Youth 'safe zone' expands to area hit by London riots

The Tottenham zone, set up by the Wellside Kids group, has joined more than 300 other CitySafe Haven schemes to be established in the capital since 2010 and is particularly significant because it was where rioting first erupted in August 2011.

Children from Wellside Kids after-school club joined Tottenham Hale Safer Neighbourhood police officers to hand out flyers and stickers to shops and businesses on Tottenham High Road who are supporting the scheme.

The CitySafe scheme, run by London Citizen, works with the council, police and local community to create safe havens for children and young people who feel threatened.

Shopkeepers who sign up to the scheme pledge to report crime and antisocial behaviour to police and offer their premises – identified by a sticker in the window – as a safe place to go for a young person who finds themselves in a situation they cannot handle on their own. They also maintain relationships with police and the local community, encourage staff to attend CitySafe training and refuse to sell alcohol, knives and other dangerous items to underage or drunk customers.

In advance of the launch of the Tottenham zone, Wellside children contacted shopkeepers to explain how the scheme works, signing up eight shops.

Sophie Stephens, lead organsier for North London Citizens, said: "The CitySafe campaign has been led by young people from this community. They have identified the issue of safety along the High Road and are taking the initiative to do something about it.”

Superintendent Mark Wolski of the Metropolitan Police, said: “I was very impressed when I first heard about the initiative and I will look to expand the scheme to more high streets in the borough. This is community policing in action.”

CitySafe Haven started in south London after the death of 16-year-old Jimmy Mizen who was attacked in a shop in 2008. The Jimmy Mizen Foundation back the scheme, and his father Barry sits on the board of the CitySafe Foundation.

The scheme is funded by London Citizen members with support from The Young Foundation, British Transport Police and the Mayor of London.

In January 2011, Liverpool became the first city outside of London to set up a CitySafe haven.