Club run - van passenger slapping incident

[downfader]

I can't see it doing their reputation any good if this all comes out

http://www.loft-conversions.eu/


You could also try the Federation of Master Builders
http://www.fmb.org.u...rs-Ltd-BH23-4LB

They're on check a trade. Wonder what they'd think if the club reported them on there?

 

[classic33]

You may be watching too many American cop shows. We have no such offence.

I was pedalling through Halifax a few years ago and a front seat passenger 'shot' me with something (catapult? air pistol?) which nearly had me off the bike and still left a mark four hours later. I reported it to Plod at the next phonebox, registration number as well. Plod didn't give a toss.

That about sums up the local police attitude to cyclists in the area.

 

[dodgy]

I haven't noticed that many others in this thread reporting similar incidents. I've been slapped on the arse while riding 3 times, I reported each one and the police responded to all of them. The best one was a kid up the road got a section 59 (Google it) when his mates slapped me (and the driver was obviously too close), he had his car impounded and crushed several months when he misbehaved again or so my contacts tell me.

But yes, walk down the High Street today and slap just one arse, and I can guarantee you that the Police would treat it even more seriously, do it from a car and the Police will treat it as a motoring related crime for some reason. They are simply not capable, or equipped to isolate the offence when a vehicle is involved. It's the same reason why it's one of the most effective murder weapons (albeit random murder targets, unless you know where you victim is going to be walking or cycling on any given day). Go at your victim with a hammer, knife or gun, then it's life inside probably. Do it in a car, even if you're completely at fault you can expect a fine and points and if really unlucky, a short stretch inside.

Funny world, not that I'm laughing.

 

[Dave Davenport]

The women rider who was slapped has just posted this on our club forum;

I have finally heard from the rozzers that the incident has been filed as nfa. Hmm guess I must be losing my touch.

The decision was taken due to it being impossible to positively identify the individual concerned and has nothing whatsoever to do with this being the holiday season.

WTF!!!!
Looks like some direct action is in order.

 

[Arch]

It's the same reason why it's one of the most effective murder weapons (albeit random murder targets, unless you know where you victim is going to be walking or cycling on any given day).

Not that random. If you set out to murder someone specific, you have to know where they are going to be at a given time, unless you nuke a whole city on the off chance. Not so hard to wait for them to come home, or pop out for a pint of milk etc...

Do I sound like I've thought about that too much?

 

[downfader]

The women rider who was slapped has just posted this on our club forum;

I have finally heard from the rozzers that the incident has been filed as nfa. Hmm guess I must be losing my touch.

The decision was taken due to it being impossible to positively identify the individual concerned and has nothing whatsoever to do with this being the holiday season.

WTF!!!!
Looks like some direct action is in order.

Dave - you and the club need to take it to the press to state your "disappointment in the decision".

Is it Southern Daily Echo territory? Ian Murray is the Editor, they've been pretty pro-cyclist in recent years. Might be a serious option.

 

[dodgy]

Not that random. If you set out to murder someone specific, you have to know where they are going to be at a given time, unless you nuke a whole city on the off chance. Not so hard to wait for them to come home, or pop out for a pint of milk etc...

Do I sound like I've thought about that too much?

Well you've just confirmed exactly what I'd written, unless I've misunderstood you.

 

[Arch]

Well you've just confirmed exactly what I'd written, unless I've misunderstood you.

No, I think we are at cross purposes - I mean it shouldn't be any harder to set out to kill someone specific with a car, than with a gun or knife. You lie in wait in your car for them to be walking, or cycling. I thought you were saying it was harder to target someone specifc, because you had to know in advance when they would be out in that situation? Sorry, I think I can see how my post was ambiguous.

 

[Dave Davenport]

We are in discussion about next action but a mass ride to their premises with the press informed is one option.

 

[Monsieur Remings]

Best of luck with whatever you decide to do.

Without going into too much detail I don't particularly like the press, but very recently I made a formal complaint to the police about the behaviour of the local police which managed to gain some concessions for our firm (of taxi drivers). The press were also very interested in stirring up anything they could on the actions of the local police (or in your case the lack of action of the police) but be careful if you go down this route. I didn't in the end because the last thing you need is to antagonise local bill, despite the majority of them being useless.

IPCC as some have suggested and a focus on the firm itself is what I'd do, given the fact that the police haven't taken any of it seriously.

Perhaps you could suggest that the van was travelling at 32 mph in a 30 and see what happens?

Sorry, couldn't resist that.

 

[fossyant]

We are in discussion about next action but a mass ride to their premises with the press informed is one option.

That is about the best option you have - someone take a camping stove for brews, you'll hiss off the bosses

Difficult on week days, but might be worth it. Or take a private/civil action to the company!

 

[Blue_icicle]

The women rider who was slapped has just posted this on our club forum;

I have finally heard from the rozzers that the incident has been filed as nfa. Hmm guess I must be losing my touch.

The decision was taken due to it being impossible to positively identify the individual concerned and has nothing whatsoever to do with this being the holiday season.

WTF!!!!
Looks like some direct action is in order.

Such a shame one of you wasn't wearing a helmet cam! still you have his address, go camp outside his house <it is a house, and a very posh one too>

I also cannot believe NFA... you had the reg number? surely there is a dangerous driving charge and if they are not willing to disclose the name of the driver, then the company is responsible.

Try a drive past slapping of a PC on his bike (we have them round my way) and see if they come up with NFA!

 

[vernon]

I also cannot believe NFA... you had the reg number? surely there is a dangerous driving charge and if they are not willing to disclose the name of the driver, then the company is responsible.

It's a matter of evidence or lack of it. Can the van driver be identified by the cycling group? CAn the person who did the slapping be identified by the cyclists? Dangerous driving - on whose say so? I'm not aware than companies can be prosecuted for dangerous driving. If the company is unwilling to identify the driver or the slapper (sic), there's nothing that the police can do to persuade the crown prosecution service that a court case is likely to secure a conviction hence no further action.

I've been the victim of an act of violence, my head intercepted several dinner plates which shattered on impact with my skull, witnessed by dozens. Statements were written. Assailant confessed to the act. I was asked if I wished to proceed with a prosecution - I said yes. Two months down the line I was informed by a police sergeant over the phone that they had decided the best course of action was a pre-caution warning on account that the assailant would be come a victim of his own rash behaviour and would have his life chances impaired should he have a conviction or a caution on his record. I dug deep into my Anglo Saxon vocabulary and delivered its entire insult lexicon to sergeant as well as offering him advise on where he could store his truncheon. Several weeks later someone interviewed me by phone about the quality of service that I'd received when being dealt with by the local constabulary. I awarded zeros and bare minimums on the satisfaction scale and delivered an extended monologue of dissatisfaction when asked if there was anything that I would like to have recorded.

It still rankles on the rare occasions that the memory of the incident surfaces but there are more troubling things to work about on a day to day basis.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

The women rider who was slapped has just posted this on our club forum;

I have finally heard from the rozzers that the incident has been filed as nfa. Hmm guess I must be losing my touch.

The decision was taken due to it being impossible to positively identify the individual concerned and has nothing whatsoever to do with this being the holiday season.

WTF!!!!
Looks like some direct action is in order.

It looks like she has run into a simular problem to the one I ran into when I was punched by the passenger in a car a few years ago, in my case the driver wouldn't identify the passenger and it ended without any action being taken, see link to my posts about the incident http://www.cyclechat...__1#entry451919

 

[dodgy]

No, I think we are at cross purposes - I mean it shouldn't be any harder to set out to kill someone specific with a car, than with a gun or knife. You lie in wait in your car for them to be walking, or cycling. I thought you were saying it was harder to target someone specifc, because you had to know in advance when they would be out in that situation? Sorry, I think I can see how my post was ambiguous.