Post in Police Concern about PR Image is more Important than dealing with knife crime
Brighton & Hove Unemployed Workers Centre
4 Crestway Parade, The Crestway, Brighton BN1 7BL
( 01273-540717 Fax 01273-540797
Last night we issued a press release concerning a man who had threatened one
shop keeper with a knife, slashed the cars of another, and assaulted a third
shopkeeper in Crestway Parade, Hollingdean, Brighton. He was back on the
streets yesterday with people understandably terrified.
Brighton Unemployed Workers Centre, which is also situated on Crestway Parade,
immediately sent a letter to the Police asking them to take action in regard to
the situation and to contact shopkeepers in The Crestway, Hollingdean. Noone
having been informed as to what the situation was etc. What has the Police
response been?
Absolutely nothing. Not one person has been contacted, not one officer has
bothered to call and see those affected. But the Police have done one thing:
They have managed to issue a press release!! It is entitled:
If asked: response to Tony Greenstein comments. (see below)
Newsagent David Carden, the tyres of whose car was slashed, commented that the
Police News Release contains nothing but lies. The Police admit:
To detaining a 35 year old man last Saturday night.
It then says following questioning and the immediate unavailability of key
witnesses, the man was bailed pending further inquiries. Mr Carden and Emad,
the shopkeeper who was threatened both told me that they had been asked if they
would be available to give statements and both said they were available from
early morning to midnight. Noone has bothered to contact them.
Puttingout PR puff is more important than dealing with the issue itself.
The Police News Release says that the CCTV outside the newsagent is not a
police camera but is council owned. SO WHAT? If they had bothered to contact
the community warden they would know that the footage was available. The fact
is that they havent bothered to try and obtain it.
The News Release also says that as the incident occurred outside the shop, any
footage within the premises would not need to be seized. Again this is untrue.
The person serving at the off licence was subject to abuse and a minor assault,
as I have personally witnessed having seen the CCTV footage. This explanation
is simply unacceptable.
Is it too much to expect Sussex Police to tell the truth, to contact the
victims and update them and to treat issues such as knife crime more seriously
than press management?
Sussex Police News Service
If asked: response to Tony Greenstein comments Issue Date: 27/06/2008 11: 51:
19
At 9. 54pm on Saturday 21st July, police were called to reports of a man
covered in blood with a knife in The Crestway, Hollingdean, Brighton.
Police immediately responded and promptly arrested the 35 year old suspect
nearby.
Following questioning and the immediate unavailibity of key witnesses to give
statements, the man was bailed pending further enquiries, a decision which is
made by the case director.The CCTV camera outside the shop is not a police
camera but is council owned. They were immediately tasked to supply the footage
to the investigating officers. As the incident occurred outside the shop, any
footage from within the premises would not need to be siezed.
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