Yesterday this Bird found herself complaining about the complaints department, and was forced to pause for a dry chuckle. Repeating a catalogue of mistakes, misjudgements and misconceptions, I felt is was time to share the joke that is the local police force. Let me make this clear, this Bird has made every attempt not to be anti-police, after all they are only human; it's just that the police make it very hard for me not to be. I would be here all evening, (as I just have with one of the force's finest), if I related to you every detail, so I will regale you, dear Reader, with just a few choice highlights.
So, a message for the boys and girls in blue:
'Restorative Justice' is not appropriate in domestic violence situations. If a person has been persecuted, abused and violated by another, putting the two of them in a room together to 'negotiate', with no trained support, no counseling and no admission of guilt from the perpetrator will result in pain, torment and fear for the victim/survivor, will perpetuate the abuse, and will make the officers involved complicit in that abuse. A harsh conclusion, but true.
Secondly, a Traveller's home is NOT a 'holiday caravan'. This is offensive on so many levels.
Thirdly, if you boys and girls are too fearful to go onto a Traveller site, then perhaps you should try being a bit nicer. We only really bite when provoked.
Last but not least, being passed around a current total of around a dozen officers, spending time and energy repeating stories of events afresh every time, is exhausting and unhelpful. An assigned officer who stays for the duration is essential for avoiding undue distress, and for getting anything real done.
After nine months of telling, demanding and sometimes pleading, nothing has been done to protect this Bird or her family from a horrible, stressful and exhausting situation. For a victim/survivor of abuse and harassment, this dramatically increases the sense of isolation, and exacerbates feelings of helplessness. Repeating stories of abuse and violence brings up distressing emotions and memories causing yet more trauma for abuse survivors.
Boys and girls of the British police service, I'm sorry to say this but you have made a proper dog's arse of helping us out.
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