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Spencer Keily and Paul Stubley, who are housing patrol officers in Gospel Oak. Both men took part in a ‘meet and greet’ event earlier this week |
Patrol officers ‘followed home by gang in car’
Police investigate traffic lights incident involving troubled council safety staff
AN alleged attempt by a gang of masked men to attack off-duty members of Camden’s housing patrol has undermined a PR push by the council to boost the troubled security team, according to insiders.
Police are investigating how two members of the housing patrol were followed by car from their Kentish Town base after a shift last week and attacked by seven men who appeared from a trailing car at traffic lights, armed with metal poles.
The Town Hall has been promoting the team on a series of “meet and greet” sessions on the housing estates which they patrol each night in answer to graffiti, noise nuisance and youth disorder.
One insider, who said he would lose his job if named, said: “Camden meet and greet is nothing but window dressing. Residents should be informed of the truth and Camden put to test on how to make this service safe.”
The New Journal first reported in March how a string of separate attacks – now numbering at least 12 this year – had wounded or injured nearly half the members of the security team and left the remainder forced to double up their patrols for added safety.
Housing patrol officer Paul Stubley took part in one of the “meet and greet” sessions in Barrington Court, Gospel Oak, on Thursday, where a fellow patrol officer was seriously injured by stones thrown as a patrol was driven off the estate in March.
Mr Stubley, who was wearing the “bumper cap”, a reinforced baseball cap issued to all patrol officers after the March incidents, said: “Thankfully, I haven’t been attacked, so I can’t really comment.
“But yes, we come across large groups of youths. If it looks intimidating we’d call the police – if we feel it’s safe enough for us to go and speak to them, we would do.”
Patrol sources, speaking anonymously, have repeatedly questioned the safety of officers who have been required to patrol in uniforms and marked cars since a Town Hall decision to outsource the contract the service to Broadland Guarding Services Ltd last year.
Senior councillors have denied that the move was designed to impress tenants, who pay a direct surcharge for the housing patrol, at the expense of officer safety.
A Town Hall spokesman said: “Camden Council is extremely concerned to hear about the incident involving housing patrol staff. The council is working closely with the police to identify the perpetrators, and will take any action necessary against them. The council is briefing all housing patrol staff on safety advice when finishing work.”
A police spokeswoman said: “Camden Police can confirm we are investigating an incident on Saturday, September 12, 2009 in Hackney. At approximately 2am, a 21 and a 24-year-old man were stationary in a car at red traffic lights.
“It appears that a dark-coloured vehicle had followed them from Camden and at the lights, about seven males got out.
“The suspects were holding metal poles and approached them in a threatening manner. Fearing for their safety, the driver drove away from the suspects. No arrests have been made and enquiries continue.” |
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