A mother says her teenage children have been attacked by gang members who ‘operate freely’ on the estate, reports Marco Marcelline

Main image credit: Robert Kneschke via Canva

A Walthamstow mother has said a Christian housing association has failed to protect her two children from “unrelenting” antisocial behaviour that has left her family “living in fear”.

Moira*, who lives in a local property managed by the Christian Action Housing Association, says that despite repeated pleas to the housing association, the situation has deteriorated, leaving them in a “constant state of fear”.

Speaking to the Echo, Moira said that incidents within their housing block have escalated to “alarming levels” in the past year, adding that her teenage son was forcibly held by gang members who she said operate freely within the building.

Meanwhile, her 13-year-old daughter faced a “horrifying” encounter when fireworks were aimed at her in the communal areas.

Moira said the building’s bike shed, once regularly used by residents, has become a “hotspot for illegal activities”, while frequent criminal damage has left glass panels scattered throughout the building, which has become a trap house for drug misuse and distribution.

Moira added that she has made numerous appeals to Christian Action Housing Association about the conditions, yet “little” has changed.

She said she had taken and sent a litany of photographs and sent “hundreds” of emails to Christian Action Housing Association to substantiate the “worsening” situation, but her calls for action have gone “unheard”.

“We are living in a state of fear,” she continued, “and it’s affecting my health. I believe our story needs to be shared to bring about awareness and prevent a tragedy from happening.”

The mother has also involved the police in her attempts to address the rising crime. However, without firm action from the housing association, she said the “cycle of crime continues unchecked”, adding that it was “endangering” her family and other residents.

She continued: “This should serve as a wake-up call, underscoring the importance of tenant safety and the responsibility of housing associations to protect the communities they serve.”

Christian Action Housing Association was contacted for comment but did not respond in time for publication.

*Names have been changed

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