Close down Streatham Hills betting shops - it's time for our voices to be heard!
Dear signatories,
Over 600 of us have now signed this petition — and we refuse to be ignored any longer.
Streatham Hill’s betting shops have caused years of crime, drug use, and anti-social behaviour in our community - and now is the moment we act. Following recent local elections, we must make our voices impossible to ignore. Please copy and paste the attached email and send it to the following email addresses so we can finally be heard. Be sure to include your name and postcode at the end:
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To: MAbrams@lambeth.gov.uk; ameliagshoebridge@gmail.com; contact@lambeth.greenparty.org.uk; mbryant@lambeth.gov.uk; councillors@lambethlibdems.org.uk; shwt@lambethlibdems.org.uk; CommunitySafety@lambeth.gov.uk; steve.reed.mp@parliament.uk; licensing@lambeth.gov.uk; streathamsouth@met.police.uk; streathamhillcitizens@gmail.com
Subject: Enough is enough - Urgent Action to address Streatham Hill's Crime Ridden Betting Shops
Body:
To: MAbrams@lambeth.gov.uk; ameliagshoebridge@gmail.com; contact@lambeth.greenparty.org.uk; mbryant@lambeth.gov.uk; councillors@lambethlibdems.org.uk; shwt@lambethlibdems.org.uk; CommunitySafety@lambeth.gov.uk; steve.reed.mp@parliament.uk; licensing@lambeth.gov.uk; streathamsouth@met.police.uk; streathamhillcitizens@gmail.com
Subject: Enough is enough - Urgent Action to address Streatham Hill's Crime Ridden Betting Shops
Body: Dear Councillors, Lambeth Council, the Licensing Authority, Police, Lambeth Community Safety Team, and our MP,
As residents of Streatham Hill, we are writing to make one thing clear: we have had enough.
Over 650 of us — and counting — have signed this petition (https://c.org/DMFYy6k64K demanding urgent action against the crime and disorder centred around Ladbrokes, Betfred, and MERKUR Slots on Streatham High Road. For years we have endured anti-social behaviour, open drug dealing and drug use, harassment, threats, cat-calling, and littering in and around these premises, alongside visible Class A drug dealing and use spilling onto the surrounding streets where we live. Our vibrant high street, local businesses and diverse community are being damaged in plain sight.
We have repeatedly reported these issues to the police, the Council, and the betting shops directly for years, yet nothing changes. Responsibility continues to be passed around while the situation worsens. We can no longer tolerate this failure of enforcement and accountability, or the feeling that we are being ignored by the very people meant to protect us. The more we are ignored, the worse the situation becomes.
Our demands are immediate and as follows:
- Lambeth’s Licensing Authority to conduct an immediate review with a view to revoking the licences for Ladbrokes, Betfred, and MERKUR Slots on Streatham High Road, due to repeated failure to address serious community harm.
- A public statement from our MP, Steve Reed, setting out clear actions and timelines to resolve this urgent matter.
- Coordinated action from Lambeth Council, and our new councillors for Streatham Hill East and West — Martin Abrams, Amelia Shoebridge, Matthew Bryant, and Kita Odgen — working with relevant services to address this situation on both sides of the high street.
- A thorough investigation into the criminal activity associated with these premises by the police.
We, the law-abiding residents of Streatham Hill are organised, angry, and demand to be heard. We will hold all relevant authorities accountable and escalate further should no meaningful action by taken by 16 June 2026. We ask that you acknowledge receipt of this email and respond by confirming exactly how you intend to address our demands.
Yours faithfully,
[INSERT YOUR NAME]
[INSERT YOUR POSTCODE]