Community protest as Police lose CCTV evidence of unprovoked racist attack in Willesden - Report from Robin Sivapalan

At 5.20am on Sunday 9^th June, 5 white men pulled up in a black luxury car near Willesden Bus Garage on the High Road and attacked two young men of African descent, who had just got off a bus from central London.

One managed to avoid being punched in the face and was separated from the other, who was punched to the ground and kicked repeatedly.

Three witnesses across the road shouted out and ran across to his defence; the men got into their car and drove off shouting. The victim was taken by the police to hospital with bruises under his eyes and later had a broken tooth removed.  One of the witnesses, Robin Sivapalan, a local trade unionist met him later at Northwick Park hospital and brought him to his house to recover.

On chasing up the incident later that day with police at Wembley, Robin was informed that the case had not yet been allocated to an investigating officer, nor had it been logged as a racist attack. He stressed to the police officer that the assault could well have been far more damaging had there not been an intervention from the public, that the attackers posed a threat to all Black people - not just the particular victim in this case - and that this was possible backlash to the Woolwich incident.

Robin and the victim went to a local business where they were shown the CCTV footage which caught the entire attack, with the car, from two cameras and they informed the police that the evidence was available.

It took till Thursday for the police to call the victim, and the investigating officer failed to reply to any of the messages left by Robin. By the following Thursday the CCTV footage had been lost. The police had been told that they were welcome to collect the recording equipment themselves while the footage was still retrievable.

The police attended the business on Wednesday 19^th and discovered one set of footage had been deleted. They only collected the recording equipment and called in witnesses after DS Williams had been informed by Robin that the second set of footage had also been lost and that he would take the matter further. On Tuesday 25^th June the police issued an appeal for witnesses via the Kilburn Times providing the wrong time and location of the assault, with no mention that it was a racist attack.

The case has been brought to the attention of Aslam Choudry, Brent Council’s Lead member for Crime Prevention and Public Safety, also a councillor for Dudden Hill where the incident took place. He has raised it with the police Borough Commander Matthew Gardner and the Council Leader, Muhammad Butt.

Local residents in Brent are holding a picket at Wembley Police Station, 7pm, Thursday 27^th June, calling for meeting with the Borough Commander that will provide accountability for this failure to act. A spokesperson for the residents says: “We don’t believe this is an isolated incident of hate crime in the area. At Brent Council’s commemoration of Lee Rigby, the Borough Commander proudly informed us that there had been no recorded incidents following Woolwich, yet we can see here how the police fail to treat these attacks as hate crimes and are happy to lose the evidence when it handed to them on a plate. With a spike in Islamophobic and racist attacks around the country, it is shocking that in a Borough where the majority of us could face such an attack, the police can display such complacency and disregard for our concerns. This is exactly the form of institutional racism that is in the media again this week, with the discovery of the police’s attempts to smear Stephen Lawrence’s family”.   

Tina Benson from North West London Hospitals will be coming to the Brent Fightback meeting on Wednesday July 3rd 7.30 pm at Brent Trades Hall (it says London Apollo Club above the door) 375 High Rd, Willesden NW10 2JR to discuss the future of emergency services at Central Middlesex Hospital

Everyone is welcome. Please come prepared to give your views.

The next Brent Fightback meeting will be on Wednesday July 3rd 7.30 pm at Brent Trades Hall (London Apollo Club) 375 High Rd, Willesden NW10 2JR

HEALTH We have invited Tina Benson from NW London Hospitals who wants people's views on the future of emergency services at Central Middlesex Hospital. No reply yet to our invitation. she had invited people to meet her, but was only able to offer times during the working day. 

Eighteen months ago, Brent Trades Council and Brent Fightback began campaigning to save our local health services and joined with other campaigning against the swingeing cuts to emergency and other hospital services planned in the document laughingly called Shaping a Healthier Future. Now, better late than never, Brent's Labour Party and the Labour Council appear to be waking up to the threat to local people. Attached are notices of a meeting called by Brent Health Unison on Friday July 5th. Brent Fightback has been invited to provide a speaker. The following week on July 11th, Brent Labour Party Health Group has a public meeting.

Many of us and a number of Labour councillors and would-be candidates were at the London wide demonstration to defend our Health Services on May 18th. One aim of that demonstration was to show the need for a national demonstration for our NHS. Now one has been called. This is from Keep Our NHS Public:

NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION CALLED FOR THE NHS!

SUNDAY 29 SEPTEMBER

Tory Party Conference, Manchester

A national demonstration in defence of the NHS has been called on 29 September at the Tory Party Conference. This was confirmed by Unite- see below for their newsflash.
And at Unison conference this week, general secretary Dave Prentis called on the TUC to organise a mass rally and lobby on 29 September in defence of the NHS. "And if they don't, then Unison with our sister union Unite will do it ourselves." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I73r-ED6lfM&feature=player_embedded (6m in)

We should feel proud that the May 18 demonstration organised by London campaigns and all of the lobbying has helped get us to this next step forward for a national campaign.

URGENT START PLANNING NOW

Planning needs to start now before the holiday period to make sure that we publicise the demonstration and make transport arrangements. 

Watch this space for more information and the next London coordination meeting in w/c 15 July

EDUCATION

Gladstone Park Primary School: Governors are recommending that the school becomes an academy with the CfBT School Trust. There is a meeting for all parents on Tuesday June 25th. The Parents' Action Group with the strong support  of Brent NUT continues to campaign against academisation and for the school to be allowed to continue its strong improvement as part of Brent's family of schools.

Copland School, after an adverse OFSTED report, is also under pressure to become and academy. Teachers have already taken one day of well supported strike action and parents have set up a Parents' Action Group to resist this. Copland's building is dilapidated and in urgent need of rebuilding, providing and inadequate and demoralising environment for teaching and learning. Funds promised for essential building work under the Building Schools for the Future scheme were withdrawn. A Copland student even spoke to David Cameron about the need for a decent learning environment. The school also suffered from the alleged financial irregularities of the previous head and his coterie who are accused of siphoning off millions that should have been spent on the students into bonuses for themselves. Academies are at greater risk of those kinds of financial irregularities than maintained schools, so many staff and parents remain unconvinced that becoming an academy is the answer to their problems.

DEMONSTRATION FOR EDUCATION IN SOLIDARITY WITH TEACHERS STRIKING IN NW ENGLAND - SEE POSTER ON THIS BLOG.

POSTAL SERVICES Postal workers have voted overwhelmingly for action against privatisation.

BRENT FIGHTBACK AND BRENT HOUSING ACTION HAVE RESERVED A STALL AT THE GLADSTONBURY FESTIVAL IN GLADSTONE PARK ON SUNDAY JUNE 30th. BHA WILL HAVE SLEEPING BAGS AND (maybe) COMRADES IN PYJAMAS TO SHOW THE HOMLESSNESS RESULTING FROM THIS GOVERNMENT'S HOUSING POLICIES AND BENEFIT CUTS.

FIGHTBACK WILL, WEATHER PERMITTING HAVE WET SPONGES TO THROW AT BRAVE/FOOLHARDY COMRADES IN MINISTERIAL MASKS.

We will of course also have information and campaigning leaflets. If any of you can spare an hour or two (or more) to help, come and find our stall. We plan to set up at about 12 noon and to stay until about 6.00 pm. 

Actions for Fightback activists

EDUCATION

COPLAND FORCED ACADEMISATION - Unions are pushing for a meeting with parents. You can support by writing to Michael Pavey (new lead member for children and families) Cllr.Michael.Pavey@brent.gov.uk urging that parents are consulted before any imposition of an Interim Executive Board (IEBs replace the more democratically elected governing body). Also correct claims made by Pavey and Mohammed Butt that the strikes disrupted students taking national examinations. In fact children were well supported and able to take their exams as normal with staff invigilating exempted from the strike, some striking teachers went in to help settle the students in before th exams started, and the demonstration outside the school was ended before the exams started so there was no noise to disturb the students.

GLADSTONE PARK FORCED ACADEMISATION - Parents Action Group are asking Pavey to instruct officers to make clear statement on behalf of the Council that with LA support and the current management trajectory the school is capable fo becoming Ofsted 'Good' without a forced academy.

MICHAELA FREE SCHOOL - Residents complained about erection of giant pupil recruitment banner on Arena House without planning permission and it was removed on Wednesday. Considering leafleting prospective parents in Autumn 2013 when admissions process begins for the first year's intake in  September 2014.

SUPPORT NEEDED FOR DEMONSTRATION - Stand Up for Schools Tues 25th June Assemble Westminster Cathedral Piazza 5pm to march to DfE. Rally 6.30pm at Emmanuel Centre, Marsham Street, SW1 3DW

HOUSING

EARLY WARNING - Judicial Review hearing June 18th Mencap v Brent  Council on cuts to 'floating support' for vulnerable people. Details to be confirmed.

GLADSTONEBURY FESTIVAL  June 30th Noon-6/7pm Brent Fightback and Brent Housing Action will have joint stall. Organising participatory activiites involving political figures and wet sponges.

NHS

Defend London's Health Service Meeting June 12th 7pm Unite House, 128 Theobalds Road, WC1X 8TN

Hunt for Hunt 'happening' in Jeremy Hunt's Constituency Saturday 15th June. Coaches leave corner of Longford Avenue/Gordon Rd, Ealing W5 at 9am

We encourage people to attend Brent Healthwatch meetings http://healthwatchbrent.co.uk/

Fiona Harkham NW London Health Trust to be invited to our next meeting (July 5th) to hear our views on A&E reconfiguration etc

SAVE THE QUEENSBURY
Fairview Homes have withdrawn planning application and will reapply but only delay not victory. Still intend to demolish the pub.  Seehttp://savethequeensbury.info/

BRENT CIVIC CENTREGradual move of staff into the new building. Possible demonstration to greet any official opening ceremony. GD to investigate and circulate broad range of groups with information.

BIN VEOLIA IN BRENTBrent Council stonewalling with spurious legal arguments and lack of information. Street stalls and petitioning are planned. Public Meeting on  June 27th 7pm, Pakistan Community Centre, Station Road/Marley Walk, Willesden Green. Will combine Show Israel the Red Card and Veolia issues.

NEXT MEETING JULY 3rd 7PM , BRENT TRADES HALL, WILLESDEN HIGH ROAD, NW10

Battling the bedroom tax in Wembley today

BHA campaigners in Wembley Central Square today  Photo: Luke Sliminn

Bedroom Tax action Wembley Central today

Defend London's NHS this Saturday

Brent Fightback is supporting this demonstration

DEFEND LONDON’S NHS     

●Save Our Hospitals

●No to Privatisation

DEMONSTRATION

SATURDAY 18 MAY

Assemble 12 noon

Concert Hall Approach /Belvedere Rd

Waterloo http://goo.gl/maps/Lg6MT

MARCH TO DOWNING ST

Rally in Whitehall 2pm

This demonstration has been called by an unprecedented coalition of London residents, medical staff, trade unions and health campaigners who have come together to raise the alarm regarding the biggest threats to A & E’s, maternity units and in-hospital care for a generation.

Closures planned across the capital include nine accident and emergency departments, a number of maternity units and thousands of hospital beds that campaigners believe will put lives at risk..
Hospitals and community services are also threatened with take-over by multi-national private companies. Hundreds of thousands of London residents have pledged their opposition to these privatisation plans for the NHS.

Across the capital, tens of thousands have taken to the streets to protest and demonstrate to save their local hospitals. 80,000 signed a petition against the closures in North West London. 25,000 joined the demonstration to defend Lewisham hospital. 

The local campaigns have joined up to call on the government to stop these closures. We are working together to undermine the government’s divisive tactics of playing one hospital off against another. Instead we are demanding that the government provide the funding needed for safe levels of care across the capital. 

Help save London’s Health Service

The demonstration has been called by Save our Hospital campaigns across London and London Keep Our NHS Public. It has been backed by Unite the union, a number of MPs and councillors, trade unions and the London Labour Party. Please ask your organisation to pledge their support to publicise the demonstration by adding your name. Donations towards costs will also be gratefully received (Cheques to Keep Our NHS Public c/o 32 Savernake Rd, NW3 2JP).

SUPPORT FOR  18 MAY DEMONSTRATION
Support for the demo includes:      Save Lewisham Hospital Campaign, Defend Whittington Hospital Coalition, Save our Hospitals Ealing, Save Hammersmith and Charing Cross Hospitals, Andy Slaughter MP, Steve Pound MP, Virendra Sharma MP, John Cryer MP, David Lammy MP, Frank Dobson MP, Jeremy Corbyn MP, John McDonnell MP, Dianne Abbott MP, Greater London Labour Party, London Green Party, Dr Onkar Sahota, Jennette Arnold & Murad Qureshi, Joanne McCartney  London Assembly Members, Catherine West Leader Islington Council, Rachael Saunders Councillor Tower Hamlets, Unite the Union, National Union or Journalists, RMT, London Region GMB, London Regional Council of the BMA, London Region CWU, London &SE Region PCS, Whipps cross Hospital UNISON, Westminster UNISON, Save Chase Farm, Brent Fightback, Kensington and Chelsea Residents Save Our Hospital, Ealing Trades Union Council NHS Campaign, Medical Practitioners Union Unite, Roger Lloyd Pack, Ealing Southall CLP, Kingston Trades Council, Kingston and Surbiton Green Party, Kingston Keep Our NHS Public , Kingston GMB, Islington Trades Council, We Are Waltham Forest Defending Our NHS, Camden Keep Our NHS Public , Tower Hamlets BMA,  Euston Tower PCS, Islington NUT, Tower Hamlets Keep Our NHS Public, Unite the Resistance, City & Hackney Coalition to Defend the NHS, Lambeth Keep Our NHS Public, Camden UNISON,  Save Our Local Hospitals Greenwich, Bexley & Bromley, Lambeth Pensioners Action Group, PCS DEFRA Southern, Coalition of Resistance,  Defend Haringey Health Services Coalition, Islington Pensioners Forum, Redbridge Save Our NHS, National Health Action Party,  Tower Hamlets College UCU, Islington North Labour Party, RMT EPS 0520, Bromley Trades Council, Westminster North Labour Party, Camden Trades Council, Lewisham People Before Profit, Greenwich NUT, London Young Greens, London Magazine NUJ,  City & Hackney Division BMA, East London Health Unite, Homerton Hospital Unison, Occupy London, Brent Trades Council, Haringey 38 Degrees, Croydon TUC, London Health Emergency, Socialist Health Association, National Pensioners Convention, London Young Labour Exec committee, Anonymous UK, Friends of the Earth, Islington division BMA, Hands Off Hinchingbrooke, Save Barnet NHS, University of London Union,  London Region UCU, London Region Unison, London Region RCN.