Second letter to the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis

This morning at 7.00am Declan again narrowly escaped being assaulted – seriously assaulted would be more appropriate – by probably the most dangerous character that visits the Whitechapel Mission (or used to visit, because we hadn’t seen him for some time up to last Friday).

This time the assault was going to take place no more than 100 metres from the Whitechapel Mission – that after Declan wrote on 17 April to the head of the Methodist church in the UK, Rev Graham Carter regarding harassment and intimidation in the mission. It may well be that the only thing we have achieved is that now we have to watch our backs outside it.

And I mean “we” because Declan and I agree that it should be me who takes the next hit. So from now on I am standing between Declan and whatever homeless decides to try it on outside washrooms – there is no shortage, I can assure you.

Anyway, the narrow escape occurred at the nearby bus stop (we had intended going to Covent Garden to sell The Big Issue) and although there were about 10 people waiting for buses, this homeless selected us for special treatment. Twice he tried to talk to Declan, but on both occasions I brushed him off. Then, all of a sudden, he decides to hijack a bus: he enters but instead of paying his fare, he first changes the position of the driver’s rear-view mirror and then starts insulting everybody on the bus, including the driver. He was so time-consuming one woman left the bus while some others at the bus stop were telling the driver to call the police.

As the homeless held up this bus, ours arrived – which we just got onto in time. Also fortunately for us, the homeless left his bus too late and, having lost his target, hit the window Declan was at with his fist, looking venomously straight at him. Given the force with which he hit the window, Declan is under no illusion that he would have been knocked out.

So, if this was a premeditated attempted assault, who sent him? And why? There is no need to go into muddy waters, especially since you don’t have to be the most intelligent person in the world to figure it out. As to the why, well yes, there is no problem with muddy waters there: it is about stopping Declan from lodging his case against the UK with the European Court of Human Rights by introductory letter. Quite evidently we’ve got a pretty strong case that won’t easily be dismissed.

Needless to say, we are still waiting for sight and copy of this letter from the Department for Work and Pensions stating, according to Judge Walker in his judgment of 11 December, that the termination of our unemployment benefit on 27 September because Declan did not sign on was a “mistake”, but there was another good reason for terminating payment (see previous blog).

The next place up for an assault has to be our porch, Declan reckons. Yes, I can see it: Declan is sent to hospital (well, now it will be me); our bags are stolen (with all our documents); and, of course, we lose the porch. Come to think of it, it’s a very tempting initiative! It’s not like the porch is a blind spot though: we have already had homeless to it as we are bedding down and, with one or two exceptions, Declan has recognised every one of them.

To return the compliment, this morning Declan and I paid yet another visit to Bethnal Green Police Station (Declan’s sixth visit) to request a crime report update in relation to the assault on Declan in the Whitechapel Mission on 17 February, when he was punched twice in the face by a homeless in an unprovoked attack. Still no progress, so this is Declan’s second registered letter to Sir Ian Blair, Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis:

Dear Sir Ian

Re:  Crime ref: 4204886/07

I refer to my letter and enclosures to you of 16 April 2007 regarding the above.

I re-enclose copy of my letter and enclosures of 16 April 2007 to the Tower Hamlets Borough Commander, Chief Superintendent Mark Simmons of Bethnal Green Police Station.

As stated in my letter to CS Simmons, I note the letter to me of 29 March 2007 from PC Katherine Jones of Bethnal Green Police Station wherein it states:

I acknowledge your letter regarding Crime ref: 4204886/07, which was received on 29th March 2007. This has been referred to DC Head who will be responding to your letter as soon as possible.

In further reference to chronology in relation to my efforts to 26 March 2007 to have my statement taken in respect of the assault on me in the Whitechapel Mission on 17 February 2007, I wish to confirm that I have yet to hear back from DC Head or anyone on his behalf.

Yours sincerely

Declan Heavey