Disillusioned: Nick Hughes claims the group no longer listens
A victim of a homophobic arson attack claims he will play no more part in a group meant to bridge the gap between police and residents - because it no longer serves the best interests of the community.
Nick Hughes, whose New Addington home was attacked by Asbo thug Sonny Lockwood, walked out of a meeting of the Croydon Community Police Consultative Group (CCPCG) last week.
At the meeting Mr Hughes said he was dismayed at the lack of support for victims of crimes and said the committee no longer had the best interests of the community at heart.
After a question and answer session Mr Hughes stood up and left, saying he felt CCPCG chairman Graham Speed was not involving members of the public enough.
Others who attend the group's meetings have also criticised Mr Speed, claiming he was too close to Borough Commander Mark Gore and unwilling to censure police when necessary.
Mr Hughes told the Croydon Guardian there were many people who were not represented by the CCPCG. He said: "I have nothing but respect and admiration for Mark Gore and Croydon's police.
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"My problem is with CCPCG and the apathetic attitude of Croydon's residents towards crime. My main concern is Graham Speed seems to be very selective with whom he allows to speak at the meetings and I feel the community should be given more of a voice."
“The committee has lost or is losing touch with the people that it is there to serve."
Nick Hughes
At a CCPCG meeting in March Dr Frank Holloway, clinical director of Croydon's integrated adult mental health service, gave a presentation highlighting the need for police to have more specialists on hand for people in held in cells after arrest.
Despite being a victim of a homophobic attack himself and working closely with the victims of crime, Mr Hughes said he was prevented from speaking on the topic.
"The committee has lost or is losing touch with the people that it is there to serve.
"It has lost the ability to listen to the public. Responsibility for the troubles of Croydon does not lie on the shoulders of the police but those of Croydon's residents."
Mr Speed said: "I am dissapointed that Nick feels this way, every member of the public was given a chance to speak at this meeting. I disagree with Nick that presentations should be done away with and I make no apology for the presentation on mental health issues.
"I welcome attendance from the wider public but sometimes we do not have the time for responses from them on issues after public question time. I do, however, agree that the public questions rambled on this time and perhaps it was my failure was not to hurry them up a bit."
Posted by: ANNE GILES, SELSDON on 10:00am Wed 21 May 08
Unfortunately, there are some people who insist on rambling on and on and on - even when they have been asked to confine themselves to one question and to keep it short. There just isn't enough time for everyone. Also - there are some very negative people whose only purpose is to criticise police, whilst others have a very valid complaint. If I have more than one question, I confine myself to one, and then contact police later, as I don't always want everyone in a meeting situation to know my business anyway.
Unfortunately, there are some people who insist on rambling on and on and on - even when they have been asked to confine themselves to one question and to keep it short. There just isn't enough time for everyone. Also - there are some very negative people whose only purpose is to criticise police, whilst others have a very valid complaint. If I have more than one question, I confine myself to one, and then contact police later, as I don't always want everyone in a meeting situation to know my business anyway.
Posted by: Bob Peel, Croydon on 12:19pm Wed 21 May 08
I agree with everything Mr Hughes said.
Whatever the discussion matter Graham Speed has to have the last word; he exercises the Divine Right of Graham Speed and should never have been voted in as Chair of the CCPCC.
When Kathryn Bonds was chair the meetings were held in a proper businesslike fashion for matters affecting, or affected by, police activity in the Borough. The CCPCC was assured of a decent turn out.
The last two years have seen the activities of the CCPCC become a joke as less members attend and others dropped. The Group has become political with its once lefty backing - how do you think Mr Speed was voted in? Every Lab. Cllr available came in to vote so their 'patsy' would run things - and run it he has - straight into the ground.
As for giving the public the right to speak, there have been two occasions where there have been no Q's from the public.
Anne Giles is correct about what she says and some people do ramble on, incessantly, some about matters which do not affect Croydon or adjoining Boroughs but which affect national, or occasionally world matters.
It is for the Chairman to control the questions asked but not to deny the right of the public, whose money actually funds the meeting and the employment of Lynn Barlow ([italic]something of a mystery that - how the funds granted to Croydon CCPCC actually manage to pay for her employment and stationery[/italic]) the Groups administrator.
Croydon CCPCC needs to be carefully audited and inspected by the MPA. That persons who have never worn blue can influence Police activity is surprising. That senior police officers have to attend such a circus just goes against the process of efficient policing in Croydon.
Anne Giles is right in stating theer are some very negative people there - it's all too political to start, anything police wise comes a very sad second.
If the MPA want to do something about policing in Croydon then the first act should be to either remove Graham Speed from the Chair or close the Group entirely.
I agree with everything Mr Hughes said.
Whatever the discussion matter Graham Speed has to have the last word; he exercises the Divine Right of Graham Speed and should never have been voted in as Chair of the CCPCC.
When Kathryn Bonds was chair the meetings were held in a proper businesslike fashion for matters affecting, or affected by, police activity in the Borough. The CCPCC was assured of a decent turn out.
The last two years have seen the activities of the CCPCC become a joke as less members attend and others dropped. The Group has become political with its once lefty backing - how do you think Mr Speed was voted in? Every Lab. Cllr available came in to vote so their 'patsy' would run things - and run it he has - straight into the ground.
As for giving the public the right to speak, there have been two occasions where there have been no Q's from the public.
Anne Giles is correct about what she says and some people do ramble on, incessantly, some about matters which do not affect Croydon or adjoining Boroughs but which affect national, or occasionally world matters.
It is for the Chairman to control the questions asked but not to deny the right of the public, whose money actually funds the meeting and the employment of Lynn Barlow (something of a mystery that - how the funds granted to Croydon CCPCC actually manage to pay for her employment and stationery) the Groups administrator.
Croydon CCPCC needs to be carefully audited and inspected by the MPA. That persons who have never worn blue can influence Police activity is surprising. That senior police officers have to attend such a circus just goes against the process of efficient policing in Croydon.
Anne Giles is right in stating theer are some very negative people there - it's all too political to start, anything police wise comes a very sad second.
If the MPA want to do something about policing in Croydon then the first act should be to either remove Graham Speed from the Chair or close the Group entirely.
Posted by: Evening all, Dock Green on 12:35pm Wed 21 May 08
Mr Speed said: "I am dissapointed that Nick feels this way, every member of the public was given a chance to speak at this meeting......"
[bold]That's a real first![/bold]
Mr Speed said: "I am dissapointed that Nick feels this way, every member of the public was given a chance to speak at this meeting......"
Speed needs to go, he's a dog with no teeth and his sham of a committee is an embarassment to open politics.
The way his meetings are conducted would shame the Politburo. Only the patsies who agree with everything the police do are allowed to speak. I and several others are regularly blocked from speaking because Speed, O'Connell and Gore know they won't like what they are about to be told. May I suggest that people simply make their way to the journalists who attend the meetings and spill their guts to them directly?
Speed needs to go, he's a dog with no teeth and his sham of a committee is an embarassment to open politics.
The way his meetings are conducted would shame the Politburo. Only the patsies who agree with everything the police do are allowed to speak. I and several others are regularly blocked from speaking because Speed, O'Connell and Gore know they won't like what they are about to be told. May I suggest that people simply make their way to the journalists who attend the meetings and spill their guts to them directly?
Speed needs to go, he's a dog with no teeth and his sham of a committee is an embarassment to open politics.
The way his meetings are conducted would shame the Politburo. Only the patsies who agree with everything the police do are allowed to speak. I and several others are regularly blocked from speaking because Speed, O'Connell and Gore know they won't like what they are about to be told. May I suggest that people simply make their way to the journalists who attend the meetings and spill their guts to them directly?
Speed needs to go, he's a dog with no teeth and his sham of a committee is an embarassment to open politics.
The way his meetings are conducted would shame the Politburo. Only the patsies who agree with everything the police do are allowed to speak. I and several others are regularly blocked from speaking because Speed, O'Connell and Gore know they won't like what they are about to be told. May I suggest that people simply make their way to the journalists who attend the meetings and spill their guts to them directly?
Posted by: ANNE GILES, SELSDON on 5:31pm Wed 21 May 08
How very, very nasty you are. I attend regularly and every member of the public who puts their hand up during Public Question has the opportunity to ask a question, whether they are making positive or negative comments. I agree with what the police do and that makes me a normal human being, not a patsy. Reporters do attend these meetings and they are intelligent people who can make up their own minds - after listening to both positive and negative people. The only time they didn't attend, a mole who was present decided to contact them with a bunch of lies and I have a pretty good idea who that was. Spilling your guts to journalists when you are telling a bunch lies can be construed as slander. I suggest you try behaving like a gentleman (if you know what that means).
How very, very nasty you are. I attend regularly and every member of the public who puts their hand up during Public Question has the opportunity to ask a question, whether they are making positive or negative comments. I agree with what the police do and that makes me a normal human being, not a patsy. Reporters do attend these meetings and they are intelligent people who can make up their own minds - after listening to both positive and negative people. The only time they didn't attend, a mole who was present decided to contact them with a bunch of lies and I have a pretty good idea who that was. Spilling your guts to journalists when you are telling a bunch lies can be construed as slander. I suggest you try behaving like a gentleman (if you know what that means).
Posted by: Arfur Towcrate, Staffycher on 7:07pm Wed 21 May 08
[quote][bold]ANNE GILES[/bold] wrote:
How very, very nasty you are. I attend regularly and every member of the public who puts their hand up during Public Question has the opportunity to ask a question, whether they are making positive or negative comments. I agree with what the police do and that makes me a normal human being, not a patsy. Reporters do attend these meetings and they are intelligent people who can make up their own minds - after listening to both positive and negative people. The only time they didn't attend, a mole who was present decided to contact them with a bunch of lies and I have a pretty good idea who that was. Spilling your guts to journalists when you are telling a bunch lies can be construed as slander. I suggest you try behaving like a gentleman (if you know what that means).[/quote] Just for sake of clarity, who are you calling nasty and suggesting should behave like a gentleman?
ANNE GILES wrote:
How very, very nasty you are. I attend regularly and every member of the public who puts their hand up during Public Question has the opportunity to ask a question, whether they are making positive or negative comments. I agree with what the police do and that makes me a normal human being, not a patsy. Reporters do attend these meetings and they are intelligent people who can make up their own minds - after listening to both positive and negative people. The only time they didn't attend, a mole who was present decided to contact them with a bunch of lies and I have a pretty good idea who that was. Spilling your guts to journalists when you are telling a bunch lies can be construed as slander. I suggest you try behaving like a gentleman (if you know what that means).
Just for sake of clarity, who are you calling nasty and suggesting should behave like a gentleman?
Posted by: Bob Peel, Croydon on 7:38am Thu 22 May 08
Excellent points 'Bill Grundy.'
It's an absolute truth that if you hang on every work spoken by the 'Graham Speed Massive,' and nod your head you are more likely to be favoured with a short slot so that Mr Speed can nod his approval and make his usual comments.
There's also discrimination there also and membership is very exclusive; if you rock the boat you'll never be a member!
CCPCG = total waste of Police time and public money.
Excellent points 'Bill Grundy.'
It's an absolute truth that if you hang on every work spoken by the 'Graham Speed Massive,' and nod your head you are more likely to be favoured with a short slot so that Mr Speed can nod his approval and make his usual comments.
There's also discrimination there also and membership is very exclusive; if you rock the boat you'll never be a member!
CCPCG = total waste of Police time and public money.
Posted by: ANNE GILES, SELSDON on 9:49am Thu 22 May 08
But why do people who aren't happy with it carry on attending? If you don't like something - don't go. A night out at the theatre, cinema or a good restaurant might be better for you. (Or a meeting with a fabulous lover):-)
But why do people who aren't happy with it carry on attending? If you don't like something - don't go. A night out at the theatre, cinema or a good restaurant might be better for you. (Or a meeting with a fabulous lover):-)
Posted by: Bob Peel, Croydon on 1:17pm Thu 22 May 08
[italic]"(Or a meeting with a fabulous lover)"[/italic]
All right Anne, you've won.
Meet me outside the Old Town Hall at 2100 tonight.
I'll show you the fabulous lover bit ;-)
"(Or a meeting with a fabulous lover)"
All right Anne, you've won.
Meet me outside the Old Town Hall at 2100 tonight.
Posted by: ANNE GILES, SELSDON on 1:45pm Thu 22 May 08
No can do, Bob. I'm teaching Spanish to 18 students tonight at Croydon High Street till 9.15 p.m. and have to be home by 9.40 p.m. at least, otherwise "Sir" will be rather worried.
No can do, Bob. I'm teaching Spanish to 18 students tonight at Croydon High Street till 9.15 p.m. and have to be home by 9.40 p.m. at least, otherwise "Sir" will be rather worried.
Posted by: Uncleboko, Selsdon on 4:51pm Fri 23 May 08
[quote][bold]Evening all[/bold] wrote:
Mr Speed said: "I am dissapointed that Nick feels this way, every member of the public was given a chance to speak at this meeting......" [bold]That's a real first![/bold] [/quote] I thought "chairs" were items bought in IKEA! Could it be Mr Grundy that it is just remotely possible that folks do not want to listen to your [bold]whinging, negative offerings[/bold] ?
Evening all wrote:
Mr Speed said: "I am dissapointed that Nick feels this way, every member of the public was given a chance to speak at this meeting......" That's a real first!
I thought "chairs" were items bought in IKEA! Could it be Mr Grundy that it is just remotely possible that folks do not want to listen to your whinging, negative offerings ?
Posted by: Bob Peel, Croydon on 5:35am Wed 28 May 08
[quote][bold]C[/bold] wrote:
THANK GOD That is now out in the open..! The sexual tension between Anne and Bob has been going on for months! ;) Only joking hehe! [/quote] Yes, indeed. Anne and I are now looking at merchandise deals.
You know the sort of thing; T-shirts, CD's, Mugs, tacky action figurines and the 'Anne & Bob' home crime solving kit.
What our public don't know is that we have never actually met,
C wrote:
THANK GOD That is now out in the open..! The sexual tension between Anne and Bob has been going on for months! ;) Only joking hehe!
Yes, indeed. Anne and I are now looking at merchandise deals.
You know the sort of thing; T-shirts, CD's, Mugs, tacky action figurines and the 'Anne & Bob' home crime solving kit.
What our public don't know is that we have never actually met,
Posted by: ANNE GILES, SELSDON on 9:42pm Wed 28 May 08
We seem to be always having our comments printed - yes, here we are again on Page 31 of this week's Guardian - your comments following mine, as usual. I'll get some posters and leaflets printed as well, if you like. How about our own web site - www.anne&bobcrimesol
vers.co.uk ????
We seem to be always having our comments printed - yes, here we are again on Page 31 of this week's Guardian - your comments following mine, as usual. I'll get some posters and leaflets printed as well, if you like. How about our own web site - www.anne&bobcrimesol
vers.co.uk ????
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