Rocks Lane Centre To Take Action After Spate of Muggings

Police commit to increase presence around Chiswick Common sports facility

Rocks Lane Centre, Chiswick Common

Rocks Lane Sport Centre on Chiswick Common is taking a number of steps to increase security after what they describe as a series of ‘unsavoury’ incidents.

The popular artificial pitch facility has seen a number of cases of muggings recently where children playing sport there have had items stolen from them by larger groups of teenagers.

Measures being considered include hiring a private security company, improved lighting of the Common at night and CCTV coverage of the area.

There was a report of a gun being used to intimidate the victims in one of these muggings but the Metropolitan Police say they have no record of this taking place.

Rocks Lane Sports Centre’s manager, Barry Murray said, "A spate of unsavoury incidents have occurred outside of our centre in the last few weeks. Most of these incidents have involved boys either coming or going from here being mugged by larger groups of teenagers.

“We are taking pro-active steps to ensure the safety of all our customers. We have met with the local police who will be increasing their presence in and around the common area on Friday evenings.

“We are also in dialogue with the local Councillors regarding making the common area safer. Our suggestions include better lighting, removal of some of the benches and more CCTV. We are also looking to hire a security company to patrol the common during the evening. If the council approve better lighting then we will install external CCTV to complement our internal CCTV. At the moment it is too dark to install.

“I would urge all parents to encourage their children walking to the venue, to take extra care by walking along well-lit main roads and not cutting across the common and to try and walk in groups."

There have been a regular stream of complaints about anti-social behaviour in the Chiswick Common area over the last few years.

November 23, 2018