Hastings Pier Fire - the non-arson theory

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Intro to this blog & ACT Hastings! (Actively Changing Things in Hastings!)

You are invited to read this blog and then to write for this blog. Comments on the pieces here are not moderated (until abuse occurs) and if you want to write new posts, phone me and I'll enable you to do so, just as I have for the activist, Scott Ellis, who published his letter in 8th October's Hastings & St Leonards Observer to say that "Maybe the destruction of the pier is the boot up the backside we need."

Last Saturday's meeting arranged by "kick up the backside" Scott Ellis has led to the formation of a group of 25-30 people (at present) under the name ACT Hastings!    (Actively Changing Things in Hastings!). Other contact details and information on the areas of work being undertaken to improve Hastings will follow.
 
The pier fire is certainly what 'fired me up' to volunteer in the Pier Shop at 34, White Rock. I'm also moved by the community I see to move to St Leonards in 2011. A friend there says that the heart has been torn out of Hastings; yet I've seen it beating more strongly than ever. Personally, I put much of my heart and soul into providing web-based services to access people committed to offering their best and creating better communities. My mission: "That Sussex becomes somewhere where no-one wants to set light to a pier".
On bonfire night, a month after the pier fire, the "Sussex People's Justice" service is to be launched via this blog:

Who am I to use web-sites to engage communities in this way?

• Co-director of Freelending Community Interest Company 
• Director of Mediation Support Ltd, 
• Personally invited to 10, Downing St to be thanked by the PM for my work on behalf of victims of crime. 
• Former Head of Restorative Justice, Mediation UK (2001-2006)

For the time-being I am not in contact with the “arsonists”, though I know someone who knows them.

First contact might be made with their:

- friends/family

- those in the criminal justice system who in some way “supervise” them.

Somewhere down the line I hope that the words & voices of the community recorded on the people's justice website will lead to a dialogue with whoever comes forward as a representative of the “arsonists”. It may be that other 18 & 19 year olds, or other (ex) “arsonists” offer to talk to the wider community in the first place.

Whatever you would want to ask or tell to each of the arsonists, type it or record it here or on the one-to-one video-messaging site to be announced here on 5th November.

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Thanking an HPWRT Trustee for offering to arrange a screening of the "Burning Bridges" DVD

Thank you for your work in getting a screening opportunity for 'Burning Bridges'. Before this is shown to a large group, I'd really like there to be a showing or two to not more than twelve people. Holding a discussion in a circle afterwards is a key component of the community process which I'd like to see. Only when the community has had it's say and framed some questions do I want to offer my experience for what it's worth & similarly offer my views and choice of ways forward (to be discussed).
It matters to me that a pier trustee, such as yourself, is setting this in place. I'm lacking in 'legitimacy', time and support than do more at present than:
-make myself available as per my calendar gaps (www.paulscalendar.pbworks.com)
-visit Hastings and listen to people as much as I can
-maintain www.sussexcommunity.blogspot.com 
-launch the "People's Justice" website on 5th November.

Best wishes
Paul
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Sussex People's Justice -launched 5th November - will be based on the winning idea at the 2010 Social Innovation Camp (www.jailbrake.org)

At the 2010 Social Innovation Camp, the team I was in, led by Aleksi Knuutila, won the competition for the web/mobile phone based idea most likely to reduce youth offending/ youth custody.
The judges of www.jailbrake.org were from:

• The Youth Justice Board
• The Prison Reform Trust
• The Police Improvement Agency
• Foyer Housing Foundation

Jailbrake 2010 from The People Speak on Vimeo.

NB I introduce my passion for Restorative Justice 2 minutes and 44 seconds into the above video, and go on to summarise some of the personal experience that led to that passion and my time as Restorative Justice Co-ordinator working in HMP Bristol; a job which I took up after a lovely holiday spent in Hastings in 2007.
More information about how People's Justice will work in Hastings here.
What I see myself as doing in Hastings is showcasing the idea that anyone can start a conversation about a crime, or other incident in which they have been embroiled and that the outcomes of such conversations will be unexpected and usually beneficial to a number of people. Time will tell if the service due to be launched on Bonfire Night proves this process and it's benefits in a Sussex town.

HASTINGS PIER EMERGENCY FUND

Lesley writes:
We want to see a community-owned 21st century pleasure pier serving residents, visitors with a year-round offer of leisure, pleasure, education, entertainment, arts, business & job opportunities”

The Emergency Fund will be used to stabilise the bridge and central section Pier to mitigate against the risk of collapse during the Winter Storms.

You can pay money in at any HSBC Bank in the country. Just pick up a paying in slip enter the following information and hand to the teller.

Sort Code 40-23-18 Account 12249871

This service is free

Please pass the above information on to as many people as you can

Hasting Pier and White Rock Trust (HPWRT) Adopt a Plank

Here is a link to some downloadable community information.
Click below the picture to directly download the 'Adopt a Plank' form:

http://restorativejustice.pbworks.com/f/ADOPT+A+PLANK+Order+Form.doc

Here, in the midst of this video, is someone in the Pier Shop, 34, White Rock adopting a plank:

Here is the main HPWRT website.
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WANTED: Garage-sized storage space in Hastings (or preferably St Leonards)

At the end of October 2010 I moved a library of community resources into two garages in Bexhill, which will from Spring 2011 onwards gradually be offered on www.freelender.org 

 
Ideally, I'm looking for a garage worth's of storage space to the West of London Road i.e. in St Leonards. This will largely be to bring the library closer to Hastings, The themes of this library are: 

• Mediation
• Management that serves
• Transition 
• Transformation 

The abbreviated name of this community resource is to be the MMTT library. 

If you have any books & DVDs etc which you are pleased to offer to trustworthy people who will come round at a convenient time and borrow, then return the items as requested then please add these items to www.freelender.org
(By all means consider asking for deposits when you lend using this service)

For more on freelending & this library see:
http://freelenders.blogspot.com
& The Mediation Support Ltd Mediation Library  
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Seeking to make up for the 'justice deficit' that gives 'victims' of the fire little say.

There are two aspects to justice; that by the state, and that which involves the victims and communities more directly. In societies that have lost the engagement that is characteristic of true community, justice is left to the state to perform on our behalf, and a massive loss, or 'justice deficit', follows.

If you want the full picture as seen by an early visionary in the field of restorative justice and regenerating communities, please read Nils Christie's "Conflicts as Property". 
The article can be downloaded from the 'Restorative Justice Resources' website  (the file is here)
Please note that this article was written before the term 'restorative justice' was coined.

(I write this posting as a criminologist, or ex-criminologist, who was employed at the Institute of Criminology in the Faculty of Law at Cambridge University (1997-2001). In 2001 I took a job enabling me to influence the on-going development of Restorative Justice in England & Wales. Whilst still working to that brief, I live now as a community activist wanting a deeper form of justice than that which we are usually offered, and moving to live closer to friends, family and the community I see in Hastings/St Leonards in September 2011.)


Nils Christie is my favourite criminologist. He writes about why our conflicts are valuable to communities and how we (or our predecessors) have handed over one of our most valuable resources, conflicts, exclusively to the Criminal Justice System. This handing over of our responsibility is our loss.

Nils Christie's latest UK lecture -see this University of Oxford News Item, with a link to the talk - challenges many views and includes:

• a view of the Welfare State as unsustainable & damaging
• concern at an 'apartheid' to be addressed between youth and adults (30 minutes in)
• arson prevention strategy in Swedish schools (16 minutes in).

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Your invitation to record a message for the 'arsonists' here; public or private

In response to the Hastings Pier Fire, the "Sussex People's Justice" website will be launched before bonfire night (a month after the fire) by Paul Crosland, former Restorative Justice Co-ordinator in HMP Bristol). This site offers Restorative Justice across Sussex, for all who have grievances and things to get off their-chest, firstly in relation to the 5th October pier fire.
From 5th November you will be able to send:

• text messages to the 'arsonists', aged 18 & 19 from St Leonards on Sea
• audio messages to the 'arsonists', aged 18 & 19 from St Leonards on Sea
• video messages to 'arsonists', aged 18 & 19 from St Leonards on Sea

What do you want to ask them? What do you want to tell them? Will this best be handled by mediators or is it a public message/question that you have for them?
If, instead of private communication, you want your words to them to be public, please use the comment option below this blog posting.
P.S. In the longer term, I will endeavour to make the "Sussex People's Justice"
service available in all Sussex Prisons, as part of my long-term Restorative Prisons work.
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Alleged 'arsonists' due to have their bail reviewed in court on 2nd November; after that let's watch this documentary together?

Bail was renewed until 1st & 2nd December 2010.
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October Meeting for Residents that want to do something about the town of Hastings

Scott Ellis has just phoned, in advance of emailing to 15 supporters of his letter, and has called a meeting.
This will  be held on Saturday 23rd Oct 2pm at The Stag, All Saints St in the Old Town.
He wrote in a follow-up email;
"please encourage any friends or family to come along too if they are interested in getting involved."
 (Scott received 15 responses, all supportive, in teh four days following publication of this correspondence in the Hastings & St Leonards Observer, 8th October)
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Is this Blog welcome in Hastings?

Below these four YouTube videos which I filmed in Hastings/St Leonards over the weekend is a troubling letter which I've received (indirectly) and which I share particularly with Hastings residents for your feedback please?

Relevant links:

Hastings Pier & White Rock Trust (HPWRT) website

The Tragic Battle for Hastings (Sunday 10th October 2010 Observer article)

Hastings & St Leonards Observer

Relevant links:

Hastings Pier & White Rock Trust (HPWRT) website

Hastings & St Leonards Observer

After filming the chip shop clip above, a Pier Trustee rang me and said there was no insurance.
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Sussex Community: "Boot up the backside was what we needed"

Sussex Community: "Boot up the backside was what we needed"
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"Boot up the backside was what we needed"

News update: Scott Ellis co-ordinates an October meeting for residents that want to do something about the town of Hastings.

From Friday 8th October's Hastings & St Leonards Observer, the letter that grabbed my attention the most was the one given the headline:"Boot up the backside was what we needed".
I quote the beginning and the end of that letter and then copy the correspondence since with Scott Ellis of Homesdale Gardens:
This town has become an absolute disgrace.Ithas become a breeding ground for The Jeremy Kyle Show. Surely now, after the defacing of the Banksy and the burning of the pier, it has to be the final straw.
...
We need to at least be on par with decent seaside destinations both here and abroad to attract the right type of visitors to the town.
Maybe the destruction of the pier is the boot up the backside we need. Let's force boring councillors to give their decision making over to a local team of talented, passionate, creative and visionary individuals with backbone, drive and clout, who can then spend a few years moulding Hastings into the aspiring seaside resort it once was and should be.
Anyone interested in ruffling some feathers and forming a group to discuss this further please mail me at scott@rockettmedia.co.uk 

I wrote to Scott as follows:
Dear Scott

Out of all the letters in the Observer yours was the only one I wanted to re-publish.
Permission to blog your letter & email address, please on www.sussexcommunity.blogspot.com ?

Please also vote on whether you want £500k to be spent on incarceration of those who burned down Hastings Pier:
www.sussexcommunity.blogspot.com

Restorative Justice, to me, is the creation of a quality of connection where everyone's needs matter, pain is allowed expression and dreams are at least shared, whether or not they are subsequently enacted, together or apart.
Best wishes,
Paul
 
Scott replied:

Please feel free to publish my letter and anything in this email. It's the first time I've ever written a letter to a newspaper, but it got to the point where enough is enough. I've had lots and lots of mails in support and will probably be holding a meeting next Saturday early afternoon for all those who want to get involved. Time and place to be arranged, I'll let you know via email in the week. I hope you can attend, the aim of the meeting is to try and formalise things a little and discuss what direction the group will take. Of course the pier is in all our interests to get rebuilt to the highest standard, but for now I think it's best to focus on a shorter term plan to try and make Hastings a nicer place for residents and visitors, then we can add our weight to the bigger money projects (ie the pier, ice rink, bathing pool) as we grow. I've pasted below a response I've sent out to many of the locals who have shown an interest....

My plan really is to get some ideas together from people like yourselves and condense them into a shortlist which everybody who's shown an interest is in agreement on.

Once these are identified, then arrange for us all to meet in a week for a chat and try and set something a bit more formal up for a further meeting with some of the councillors and others who may have some clout.

Whether the councillors be willing to come and get an earful from us remains to be seen, but where there's a will there's a way! We'll have to hijack them at their offices if not. All we need really is to convince them that our ideas are good for the town (which they will be) and get them to show a bit of interest and backbone in getting them implemented.
Surely it's in these councillors interests to do this to make a bit of a name for themselves(?)

I think the ideas generated should be for short to medium term practical things that won't cost the council too much to put into place. As money can't be the reason for them not to act, we can put some pressure on them immediately to get the ball rolling.I've listed a few below to give you an idea on what I'm thinking, and would welcome your input from any additional thoughts or views/improvements you might have.

Re the Carnival.  Get the whole thing properly co-ordinated and add some eye candy for excitement (ie stilt walkers, fire eaters, ridiculous costumes etc). We have lots of design degree courses running in Hastings and Brighton, lots of artists and creative people living in the town. Let's get them properly involved, have a group heading things up and co-ordinating, run some design competitions with local secondary schools/college/university etc. Arrange some local workshops with the costume and float designers who are involved with Notting Hill/Mardi Gras(Brighton). Anything has to be better than the crap we have already.

Any scruffy properties on roads in Hastings and St Leonards within 1mile of the town centre or seafront to be given 12 months to give them a compulsory lick of paint and a tidy up. This would make it look like there's a bit of pride about the place. Maybe some kind of monetary incentive like reduced council tax(and maybe some of the herberts doing community service could also get involved in painting and/or improving communal areas)

Old Town Licensing.  Extend the noise curfew until later and encourage a more European approach to things. (A few moany residents in George St are suffocating the place). 'If you don't like noise then don't move to an area full of pubs, bars and restaurants'.

No taxis or vehicles allowed on George St on Fri or Sat evening.

The fountain roundabout needs sorting out. The edges of it are broken and scuffed from lorry wheels and years of neglect. It needs knocking down and rebuilding. Maybe a big stunning piece of artwork or sculpture in the middle, properly lit up so that it becomes a talking point and a landmark. (The television was invented in Hastings, maybe a tribute to the evolution of TV or a John Logie Baird or something?)

Strictly enforced bigger fines for dog owners who mess the place. Three strikes and you lose your dog. (Maybe that's a bit extreme but you know where I'm coming from!)

Proper encouragement made to replace tacky and cheap looking signage above shopfronts and in shopwindows with something classier and a bit more fitting to a stunning seaside location. Brighton, Bournemouth don't have this problem, it's made Hastings look cheap and nasty for years. Time to inject a bit of quality and style...

Any empty shops in the town centre or seafront to be used in a constructive manner (ie free display area for local students/artists, small business, entrepreneurs) until they find tenants. This should be compulsory.

A serious attempt be made and proper incentives given to attract a big 4 or 5 star hotel chain to look at opening in Hastings to start raising the profile of the place a bit.

The town website is rubbish. This needs to be a million times more attractive as it's the Hastings shopwindow to the whole world. And promoted properly online too to attract the right clientele.

Obviously these are just ideas at the moment and can be elaborated on or sidelined depending on the interest from within the group. I hope you both find them of interest, I'd be keen to hear your thoughts.

Kind Regards,
Scott.

Hastings Pier Fire - Sunday Morning

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Hastings Pier Fire - The Pier Shop Window

34, White Rock, Hastings:

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Hastings Pier Fire - The Phoenix Series - Keir Interviews 1, 2 & 3

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Hastings Pier Fire - Phoenix Taxis

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What is the problem in Hastings?

RE hastingspier - just received a call saying "Hang on, the pier isn't the problem we've got in Hastings". What do you think the problem is?
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How a "modest" door-knocker could raise £500,000 for HPWRT

The HPWRT YouTube videos builds my confidence in HPWRT as an organisation I'm willing to raise £500k for through doing a year's door-knocking, supported by a booklet of the same quality as that which karuna.org use. How come £500k; that's the five-yearly income based on people signing up for £10/month and I reckon I could get 5-6 sign-ups per night going out to about 3000-5000 selected Sussex houses over 200 days between October 2011 & October 2012.
UPDATE TO THIS BLOG POST:
PLEASE NOTE THAT I WROTE 'SUSSEX HOUSES'; many of the standing-orders will be signed by people outside Hastings & St Leonards, I reckon.
Nonetheless I have received the following feedback:

Paul, I've just read your blogspot on fundraising...

 

The HPWRT YouTube videos builds my confidence in HPWRT as an organisation I'm willing to raise £500k for through doing a year's door-knocking, supported by a booklet of the same quality as that which karuna.org use. How come £500k; that's the five-yearly income based on people signing up for £10/month and I reckon I could get 5-6 sign-ups per night going out to about 3000-5000 selected Sussex houses over 200 days between October 2011 & October 2012.

....please remember that Hastings/St Leonards is the poor end of East Sussex; 40% of E.Sussex's unemployed are resident here. In fact Hollington (north-end of St Leonards), is apparently the 6th poorest ward in the country, Social services have relocated long-termed unemployed from the London Boroughs (because of cheap housing) down here over the last 20-30 years.

 

What I am trying to say is that you are unlikely to get people to donate to the extent  that you are suggesting above, particularly in such an area of economic disadvantage, and that's to say nothing of the economic climate generally at the moment and the forecast for the medium-term.  If it was Brighton, a well-heeled town, it might be different.  I'm only saying this as I don't want you to waste your time and energies - they might better be directed elsewhere - sorry to sound like a killjoy.

message to the "arsonists"

There are a number of ways to send messages to the two individuals accused of the 5th October 2010 Hastings Pier arson. One very public way is via YouTube; tagging your video: "A message to the Hastings Pier Fire 'arsonists'". The more private way, based on award winning* work by Restorative Technology Ltd will be launched here and on my twitterstream (#hastingspier) by the end of October.
*www.jailbrake.org - see the video of our winning Restorative Justice Messaging work there.
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Paul Crosland's master blog

The blog where I summarise all my activities -and have more on Hastings & Restorative Justice- is:
www.additionalinfo.blogspot.com
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Mission Statement

- Support the (People's) Pier
- Build a Community that really shares & cares
- Generate a deeper justice in Sussex

Community Resources:

• Hastings Pier & White Rock Trust
  
• Lets All Share
• freelender.org
• Sussex Community Blogspot
• Sussex: Telling Time (Restorative Justice & mediation on-line)

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