TROUBLE during Crystal Palace's derby victory over Charlton led to ten arrests and culminated in away fans damaging cars outside Selhurst Park.

Charlton supporters ripped-up seating and lit flares during the match at Selhurst Park on Saturday. After the final whistle police held Addicks' fans in Park Road for several minutes in order to ensure "public safety".

However, vehicles and property were damaged as officers escorted about 3,000 away fans along Sangley Road towards Norwood Junction.

Chief Superintendent Adrian Roberts, who led the operation, described their actions as "mindless destruction".

Two Charlton fans, one a 16-year-old boy, have been charged with setting off a flare during the game.

Police also arrested four men on suspicion of affray, one for obstructing a police officer and another for a public order offence.

Another man was charged, and two others cautioned, for possession of Class A drugs.

Chief Supt Roberts said: "It was a challenging game to police, made so by a very small minority of people intent on causing problems and several arrests were made throughout the day. However, working with the club's security we were able to keep fans safe."

The trouble followed criticism levelled at the police by a supporters' group following the arrests of several fans relating to an incident at the Brighton game in December.

A spokesman for Holmesdale Fanatics said two men were "dragged from their beds" in early morning raids and accused of assaulting a steward.

"This is a non incident being dressed up to suit an agenda and begs the question again, why are Palace fans still being treated with such contempt by police?" the statement read.

The Met confirmed that two men, aged 24 and 28, had been arrested in Croydon on January 24 under suspicion of common assault during what they described as a "pre-planned operation". It declined to comment on the group's criticisms.

PARENTING is still considered women's work but increasing numbers of men play an active role in raising their children. It's important to highlight the gender barriers men face as parents and that's what I do with my blog.

Having launched it just three months ago, it was an honour to be asked to host a Q&A session with Jo Swinson, the Employment Relations Minister. I felt rather excited that my blog and the issues it raises were being read by government ministers and civil servants.

The Q&A itself focused on the Children and Families Bill and plans to introduce a system of shared parental leave following the birth of a child. Assuming the legislation is passed, a couple will have the legal right to share one year's parental leave from 2015. Each partner could do six months, the mother take three months the man nine months and so on.

The bill will also, for the first time, give men a legal right to attend two ante-natal appointments (i.e. the 12 and 20-week baby scans) and it will be easier to ask an employer for flexible working. The aim is ultimately to make the workforce more flexible and family friendly.

It's a big step in the right direction and I broadly welcome the proposals. The interesting thing is that maternity and paternity pay will remain unchanged. The minister was forthright about this; the economic climate dictates it can't be increased at this time.

This means men will continue to receive just two weeks statutory paternity pay compared to the mothers' 39 weeks. That said, a system of "parental pay" will be introduced for the parent that looks after the children. Families and fathers should benefit from this, although we'll have to see how much parental pay turns out to be.

It's great to see the Government taking action that helps families and in particular fathers, who will have the option to become more involved with their children in the early days. It was also very refreshing to see a government minister engaging directly with the electorate using social media.

I suspect it will take a while for the benefits of this legislation to be truly appreciated. The beauty is that it acknowledges a general trend in society; men want to look after the children and are quite capable of doing so.

A full transcript of the Q&A can be found online here

ARK Oval Primary has been rated "good" in its first Ofsted report.

Inspectors who visited the East Croydon academy in December praised staff for their quality of teaching and for encouraging pupils to strive for excellence.

Their report praised the attitude of children, saying: "Pupils behave well in lessons and move around the school in a calm and orderly fashion. They are respectful to adults and each other. Pupils are proud of their new school. They enjoy their lessons and attend regularly."

They did, however, say some improvements in subjects such as maths had not yet been fully achieved.

Head teacher Sonia Rutherford said: "I'm very pleased that Ofsted recognises the progress we've made so far and the achievements of our staff and pupils. We are determined to continue to build on our achievements so that we can ensure that every child at Ark Oval achieves at the highest level possible and can make a really successful transition to secondary school."

The current school reopened as an academy on the site of the former failing Oval Primary School in September 2011.

PALACE loan signing Stephen Dobbie says manager Ian Holloway was a key factor in him making the short trip up the M23 from the Eagles' fiercest rivals Brighton & Hove Albion.

The 30-year-old followed Kevin Phillips to Selhurst Park on transfer deadline day and had just one chance to train with his new team-mates ahead of the game against Charlton Athletic.

But he says the whole squad have made him feel welcome at the club and that it was good he knew some of them prior to the move.

"I knew a few of the players before I joined last Friday like Jazz Richards and Kevin Phillips, who also signed on the same day," he told Advertiser Sport.

"I've settled in well and I'm just looking forward to playing now. I played a reserve game for Brighton the week before so it was good. I'm fit and healthy and ready to go.

"The gaffer is the main reason I've come to Palace. He knows what I'm all about and I know what he's all about – I've come to help him.

"As soon as the chance came for Ian Holloway to come and get me, I jumped at it.

"I've always said I'd love to play for him. For me, it's just a matter of trying to help Palace get promotion."

And despite coming from the Seagulls, Dobbie insists the rivalry has nothing to do with him as he wants the Palace fans to see what he can do on the pitch.

"I think in behind the striker is my best position to link up play and get efforts at goal but also to try and create for the wingers getting forward," he said.

"Luckily enough over the seasons I've done well and scored a few as well, so I'm just going to make sure the most important thing is that we win.

"The rivalry between Palace and Brighton is for the fans, so for myself I'm just here to play football no matter what strip I'm pulling on.

"As long as I'm doing the business for that actual team then that's what matters to me.

"I've seen the attacking talent at Palace throughout the season and watched the television highlights on a Saturday night, so the talent going forward is absolutely fantastic.

"I wasn't getting any game time at Brighton and maybe wasn't fitting in with the manager's plans, so to come in and help and score a few more goals, that's what I'm here for."

With the Eagles facing Watford tonight at Vicarage Road, Dobbie believes if they can take their second half display from Charlton from the off against the Hornets, they'll have a good chance of claiming the three points.

And despite the hosts missing a number of players due to international call-ups, Dobbie is firmly concentrating on how Palace go into game.

"They're up there with us and a point ahead, so it's a big game and I think we need to go there and play the way we did in the second half last weekend," he said.

"I think the attacking talent we've got and the way we defended in the second half last Saturday, it's about what we do and not what players Watford have got our injured or away on international duty."

A HIT squad of private dog mess police are to be paid £45 for every owner they catch failing to clean up after their pooch, under new council plans.

Private company Xfor, already used by other local authorities in the capital, is set to be brought in on a six-month trial to crack down on mess on our streets.

The company will provide a team of six officers specialising in issuing fixed penalty notices for littering, including cigarette butts, and dog control order offences.

The council hopes the scheme will dramatically reduce dog fouling in the borough, as Xfor issue between 300 to 400 tickets per month, in contrast to the current rate of around 30.

Councillor Simon Hoar, cabinet member for community safety and public protection, said: "Residents are quite rightly fed up of people dropping litter and dog owners not picking up after their pets, and this pilot scheme will give the council the chance to trial new ways of clamping down on the problem.

"The council works hard to maintain the cleanliness of our high streets and town centres, but unfortunately there is a small minority who have no respect for their environment and continue to flout the law. Hopefully, this scheme will encourage them to act more responsibly."

The council insists the £70 it receives from the penalties will be used purely to fund the running costs of the pilot, with the scheme designed to be cost-neutral.

To enable this, the current early payment rate of £50 would come to an end.

Mother Annie Clarke, 36, from Selsdon, told the Advertiser she thinks this is a step in the right direction. She said: "I am sick and tired of taking my children to the park or to school and having them step in dog muck.

"It's so dangerous and not to mention disgusting. What if one of my babies got a disease from it or something? Although this seems like a pretty strange way of tackling the problem I hope it works and I'll be able to let my children play in the park without worrying about what they're going to be stepping on."

Officers from Xfor will follow guidelines set down by the council and work alongside existing council staff, who have responsibility for other areas, and who are based mainly in town centres.

The proposals will be considered by the council's cabinet this evening (Monday).

INSPIRATIONAL groups hoping to make lives of Croydon people better are being offered the chance to get some extra funding.

Croydon Commitment, the corporate charity supported by local businesses, is looking to use its Grassroots Trust Fund to support these groups and has around £24,000 in its coffers this year.

Ian Robinson, chief executive of Croydon Commitment, said: "We are looking to offer some of the smaller organisations in Croydon, which provide vital services within the community, the opportunity to reach their goals and aspirations."

He said the trust had been established in 2008 to provide a long-term legacy of local assistance.

This year's fund will be paid out to a limited number of small projects, voluntary organisations, charities or social enterprises.

They can apply for a grant of up to £6,000.

To qualify, the group must have been active for a least one year, be non-profit making, have an annual income of less than £250,000, an active management committee, sound financial plans and a governing document.

Among the groups benefiting from the trust fund last year were homeless charity, Nightwatch; cancer charity the Brenda Kirby Trust; Lives Not Knives and Croydon Carers' Association.

Monique Rebeiro from Lives Not Knives, which raises awareness among young people of the dangers of carrying knives, said: "Because of our funding we have been able to host 20 anti-knife roadshows in primary schools, reaching thousands of pupils."

This year fund is open for applications until February 28.

To apply for a grant click here

THE headmaster of troubled Addington High School, Tim Davies, has resigned and will leave at the end of next week.

The news, announced by the school's governors on Wednesday, came a day after their chair, Jo Tanner, received confirmation from the Department for Education that the school will become an academy under the auspices of Ravens Wood School, in Bromley, on April 1.

Mr Davies departs in the wake of a series of a series of controversies that have blighted the school over the past 12 months.

Ofsted inspectors put Addington High into special measures in October, citing poor exam results and attendance levels.

The Advertiser has also previously reported how a sex scandal led to the sacking of deputy head Tim Edwards, while a teacher was sent home for allegedly being drunk in charge of a lesson.

Since the Oftsed report, senior staff from Ravens Wood have been working with Addington High on improving standards in the run-up to the academy move.

It is not unusual for newly established academies to appoint new head teachers, but Ms Tanner told the Advertiser on Wednesday that there had been no pressure on Mr Davies to go.

She said: "Tim has been with us for 12 years and with the changes that are coming to the school he felt it was the right time to move on and let Addington High carry on with its forward trajectory."

She said there had been no loss of confidence in Mr Davies on the part of the governors, adding: "Tim is a dynamic, committed and inspiring leader who has brought his passion to Addington High School. He has been an exceptional advocate for the school and its pupils and we wish him well with future endeavours."

Mr Davies would not answer any questions but released a statement saying: "I am very proud to have helped so many young people develop during their time at the school and to see them leave us ready for the next stage in their personal and educational journeys.

"I've helped to set up the academy and this new chapter for secondary education in New Addington is the right time for me to move on.

"I would also like to take this opportunity to thank parents for their support. I have regarded being head teacher at Addington High School as a privilege and a pleasure."

Paul Greenhalgh, Croydon Council's executive director of children, families and learners, said: "Tim Davies has been very committed to the young people at the school during his time as head teacher and I wish him well.

"With its expected conversion to academy status the school has a significant opportunity to build on strengths and provide the very best for its future."

Following Mr Davies' decision, the school's governors have appointed deputy head James Malley as acting head teacher and John Hernandez - currently at Norlington Boys' School in Waltham Forest - as executive head.

Ms Tanner said: "Since Mr Hernandez became head at Norlington he has turned it into London's most improved school. That is what we want for Addington High."

A LONG-TERM job seeker who found work through the Government's flagship employment scheme is out of a job again after being sacked by text message.

After spending nine months out of work, Hannah Sturdy secured a position working at Subway through jobs firm A4e.

But in nearly two months at the branch in Valley Park, the 20-year-old claims to have received little pay.

When she complained she was sacked without so much as a phone call.

"After I lost my last job I did every I was told to do to try and find a new one – only to be treated like absolute rubbish," said Hannah, from Frensham Drive, New Addington.

After stepping down from a position at Pizza Hut due to a lack of hours, Hannah went to Jobcentre Plus before her case was passed to A4e, one of the companies which provides the Government's Work Programme for the long term unemployed.

They found her a job working an average of 20 hours a week at a Subway franchise, which she started on December 13 last year.

When her first fortnightly pay day arrived, Hannah discovered she had not been paid.

She complained to her manager and then the owner of franchise but two weeks later the same situation occurred.

Hannah escalated the complaint to her A4e representative and eventually two small amounts of money were paid into her account.

In the hope the situation would improve, and of longer shifts, she gave up her new position at Pizza Hut, where she worked a few hours a week.

But on Wednesday last week, after calling her bosses at Subway to check when she was next working, she received a text message which read: "I am very sorry Hannah but we but we made a decision with Joseph [the franchisee] and you did not pass your observation.

"There were a lot of complaints from staff. All money will be paid into your account and I will talk to Oby [from A4E] about you and how you worked."

But Hannah told the Advertiser: "I wasn't aware of any complaints about me and I never had any verbal or written warnings.

"The only feedback I got was that I was doing well. I think it's because I made such a fuss about not being paid.

"They clearly thought they can walk all over me and get away with anything."

Hannah, who estimates she is owed more than £700 after tax, has yet to hear from A4e since she was sacked.

A spokesman for the company said it was, effectively, not its problem.

"All the issues surrounding Ms Sturdy's employment and the circumstances of her departure are a matter for her and her former employer Subway, not A4e," she said.

"Now her employment has come to an end, we will continue to offer her our support to find an alternative post."

Subway said: "As part of their agreement franchisees are required to comply with employment law.

"This means franchisees are obliged to observe the law in recruiting, contracting and in all dealings with employees.

"The Subway brand will offer any assistance necessary to help with any investigation being undertaken."

Under the Government's Work Programme private companies and charities are paid to find jobs for the long-term unemployed.

Joining the work programme is mandatory for people over 25 when they have been out of work for a year and for under-25s after nine months.

The owner of Subway Valley Park was unavailable for comment when the Advertiser went to press.

KATHRYN Channing, head of service in Croydon University Hospital's A&E, said her staff were shocked after a letter went to chief executive John Goulston from A&E staff branding the department "probably one of the worst in the country".

Ms Channing said although it is true more space is needed in order to deal with patients, the claim the department lacked an addressograph was unfounded and that five more consultants will be employed along with a total of 17 more nurses.

She said: "It was shocking to us to see the letter from staff branding this one of the worst in the country. It was devastating. The staff here work very hard and we feel that the letter doesn't represent the majority of staff.

"And in terms of the staff survey, I have had both my children here and told my friend to have her baby here."

The Croydon employee for eight years added: "We have trainees who ask us if they are going to get a job here and have people coming back, which wouldn't happen if this was a bad place."

Speaking of the new IT system, which is to go live in June to make tracking patients easier, she said: "I think it is going to make life a lot better."

TEMPORARY borough commander Richard Wood says he is "keen to explore the option" of having a police station or base in the north of Croydon.

Chief Superintendent Wood arrived from Greenwich this week to step in for police chief David Musker, who is on a senior leadership course.

He will lead police in Croydon until April, primarily to oversee sweeping changes which include the potential closure of all but one of the borough's six stations.

While Mr Wood said the Met needed to "get rid of old, not-fit-for-purpose and underused buildings", he agreed the plans could leave Croydon short in an area with high rates of crime.

"I would be keen to explore options to see if we could have a base in Croydon North because I'm aware it has a different dynamic to the rest of the borough," he said.

"It has to be cost-effective. If there's an option like co-locating, or maybe looking at different premises then I would be keen to do that. Nothing is a signed deal at the moment."

In January, the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (Mopac) announced its intention to close South Norwood, Norbury, Kenley, Addington and Purley stations as part of wider plans aimed at meeting a £500 million cut in police funding by 2014/15.

Met Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe has since suggested Croydon might keep "two or three" of its police stations.

All but the main base in Park Lane is earmarked for closure and while Sir Bernard said the borough would not retain all six, he believes a "sensible" compromise could be found.

The Met is understood to be considering the new custody suite in Windmill Road in West Croydon as a potential site for a part-time front counter, as well as contact points in post offices or supermarkets.

Conservative politicians have argued the choice is between buildings or staff, with Croydon to be allocated 117 extra officers by 2015, returning numbers back to where they were two years ago.

However, members of the public hoping this might open up a career in the police are likely to be disappointed. Mr Wood revealed that the vast majority of the additional officers would be recruited from among existing police community support officers (PCSOs) and volunteer special constables.

He said: "At the moment we have to make difficult financial decisions. We have to save money so we are not in a position to recruit people from outside."

Chief Superintendent Musker, who was off work due to ill-health for several weeks in November, has been away from Croydon on annual leave since Christmas, leaving Superintendent Rob Atkin in charge.

He is now on a "senior police strategic command course" and is due to return on April 15.

His temporary replacement, who worked in Haringey, Islington, Lewisham and Southwark before becoming borough commander in Greenwich, insists he is not in Croydon "for the long haul".

"My understanding is that Dave will come back and he will stay here for the foreseeable future," said Mr Wood.

"For the next two months my job is to stabilise what's going on and help introduce the changes.

"My arrival is absolutely no reflection on Rob, who has done a brilliant job here.

"It will enable me to concentrate on wider matters while everyone else can focus on policing."

An eight-week consultation process into the proposed changes is under way.

A public meeting is to be held at Croydon Conference Centre, in Surrey Street, on February 12.

• Croydon police launch Operation Zeus to make borough 'hostile' to people with weapons
• 'No particular reason' for high number of Croydon police officers confined to back office

KEVIN Phillips says he would love to get a final crack at the Premier League – with Palace.

At 39 years old, the veteran striker has scored goals wherever he has been and looked very bright after coming on at half-time in last Saturday's 2-1 win over Charlton Athletic.

"At my age, nothing hurts or surprises me anymore," he said.

"I'm touching 40 years old this summer and there's a club that still wants me, and not many players can say that.

"I am thankful to Ian Holloway and Crystal Palace because they have given me the opportunity to come here, and he's not afraid to use me.

"I feel good, and I'll try and keep playing as long as I can. You never know in football, hopefully we get promoted and I may even get another chance in the Premier League!"

So, what is the recipe for the former Sunderland hitman playing late into his thirties? It's simple.

"It's basically looking after yourself," he said.

"Every ex-professional keeps telling me to play for as long as I possibly can and as long as you're still enjoying it, your body can keep going and your enthusiasm is still there.

"There was a part of me saying I'll probably see this season out at Blackpool, but they made it clear they wanted me off the wage bill, but after the game last week I've certainly got the bug again and I'm certainly looking forward to the rest of the season."

And he revealed he can't wait to create an understanding with the amount of attacking talent on offer at Palace, including Manchester United's latest signing.

"I asked Wilfried Zaha how old he was and he said he was 20, so I'm 19 years older than him and potentially I could be his dad," Phillips joked.

"He's an exciting prospect alongside a number of others in the dressing room, so it will be good working with them.

"The manager trusts me to keep myself fit, even when I'm not going to be at training as much as the others because he doesn't want me down here every day.

"When I am down, I will do it right."

Phillips, however, does have his eye on what to do once he hangs up his boots, with two potential pathways in mind.

"I do a bit of media stuff, and I was actually supposed to start my coaching badges the Monday before I signed for Palace," he revealed.

"I have a contract with Sky and that's probably something I will concentrate on when I do finish playing.

"But I'll certainly do my coaching badges as I certainly think I've got something to offer."

TRIBUTES have been paid to one of the country's longest-serving female Scout leaders, who died last week after devoting 53 years of her life to the movement.

Addiscombe stalwart Margaret Brownett died last Tuesday at Croydon University Hospital after battling emphysema.

The 83-year-old mother of three had lived in Croydon since 1960, becoming involved with the 49th Croydon Scouts, at Christchurch Methodist Church, in Lower Addiscombe Road, soon after.

Her son Colin told the Advertiser: "She was a Scout and Cub leader for so long; she taught four generations of Croydon children, their children and their children's children.

"She gave her life to it, it's amazing what she did. She was one of those people that would drop everything and do anything for everyone. She was a great lady, and it is very upsetting that she's gone. But she did a hell of a lot with her life."

Margaret married her husband of 48 years, William Brownett, in St Peter's Church, South Croydon, and brought up her three children, Colin, Peter and Brenda, in Thornton Heath.

She then had five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Although her husband, an engineer for British Telecom, died in 2000, Margaret kept leading Cub Scouts and remained involved with her church while living in Addiscombe Court Road.

Steve French, district commissioner for Croydon Scouting, said: "In 2011 Margaret was presented with the Silver Wolf... the unrestricted gift of the Chief Scout and is only awarded in recognition of Scouting of the most exceptional nature. I think this describes Margaret very well."

A funeral will take place at Addiscombe Methodist Church on February 18.

A PRIVATE school linked to a 'secretive' Catholic organisation made famous by the best-selling book The Da Vinci Code is to open in Croydon.

The Cedars School is the first senior school in the country to be based on the ethos of Opus Dei.

Though not funded by the controversial organisation, it has been founded by a group of parents, many of whom are members, and one of its priests will be school chaplain.

Head teacher Robert Teague is also a member of Opus Dei, which was founded by St Josemaría Escrivá in 1928.

Mr Teague said the £3,900-a-term school will be based on Escrivá's views on education and would not adhere to many of its – sometimes misrepresented – practices.

"The school is not run by Opus Dei but Josemaría Escrivá's ideas on family, formation and freedom are a key influence on the founders," he said. "These ideas do not impact the curriculum but do alter the 'tone' of the school.

"In practice, the emphasis on character means students are encouraged to develop good habits and study skills.

"The importance of virtues like generosity, honesty and cheerfulness is reinforced, and we work closely with parents and place a high priority on personal freedom.

"But we're not a school offering its own offbeat curriculum."

The Cedars has been founded by the PACT Educational Trust, which describes itself as a providing "independent education with a Catholic ethos". It already runs Oakwood, a primary school in Purley which also has an Opus Dei priest.

Their new school will be based in Coombe House, near Lloyd Park, which had been a residential care home for people with learning disabilities before it was put up for sale for £1.8 million by Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Trust last year.

Builders are currently renovating the grade two listed building in time for the school to accept its first intake of 46 boys in September.

Opus Dei is often portrayed as an elitist, cult-like organisation, shrouded in secrecy, a reputation popularised by Dan Brown's novel The Da Vinci Code, but rejected by its members.

It has about 85,000 followers worldwide, and a growing UK membership, and advocates traditional Catholic values.

Its members, known as associates or numeraries, practise corporal mortification, which involves enduring suffering, ranging from taking away treats to wearing a metal chain with prongs around the thigh.

Mr Teague, who denied all knowledge of the device, said there was "no way" his pupils would be involved in such practices, and stressed that the school would be open to pupils of "all faiths and none", with attendance at mass voluntary.

PACT had initially intended to open The Cedars as a free rather than independent school, but was put off by the "very restrictive" admissions policy which dictates that only 50 per cent of pupils can be admitted on faith criteria.

"It's not so much a faith thing as trying to find families who want the same thing as we do," said Mr Teague, a former head of maths at Magdalen College, Oxford.

Parents will be subject to a selection interview to ensure they understand the hands-on role they would be taking in their son's education.

"What we're not keen on is the idea of parents who drop their children off in the morning and say 'right, you do it'," said Mr Teague.

IN A bad week for Croydon Health Services NHS Trust, figures obtained by the Advertiser show the hospital's record for dealing with the highest needs patients within four hours has dropped from third best in London to second worst.

Meanwhile it emerged that 30 per cent of health staff – equivalent to more than 1,000 – say they would not want a relative or friend to be treated in the hospital – the worst figure in the country.

The Advertiser can also reveal a further board member has stepped down – the fourth since December. Constance Hall, vice-chair, has left the trust.

Figures obtained by the Advertiser show in 2010/11, Croydon dealt with 97.95 per cent of "Type 1" patients – the most severe category – within the four-hour national target, the third best in London.

However, this has now dropped to 90.8 per cent for this year, the second worst across the capital out of 22 trusts.

Mr Goulston said: "If we look at the organisation one of the key things is we clearly do need to improve on our patient experience in terms of we do not have as high a rating as other trusts.

"The priority is to improve the quality of care across our emergency care pathways.

"We have been recruiting more of our own staff and we will continue to do that, so we do absolutely accept that we haven't had enough of our own staff fully employed."

Mr Goulston said more than 100 extra clinical staff have been employed under his tenure, which began last May, and that he aims to recruit 50 more across the hospital.

The spend on agency staff is higher for the first nine months of this financial year than last.

With regards to the staff survey, published in March last year, Mr Goulston added: "We have not been as good as we should be in engaging with the staff and putting them at the centre.

"The number one priority is staff engagement and empowerment because if we get that we will improve our patient experience and will improve the morale of our staff."

The previous staff survey, published in March 2011, found that 17 per cent of staff said they had experienced harassment, bullying or abuse from colleagues or managers, while three per cent – more than 100 frontline staff – said they had suffered physical violence from colleagues or managers.

Croydon Health Services NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, employs about 3,500 full and part-time staff, has a budget of around £228 million and is currently running a deficit of £1.2 million.

It is struggling to break even financially this year for the first time in years, having posted surpluses for at least the last five years.

It is also forecasting to break even for next year, putting the hospital's bid for foundation trust status at risk.

News of the plan, which could see up to £15 million ploughed into a new facility, comes as figures show Croydon University Hospital has plummeted from being in the top five to the bottom five across London, in a key national target for dealing with the patients in greatest need.

It also comes after the emergence of results from a damning staff survey, with 30 per cent of its own doctors, nurses and health staff saying they are so appalled by standards of care they would not want a relative or friend to be treated there.

In an exclusive interview with the Advertiser, John Goulston, who was this week made the hospital's permanent chief executive, said the current A&E is operating above capacity.

Announcing the plan to tackle the issue, he said: "We have an old-fashioned department which is not sized for the current volume of care that it has in terms of blue lights arriving as they are, and secondly in terms of volume of patients.

"We need more space for the sickest patients. We have got small areas. In our resuscitation area, which is mostly acutely ill patients, there are only a small number of bays.

"Our 'majors' [highest need patients] area, again we don't have as many cubicles as we should for the size we have.

"So we are just in the process of putting together a business case, broadly in the region of £10 million to £15 million, to put to NHS London in the next few weeks for a new A&E department."

Mr Goulston told how the hospital's A&E struggled to deal with one incident in recent weeks when about 20 ambulances turned up in one hour.

Arrivals are up ten per cent with admissions up by the same amount on last year. "There has to be capacity in the department. That level of surge has never happened before and that is what we need to tackle," said Mr Goulston.

Croydon University Hospital's A&E was built for seeing 70,000 patients a year, but is currently attempting to treat at least 100,000. A brand new department would aim to double capacity to at least 140,000, with new machinery and a state-of-the-art layout.

Kathryn Channing, the department's head of service, said options on the table ranged from building an extension to the current A&E, to stripping it out entirely, to building a brand new facility and knocking the current A&E down, replacing it with a car park. Building work could begin as early as November.

Ms Channing said: "We don't have the space to see the patients. That's the biggest challenge we face, lack of space.

"A new department is top of my wish list. It would solve a lot of problems. There is great potential here. We have a great population and to be able to have a new, state-of-the-art building would be brilliant. We need a building that is open plan."

The current internal structure means patients are often lined up on beds along corridors and in public spaces.

Last week, the Advertiser revealed that a £2.53 million IT system is set to go live in A&E as well as other departments in a bid to save time and make tracking patients through their care easier.

Mr Goulston was controversially made the permanent chief executive this week, despite receiving a vote of no confidence from non-executive members of the hospital's board. However, Mr Goulston denied a vote of no confidence was passed in him.

He added: "You can see that our board has not worked as well as it should have. We have a governance review. It will be out in a couple of weeks. You'll see the findings, conclusions and recommendations from that. Let's wait until two weeks' time."

Speaking of landing the post, he said: "I'm delighted to be appointed. I think there's a great opportunity here for the Croydon healthcare system to play its part in improving the health and wellbeing of the population of Croydon.

"To date we have not been able to play as proactive role as we should do and I think we need to make sure Croydon Health Services is a key player."

A FULL government inquiry into Croydon Health Services NHS Trust has been called for following fresh questions over an unusually high number of deaths – 150 more than expected – at Croydon University Hospital in 2007/08.

Croydon North MP Steve Reed said a full external inquiry is necessary to ensure no Mid Staffordshire-style "cover-up" has taken place and to answer allegations that several of the deaths could have been a result of catastrophic failings in care.

In 2010, the hospital's then chief executive, Nick Hulme, said the "vast majority" of deaths were down to "coding issues" – the same reason Mid Staffordshire, where 400-1,200 patients died due to poor care, originally gave for a high mortality rate.

He gave the reason in response to calls for a full government inquiry from Professor Sir Brian Jarman at the time.

However, in a subsequent 2012 NHS London report, Mr Hulme appears to have backtracked. The report states: "If talking retrospectively about [Croydon's] Hospital Standardised Mortality Ratio (HSMR) he [Hulme] would support a full investigation and review of case notes and would not just state that these were attributable to coding errors."

The Advertiser contacted Mr Hulme but he refused to comment.

Mr Reed said the apparent shift raises fresh questions and renewed calls for a full Government inquiry.

He said: "I'm alarmed to learn that the hospital authorities have given no clear reason why there were so many more deaths in 2007/8 than would have been expected."

Mr Reed's comments come after Robert Francis QC, who released a report into Mid Staffordshire this week, suggested hiding information about poor care should be made a criminal offence.

A hospital spokesman said: "When numbers [of deaths] are unexpectedly high we carry out a detailed review of every case.

"The results of these investigations and any subsequent actions taken are reported to our board and to external agencies such as NHS London and the CQC."

THE looming cap on benefits will disproportionately affect Croydon's black and ethnic population, community leaders have warned.

From April, Croydon will be one of only four local authorities to trial changes to the welfare system which will see overall benefits capped at £500 per household per week.

The cap will affect as many as 900 families and has led to fears that Croydon's housing crisis could deepen.

Nero Ughwujabo, chief executive of Croydon Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Forum, believes the majority of those at risk of homelessness are from the communities he represents.

He said: "I am told that a significant proportion will be black or minority ethnic households.

"Many of the people who are already turning up at the council because they have nowhere to sleep are African-Caribbean. My concern is that others aren't aware the cap is happening."

Croydon Council says it has written to all the families likely to be affected by the cap when it is introduced in Croydon in April, before later being rolled out across the rest of the country.

It is not clear, however, how many households fall into this category – and it appears even harder to predict their ethnicity.

Last month, when warning the cap would increase homelessness, council chief executive Jon Rouse said 800 households would be affected.

Last week, however, the council's housing department said 657 families had been contacted.

Yet figures from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) put the figure at 900 families, with 300 losing more than £100 a week.

Neither the council nor the DWP could provide a breakdown of ethnicity, although the latter said that, nationally, 40 per cent will contain someone from an ethnic minority.

Mr Ughwujabo said: "The Government has brought in these changes with little debate and little understanding of who will be affected. There is not enough time in which to inform, engage and support these families.

"So we have got to take responsibility at a local level. It's in the council's interests to do some proactive work and raise awareness of the potential problems."

The benefits cap, which the Government says will make the welfare system fairer, comes at a time when Croydon is experiencing record levels of homelessness, with 441 families living in bed and breakfasts at the end of last year. Estimates show the number of households presenting themselves as homeless to the council each year will rise above 1,000 by 2014/15.

Adrian Dennis, chairman of Croydon African Caribbean Family Organisation (CACFO), said: "We're in the middle of a serious housing crisis. This can only be made worse by the benefits cap and harm, as with most of the cuts, will clearly fall disproportionately on the poor, those in the BME community – particularly in Thornton Heath – and the disabled."

Mr Ughwujabo added: "If more action is not taken then a lot of people – some with children – will find themselves in a very difficult situation.

"It will be an unacceptable problem for the community, and for the council, because these families will ultimately require more resources."

A spokesman said the council had contacted 657 families and would send out a further batch of advice leaflets.

Officers are also visiting families and will continue to do so until April.

He added: "We are also helping and advising, along with Jobcentre Plus, residents to find employment and manage their finances to prepare for the cap."

The benefits cap will mean households cannot receive more than £500 a week, the equivalent to a £35,000 salary. It will apply to the combined income from out-of-work benefits, such as Jobseeker's Allowance and income support, housing benefit, child tax credit and child benefit. Currently 900 families in Croydon receive more than £500 a week, with 300 to lose out by more than £100. Supporters – including Croydon Central MP Gavin Barwell – claim the cap will make the welfare system fairer by preventing families on benefits from receiving more than the average working family. Families including anyone receiving disability living allowance or industrial injuries benefits will be exempt. War widows and widowers are also excluded. If you believe you may be affected by the cap contact the council's benefits team on 020 8726 7000, selecting option two.