West Hampstead residents arm themselves with hammers amid rising crime in alleyway

Residents of West Hampstead are arming themselves with hammers due to escalating drug use, prostitution, and gang violence in an alleyway. The alley, Billy Fury Way, is littered with drug paraphernalia and human waste, with residents reporting daily drug use and break-ins. Streetlights have been out since October, exacerbating safety concerns. The alleyway, named after a 1960s popstar, runs between expensive homes and has a history of violence, with local authorities working on temporary solar lighting solutions.