Following a series of robberies on a particular stretch of the Regents, DS organised (alongside the Police) an awareness event by Kingsland Basin on the Regents.
The robbers MO was to block the towpath around lone walkers or cyclists after dark and then threaten them at knifepoint for their valuables.
We arrived at about 3.30 and met up with DS and DT(?), eventually VG, RH, RE, GM and AF also attended (7 volunteers and 1 staff). We were to have been handing out leaflets, but the Police late-cancelled on us and so we did not have their support and leaflets. We spent about three hours interacting with towpath users, warning them about the attacks and asking them to be extra aware and perhaps to reconsider being alone on the towpath after dark. The bridge at Kingsland Basin is a good spot to interact with towpath users as cyclists slow down to negotiate the bridge. I would estimate we made at least 150 positive interactions with towpath users.
Later we learned that there had been another robbery that night on the Lea at Markfield Park.
I spent some time talking with VG and AF who are volunteer rangers local to my stretch in East London, and I hope to see them again at other Towpath Ranger events.
We were a little ill-prepared for this impromptu event. We could have used a half-dozen more hi-vis tabards and some literature to hand out.
DS and I discussed meeting with SM at the Lea Rowing Club. We also discussed the situation about Hertford Union's locks, where the gates and sometimes the paddles are frequently left open causing water losses in the pounds above. Signage at the Lower Lock (at least) and some form of literature to hand out to boaters were discussed as ways to help stop this.
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