Over 1,200 members of The East London Communities Organisation (TELCO) who were gathered at their 12th Annual Assembly were delighted to hear Tower Hamlets Council leader, Luftur Rahman, make firm commitments on combating drug dealing, securing a Living Wage for Council workers and an earned amnesty for undocumented migrants.

Present at the TELCO 12th Annual Assembly at York Hall were over 1,200 people from more than 50 Tower Hamlets community organisations from the TELCO and Communities Against Drug and Alcohol Abuse (CADAA) networks.

The highlight of the night was the commitments made by Councillor Rahman to support the three issues that the communities gathered there proposed. Massive applause welcomed the commitments to work with CADAA on the Drug Dealer a Day initiative, including targeting the 50 worst drug dealers in the borough, and developing an additional drugs awareness week in September focused on schools; to propose a motion to pay the London Living Wage (currently £7.45/hour) to all contracted Council staff; and to propose a motion supporting Strangers into Citizens, the call for an earned amnesty for undocumented migrants.

The Assembly was opened by a reflection from Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari, Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain. Then there was a loud and energetic roll-call of all the different communities present – churches, mosques, schools, colleges, charities and trade unions.

Also at the assembly were Deputy Mayor of London Richard Barnes, Chief Executive of the Olympic Delivery Authority David Higgins, Leader of Tower Hamlets Council Cllr Lutfur Rahman and Tower Hamlets Cabinet members, Cllrs Marc Francis and Alibor Choudhury.

The Olympic Delivery Authority also signed up to TELCO’s demands for affordable, family-sized housing as part of the 2012 Legacy.

Reverend Angus Ritchie of TELCO said: “The commitments made by Cllr Rahman were fantastic. By working with TELCO and CADAA to combat drug dealing, raise wages and help undocumented migrants, the Council is taking a lead throughout London on making safer and more cohesive communities.”

Photos of the Assembly and of Cllr Rahman’s attendance are available on request.

Notes to editors: The East London Communities Organisation (TELCO) is an alliance of 50 East London communities, working together for the last 12 years for the common good. www.londoncitizens.org.uk

Communities Against Drugs and Alcohol Abuse (CADAA) is a community led initiative with the mission to address the real grass root problems of drugs and alcohol in Tower Hamlets.

Strangers into Citizens is the London Citizens campaign for an earned amnesty for long-term undocumented migrants. www.strangersintocitizens.org.uk

For TELCO, please contact: Matthew Bolton 07861 380 058 Matthew.bolton@londoncitizens.org.uk

For CADAA, please contact: Sirajul Islam 07958 269 695 cad_aa@hotmail.co.uk

NEWS ARCHIVE