For decades the Whitehawk estate in Brighton has suffered poverty and serious crime. These problems still exist in the neighbourhood but over the past few years there have been positive changes.

Reporter Miles Godfrey visited Whitehawk yesterday and witnessed the latest in a series of events which are helping to reshape the future of the area.

  • Driving into Whitehawk from the north, along Whitehawk Way, you pass a permanent shrine to murdered schoolboy Jay Kensett.

The 16-year-old, a promising footballer who lived on the Brighton estate, was stabbed through the heart as he made his way home from a football match in 1999.

The shrine is littered with flowers, football scarves and plaques. It serves as a permanent reminder not only of Jay's death but also of Whitehawk's violent past and the reputation which is still attached to this place.

But things are changing, helped by positive action such as yesterday's Whitehawk Challenge Day.

On the face of it, the operation held jointly between the police and residents to rid the streets of litter and rocks was simply an exercise in cleanliness.

But as senior police officers explained, its real purpose ran far deeper and should have far-reaching, long-term consequences for the future of the estate.

In between corralling passers-by to take part in the clean-up, Inspector Steve Curry, from Sussex Police, said: "What a lot of people don't realise is this sort of exercise, which is one of the first in the country, is likely to have a major impact on the crime rate.

"Children do fling these rocks at buses as they pass by and at bus shelters and people's windows. So by removing them, we are removing some of the physical means of committing crimes.

"But we are also helping to restore pride to the community which should make people stop and think, No, I don't want this area to go back to the way it was'.

"The people at the event can be very, very proud of themselves because they are helping to change this area dramatically."

Police in Brighton said that since November 2006, they had received about 240 reports of damage caused by stone-throwing. Many more cases have gone unreported.

Serious crime also remains an issue for officers in the neighbourhood.

It culminated in a decision, taken at the meeting of the Whitehawk Crime Prevention Forum two weeks ago, to do something about it.

Remarkably, within days posters had been printed, leaflets had been put through just about every door in the neighbourhood and significant police support for the event had been secured.

More than 250 residents took part in the clean-up around the Crew Club youth club, along Whitehawk Way and St Cuthman's Church - all said to be potential sites for antisocial behaviour - between 9am and 4pm.

Everyone taking part put on a T-shirt bearing the words "proud of my neighbourhood" before setting off with plastic bags, protective gloves and sticks to remove as much rubbish as possible from the streets, bushes and alleyways.

Bright future People of all ages, including whole families, were involved. About 20 Brighton-based police officers also got their hands dirty and joined in.

The vast majority had given up their day off to help.

The reward was the chance to win prizes including a PlayStation3, an iPod or a ride in a Ferrari and to meet Brighton and Hove Albion players who arrived at the Crew Club to sign autographs and draw a raffle in the afternoon.

But as Maggie Smeeth, one of the organisers and a Whitehawk resident, explained, the rewards were also more abstract.

She said: "The idea is to give people pride in the area as well as helping to reduce crime.

"Whitehawk has had a certain reputation in the past but things are changing now and this should help show people that the area has a bright future.

"All of this has been organised in a couple of weeks since we had a meeting of the crime prevention forum so it shows you the willingness and enthusiasm people have for it."

Evidence that Whitehawk's reputation has changed could be seen last month when the Queen and Prince Philip chose to tour the Roundabout Children's Centre and the Crew Club.

It was not a coincidence that the visit coincided with improvements in the crime rate in Whitehawk and a general shift in the way the estate is perceived.

Chris El Shabba, co-organiser of the clean-up day and also a Whitehawk resident, said: "The people of Whitehawk can be really, really proud of themselves.

"We have had so much support from the police and our sponsors to hold this day and in the last few months and years, which is really helping to make a difference to the people who live here.

"The Whitehawk Challenge Day is the start of a series of events to get residents to brighten up the area and continue making Whitehawk a better place to live."

Warren Morgan, Brighton and Hove city councillor for the Whitehawk area, said: "This is another great event from the resident-led Whitehawk Crime Prevention Forum, which has won praise from the Government for the innovative ways it has tackled antisocial behaviour and another example of the strong community in Whitehawk.

"It's proof that the majority of young people in the area are willing to make a positive contribution to their community."

It is hoped the Whitehawk Challenge Day will become a regular fixture.

By the end of yesterday, hundreds of bags of rubbish and rocks and other debris which had been lying around the streets had been collected.

Pavements, streets and alleyways had been swept clear.

There was an almost tangible sense of pride in the air.