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| * Cllr Jackie Smith |
by our RBG Correspondent | Woolwich
Town centre locals are spending almost £50,000 a week gambling on one armed bandits.
Now the council is stepping up its efforts to tackle gambling related problems and protect vulnerable residents by launching a new pilot scheme in General Gordon Square, Woolwich.
Betwatch will see the council working with the Met Police and local betting shops to share information related to crime and anti-social behaviour.
The scheme will coordinate efforts to prevent and detect gambling related crime, and apprehend and prosecute offenders.
It also aims to make customers and betting shop staff feel safer in and around local betting shops.
The move comes after recent figures show that Woolwich town centre currently hosts 48 fixed odds betting terminals (FOBTs) which are making an average of £1000 profit a week each.
Town centre locals are spending almost £50,000 a week gambling on one armed bandits.
Now the council is stepping up its efforts to tackle gambling related problems and protect vulnerable residents by launching a new pilot scheme in General Gordon Square, Woolwich.
Betwatch will see the council working with the Met Police and local betting shops to share information related to crime and anti-social behaviour.
The scheme will coordinate efforts to prevent and detect gambling related crime, and apprehend and prosecute offenders.
It also aims to make customers and betting shop staff feel safer in and around local betting shops.
The move comes after recent figures show that Woolwich town centre currently hosts 48 fixed odds betting terminals (FOBTs) which are making an average of £1000 profit a week each.
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Punters can place bets of £100 a time on the casino-style betting machines and the council is also part of a larger campaign to reduce the stakes on FOBTs.
Earlier this year it joined a group of local authorities calling on all party leaders to restrict the stakes on FOBTs to just £2 in line with other gaming machines on the high street.
Cllr Jackie Smith the council’s cabinet member for community safety and environment said: “The council’s new Betwatch scheme will make a significant contribution to our ongoing efforts in reducing crime and anti-social behaviour in Woolwich town centre, building a safer community in the long term."
Earlier this year it joined a group of local authorities calling on all party leaders to restrict the stakes on FOBTs to just £2 in line with other gaming machines on the high street.
Cllr Jackie Smith the council’s cabinet member for community safety and environment said: “The council’s new Betwatch scheme will make a significant contribution to our ongoing efforts in reducing crime and anti-social behaviour in Woolwich town centre, building a safer community in the long term."
“High stakes FOBTs can have extremely detrimental effects on both individuals and the local community and betting shops are also linked a range of other crimes including money laundering."
“The council will continue to work to regulate betting shops and encourage responsible gambling in order to protect residents from harmful effects of addiction as part of our anti-poverty strategy. We are also committed to safeguarding local areas from the risk of deprivation and hope that this initiative will eventually create more pride and confidence in the area and encourage greater economic investment.”
Ian Perrygrove from the Gambling Commission said: “Betting shop operators, police forces and councils can play a key role in reducing and preventing crime in betting shops. We recognise the strength of this scheme and the benefits of a joint approach and fully support the work of the royal borough in taking steps to reduce criminality and anti-social behaviour through its Betwatch scheme.”
For further information on gambling responsibly, visit www.gambleaware.co.uk.
To get help in stopping gambling, visit www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk.
Ian Perrygrove from the Gambling Commission said: “Betting shop operators, police forces and councils can play a key role in reducing and preventing crime in betting shops. We recognise the strength of this scheme and the benefits of a joint approach and fully support the work of the royal borough in taking steps to reduce criminality and anti-social behaviour through its Betwatch scheme.”
For further information on gambling responsibly, visit www.gambleaware.co.uk.
To get help in stopping gambling, visit www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk.
Let me get this straight Isnt the Council that gives permission and allows Betting shops to open in Woolwich. The same Council decides they need to spend scarce funds to to "protect residents from harmful effects of addiction as part of our anti-poverty strategy".
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