Woolwich square sealed off by police after assault
An incident at Beresford Square in Woolwich has seen police tape off large parts of the area.
According to the Met a man was assaulted around 11:30pm on 30 July with injuries to his face and body before being hospitalised.
The news comes just a week after Greenwich Council told people to stop being negative about the newly revamped square.
Beresford Square recently saw a multi-million pound upgrade though complaints of anti-social behaviour in the area have continued if not increased since.
The upgrade is generally excellent but even on the first weekend after opening whilst visiting to take photos for the site a group were shouting and being abusive at members of the public. Welcoming is wasn’t.
Since then it does seem better – though I’m not normally there after mid-afternoon and I do hear complaints of groups causing issues later on in the day.
Police have announced extra officers in Woolwich over the summer though they’ve announced similar before and this is only a short-term measure.
Across London the Met saw a reduction of 1,022 officers up to the end of March 2025 compared to the prior year, and are looking to cut more than 1,000 additional officers.
Anyone with information that can contact police by calling 101 and referencing CAD 8815/30JUL.
That area is crying out for late night restaurants and coffee shops, rather than student flats and a dodgy fish and chips shop. In the last decade, Old Kent Road has embraced late night places, from stores and eateries to barbers that remain open past midnight. Its still a rough area to be sure, but it feels far safer than it has in decades. Hopefully the continued revamp will attract more late night independents to bring London’s night economy up, and these punch-ups remain an aberration rather than a feature.
“Dodgy fish and chips shop” – the fish and chip shop has been run by a local Nepalese family for many years. Just because it doesn’t look amazing from the outside, it doesn’t mean they’re not decent folk making an honest living.
fish and chips shop is the shining light of the area! You’re early not local! How about pointing the finger at the betting shops and the disdain of greenwich council to hold shop landlords to design principals, maintenence and other specs
fish and chip shop is the shining light of the area! You’re early not local! How about pointing the finger at the betting shops and the disdain of greenwich council to hold shop landlords to design principals, maintenence and other specs
Sadly this incident comes has no surprise. The revamped square looks nice but the same people frequent the area sitting in groups on the wall. Myself and my colleagues have witnessed a lot of anti social behaviour in the day time with drunks fighting each other let alone at night.
They want to improve the night tine economy in Woolwich but sadly until.crime and anti social behaviour is seriously tackled by the Police and Council. Woolwich will remain a no go area for many people.