We Want a Justice System

 

The first picture is my bike as I prefer to remember it. Bought new, for what was a substantial outlay for me. 

The second picture is from a couple of days ago, not long after some pieces of shit had taken it, crashed it and burnt it.

The theft was reported to the police within minutes, and was caught on CCTV. Friends tracked down the wreck not long afterwards, which indicates the bike had a heavy frontal impact which is likely (hopefully) to have injured the rider. No contact from the police. Are they doing anything?

I'm not allowed access to the CCTV. This is due to GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) which is a regulation under EU law, introduced in May 2018. Not for the first time am I thankful for Brexit, as this lunacy is helping the scum stay free. I would by now have shared images on local social media, and maybe have a name. Action could then be taken, even by the police if we handed it to them and they're interested.

The oxygen thieves that took my bike are quite likely to be part of the gang that are regularly seen riding around the area, wheelying up and down the road, causing noise and nuisance, with no helmets on. Yes you've spotted the 'regularly', indicating nothing's been done to stop them yet. The likelihood is these are all stolen bikes, none will therefore be insured, and it's only a matter of time before there's an accident and they injure or even kill somebody. Will the police take more of an interest  then, when it becomes higher profile?

I understand the police are stretched, and this wasn't a crime that involved someone being hurt physically. But that doesn't lessen the impact. Is that my only form of transport? Do I rely on it for work, or to be able to get around to care for someone? Could I therefore lose my job because I can't get there, or someone else  be affected physically or mentally because I can't get to them?

Thankfully none of these apply in this case, but no-one else knows that. And if the rider is stupid or unskilled enough to crash the bike like that within a couple of minutes of taking it, why couldn't it be a person they hit next time? Does a child have to die before action's taken against these scum?

Right-thinking people would say 'no'. They want action now. I'd be quite happy to set up a sting, where we bait the trap and wait along the escape route to stop the perpetrators and 'rehabilitate' them. I'm pretty sure I'd get support, and also that I'd get a knock on my door from the police before the lowlife stopped screaming. 

The danger with this lack of official action is that vigilante groups will be set up. It's happened before where official support has been lacking. Personally I don't have an issue if someone taking what doesn't belong to them gets beaten to within an inch of their life, and if it's the rider of a just-stolen motorcycle it's cut and dried. There is though, the danger that an innocent person is targeted in error, which isn't acceptable.

Police officers themselves are normal people, so have the same feelings as the rest of us. They feel the same about the dregs of our society, but are restricted as to what they can do. I've seen their frustration before when they caught some kids who'd tried to break into a car I owned, and their response was limited. Their application and result in catching the criminals wasn't backed up by the justice system and the pond life walked.

So a message to our new PM is that we have to fund our public services properly. Otherwise you will get decent law abiding people taking the law into their own hands, which will add pressure to police, NHS and fire service as revenge attacks are carried out.

All we want is a safe society, instead of one where the criminals flourish safe in the knowledge they can do what they want.

The Next Chapter

I'm currently in a position I wasn't expecting, and one which isn't particularly welcome at this stage in either my life or my career. 

Staring down the barrel of redundancy - with a payout that isn't life changing - I was reminded that support is available on a personal level. Redundancy isn't personal, although initially it can feel that way. The role is gone, not the person, but the fallout and impact hits real people and their lives. The balance sheet looks healthier, the wealthy avoid or are able to weather the storm, and real people pick up the pieces, struggle and try to start again.

I reached out on a networking site to say I was becoming available for work, and the first response I got - within minutes - was from an ex manager I've not seen or spoken to for years, who shared my post on her network with a supportive message. It was unexpected, though very welcome. Throughout the day I had other supportive messages and offers, all of which lifted me and demonstrated again why accountants can never take over the world.

I also came across an extract from Jamil Qureshi, variously described as a performance coach, entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and much more besides. I first became aware of him when he was guest speaker at an event I attended, and found what he said and the way he delivered it resonated with me. Anyway, judge for yourself here:

https://www.jamilqureshi.com/the-price-of-success-is-always-paid-in-full-and-in-advance

Maybe, like me, you'll be interested enough to see and hear more of him. He's a very engaging speaker.

The conclusion of this piece is a way I've always tried to work with my teams, and it should make you question whether your organisation has the same values, or whether the doors to the Ivory Tower are firmly shut and bolted against such radical thinking. Maybe all companies start off believing in their employees, but at some point they get to a size where staff aren't people, but resource, and therefore able to be bought and sold in the same way as any other commodity. Once you get there, and give the bean counters the keys to the castle, you're fucked.

Not too long ago I heard a CEO of a large mutual saying that mutuality meant that with no shareholders to answer to the business could take a longer term view, which was a huge advantage in business. He's probably right, although if it's not practiced we'll never know. Short term gains and boosts to the balance sheet don't only impress shareholders, they help support big back-slapping bonuses as well, so it can be difficult to totally do away with the standard commercial model of the wealthy getting richer if you're on the receiving end.

I understand the reasons there had to be a change to the operating model at work. Various events since the start of the pandemic meant things had to change, and in fairness to the company they'd held out longer than could have been expected. A number of employees had been paid for over two years for doing very little, although they're happy to forget that now things are changing. There are opportunities for a number of them within the business, and support for those who are looking elsewhere, whether by choice or not.

I've been invited to apply for my existing role, at a lower grade and in competition with peers. I've declined, pointing out the differences between what's being offered and what I actually do in my current role and grade. It's obvious there's going to be a hole there when someone else takes my place. They'll do brilliantly at the core role, but the extra I was tasked with and paid for will have to be picked up somewhere, which doesn't seem to have been considered. But in the short term it's saving the business money.

So I'll start another chapter. I'm sure I'll find something. Maybe I'll go into politics, where the normal rules don't apply. There seem to be regular vacancies, and lack of ability, experience or qualifications doesn't seem to bar you from earning a high salary with extensive perks. Backstabbing appears commonplace, and there's no great expectations that you'll do the right thing for colleagues or anyone else. Add in a bit of nepotism, and it's a great training ground for the world of commerce.

Or maybe I won't.