Attacked in my car

[Mark Davies]

Originally Posted by Bantam

So if giving evidence leads to my own life being in danger, what's the choice?

I know exactly where you are coming from and don't think I don't understand. Do you think this doesn't happen to police officers aswell? The public seem to think we're in some way immune from it, but we're not. It also happens to us, but we still go to court and give evidence regularly and regardless, and what's more, it's usually to protect someone else's community, not our own. We get no personal benefit from it.

The point is, they intimidate in this way because we (society) let it work and we (society) let them get away with it. It's just another way that we abdicate personal responsibility in self interest and hope the rest of society will sort it out for us.

What is particularly sad in your case is that you made your stand, did your bit in court regardless of your personal costs and still the system let you down. For that I am genuinely sorry. We can't guarantee results all the time. The truth is that the system is still weighted very heavily in the defendant's favour, but we do our best and it is improving. Bantam, I hope that negative experience wouldn't put you off if there is ever a next time.

Another common excuse I hear when people decline to give statements is, "They will only get off with it, and even if they don't they'll just get their wrist slapped". We actually win the vast majority of cases taken to court - about 90% in my personal experience ending in guilty pleas before we even get a trial started. I've only lost one case at trial in 11 years (and that was for a woman who had shot a lad who burgled her house, so hardly gutted about that!). So the reality is, they probably will not "just get off with it". That is a myth, convenient to those who are unwilling to help. As for sentencing, I have to admit that it is all too often very dissappointing. But you can't look at each offence in isolation - every conviction makes a difference in the end and so is worthwhile.

It's difficult because we have allowed our society to slide so far, which will make it so much harder to bring it back. But there has to come a time when we all make a stand against those ruining our lives. It takes a bit of spirit to be the first to do it but show that conviction and other people will soon find the courage to join you. We all want to make things better, it's just few fancy trying it on their own. The first step is to re-create community. Get to know your neighbours a little better, then, when trouble comes to knock at your door, you're more likely to have someone standing beside you when you step out to deal with it.

[Mark-B]

Hi Mate, glad your OK, You are in one piece, and safe with your loved ones, you made the right decision at the time.

I used to be a Security Officer in a shopping centre that had a train station attached, so we had to give late access to that, Most people would not believe the scum that we had to deal with, of all ages, we were un-officialy told by ????? that our best course of action was to give them a helping hand with a fire extinguisher down a service corridors flight of stairs, their word against ours and what were they doing in areas designated out if bounds to the public etc, The Police had their hands tied, the namby pamby do-gooders that stick up for the scum with all the usual excuses of poverty and no parents etc, and the sentences the courts dish out - note, not the Police`s fault on that score, means the scumbags are not afraid/frightened by the Police or the sentences they get, and in fact use their convictions as something to be proud of, a trophy badge to prove how bad they are to other scumbags.

One night during a very nasty incident ( snooker ball in sock = fractured skull for one young lad) an Old couple came up to us and thanked us for being there, they had never been out late in the town, catching a train home before, and were terrified by the yobs on the train, they had no idea what is was like and did not believe all they read, as it was such a nice town during the day, this changed their minds, my colleagues escorted them to the taxi rank, while I held the young lads head toghether, and did the first aid, his crime turned out to looking at one of the yobs in a pub and he took offence.

I would to this day still help out if possible, but at the same time would not expect anyone to endanger themselves, in the past I have seen first hand in my job what happens when things go wrong when people try to help, dealing with shoplifters, assaults , or couples arguing, any situation can go pearshaped, very quickly.

Maybe you could apply some RD rules
Do I need to get in(volved) at all, how safe will I be
Can I assist from a distance, 999 give running commentary, may be safest and best option.

Mr T, hats off to you for helping that young lady


Best Wishes
and be safe, in and out the water

Mark

[Jim Shaw]

Originally Posted by Finless

Surely if there is a conviction then damages are awarded? Even if he doesn't pay then the authorities will at least make his life miserable chasing him for the money? Maybe I'm being naiave .

I think you may be a little naiave, as I was until, 5 years ago someone threw a brick threw my car windscreen, the police caught him, took him to court, he was found guilty and I was awarded £100 compensation from him, I'm still waiting for a single penny, I contacted the court about it and they said that I'll probably never get anything

[Jim Shaw]

Originally Posted by Mr T.

Interesting mate - can you show me one which wasn't deliberate?


Whilst I can't claim to be anything resembling a knight in shining armour, there was a case last year where I was sitting - post nosebag - feet up enjoy the evening reading a book when, from outside, I heard a female screaming.

I had a similar situation about 15 years ago, me and my girlfriend were driving along and seen a guy screaming at his girlfriend,
we stoped the car and we got out, I stopped the guy screaming and told him to sod off and calm down a bit, while my girl was talking to his girl,
we offered to take her into town, so she could get away from him for a while and she accepted,

we dropped her off and we then drove home, half an hour later there were 2 police cars & 8 coppers at my place, giving me lots of grief and lots of questions about the whole thing, and accusing me of Kidnapping the girl, it took over an hour to convince them that I'd dropped her off in town, I often wonder what would have happened if I'd been in the car alone and the same thing happened.

Rightly or wrongly, my motto has been since then is, I don't get involved with other peoples problems.

[Gavin Yates]

Earlier this year in Scotland the Exec launch a scheme paid for by money seized under the Proceeds Of Crime Act to provide a phone line that indivduals could call if they thought that drug-dealing was going on in their community.

The media dubbed it the "Shop a dealer" campaign and said that it would be a disaster because no-one would ever inform on dealers.

In three months, thousands of actionable calls have come in, there have been hundreds of "early calls" and subsequent arrests, over £1m of drugs seized and a healthy number of cases going through the courts with some individuals already in Her Majesty's B&Bs.

Those arrrests, seizures and convictions were only possible because people stood up to be counted.

Admittedly they could do so without being identified but many of them said they were prepared to give evidence if need be.

Anyone who makes that call or gives evidence should be applauded. It matters not if they are a victim, witness or just a concerned member of the community.

[Mr T.]

Originally Posted by Jim Shaw

Rightly or wrongly, my motto has been since then is, I don't get involved with other peoples problems.

From a philosophical standpoint, let's look at a quick anology of your view.

You did a good deed once and it nearly back-fired, correct?

OK, then you get in your car and have a crash. Do you cease driving as a result? Honestly?

[Lynne]

It is all very well telling people to stand up to these scrotes but when I was a teenager I walked out of the pub to find two guys ripping off the aerial and about to vandalise my then B/f's car, he was still inside the pub. I went over to them to stop them and one turned around punched me in the face and starting kicking me on the ground - at this point 6 other youths joined in the attack, kicking and punching me - only to be stopped when my B/f left the pub (I actually heard one of them say as my Bf pulled them away "fuck it's a girl" like that should make any difference to their reaction to me????).

Yes we called the police, no they weren't the least bit interested (come down and make a statement if you like said the officer on the phone, but we won't find them and it won't get you anywhere), despite an attack by a group of men on a woman, resulting in two black eyes and bruising all over my body. You think I would tackle them again in the mistaken belief they are cowards? No, of course I wouldn't. Now someone is going to say this is because I am a woman, but shouldn't women be free to stand up to to**ers as well and I'm hardly some petite, meek and mild girly? And as for the police, all I can say is no wonder so few women report violent crime if this is the response they get. In these circumstances since and in the future I would prefer to let them get on and commit their act of vandalism - it's a sad fact of life that some policemen's attitudes prevent people standing up to these scumbags. By the way I am not anti-police before anyone says it.

[DecoWarrior]

I'm still waiting to hear about DecoWarrior's latest court appearance.

hahahhahahahahahahahahahahaahhahahahaha

i like the comment but sadly i have never even been given a feel on the collar for anything matey i am a LAW ABIDING citizen, well maybe at weekends, then again maybe not

however what i do have is experience of living in a crime riden place that is basically a shit hole because the authority around us appear to be targeting the vunerable motorist sitting behind his humble wheel,

sadly not all of us live in a bubble created by our police buddy ethos, some of us have to live with the constant harasment of scrotes at home and dibble on the road, we cant win all round

[Jim Shaw]

Originally Posted by Mr T.

From a philosophical standpoint, let's look at a quick anology of your view.

You did a good deed once and it nearly back-fired, correct?

OK, then you get in your car and have a crash. Do you cease driving as a result? Honestly?

It' s not a case of that, It's a case of you learn lessons from life's events, and adapt your behaviour and responses accordingly, "once bitten twice shy"

[aclivity]

Originally Posted by DecoWarrior

I'm still waiting to hear about DecoWarrior's latest court appearance.

hahahhahahahahahahahahahahaahhahahahaha

i like the comment but sadly i have never even been given a feel on the collar for anything matey i am a LAW ABIDING citizen, well maybe at weekends, then again maybe not

however what i do have is experience of living in a crime riden place that is basically a shit hole because the authority around us appear to be targeting the vunerable motorist sitting behind his humble wheel,

sadly not all of us live in a bubble created by our police buddy ethos, some of us have to live with the constant harasment of scrotes at home and dibble on the road, we cant win all round

the whole post at the beginning of this thread was about the police pulling in a scrote. A Scrote who had done more damage to my motoring (in excess of 25000 miles each year) than ANY 'dibble' has ever - in 19 years of motoring - done.

I am considered a high mileage driver, yet I don't feel that I am being victimised. Surely, as a high mileage driver I would be MORE likely to be harassed / victimised? I drive a relatively high powered (/weight ratio) vehicle, surely I should have been singled out for attention? I haven't though.

Personal scorecard for me:

"victimised" by the police: 0
"Cash cow" speed camera fines: 0
Improvements to my life: 1

Well done to the Herts constabulary, and all who share theirs and Marks job in this life. We'd be in a much worse shithole without you.