Editor attacked in Somerleyton Road

[Stobart Stopper]

editor,

just to interject a bit, please be aware that if something happens (we had a body found in a river during thursdays' night shift, and Islington had to deal with the Upper Street murder the night before) it does sadly mean that the other calls start to back up and the response time gets slow because so many units will be tied up at them.

Good thing the Editor is still alive to do so isn't it?


I'm sorry but the way he has been treated is disgusting, I know how the 'system' works as well as anyone, that call should have gone out as an urgent assistance type call. If someone's life is in danger, which could have been the case here, then the response shoud have been immediate, there are no excuses.

Let me guess...some civilian worker at the end of the phone who hasn't been trained properly....again????

Agricola, just admit it...the police are losing control of the streets, you know it, I know it.

 

[silentNate]

Hope your feeling better soon, 'editor', big hugs on there way

..........why no police 'on the beat' Agricola??? (Not wanting a row- just please, there seem to be enough of them at the tube hassling commuters!!)..........

 

[agricola]

SS,

I'm not saying that it was acceptable, what I am saying is that there may have been a good reason why they couldnt respond as well as they could have.

also, with regards to "losing control of the streets", some people have sadly always been, and will always be, cunts.

 

[Stobart Stopper]

What if, god forbid, they had killed him then?

I suppose there would still have been a 'good reason' why they didn't attend?

 

[hendo]

one would imagine if you attend Brixton and ask to complain the duty officer or sergeant who speaks to you would be able to find that out easily enough.

Well thank God he's still alive and in a position to "attend Brixton".

On the other hand I think I'll go with Stobart Spotter.

Police: Good on helicopters, civilian officers and "diversity" units. Not so good on anything else which might give us some security.

Civilians: Hoping for the best. Experiencing absolute nonsense.

 

[tarannau]

Editor:- Very sorry to hear this, what an appalling thing to happen. 3 things.

(a) If you're neck carries on hurting, get down to A&E and get it looked at - you don't want to end up with an injury that mars the rest of your life.

(b) Set out what happened, with times and so forth, and send it to the Borough Commander, DEMANDING an explanation for their tardiness - there may be one, but it shouldn't be let slip. I suggest you copy your letter to Andrew Sawdon (as Executive Member for Community Safety), Lee Jasper (Chair of CPCG) and for that matter sign yourself as Editor Urban75. You might ask about the officer's comment about avoiding Somerlyton Road.

(c) These things can shake you up more than you immediately recognise. We all know this stuff goes on, but to be at the receiving end of viciousness comes as a shock. So, allow yourself time to deal with that before getting back to business as usual.

Good points from Pooka. I've suffered nasty, regular pain in my neck for years now, because I foolishly thought a sporting knock would get better. if you're still suffering in a day or two get it checked out. It's almost certainly fine, but it's not a joint you should take risks with - niggling injuries tend to degrade when you're carrying the weight of a noggin tenderly around all day.

I'd also echo Pooka and let yourself have time to recover. I know you're a tough valley boy, but these things take a little time to sink in and absorb. You've every right to feel a little angry and wary of people and surroundings now.

Don't blame yourself for one second - there's nothing you could have done to anticipate or avoid such a senseless attack. Sounds like you did a remarkable job of keeping it together in fact - I doubt many would have the compsure to call the police mid-attack.

And try not to link the attack to the area too firmly - these senseless attacks regrettably happen all over the country. Brixton hasn't got the monopoly on aggressive thugs with machismo to burn. Worst example I've ever experienced was in suburban Sutton as a young (13 year old) teenager. A group of us was walking through the town centre and my best friend vanished in broad daylight - a group of five 19-25 year olds had pulled him into an alleyway without any indication. We only found him later, after they had given a throrough, unprovoked pounding that had freed him of most of his teeth and broke his nose.

Couldn't understand it then as I can't understand it now - the people who do these kinds of crime are the worst sort of unthinking thug that defy reason.

Good luck with the recovery fella. Don't let the bastards grind you down...

 

[agricola]

SS,

If they were very busy then there is going to be a delay in getting to him, as you well know - you cant magic units out of thin air (which is what i suspect the phone call was about).

Lets wait until we know what the situation was from the other side before casting around these allegations.

 

[hendo]

SS,

If they were very busy then there is going to be a delay in getting to him, as you well know - you cant magic units out of thin air (which is what i suspect the phone call was about).

Lets wait until we know what the situation was from the other side before casting around these allegations.

It's pretty clear isn't it?

A bad assault and a tardy response?

I think a lot of people will have been sorely upset and vexed by what they've read here. (As well as very concerned for Mike.)

 

[editor]

Well, here's the evidence from last night's crack attack - my hooter looked a lot worse before I cleaned it up but happily it looks a lot better today.

I feel a bit done in and tired and my neck hurts, but I managed to get out and about today. I'm not going to let these weaselly scumbags stop me living my life neither am I going to let the fucking useless police performance go unchallenged.

If I hadn't managed to pull myself away from that cunt when he was dragging me by my hair and trying to get me on the floor, who knows what could have happened?

Admire my nose!

 

[tom796]

(((((( mike ))))))

 

[Blagsta]

Ouch! That looks nasty!

 

[editor]

Lets wait until we know what the situation was from the other side before casting around these allegations.

I don't really care what their 'situation' was.

All I care about is that I made a call as I was being attacked and no fucker showed up at all.

I acted like a responsible citizen in trying to prevent those cunts attacking others in the same way and the police let me - and the community - down. Who knows what these scumbags got up to afterwards? Who else got a smack in the face because the police weren't around to stop it?

And if I hadn't managed to get away from the crackhead's grip, the two of them could have put me in hospital or worse.

 

[smile injection]

That's really shit...makes you think doesn't it

Hope you feel better soon

 

[pooka]

Police: Good on helicopters, civilian officers and "diversity" units. Not so good on anything else which might give us some security.

Civilians: Hoping for the best. Experiencing absolute nonsense.

hendo: I think editor has every right to feel aggrieved at the service he got from the police and to demand an explanation.

Meanwhile, perhaps the rest of us can lay of the hobby horses.

It's no consolation to editor, but when I first joined these boards two years ago, about 1 in ten posts seemed to be 'I got mugged last night'.

 

[Stobart Stopper]

Pig just said to me:

"You know my opinion of the police, they are crap."

There..... from the horses mouth.

(Or the Pig's mouth!)

Anyway, from what I know from what Mike has said he has every right to complain. If this had happened to my son, I'd be down the police station demanding some answers, regardless of the fact that my husband is in the job himself.

I'm sorry Agricola, but I just can't find it in me to make excuses for this, as there aren't any I can even begin to think of!

Bloke walks down the road, starts getting the shit beaten out of him, phones police for help, is on the phone while being attacked and no-one comes to his aid. It's disgusting.

 

[agricola]

editor,

All I care about is that I made a call as I was being attacked and no fucker showed up at all.

I'm not saying that it is acceptable, but they genuinely might not have had anyone to send to you.

 

[Stobart Stopper]

editor,



I'm not saying that it is acceptable, but they genuinely might not have had anyone to send to you.

Then they have lost control, that's not acceptable.They go on about how Hendon is full to bursting point with new recruits.....the government say there are more police......where are they?

Certainly not in Brixton when someone is getting the shit beaten out of them on a Friday night, that's for sure.

 

[agricola]

Then they have lost control, that's not acceptable.They go on about how Hendon is full to bursting point with new recruits.....the government say there are more police......where are they?

Certainly not in Brixton when someone is getting the shit beaten out of them on a Friday night, that's for sure.

it isnt acceptable, but it can happen and not just with us - the LAS run out of ambulances most weekend nights because of the demand - when the system is strained.

 

[Miss Orbit]

Ouch, Editor! That's a rainbow right there on your face...

May I second (third, fourth, fifth, sixth) the suggestion you get your neck checked out. A bit of attention now could save you awful trouble somewhere down the line. An osteopath or sports injury therapist would be able to help.

I'm appalled too at the lack of response from the police. Not ok! Make a big fuss.

 

[Stobart Stopper]

Here's what you need to do:

Write a letter to Brixton police, or go to the fron counter and make a formal complaint.

What you need is to speak to the duty officer who will probably try to fob you off, comments like it was a busy night/we had a major incident running/lots of problems on this team....he will grovel and try to avoid you making a complaint becasue complaints are statistics.

You need to get the CAD number of your call which will contain the status of you call, whether it's an "I" call, within 12 minutes or and "S" call, which is asap.

You have a right for the police to act within their charter times and to be professional. If it was human error, if they were just too lazy and disorganised to get someone to you, then you must complain.

Questions you should ask are:

Was the team at full strength that night.

Why didn't the operator put your call down as urgent, as it was a crime in progress.

What were the other cars assigned to at the tiem of your incident, ie if they were not all assigned, why wasn't one assigned to you?

PS: YOu might be shocked to know that for an area like Brixton/Lambeth there might only be 20-25 officers on for the shift? Scary isn't it?

 

[editor]

I'm sorting out a doctor's appointment now.

When I feel at full strength, I'm going to write a letter detailing what happened and expressing my complaint that no support came in over 15 mins. I've already got a police case number and I'm not afraid to use it!

I'm going to fire it off to the local council, police station and my MP. And anyone else remotely concerned that I can think of!

I keep thinking what might have happened if I hadn't manage to break free from the crack head (shudders)

 

[Stobart Stopper]

Go to the station in person, you have to go in to do this to make the formal complaint as with only a letter they will try to fob you off. If you go in person, you make the complaint, it then goes out of Brixton and up to the Directorate of Public Standards, they are an independant police body (of Brixton) who will examine the complaint. Letters will just bounce around, all you will get is a written apology.

Someone is badly at fault here, and it must be dealt with properly you must go down the police station as well as doing the letter.

(And get your mates from the Albert to do a protest outside the cop-shop!)

 

[dlx1]

as said in pm. you must take photos of your face, evedenc <-- spelling?

 

[Fenian]

Twas a terrible thing to happen Mike and it's good you are as well as you are now. I know something of what you're feeling, early one a.m. in 2001 I was attacked from behind, blunt instrument to back of head on Coldharbour Lane.


It is tempting to think you're invulnerable in Brixton, I know I used to, but this kind of thing sadly happens everywhere. Best of luck and it's great to see so many people expressing genuine support.

 

[pennimania]

Just read this

very sorry to hear about this - bastards

I reckon they were on crack to behave like this I really hope you are feeling better.

pennyxxx

 

[white rabbit]

I was thumped one time, passing a random stranger. it was early evening in the centre of Bristol and I was walking quite quickly because I had to get somewhere when the guy started to walk along right next to me. I ignored him and he suddedly hit me on the back of the head. I didn't really know what to do so I just acted as if nothing had happened and continued walking. As it turned out, his mates called him a wanker and pulled him off but I'm sure if I'd faced this chap, it would have become a proper scrap and they'd have weighed in as well. <shudder>

 

[bosco]

what a shit thing to happen.

and sorry i had to leg in from chat soon after you came in.

good luck with the letter and the doctor.

 

[Vixiha]

Just reading your initial post made my blood boil. I'd like to add my sympathies as well.

 

[agricola]

Go to the station in person, you have to go in to do this to make the formal complaint as with only a letter they will try to fob you off. If you go in person, you make the complaint, it then goes out of Brixton and up to the Directorate of Public Standards, they are an independant police body (of Brixton) who will examine the complaint. Letters will just bounce around, all you will get is a written apology.

Someone is badly at fault here, and it must be dealt with properly you must go down the police station as well as doing the letter.

(And get your mates from the Albert to do a protest outside the cop-shop!)

i would agree with the first part of this - go to the nick you will get answers right away (as well as oppurtunity to ask more questions), which you wont get from a letter.

 

[KnickerlessCage]

sorry to hear about your attack. hope you're feeling better soon. if i was in brixton now instead of ireland i'd buy you a pint. there will be one in the albert for you upon my return!