p2M/s320/apriljsaallwards.png" width="297" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Against London and the UK as a whole Hackney seems to follow the trends but in a more extreme fashion. Despite the recent drop, the trend still looks upward. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS2DtYOhwyKLwMV-1lePjP1HK1Si4SuIclzTZO5VFOv46MY4t3I8O09bEV9X5VIcx00inXdVOTNJqzKSi6Y_Pk0S4t1rUKTuyzX3VYwFfXtvgEb3_cGAtzmUsrEsDSSy5mVXJmz5Cw_JFe/s1600/apriljsahackneylondon.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS2DtYOhwyKLwMV-1lePjP1HK1Si4SuIclzTZO5VFOv46MY4t3I8O09bEV9X5VIcx00inXdVOTNJqzKSi6Y_Pk0S4t1rUKTuyzX3VYwFfXtvgEb3_cGAtzmUsrEsDSSy5mVXJmz5Cw_JFe/s320/apriljsahackneylondon.png" width="245" /></a></div>
All of the figures used here are from <a href="http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/lmp/ward/1308625503/subreports/jsa_compared/report.aspx">Nomis</a>. Hopefully I can find someone to put them into context before the next batch of figures.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Blood and Property</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986344565389634695.post-45965783077647212152012-05-02T08:28:00.000-07:002012-05-02T08:28:15.430-07:00Are the streets of Hackney lined with gold?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ApDwiEmUlU9-r_WSYRJbdF_Vl0XzfzDdJZAo6qsnney6YK4E9t0F3PKjUBD4vqBhmq1uH0nY2nUhUMOIiTUd9ZhQdzhQIrJ5a-wuPZdFCnv3oIs9CcsnqLdbaJpEcTL1IzvJPFpjwn8/s1600/clarence2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ApDwiEmUlU9-r_WSYRJbdF_Vl0XzfzDdJZAo6qsnney6YK4E9t0F3PKjUBD4vqBhmq1uH0nY2nUhUMOIiTUd9ZhQdzhQIrJ5a-wuPZdFCnv3oIs9CcsnqLdbaJpEcTL1IzvJPFpjwn8/s320/clarence2.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Three new 'cash for gold'/pawnbrokers have opened up next to the <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/aug/09/riots-pembury-estate-community-hackney">Pembury Estate</a> in Hackney since the riots in the borough last year. This means there are now seven stores offering to buy and sell gold on <a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:ZGlC54g-m3UJ:www.hackney.gov.uk/hackney-central-ward-profile.pdf+&hl=en&gl=uk&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESgHbBCddf3VEAd8ZtdcyPvnpz5D9YiLY7qRUgBec0AkCuImG3qC6-cJbGDIq8s4pZuTz_pWip8rGOwwFHQKYLDNnoC-dS53QC5RvRkbu0heKA_CsKvRPPpqGo3xqGyCC8bTFYDj&sig=AHIEtbQ5sbPLXyi0yxQvlQ3GM56KVXQVzw&pli=1">Hackney Central</a>'s high street the Narroway. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The newest players in this gold rush are <a href="http://www.tgspawnbrokers.co.uk/branches.html">TGS Pawnbroker</a> (pictured above) which looks up Clarence Road, the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F90b9IE264o">scene of pitched battles with the police in August last year</a>. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb0n-wM8uZ6WnYlK2sOS_s4ChwNX4PV_YApxtSr9zrOgLiWMM-hOtXW894y8xnLzzeOme2gr777RTbfQMvfVJx8tBj9c1N5oYbX5xckpbNavLWv2z5hFh1HHGl5KTeRPNUASYfWbfLUp0/s1600/IMG_5494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb0n-wM8uZ6WnYlK2sOS_s4ChwNX4PV_YApxtSr9zrOgLiWMM-hOtXW894y8xnLzzeOme2gr777RTbfQMvfVJx8tBj9c1N5oYbX5xckpbNavLWv2z5hFh1HHGl5KTeRPNUASYfWbfLUp0/s320/IMG_5494.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Another is <a href="http://www.handtpawnbrokers.co.uk/">H&T Pawnbrokers</a> which, according to its store locator, now has five stores in Hackney. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.albemarlebond.co.uk/">Albemarle & Bond</a> which also has a store in <a href="http://www.albemarlebond.co.uk/Stores/Dalston">Dalston</a> opened its doors on the Narroway in the autumn last year. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgMLER45FGxeH9gmLvkB8O3kjl_HL6G_TnHxnRdeAcHjmxhLOFulzGXyvfFmscn1lkLbD_Na8FIK0m8rZGwQmpaJDMDRT63a5jc_M6Vb4sPGLsrhDvFWlaz9VrgsSYzLTSCgOQvPxwW7Y/s1600/IMG_1663.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgMLER45FGxeH9gmLvkB8O3kjl_HL6G_TnHxnRdeAcHjmxhLOFulzGXyvfFmscn1lkLbD_Na8FIK0m8rZGwQmpaJDMDRT63a5jc_M6Vb4sPGLsrhDvFWlaz9VrgsSYzLTSCgOQvPxwW7Y/s320/IMG_1663.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
The amount of business these stores do isn't chicken feed. In the riots last year an Albemarle and Bond outlet in Croydon was burnt down with a £4 million gold stash locked in its safe (<a href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/24cac9fe-4368-11e1-9f28-00144feab49a.html#axzz1rJWc4v2X">story from the Financial Times</a> and <a href="http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/news/localnews/9491848.Covert_operation_saves___4m_of_jewellery_from_riot_rubble/">Croydon Guardian</a>).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
The question is whether these businesses are providing a genuine service or exploiting people who are on the breadline.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b>There is no mystery about who these firms target.</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="text-align: left;">In February 2012 the </span><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2012/feb/26/pawnbrokers-payday-loans-oft-inquiry" style="text-align: left;">Observer quoted</a><span style="text-align: left;"> quoted Barry Stevenson, the chief executive of Albemarle & Bond who said: "We estimated some years ago there were 10 million people who didn't have access to cash or savings; only about half that number have bank accounts – but no overdraft facilities. That's the market we are chasing."</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><b>There is no mystery about the fact that they make money</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
The success of pawnshops H&T (<a href="http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201203080700109091Y">annual report from March 2012</a>) and Albemarle & Bond (<a href="http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201202210700097708X">half yearly report from Feb 2012</a>) are no secret as publicly listed companies with shares trading on the Alternative Investment Market.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Pawnbrokers do provide a service that people want. All the people I spoke to in those pawnbrokers were nice enough. In general UK pawnbrokers will expect to charge an 8% monthly interest rate on loans that are backed by gold. Over a year the compounded interest rate for a loan like this would come to 150%. If this is not met or the initial lump sum cannot be repaid the borrower forfeits whatever item they used as collateral. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It is a business model gives high returns for relatively low risks.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b>There is no mystery that the deal is not a good one</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
A <a href="http://www.which.co.uk/money/bills-and-budgeting/guides/cash-for-gold-and-gold-selling/which-cash-for-gold-investigation/">Which? investigation of online cash for gold firms</a> said that jewellers and pawnshops on the high street tend to offer better deals than the online versions (although there was quite a lot of variation just on the Narroway itself).</div>
<br />
But despite being better than online versions, in <span style="text-align: left;">2010 a </span><a href="http://conversation.which.co.uk/money/payday-loans-pawnbrokers-or-neither/" style="text-align: left;">Which? comment piece</a><span style="text-align: left;"> was still damning</span><span style="text-align: left;">: "Overall, I think there’s no escaping the fact that both pawnbrokers and payday lenders charge way over the odds for credit. In my opinion, it’s best to avoid both. Don’t forget, you could consider approaching your local credit union if you’re in need of a loan and can’t get it from your bank." (Hackney Credit Union <a href="http://www.fsa.gov.uk/pubs/final/hackney.pdf">shut down</a> in 2010 but services are now available via the <a href="http://londoncu.co.uk/?page_id=41">London Community Credit Union</a>)</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>The mystery is why it hasn't got any better</b><b> </b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
When the profits are so high and the risks are so low why aren't better rates being offered by new entrants? At the moment no one appears to be undercutting the high street. As the 2010 investigation by Which? suggested, the online versions of cash for gold are even worse - not the usual source of cheaper more innovative business models. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I used to write a bit about the gold market and I try to keep up via a blog I write called <a href="http://goldetfinvestor.blogspot.co.uk/">Gold ETF Investor</a>. In October last year I <a href="http://goldetfinvestor.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/my-local-gold-market-hackney.html">looked at the local Hackney gold market</a> and there appeared to be interesting anomalies in East London. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="text-align: left;">For example, there are a lot of Asian Muslims in East London and across the UK - many of them with significant amounts of wedding gold. But none of the major pawnshops offer loans that could be used by Muslims. I don't think it would take much doing as <a href="http://www.islamicmortgages.co.uk/index.php?id=72">Islamic mortgages</a> have been around for a while. <a href="http://goldetfinvestor.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/cashing-in-on-gold-loans-to-muslims-in.html">Speaking to pawnbrokers in Whitechapel</a> it seemed like desperate Bangladeshi women were pawning their wedding gold despite interest rates being forbidden. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Also, if you wanted to pawn your gold in India you would get a much better deal than in the UK (<a href="http://www.muthootfinance.com/servicesgoldloan.html">12%</a> vs 150% in terms of interest rates). In India <a href="http://goldetfinvestor.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/capital-economics-indias-gold-lending.html">banks aren't trusted and gold is seen an alternative</a> to the banking system. The result is that gold-related financial services are much <a href="http://goldetfinvestor.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/new-gold-etf-gives-retail-investors.html">cheaper and more innovative</a> and even g<a href="http://goldetfinvestor.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/should-gold-cost-112-or-2p-for.html">rassroots gold investing is far cheaper</a>. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Areas of innovation in the UK are peer-to-peer lending sites like <a href="http://uk.zopa.com/about-zopa/press-office">Zopa</a> but the arrival of micro- finance banks like <a href="http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/news/1006168/">Grameen in the UK a couple of years ago</a> show that technology is coming to the UK from poorer nations where entrepreneurialism isn't so focused on rich people. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNtt03wwSmSwSJEF7AhL2s9MpJksH5-VNa0CfKZ9Thhy1FD6HHpaBvvTaPOUdEuymMU-tl7BHVuELLQebPwGcQT0Q_B1QnESr87Wgud3to32uzci6pv4-sleAmCtYhaMKbzZ8GYIniie8/s1600/IMG_5492.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNtt03wwSmSwSJEF7AhL2s9MpJksH5-VNa0CfKZ9Thhy1FD6HHpaBvvTaPOUdEuymMU-tl7BHVuELLQebPwGcQT0Q_B1QnESr87Wgud3to32uzci6pv4-sleAmCtYhaMKbzZ8GYIniie8/s320/IMG_5492.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOey6akhgYz5T3MITKNTQoE8w7DsqeDY78cgn5nicJEkIDvrV-haeWLruKWDxgOdBST9m72Exj9Xkw-wg5jwG82g0ZDjPINESmA3quJ7SAVPugfsFDArrKkDaRFQwXLqNOMrpLzk2Vja8/s1600/IMG_5511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOey6akhgYz5T3MITKNTQoE8w7DsqeDY78cgn5nicJEkIDvrV-haeWLruKWDxgOdBST9m72Exj9Xkw-wg5jwG82g0ZDjPINESmA3quJ7SAVPugfsFDArrKkDaRFQwXLqNOMrpLzk2Vja8/s320/IMG_5511.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Blood and Property</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986344565389634695.post-2880414278888997572012-04-30T16:20:00.003-07:002012-05-01T00:41:14.926-07:0012-year-old injured in Clapton shooting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIcuKnUXYaAxmsh7wLtldTgoyL0EnxXeApbeM7ZuLGRUIiGfe_w6wDHD9FfXihdgGUHnznAFASZsfOac4CJqyyKkH7mJmkV2qQkgplgPP6tyq66PP3Me3pVOV-mYH9hSoWgDseM_5hK3tV/s1600/IMG_5513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIcuKnUXYaAxmsh7wLtldTgoyL0EnxXeApbeM7ZuLGRUIiGfe_w6wDHD9FfXihdgGUHnznAFASZsfOac4CJqyyKkH7mJmkV2qQkgplgPP6tyq66PP3Me3pVOV-mYH9hSoWgDseM_5hK3tV/s320/IMG_5513.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
A 12-year-old boy was injured after a shot was fired on Sewdley Street in Clapton on Monday night (about 9.30pm?). A 15-year-old was stabbed in the chest in Homerton earlier in the evening.<br />
<br />
The police issued this statement about the shooting:<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
Police called at 21.06 on Monday 30 April to reports of shots fired in Sewdley Street, E5.
Police and London Ambulance Service attend but no injured parties located.
Later that evening a 12 year old boy attended Homerton Hospital suffering from a gunshot wound.
He remains in hospital in a stable condition.
Officers believe the victim sustained the injury in the Sewdley Street area.
No arrests.<br />
<br />
At least one person was seen leaving Sewdley Street on a bike after a bang was heard.<br />
<br />
A policeman at the scene wasn't keen to connect the two incidents.<br />
<br />
The police provided this statement about the stabbing:<br />
<br />
Police called at 21.52 on Monday 30 April to reports of stabbing in Pondsford St, E9.
Police and London Ambulance Service attend to find a 15 year old boy suffering from a stab wound to the chest.
He has been taken to hospital where he is in a non-life threatening condition.
Detectives from Hackney Borough are investigating.
No arrests.
Ponsford Street is closed due to the incident.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Blood and Property</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986344565389634695.post-1365857380126715232012-04-29T07:09:00.000-07:002012-04-29T07:10:08.040-07:00Is Tower Hamlets vote fraud really unprecedented?It is clear from the comments following <a href="http://trialbyjeory.wordpress.com/2012/04/23/dodgy-postal-vote-signatures-in-tower-hamlets/">this post on Trial by Jeory</a> and recent national newspaper coverage that concern is growing about election fraud in Tower Hamlets. Councillors say the evidence <a href="http://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/news/police_urged_to_investigate_election_fraud_in_tower_hamlets_1_1361326">is unprecedented</a>.<br />
<br />
In his piece Ted Jeory writes: "The council consistently tells us there isn’t a problem. They point to the lack of prosecutions and boast of their stringent controls."<br />
<br />
Here's an example of how council officers dealt with unprecedented election fraud evidence back in 2006 - just in case anyone expects them to do anything helpful.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
While everyone focuses on the big elections (General or London Mayor) any fraud is unlikely to have a significant effect. However local elections, particularly ones that involve the distribution of cash in poor areas, are a different matter.<br />
<br />
In 2006 the residents of the Ocean Estate in Stepney had to decide whether to pass responsibility for their homes away from the council to Sanctuary Housing Association. A "yes" vote would have unlocked a huge stash of regeneration cash (as much as £330 million).<br />
<br />
In its wisdom the council - which had initiated the ballot and wanted to ditch its responsibility for the estate - decided that this was a good time to test out a new telephone voting system.<br />
<br />
But concerns were raised and they didn't come from any old member of the public. They came from a Special Branch officer investigating what appeared to be a rash of election fraud in the borough during the 2005 General Election.<br />
<br />
In a meeting the officer told Isabella Freeman - who is still the council's chief legal officer - that telephone voting on the Ocean Estate might not be a good idea.<br />
<br />
There were a number of reasons for concern. One was that, during the 2005 elections, dozens of postal votes appeared to have been redirected to the addresses of senior figures then running the Shahjalal Mosque and Community Centre on the estate. It appeared that some of those votes may have been redirected without the knowledge of the voters they belonged to. The mosque and its community centre would have benefitted directly from a 'yes' vote.<br />
<br />
Another concern was that election fraud on the estate was notoriously high anyway, particularly those that selected the board of the Ocean Estate's New Deal for Communities (Ocean NDC) which ran a £50 million budget. The frauds and attempted frauds during those board elections had been reported over a number of years by Returning Officers (pic below) and had led to all voters having to provide photo ID.<br />
<br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358637466646709458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNj1fhyphenhyphenRvTDo85hjiyKUtERb8MVCJKBDnpyk7RqftoRbWPkWOvFRQGeyEd2BNzhjTZlVvZZa9snvbIDojtB6lsbNpsQMB7GHZSt94_WyDx2owY4a_6r0eHTvi633BoGcdnCzqWSzWCuRbK/s400/IMG_2469.JPG" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #2b97a9; cursor: pointer; float: left; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; height: 300px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0pt; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: left; width: 400px;" /><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
The plan to introduce a telephone voting system was hatched when the stakes were higher than ever - and the likelihood of fraud even higher.<br />
<br />
It was also clear that the mosque and its community centre were key players and had a financial incentive to support the "yes" vote. At the same time there were unanswered questions about the activities of some of its members in the previous election.<br />
<br />
<br />
Following the meeting in which Isabella Freeman was warned of the potential threat of fraud a council spokesperson emailed an acknowledgment that at meeting concerns had been raised "in relation to the integrity of the voting process, with particular reference to telephone voting" but said that the council would go ahead and use the telephone voting system anyway, saying: "Having reviewed the process we consider that it fully meets the requirements for an independent secure ballot."<br />
<br />
The council statement also acknowledged that the mosque and community centre would be a major beneficiary of a "Yes" vote in favour of the Housing Association taking over the estate.<br />
<br />
The email said: "This is not unusual, Sanctuary (Housing Association) has shown a commitment of assisting with the community aims of those on the estate.
Sanctuary have confirmed that they have supported the Shahjalal Community Centre by contributing to set up costs and furnishings. Sanctuary have also used that centre for bookings, again this is not unusual as its part of Sanctuary’s commitment to help the community."<br />
<br />
"None of these things are unlawful in terms of the ballot process. A Housing Association is free, prior to the ballot to indicate what it will do for the community if the ballot is in favour of transfer."<br />
<br />
The council was also unconcerned that the mosque and it's yet-to-be investigated leaders were promoting the "yes" vote and had a financial interest in the outcome. It said: "You have concerns about the Mosque promoting the ‘yes’ vote for Sanctuary in the light of the benefit direct/indirect it may receive from Sanctuary. I can confirm that It is not unlawful for the Mosque to tell its congregation to vote for Sanctuary, in the same way as the anti stock transfer groups make their views widely known by lobbying tenants."<br />
<br />
The result. The telephone voting went ahead but the heavily mobilised anti council transfer 'no' vote had already taken a hold on the estate, winning the ballot.<br />
<br />
Most bizarre was that the Special Branch officer who raised the concern was removed from his post about two weeks later.I don't know why or by whom.<br />
<br />
An alarming quote from Election Commissioner <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Mawrey">Richard Mawrey's</a> judgement following Birmingham's notorious 2004 electoral fraud epidemic might explain why nothing is done until the whole country sees a council in crisis.<br />
<br />
"This (the failure of the police to investigate electoral fraud - and council officers too) is not helped by the invidious position in which a police force (and council officers) is put when investigating electoral fraud in a local authority context.<br />
<br />
"The alleged fraudsters may, after all, be members of the political authority to which the force is answerable. The noble cop who fights corruption at City Hall at risk of his career may well be a staple of Hollywood movies but he is much rarer in real life."
<br />
<br />
I had a look at some of this stuff here.<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Blood and Property</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1