Heavy police presence at Wanstead Tube

A sniffer dog, about eight coppers and knife scanner were at Wanstead Tube tonight as part of an anti-knife operation. People coming through the gates were selected to go through the scanner, having removed anything metal, airport-style. But it was a degree or two more civilised than that – did the scanner beep? It was probably your belt, sir, thank you for your help – though no doubt the atmosphere could changed if the dog had sniffed anything out.

Want a police escort from a Wanstead cashpoint?

Snaresbrook and Wanstead Safer Neighbourhood Team posterIt’s yours, according to a poster circulated by the Snaresbrook and Wanstead Safer Neighbourhood Team. (Photo courtesy Alan Perryman)

And the considerate community support officers have clearly thought this through – you can ring up to make an appointment, and they will follow from a safe distance so as not to raise suspicion. For vulnerable or nervous folk this could be a great thing. Just one question, though: who withdraws money from a cashpoint after they’ve done their shopping?

Renting out Wanstead houses during the Olympics

[picappgallerysingle id=”8868090″] First mover advantage, maybe, but at least one Wanstead property is already being advertised for rent during the Olympic Games – just over two years away. And perhaps the most amazing part is the proposed rent – 2,000 euros a week for two-bedrooms, near Wanstead Park.

Other people will probably try to do the same, and there seems to be a flourishing market in websites trying to attract prospective letters and renters. And making the case for renting in Wanstead is not hard to do, as the advert in question demonstrates:

It is a couple of minutes walk from bus services and a short journey from Wanstead underground station which is on the central line with trains into central London taking around 20 mins. Manor Park overhead station is about a 10 minute walk away, with trains going directly to Straford where a link to the olympic sight [sic] can be picked up. Alternatively, we are around an 8 minute drive from the Olympic stadium.