Marble Arch, the new crime ghetto home for Romanians

 
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Justin Davenport24 April 2012
WEST END FINAL

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A huge surge in the number of Eastern European migrants arriving in London before the Olympics is driving increases in begging, pickpocketing and prostitution, officials warn.

Organised crime gangs are trafficking mostly Romanian nationals into the capital and setting them to work exploiting tourists and visitors.

Police say the Romanians are being brought in by coach and dropped off at Marble Arch, even though it’s not an official stop. About 60 rough sleepers have now set up camp there.

Westminster councillor Nickie Aiken, spokeswoman for children, young people and community protection, said: “We have seen a major influx of people in the last three weeks. If we are not careful and do not get on top of this the 60 will turn into 600 by the time of the Olympics.”

Some migrants have told how they were allocated “begging pitches” before they left Romania and were told to “defend the pitch and work it for money”.

While many are sleeping in gardens around Marble Arch, and beneath the arch, some are bedding down in other sites including a primary school.

Officials are holding a crisis meeting at Westminster today to decide what action to take. Ms Aiken blamed the problem on the lack of border controls on coaches arriving in the UK.

She said: “There are no effective border controls on those coming into the UK and we are paying the price of that with a sudden influx of Eastern European rough sleepers.”

She added: “They are conned into coming here with the promise of a better future, but end up jobless and homeless very quickly.”

She called on the UK Border Agency and the Foreign Office to take action to halt the problem before it gets out of hand before the Olympics.

Officials say a “second group” of Romanians living in Ilford and Slough “commute” into Westminster to work begging and pickpocketing. One woman was arrested for begging in Edgware Road and charged with child cruelty for using three children, including a three-week-old baby.

In one recent weekend 50 women were “shipped” into the Sussex Gardens area near Paddington to work the streets as prostitutes.

So far, a total of 16 Romanians have agreed to be sent home after they admitted they could not support themselves in the capital.

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