No 49, November 2002
Cop in phoney call
A WORTHING police sergeant
lied about his identity over the phone and falsely claimed to be a member of
the press calling from a local radio station.
That’s the shocking truth to emerge from a statement given
exclusively to The Porkbolter by a Worthing woman and reproduced
here. We have documented in past issues how police have constantly harassed
and intimidated locals opposed to the Titnore Lane housing
development in West Durrington. But this instance of bad behaviour by the
Bullies in Blue is the worst yet. They did not even have the spurious
pretext of a "potentially troublesome" event to fall back on this time - all
they were worried about was the handing in of a petition to the Mayor of
Worthing by Green MEP Dr Caroline Lucas at the Town Hall
- a completely harmless media-orientated event. Are we now to understand that
raising petitions to the council on issues of local importance makes you a
suspected criminal or terrorist? Can we take seriously police claims to be
undermanned and overstretched when they can devote so much time and effort to
political vendettas against people whose views they and their masters do not
approve of? Have a read of this and make your own mind up!
"I agreed to be the telephone contact for John Clark (who was out at
work and unobtainable during the day) on a press release informing media that
the Petition against the West Durrington Development would be presented by Dr
Lucas on 19 September to the Mayor of Worthing. I would take contact details
of calls and pass them on to him for actioning later. I received a phone call
from PC Mark Stevens on 01243 843586 asking to speak to John Clark. I
explained the position and told him he would ring him back later. However, he
was unsatisfied with this and told me I had been identified as a POW
‘organiser’ and would be expected to liaise with the Police over
POW activities as they needed a contact - also that I was associated with a
press release threatening ‘civil unrest’. I insisted I
didn’t consider myself to be an ‘organiser’ and after
further discussion he agreed, albeit reluctantly, to make an entry on police
records to this effect. Having assured him that the Petition presentation
would be peaceful and good natured - probably not very well attended as most
people would be at work - I was led to believe there would be no further
contact.
However, on the morning of 18 September I received a phone call from
someone identifying himself only as "press". When asked who he worked for, he
replied "Spirit Radio in Portsmouth" [PORKBOLTER NOTE: It’s actually
based in Chichester] and gave his name as Kevin Jenkins. He started asking
questions about John Clark and then myself, but I told him I had already
spoken twice that morning to Phillip at Spirit FM who had arranged an
interview direct with Caroline Lucas and couldn’t understand why he was
duplicating this information. He seemed surprised, said he would talk to
Phillip and rung off. As he sounded very odd and I was uneasy about the call,
I rang 1471 and discovered he was calling from 01903 264747 - not from
Portsmouth as he had said.
Half an hour later he was on my doorstep, introducing himself as
Sergeant Kevin Jenkins, Community Safety Unit, Highdown Division, Sussex
Police. I told him I was most concerned that he had impersonated a member of
the press and lied to me during our telephone conversation and that he
hadn’t behaved professionally in keeping with his position as a police
officer - he had really let himself down. I also told him he was setting a
terrible example to my two children who were within earshot. He offered no
apology or explanation for his deception. I pointed out that police priorities
seemed somewhat skewed - he had managed to trace my address through my
telephone number on the police computer as a matter of the utmost urgency and
felt it vital to visit me immediately, when the response to a recent burglary
at my home was to send a fingerprint officer round two weeks after the event,
who apologised for the delay (lack of manpower and resources) and admitted his
visit was a complete waste of time owing to the time lapse.
As a ‘victim of crime’ I asked him to explain this
discrepancy, but he was completely disinterested, didn’t wish to discuss
the burglary but only my involvement as a POW ‘organiser’. He
cited the fact that there was a notice on the noticeboard in my front garden
giving details of Dr Lucas’s visit to Worthing and the fact that I had
collected signatures on the petition (as had dozens of other people) as
irrefutable proof of my ‘organisational involvement’ and announced
I would now be expected to attend future meetings with Worthing Police as
contact for POW, which I declined. I told him my association with POW was
linked to Green Party opposition to the environmental destruction of the
Titnore area which was common knowledge, and that information about POW events
came from the website which he was welcome to visit, and again insisted that I
was not an ‘organiser’. After the ‘discussion’ had
continued for a while, I told him I expected him to behave honestly in future
and he replied "tell that to all the dishonest people in your organisation" in
a very heated manner before leaving my front garden, as I had requested. I
have been asked to pass on his contact number so that organisers can identify
themselves - 01243 843592/07785 314833 or e-mail:
highdown.csu@sussex.police.uk
Incidentally, my 20 year old son recognised Sergeant Jenkins immediately
as the policeman who approached himself and two friends sitting quietly on the
beach about to enjoy an early evening drink in the sunshine a while ago. He
demanded to see proof of their ages - only the girl could do this although the
other lad was obviously at least his 21 years, and he proceeded to pour away
my son’s full can of beer and a full bottle of wine which his friends
were about to share, onto the pebbles, apparently enjoying himself enormously.
I am told the policeman with him said nothing and appeared very
uncomfortable."
POLICE ALERT!
WORTHING police’s new district commander
Chief Inspector Russ Whitfield defended poor police response to
local crime in the Worthing Herald on October 10. He said: "We
do not have limitless manpower to put a policeman on every street corner. We
will put police presence where it is needed and target people who are habitual
offenders" - and, of course, people who collect names on petitions against
masssive greenfield property developments.
* * *
THE self-important members of Sussex Police Authority voted to
carry on travelling around the place first-class - at our expense
(Argus, October 7). A cheap day return ticket from Brighton to
Victoria costs £15.20 while a first class fare runs to £41.20.
* * *
POLICE figure prominently among paedophile suspects traced through the
internet. "nvestigators now believe as many as 90 police officers have so far
been identified from an initial trawl of 200 of the British names found in the
US". (The Observer, October 20) Two Sussex coppers involved in
the Sarah Payne murder case have already been arrested and
suspended for paedophile links, and another two were arrested in
Cambridgeshire, including the detective who read a poem at the memorial
service for the murdered 10-year-olds Jessica Chapman and
Holly Wells. Remember kids - you can always trust a
copper!
* * *
A BIG increase in the part of our council tax that goes to the police is on
the cards, warns The Worthing Guardian (September 27). Maybe
they should spend it on teaching their officers to lie more convincingly!
* * *
"IN groups of 12, with truncheons drawn, the police followed through with a
series of running charges. Unfortunately, these continued the entire length of
South Street and later resulted in accusations that several ‘really
savage assaults’ were made on ‘peaceful and unoffending’
townspeople who claimed they had never even heard the Riot Act being read.
Worthing’s best-known pastry cook at the time, by the name of Semandeni,
stepped out of his South Street shop to watch the rioting and had his head
smashed by a policeman’s truncheon. He later died as a result of the
injury." (Worthing Herald, Oct 10, recalling the event of
August 1884 when police went on the rampage in the town. How things have
changed over the last 118 years!)
Greed’s growing nightmare
HERE’S an easy
question? Why is it that we are supposed to have to put up with new houses,
roads and factories being constantly built over our countryside? That’s
right! Because the population is rapidly increasing. Only it isn’t! The
latest census statistics showed that the UK population is now only growing
very slowly and looks set to actually decline in time. Now this should be
good news - excellent news in fact. People arguing for a
genuinely green, sustainable future often point out that this will only be
possible if the population, in the future, is reduced. "So how are you going
to do that?" they will then usually be asked. "Mass sterilisation campaigns?
Culling programmes?" Now, it seems, that line of argument is irrelevant. The
population will decrease of its own accord. It’s just a question of
waiting and nature will sort it out for us...
Great. Trouble is, population growth has always been rather popular with
the powers-that-be, whatever they might say in public. If the population gets
bigger and bigger all the time, that means there are more and more people to
make money out of and the scum at the top can get richer and richer at our
expense. That’s part of what they call "economic growth". So now
they’re getting worried that this could all come to an end. Explained a
report in the business section of The Observer (October 6): "The
essential point is that the working age population is not growing fast.
This factor is an essential input into economic growth, as the experience
of the US shows." Among the alarming measures suggested to counter this
threat to Fat Cat bank accounts are "stop people retiring", "stop
British workers migrating abroad", "attract foreign workers" or
"persuading young Britons to increase the fertility rate from a record low
of 1.64". There’s the future then - working till we drop dead on a
prison island full of easily exploited "illegal" immigrants, where birth
control is outlawed!
Marvellous, isn’t it?
People power victory!
A VICTORY for people power is being
claimed as Worthing council defied central control and said no to a 90-house
development at Beeches Avenue (Argus, October 25).
The decision went against the advice of a Government inspector involved in the
Local Plan and the Government might eventually overturn the decision, however.
Executive councillor for planning Chris Sargent said: "There may be
consequences of us withdrawing from the plans at this stage. But what we are
here for is to do the right thing for Worthing. This council did not want a
development at Lyons Farm but a Government inspector overruled the council and
put the car park and B&Q on the face of the downs. A minister in London is
making decisions about Worthing but what does he know about Worthing? They say
land holders are the guardians of the countryside - they are until they see
£50 notes."
Even council leader Sheila Player got in on the act, saying: "I am sick
to death of being pushed about by the Government." Karl Heryet, of
Beeches Action Group said: "The council listened to the public.
Everything they said is what we have been saying all year. It shows what a bit
of people power can do."
You don’t hear this often from us, but WELL DONE WORTHING COUNCIL!
Now let’s have more of the same on Titnore!
Masts hide secret radar
A report in The
Observer (October 13) says: "Secret radar technology research that
will allow the biggest-ever extension of Big Brother-style surveillance in the
UK is being funded by the Government." It explains the system "uses mobile
phone masts to allow security authorities to watch vehicles and individuals in
real time almost anywhere in Britain. The technology ‘sees’ the
shapes made when radio waves emitted by mobile phone masts meet an
obstruction. Researchers are working to give the new equipment X-ray vision,
the capability to ‘see’ through walls and look into
people’s homes." So that’s why all those mobile phone masts
are being hidden in Shell petrol station signs and the walls of
McDonald’s restaurants (The Sun, Oct 8). And they said
it was for phone customers’ convenience...
Gnome terror hits town
A flying gnome in the wee small hours
recently shattered the lounge windows of Sunny Worthing Arts
Group (SWAG) committee members. Hille Cook, new Vice Chair, commented:
"I feel sorry for the little fellow. Either he was desperate to join SWAG and
couldn’t reach the door bell or it was a futile and costly gesture of
resistance towards Worthing’s burgeoning Arts scene". Given the benefit
of the doubt, Tinkle the gnome has now been co-opted as SWAG’s Middle
Earth representative, working underground to promote the Arts in Worthing for
the rest of his immortal life in order to pay for the damage.
PORK-SCRATCHINGS
TWO people arrested at the May 26
Titnore Woods demo are due up in Worthing courts for trial from
Monday November 11, 10am. Moral support welcome. Contact pow@worthinga27.freeserve.co.uk
for campaign latest.
* * *
WHAT happened to community spirit in this country? Why do we all act
like victims? Why do we expect "somebody" to solve everything for us and not
feel any responsibility to do it ourselves? Why doesn’t democracy start
at grass roots level - in streets, villages and estates - rather than with
politicians? These will be the questions discussed at a special meeting on
"Community Action - Taking Control of Our Lives" in Worthing on
Tuesday November 12, 7.45pm. This will be held upstairs at The
Downview pub opposite West Worthing rail station and hosted by
Worthing Anarchists, who are part of the umbrella campaign group
worthing eco-action (worthing@eco-action.org). Note: The meeting is not on the
usual first Tuesday of the month because that clashes with bonfire night at
Lewes, an unmissable date in the Sussex calendar.
* * *
Following the success of the October event, the next Worthing Green
Social is on Wednesday November 13 at 8pm for an 8.15pm start. The
venue will be the upstairs bar at Barney’s Café Bar in Portland
Road (behind Boots). Contact rdocwra@hotmail.com or 01903 529467.
* * *
A CHRISTMAS Without Cruelty Bazaar is being held on Saturday
November 23, 10am-2pm, at Christ Church Hall, Portland Road, Worthing.
Entrance is just 20p, children free. Delicious veggie food will be served
throughout the day and local poet Fay Marshall will be signing books.
* * *
HERE’S one to cheer up our pals on the Worthing Herald.
The diligent journos have been doggedly determined to inject humour into their
publication since we cruelly suggested the "Monty" column was somewhat lacking
in that department. The website http://www.framleyexaminer.com offers a
fine model for any local newspaper to base itself on, covering big stories
like "a fireman stuck up a tree being rescued by a cat, or the local W.I.
burying themselves in a time capsule, or just someone selling their
second-hand child’s Paul Simon costume".
* * *
SCHNEWS of The World, this year’s book from the
inspirational Brighton-based radical weekly newsletter, is now on sale at
£7. As well as containing issues 301-350, this features reports from
Iraq, Palestine, Congo, Genoa and, errr, Durrington. Info on http://www.schnews.org.uk or buy it from
the Worthing Anarchists’ stall in Montague Place, Worthing, on (dry)
Saturdays, 1pm-3pm.
* * *
AN American army of occupation in Iraq would "administer the country’s
huge oil deposits", revealed The Guardian on October 12. It
added: "The future of Iraqi oil is a vital factor underlying the current talks
at the UN security council about a resolution. Both France and Russia have
significant stakes in the Iraqi oilfields and have been alarmed by Iraqi
opposition suggestions that those stakes might be rescinded once President
Saddam has fallen, in favour of a US-led consortium. France and Russia have
been seeking reassurance from Washington and have been told that they will
have to throw their weight behind a hardline US ultimatum over arms
inspections if they want to recoup their investments." Well, well, well...
Anyone as sickened as us by the prospect of the hypocritical US war on Iraq is
urged to get over to Churchill Square in Brighton from 5.30pm on the day after
war is announced for a "noise" protest - bring pots, pans etc.
Sussex Police - an apology
The following statement was issued
yesterday: "Sussex Police would like to apologise wholeheartedly for the
intrusive, insensitive and intimidatory way in which we have been behaving
towards residents of Worthing Borough campaigning against the proposed housing
development at West Durrington. We deeply regret the intimidatory tactics and
misleading statements that have been deployed over the last few months. The
officers involved at all levels will be facing disciplinary action and we
hereby pledge to the free citizens of Worthing that from now on they will be
free to exercise their democratic rights unhindered by our organisation, which
we now admit had no place interfering in such issues of crucial public
interest in the first instance."
Never mind, only dreaming.
Can you help us?
The Porkbolter has now been going five
years and despite a little bit of self-satisfaction at having notched this up,
your Porky team are always aware that we could be achieving a lot more... If
there’s stuff you think we should be covering or saying, please let us
know. We are also now keen to step up our distribution within the borough and
make sure even more people can see this newsletter each month. If you can help
distribute copies in any way, big or small, or know anyone else who can (for
instance, by having them available in a shop, cafe, hairdresser’s,
dentist’s, etc) please get in touch. A free and independent media is
vital to any democracy and together we can achieve that for Worthing!
* The Pork-Bolter is a local independent newsletter named after an old
nickname for Worthing people and run entirely by volunteers. To get the next
six issues through the post send a donation of at least £3 payable to
The Porkbolter. Drop us a line at PO Box 4144, Worthing, West Sussex BN14 7NZ
or send e-mail porkbolter@eco-action.org. e-mail
subscriptions are also available.
Printed and published by The Pork-Bolter, PO Box 4144, Worthing BN14 7NZ.
No copyright. No invite to the police ball for us this year, then.
Extra! Extra!
Hamming it up since '97
The first five years of The Porkbolter
The Porkbolter is
five years old! And for those few of you who haven’t rushed out to find
each and every issue as published over the years and lovingly collated them in
a plush folder to pore over time and time again on rainy evenings, here is a
very brief synopsis of what we’ve been on about all this time. We can
send you copies of back issues on request and most of them are up on this
website.
May 1 1997. A nation rejoices. Labour wins election.
May 2 1997. Millions realise they’ve been had. New Labour,
Same Old Bollocks.
October 1997. A nation rejoices again. The Porkbolter is born. Shock
waves rock Westminster, Washington DC and the housing committee at Worthing
Borough Council.
November 1997. Early warning. We declare on green gaps: "There must
be no surrender at Goring Gap, Titnore Lane or East Worthing."
February 1998. We warn that mobile phones can be used "as a sinister
police state device to track people’s every movement".
May 1998. Double whammy! We win the local election with 69.8%
following our call for a poll boycott. And the Worthing Herald admits: "CCTV
cameras fail to cut crime."
July 1998. Dolphins prefer Tim Loughton MP to colleague Peter
Bottomley, we exclusively reveal. October 1998. We recount Rotarian and
ex-copper "Rocket" Ron Noakes’ extraordinarily comic attempts to halt
Worthing Eco-Festival.
November 1998. We report the opening of Worthing’s first ever
squatted free cafe, The Anarchist Teapot.
March 1999. "Porky Pie’s Tip on How to Exhaust the Democratic
Process. 1. Vote for it. 2. Write to it. 3. Petition it. 4. If it still
won’t listen, chase it down to the beach with big sticks and set fire to
it."
July 1999. We start a (successful) campaign to stop Montague Place
being built on.
October 1999. "Green shoots of hope" is first ever optimistic front
page in Porkbolter history. What’s happening?
November 1999. Phew! Back to normal. In the 21st century we will all
be "worked to death", we warn.
March 2000. We name and shame Riot Gran. Her identity still eludes
Sussex Police today.
October 2000. We ask "Is Bottomley An Alien?" after MP claims he can
walk from Worthing to Cissbury Ring in five minutes.
February 2001. We team up with TV’s Mark Thomas to make Allied
Dunbar pay £500 to Thomas a Becket First School in Tarring.
April 2001. "Foot and Mouth MPs could be culled" (SATIRE).
October 2001. "USA Set to Bomb Evil Worthing" (SATIRE)
December 2001. "A massive battle is shaping up to save ancient
woodland in Durrington". (NOT SATIRE).
Spring 2002. Photos never lie. The roadsign reads: "Worthing -
centre for low wages, debt and hypocrisy".
July 2002. "350 march on Titnore".
September 2002. "Operation Hysteria" as cops go mental over support
for Titnore campaign (see July).
November 2002. Launch of new five-year Porky plan.
December 2002. Welcome to the glorious future!
and finally ...
Reclaim Your Town, Reclaim Your Life!
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