NEGRO HAUNTS OF CRIME.

Shannon News, 19 October 1923, Page 4

NEGRO HAUNTS OF CRIME.

POLICE TO TAKE ACTION. Scotland Yard is taking steps to break up what has become known as the Black Colony in Central London. This is a colony of some hundreds oi coloured men who have established -themselves since the war in the network of streets west of Tottenham Court Road. For months detectives have been keeping dose , watch on the negroes and on several cafes and 1 night clubs that they frequent. Scotland Yard s investigations have proved beyond 1 doubt that many or the coloured m'en are highly dangerous characters, and that their haunts are nothing less than hotbeds of evil. As a result or several recent arrests there have been some sensational disclosures of the extent of criminal activity in this negro underworld. Many of the blacks 1 are engaged m the drug traffic, and nearly _ all are atmed, razors are their favourite weapons, and all-night orgies are their recreation. Edgar Manning, the West Indian “Dope Kink,” who was lately sentenced to three years’ penal servitude at the Old Bailey, was a member of the colony, and there are several still at large whose records : are almost as black as his. Detectives have been engaged for weeks endeavouring to obtain evidence to bring these pests to justice, and so widespread is the evil that the authorities huvp now decided on drastic measures to stamp out the colony. Scotland. Yard is now seeking the necessary powers to close down one cafe, which is the haunt of the most dangerous of the blacks, and action will also be taken in other ways. One difficulty is that as most of the negroes are British subjects they cannot be dealt with by deportaL. - orders, but the police are determined to take every step possible effectively to break up the colony.