Death, drugs, and gangs: why is there so much crime in this part of Cambridge?
Two streets in Cambridge have been at the centre of organised crime, gang warfare, a killing, drug dealing and violence.
Today the News asks why Darwin Drive and Akeman Street in Arbury have spawned such criminal activity.
Calls have been made for more police on the ground in the area and for Cambridge City Councilchiefs to engage more with the community and put more resources into the streets.
Police have targeted the area after a spate of disorder and have worked to bring drug dealers to justice.
Just this week two drug dealers – one from Darwin Drive, another from Akeman Street – were jailed for six years for dealing cocaine and cannabis.
The problems in the street in Arbury stretch back many years and a public meeting was held by residents to urge police to tackle drugs and crime – but that was in 2015.
Arrests were made and patrols were increased but since then further shocking incidents have unfolded.
There has been gun crime, gang warfare, drug dealing, violence and a suspected murder.
One former resident of Darwin Drive who was brought up in the street has called for more police on the ground and extra resources from Cambridge City Council.
The father-of-two, who asked not to be named, said: “Its an area that has been forgotten about because Darwin Drive and Akeman Street is in a kind of hidden loop and is quite insular and densely populated so that criminal activity generally goes unnoticed and there is not many police around unlike the part of Arbury I now live in where you do see patrol cars quite often.
“You never see the police just patrolling around the Darwin Drive area.
“I think the council should pour more resources in and engage with the community more and there should be more police on the ground.”
Police say they have had success in stamping out disorder and bringing criminals to justice.
A spokeswoman for Cambridgeshire Constabulary said: “As a result of disorder in the area last year we uncovered a small number of individuals who were suspected to be involved in drug dealing and associated violence.
“The Cambridge prevent team have systematically worked to break down that criminality which has resulted in a number of individuals being imprisoned or awaiting trial for drugs offences.
“This small group are not representative of the wider community in the area who have supported our action.”
This week the News reported how two drug dealers from Akeman Street and Darwin Drive were jailed after a determined investigation by detectives.
Abdul Salam Ali, 23, and Ben Driver, 27, were locked up for a total of almost six years after being convicted of possession with intent to supply cannabis and cocaine.
They were arrested following a police investigation that began in March, this year.
Cambridge Crown Court heard officers raided Driver’s home, in Akeman Street, Cambridge, in March and found cocaine, herbal cannabis, £700 in cash and a mobile phone.
Forensic officers were able to link the drugs to Ali, of Darwin Drive, Cambridge, through mobile phone messages and a fingerprint.
The area was recognised as a crime hotspot a number of years ago when when Cambridge City Council installed a CCTV camera at the junction of Akeman Street, Stretten Avenue, and Darwin Drive.
But it was removed before the death of James Cromwell who died in nearby Stretten Avenue on June 30. The council is now reviewing the decision.
A man has pleaded not guilty to a charge of murder following the death of the 27-year-old, and a trial will be held next year.
CCTV images from a private camera obtained during a News investigation caught a glimpse of the extent of gang warfare and showed the moments a fight broke out on Darwin Drive leaving expensive cars smashed and property damaged in January last year.
In the footage, which you can watch at the top of the article, a motorist mounted the pavement and smashed into several cars in a desperate bid to escape an angry mob wielding poles causing chaos in the street.
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