Andover Estate - Graffiti, Crime and Drug Problems From The Mid-1980s

Graffiti, Crime and Drug Problems From The Mid-1980s

In recent years negative reports suggested that the estate had fallen into disrepair, with petty crime, muggings and general lawlesness amongst the local hoodie population being the worst problems, despite the presence of Holloway Police Station on Hornsey Road, nearby.

But local police have reported a downturn in these crimes and Holloway Police Station are even considering a downsizing of their operations from their Hornsey Road station.

Complete security of the estate was first considered in the mid-1980s, when the three main blocks received an intercom system that could activate the doors to open at ground level. This project fell apart after just a couple of years due to vandalism and disrepair, and many established residents blame the removal of the estate's caretakers for this large waste of resources.

Graffiti was a large problem on the estate and on the neighbouring Six Acres Estate from the mid-1980s, as the tagging craze that had been popular in places like New York, Bristol, and Wolverhampton, became a craze amongst 'artistic' youths wishing to write or spray their 'tags' on any prominent space available. Andover had a lot of this space available at that time.

Local youth were restless and wanted to be noticed. A number of 'prominent' London graffiti artists were regular visitors to Andover Estate after the mid-1980s, with its large spaces and secluded spots to spray tags and do 'pieces' (a large full sized mural using spray paint) undetected.

A huge budget for the removal of graffiti on the estate was put up regularly by Islington London Borough Council and despite the regular clean ups, graffiti re-appeared faster than it could be removed. Holloway Police Station even assigned one particular constable to look out for and 'befriend' some of these groups, but with only slight success.