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| melita |
on Wed 9 Mar 05, 9:23 AM to melita's blog.
What was i saying yesterday about things looking much brighter, about things picking up and even the kids being happier?
Well it seems i spoke a tad too soon.
i've just opened the curtains in our back room which looks out into the backyard. i noticed our gate was open and swinging freely.
"Odd", i thought, "who's left that unlocked?" my next thought was "what's missing?"
Then i realised and my next task was to inform my son that both his and his little sisters bikes have been stolen in the night. i still have to tell my daughter that her christmas present has gone, that comes later when she gets home from school.
This comes after a long spate of vandalism, harrassment and abuse from a particular gang of youths in our area. Said gang have so far thrown at us, our house and our car such things as...housebricks...large pieces of wood with nails sticking out of it...food...cartons of milk. There was the kicking and banging at our front door most evenings. But it didn't stop there, there has also been the verbal attacks which have been sexually explicit towards my daughter at times. There have been the threats oh and then there was the fact that they set about destroying our car...completely. They smashed every pain of glass in it and attempted to burn it out. The car has since been towed away. It is even suspected that our housefire was actually arson although we have no proof whatsoever to back this up. And now it's the kids bikes...what next?
i've not bothered to ring the police to report the theft...it's just not worth the hassle. They have been called out to so many incidents over recent months and have done absolutely nothing to help us. Their hands are tied and there is never enough evidence to arrest.
Of course i have no direct proof that the same gang is actually responsible for the loss of the kids bikes, could be totally unrelated but after taking everything else into consideration i can't help but suspect that is the case. Can you blame me?
Master don't know yet and i can't tell him till he gets home from work tonight...i ain't looking forward to that i can tell ya.
When will this all end?
Edited Wed 9 Mar 05, 9:29 AM by melita
| 9 Mar 05, 10:20 AM shimmer UK(LE), 11 yrs |
Please report it. I know someone who didn't report stuff, and them when physical threats were made, they didn't have enough history to show it had been escalating. Even if there isn't enough evidence to arrest them, the reported history does help. Ask them how you can help make the situation better, and who you should write to to complain. MPs etc. If you shout loud enough to the right people, things can be done. I know. I've done it. | ||||||
| 9 Mar 05, 10:21 AM melita UK(ST), 8 yrs |
Have already had dealings with the community officers and too be honest they weren't much use either. All they keep saying is "we know it's really difficult for you to understand but there is so very little we can actually do unless they are caught red-handed". You may be right about informing them about the theft though, if only to just get it on record. shaheena {A} | ||||||
| 9 Mar 05, 10:34 AM melita UK(ST), 8 yrs |
Ok, i decided to report it and now have a crime ref no but that's about all they can do. i hadn't thought of trying to contact an MP about this.......good idea. Will speak to Master about that one later. shaheena {A} | ||||||
| 9 Mar 05, 10:39 AM melita UK(ST), 8 yrs |
Just realised.....it was exactly four weeks ago today that our bedroom burned down.....is it to be a monthly thing this bad luck stuff? Are we jinxed or something? shaheena {A} | ||||||
| 9 Mar 05, 10:41 AM Jezzebelle UK, 10 yrs |
Have you spoken to the local council about it, they have some powers to deal with this sort of harrassment. J Before any word leaves your mouth it must be approved by the three gatekeepers. The first will ask: "Is it true?" The second will ask: "Is it necessary?" The third will ask: "Is it kind?" Anon | ||||||
| 9 Mar 05, 10:56 AM dimsum 7 yrs |
dimsum who is very old and wise, strongly recommends joining with neighbours and bombarding Chief Constable, Councillors, Members of Police Committee with rational, accurate, measured but relentless letters of complaint. Don't get angry, get even. Go to war with the buggers. He has been on the receiving end of such a campaign and, believe me, it works. | ||||||
| 9 Mar 05, 11:26 AM shullie 11 yrs |
Is there any chance of putting up small camera's etc.? So you can video any attacks on your property. I do believe that these are now admissible in court etc. It may be worth checking out. I agree with Dimsum, is there any local association that you can join, such as a tenant association. You do not say if you own or rent your home. These kids how old are they? Do you know their parents? Depending on which could you not go round and speak to them? Not threaten as such... but well... If you can get evidence the police will have to act, you need to keep records, dates times etc., including the kids as to when and who it happens. Any photographic evidence etc can help. It may be worth trying to speak to a solicitor or find out if there is a national group who can help with harassment. I did a quick google search and found these, they may help: http://www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts1997/1997040.htm see also http://www.harassment-law.co.uk/ I hope it helps. Edited 9 Mar 05, 11:27 AM by shullie | ||||||
| 9 Mar 05, 11:50 AM PFLsAgain UK, 7 yrs |
I'm so sorry to hear about this. I offer you this advice as both a councillor and as an agent for a Parliamentary candidate (basically someone who runs the general election campaign for their party in their constituency). Firstly, please do inform the police. Even if they can't do anything, as shimmer says, it establishes a pattern of activity which may be valuable as evidence in the future. Secondly, contact your local councillor. You can find their contact details via the council's website or just by phoning the council office. If they can't or won't help you, contact members of any other political parties in the area - there's an election coming up and they WILL make a noise. Take advantage of that. Thirdly, contact your MP. I'll say it again, there's a general election coming up (most likely on May 5th) and there's no better time for getting action out of an MP than when he/she sees re-election time looming up. Fourthly, ring up the media. Local newspapers (especially the free ones - they are usually desparate for a story) are a good bet, and local radio too. Make lots of noise. The more of a nuisance you are, the more likely it is that someone will do something. Good luck. When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return. | ||||||
| 9 Mar 05, 11:52 AM PFLsAgain UK, 7 yrs |
Be wary of this one. Yes you can put up cameras, but if they record pictures you are required to put up signs informing people that recordings are being made. If the signs are not there in plain view then the evidence may not be admissable and the police may require you to remove the cameras. When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return. | ||||||
| 9 Mar 05, 11:52 AM melita UK(ST), 8 yrs |
We have discussed this possibility with officers. We can have cameras as long as they are only pointing directly at our property otherwise we can be done for invading privacy. We are seriously considering setting up a system of some sort but funds are preventing that at this time.
We are in a privately rented house and as such do not have a tenants association or even a neighbourhood watch as far as we are aware.
They are all mid-teens and local. They are also all asian of origin so no, we do not know their parents. However, our local shop owner does know them and has contacted them on our behalf. It all calmed down for a week or two and we had thought we had seen the end to it all....now i'm not so sure.
As we have been reporting each and every incident as it has occurred the police have records of incidents which could possibly be pieced together as a total case of harrassment. But it has not gone on long enough or been severe enough as yet apparently. The car, the housefire and the bike theft cannot be put down to them as there is no proof. (This is where cameras would have come into their own).
Maybe citizens advice bureau would be able to help? Thank you for the links, i will have a good read through them with Master later. After a quick glance though i spotted something which follows with what the police keep saying to us.....
i appreciate your help shaheena {A} |
