The Events in Woolwich

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I believe it is far too early for me to be responding to the events in Woolwich.

I am reeling..not just at the events, but at the implications that arise as a result of the events.

I do not believe it is right to be using this tragedy as a springboard for political advantage. On any side.

I also do not believe that putting our heads in the sand and denying that there are issues on all sides that need to be faced is healthy or constructive.

The only thing I can do at this stage is offer my condolences to the bereaved.

That is all I feel I can do.

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Missing Clapham Man Could Be in Brixton

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Missing: Rupert Bartley

 

Police are asking for help to find a vulnerable elderly man who may be lost in Brixton.

Rupert Bartley, 79, left his home in Santley Street, Clapham, yesterday evening and did not tell his wife where he was going.

Bartley, who is black and about 5ft 11ins tall, was last seen wearing a grey coat and checked flat cap. He likes to travel by bus to Brixton, and wears his oyster card around his neck on a ribbon.

A spokesman for Lambeth police said: “Mr Bartley suffers from Alzheimers and can become easily confused. He also suffers from high blood pressure and diabetes which requires regular medication, but he does not have this with him.

Anyone who has seen Mr Bartley or knows of his whereabouts is asked to contact Brixton CID via 101 or 0208 649 2191 and quote the reference 13MIS016341. Alternatively, contact the charity Missing People on 116000.

SOURCE: Brixton Blog 

‘The Women Speak Highly of the Police as They No Longer Fear Them’ – Ruth Jacobs Meets Shelly Stoops

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Shelly Stoops is the Interim Manager of SAFE Place Merseyside (Adult sexual assault referral centre-SARC), Liverpool Community Health, and Former Specialist ISVA for Sex Workers, Armistead Street Project, Liverpool Community Health. 

In her Booth interview, she tells Ruth Jacobs what a difference the Merseyside prosecution Model has made already, and why it she supports a national – and international – roll out. 

How do you feel about the police?

I greatly respect Merseyside Police for the way they have taken a pragmatic, human rights approach to sex workers and prioritise their safety.

How do you think people in the sex trade feel about the police?

The women I have worked with here in Merseyside now have a great level of trust in Merseyside Police. That has been the result of massive amounts of trust building from the women themselves, the ISVA (Independent Sexual Violence Advisor) and sex work project. So in the beginning, women would do Ugly Mug reports if they were attacked and wouldn’t dream of going to the police. Now, they will ring 999 just like any other victim would which is a direct result of the partnership.

From the women you’ve been working with, what has been their experience of dealing with the police?

Since we began this work, around twenty-five women have been to court – I think that’s a shining example of their experiences! The women speak highly of the police as they no longer fear them; they feel the police are there to protect them.

What is your experience of working with people in the sex trade who have had crimes committed against them?

I have worked with hundreds of women and many of them have experienced violence of one type or another – be that stranger violence or DV (domestic violence). However, since 2006, my role as a Specialist ISVA was to work with sex workers who had experienced serious sexual violence so that was primarily what I saw.

How do the women you’ve worked with feel about reporting crimes committed against them to the police?

At first, they were reluctant but once we had the first successful outcome at court and the victim spoke highly of how well she had been treated by the police, and they knew I would come out at 3AM if they needed support, they came forward. It took around six months to slowly increase the reports but now it’s the norm.

Before the hate crime model was introduced in Merseyside, what deterred the women from reporting crimes committed against them to the police? 

In the past, there were many reasons: it was perceived as an occupational hazard; the women felt they wouldn’t be believed; they were worried about being ‘outed’ as sex workers; the perpetrator may have been a police officer; fear of recriminations.

Were the women you worked with able to report crimes committed against them to any other agencies instead?

They used to report it to us at the Armistead Street Project, which is a specialist service for sex workers. The service provides many things including outreach and an Ugly Mugs Scheme. The women used Ugly Mugs as a self-help system to warn their friends and colleagues about people who posed a risk to them. Most often, they also agreed for us to pass that information onto the police anonymously.

If a crime was committed against people you know in the sex trade and it was unrelated to their work in the sex trade, do you know if they would feel differently about reporting those crimes to the police?

My clients have never been treated any differently regardless of the type of crime that they were reporting.

How do you think the police view people in the sex trade? And do you think they take crimes committed against them seriously?

Merseyside Police see sex workers as members of our community, sisters, mothers, brothers etc. who are as deserving of protection as we all are. Their priority is their protection. I think an example would be a sex worker who had been raped and had warrants for shoplifting. She was dealt with as a victim and when that was over (the medical, statement etc.) we went with the client and the police to enable her to hand herself in and she was bailed after an hour.

How do you think the police should deal with crimes against people in the sex trade?

As they do here in Merseyside! Make all crimes a hate crime and prioritise protection over enforcement.

How do you feel the Merseyside model of treating crimes against sex workers as hate crimes would benefit people in the sex trade? 

It’s incredibly important. Culturally it sends a message that they are valued and violence against them is unacceptable. There are also important things that happen internally in police investigations when the hate crime tag is applied which means accountability.

Do you feel there is a need for any changes to the Merseyside model if it were to be implemented UK wide? And what would those changes be?

I think it can work anywhere with tweaks to fit with local area needs.

Would you like to see the Merseyside model rolled out across every police force within the UK? 

I certainly would! It would be one of the proudest days of my life. I would like to see it go global!

Make The Merseyside Model – Treating Crimes Against Sex Workers / People in Prostitution as Hate Crimes – Compulsory Across All UK Police Forces

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/49040/

Charity Thanks Coronation Street For ‘Making a Difference to the Lives of Male Victims of Domestic Abuse’

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Following Coronation Street’s success at the British Soap Awards for its cutting edge domestic abuse storyline involving the character Tyrone Dobbs as a male victim, UK charity The ManKind Initiative, believes the storyline has made a difference to hundreds of thousands of men who suffer in silence behind their front door.

The charity experienced treble the number of calls to its national helpline when the episodes featured the domestic abuse storyline (including from mothers and sisters wanting help for their son or brother).

One caller remarked that after seeing the storyline with his abusive partner, he wrote the number of the charity’s helpline number down, called and has now escaped from the relationship he was in.

The charity also believes the storyline has given more confidence to the 500,000 (1) men who suffer from partner abuse each year to get help and also realise they are not alone in suffering in this way. The storyline will also have opened the eyes of the public that domestic abuse also happens to men as well as women.

Mark Brooks, Chairman of the ManKind Initiative, said, “Coronation Street, Alan and Natalie deserve all the plaudits for such an accurate portrayal of the domestic abuse men can face behind their front doors.

“The storyline has changed the lives of so many men in giving them the confidence to get help and opening the eyes of the public that men are also victims of this terrible crime. As a charity working in this field, we cannot thank them enough.”

At the British Soap Awards 2013, the domestic abuse storyline won actor Alan Halsall, the best actor award, Natalie Gumede, the most dramatic performance award and villain of the year, and Coronation Street itself for the best storyline.

According to government figures in 2011/12, 4% of men (491,000) experienced partner abuse.

 

(1) British Crime Survey 2010/11: Office for National Statistics: Crime Survey (Focus on Violent Crime and Sexual Offences, 2011/12 – http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171778_298904.pdf Page 66 and table 4.03)

No Safe Seat for ‘Turnaround’ Ballot MP

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So the plot thickens in regard to ‘ballot bill’ MP James Wharton.

The Independent has revealed that Wharton had previously accused the Conservative party of concentrating too much of their efforts on the in/out Europe debate.

His turnaround is being blamed on the fact that his Stockton South seat is by no means a safe one. Ian Burrell and Andrew Grice, in their profile of Wharton, yesterday revealed

‘With a majority of just 332 votes in the normally solid Labour seat, he is smart enough to know that he might not get the chance to represent his constituents for a second term.’

Europe being the vote-catcher it is at the moment, this situation has highlighted, once again, a politician who is willing to sacrifice his personal integrity for votes.

To see the whole profile visit:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/james-wharton-profile-a-young-man-in-a-hurry-8619874.html

Orchid and Asda Team Up to Fight Male Cancer.

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Throughout 2013 Orchid will be working with over 15,000 colleagues at Asda distribution depots to raise much needed funds, drive awareness of male cancer and promote the work of the charity within local communities.

Asda colleagues will be fundraising for Orchid in a variety of ways throughout the year – running marathons, skydiving and even head shaves. As well as raising funds, Orchid will be working with Asda Distribution to spread vital health messages via Orchid’s community programmes – including regional roadshows and the charity’s Community Golf Programme.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for Orchid. It will make a real difference to the thousands of men and their families who are affected by male cancer and whom we support. With the generous help of Asda colleagues, we can provide much needed support via the Orchid Male Cancer Information Nurse Programme, distribute specialist information, raise awareness of male cancer with the support of Asda distribution colleagues and put funds towards vital, life-saving research.  The partnership will provide a huge boost for our vital work across the UK and we are very grateful to everyone at Asda Distribution for making this possible” says Rebecca Porta, Chief Executive of Orchid.

Lisa Burnett, National Charity Partnership Manager at Asda says “We are very excited to be working with Orchid during 2013 and hope to raise lots of money to support men and their families who are affected by male cancer. With over 43,000 men diagnosed every year we recognise the importance of this new partnership and are committed to making a real difference.”

Founded in the 1960s, Asda today is one of Britain’s leading retailers. It has over 180,000 dedicated Asda colleagues serving customers from 545 stores, including 27 Asda Living stores, 23 depots and eight recycling centres across the UK (Great Britain and Northern Ireland). It has its main home office in Leeds, Yorkshire and its George clothing division based in Lutterworth Leicestershire. Asda serves over 18 million shoppers a week in store and its growing home shopping business serves over 98 per cent of homes.

Tragic Teen’s Family Urge ‘Go To Someone’ If You Discover a Lump

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Picture from North News & Pictures Ltd

Picture from North News & Pictures Ltd

The Daily Mail reported today that 16 year old Mikey Rushby died two weeks after reporting a lump that he’d discovered in his testicle eight months earlier.

His death was so utterly unnecessary.

Guys, you don’t need me to tell you it’s of paramount importance that you check yourselves regularly.

For more information on what to look (and feel) out for visit

http://www.orchid-cancer.org.uk/

To read Mikey’s story, visit the original article at the Daily Mail here