This blog post is about Hastings Community Justice Panel and "Ethical Outings"
For Friday 5th October 2012, the second anniversary of the pier fire, a team is preparing a performance of the "Ethical Outings in Hastings" play (http://ethicaloutings.blogspot.com)
I have begun to write a scene convening the first
Hastings Community Justice Panel :
Paul Crosland: Thank you for accepting my invite to consider joining this team committed to a deep sense of justice. I've head-hunted you as the people I'd most like to have disputes with over the issue of whether justice has been done in Hastings. We might annually review which matters in our two towns we most wish to see brought to justice. For the time being we start with Hastings Pier Fire.
http://ethicaloutings.blogspot.com
Showing posts with label Hastings Pier. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hastings Pier. Show all posts
August Riots & Hastings Faith in the Criminal Justice System
Hastings & St Leonards didn't have a riot in August this year, as far as I am aware. Perhaps we had one on October 5th last year?; we won't know until we know what the intentions were of those on the pier that night. The 5th October 2010 was, in the words of one contributor to this blog, a night when "the heart was ripped out of Hastings".
(The Hastings Justice Facebook Group is here)
Some people like to save the word 'conflict' for situations of intense physical violence whereas I find it a useful word whenever someone does something I don't like - a conflict of some sort now exists between what I want and what they did that was contrary to that.
The August Riots in London, Birmingham and Manchester are important conflicts, just as 5th October 2010 looks to me like an important conflict in Hastings' history.
What prompted me to make such a controversial link between the August riots and the fire on the pier? It was this email that I received that prompted me in making this link between the two. The correspondent wrote:
How we do this will be discussed on the anniversary of the Pier Fire (Wednesday 5th October 2011 at 7.30pm, (venue to be announced) & again on Saturday 8th October. Further enquires about attending these opportunities to become part of the solution via the Mediation Support Ltd contact form please (Here).
Here's the link to the Panorama programme, the intro to which is as follow "The worst civil unrest for decades has led to tens of millions of pounds of damage, dozens of injured policemen and wide-scale looting as gangs of youths have rampaged through London and other major cities. Panorama tells the full story of the August riots and asks what has led a generation to violence.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b013xy9t/Panorama_The_August_Riots/
The most important part of this film was perhaps the brief account of how the riots ended:
These days I find myself singing to myself this old song called "Riot on Eastbourne Pier":
Addendum (7th September): Sense with hindsight:
The link below is to the most encouraging article I've seen about criminal justice reform for years; especially if people realise that it implies that a Restorative Justice system comes first, and the criminal justice system is residual and just supportive of that. AND ALL THIS IN THE LONDON EVENING STANDARD!
London riots were a wake-up call for criminal justice system
- Does using a word like "riot" really help anyway?
- How many people does it take to start a riot?
- What kind of attention does a riot get?
- Is the attention that riots get the kind of attention that addresses the underlying rifts in the society or not?
(The Hastings Justice Facebook Group is here)
Some people like to save the word 'conflict' for situations of intense physical violence whereas I find it a useful word whenever someone does something I don't like - a conflict of some sort now exists between what I want and what they did that was contrary to that.
The August Riots in London, Birmingham and Manchester are important conflicts, just as 5th October 2010 looks to me like an important conflict in Hastings' history.
What prompted me to make such a controversial link between the August riots and the fire on the pier? It was this email that I received that prompted me in making this link between the two. The correspondent wrote:
"The nation is divided on the rights and wrongs of punishing the rioters. My mother in law apparently nearly came to blows over it. Once the names and pictures of the pier arsonists are published I will begin to regain my faith on British Justice and not before."My view is that one of the things that matters greatly, both for the future of Hastings & St Leonards, and for the future of the cities of London, Birmingham & Manchester, is that in the wake of these conflicts we learn something about the underlying causes and, as responsible citizens, each become part of the solution.
How we do this will be discussed on the anniversary of the Pier Fire (Wednesday 5th October 2011 at 7.30pm, (venue to be announced) & again on Saturday 8th October. Further enquires about attending these opportunities to become part of the solution via the Mediation Support Ltd contact form please (Here).
Here's the link to the Panorama programme, the intro to which is as follow "The worst civil unrest for decades has led to tens of millions of pounds of damage, dozens of injured policemen and wide-scale looting as gangs of youths have rampaged through London and other major cities. Panorama tells the full story of the August riots and asks what has led a generation to violence.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b013xy9t/Panorama_The_August_Riots/
The most important part of this film was perhaps the brief account of how the riots ended:
These days I find myself singing to myself this old song called "Riot on Eastbourne Pier":
Addendum (7th September): Sense with hindsight:
The link below is to the most encouraging article I've seen about criminal justice reform for years; especially if people realise that it implies that a Restorative Justice system comes first, and the criminal justice system is residual and just supportive of that. AND ALL THIS IN THE LONDON EVENING STANDARD!
London riots were a wake-up call for criminal justice system
Amber Rudd (MP), Jon Djanogly (Minister for Courts) & pier fire anniversary events
I'm now sharing two letters (on two consecutive days a month ago) from the local MP, Amber Rudd, about the process of getting a community justice process in Hastings for those on the pier on 5th October last year.
It is hoped that at least one of those on the pier last year will write a letter to at least one of the 'victims' of that fire, so that it can be read out at the anniversary meetings:
Wednesday 5th October 7.30pm-10pm*
Film: Burning Bridges
(Followed by a discussion on what community justice looks like in Hastings/St Leonards)
SAME AGAIN; ONLY DIFFERENT
Saturday 8th October 7.30pm-10pm*
Here I disagree with the non-Domestic Violence view expressed by my colleague Maria in this interview on the Vanessa show:
To understand what role mediation can play in generating safety (& clarity) for family members in Domestic Violence cases may require a longer period of time than a TV programme like this can give it, and the case for mediation for all conflicts (other than those where 'the protective use of force' is required urgently) may better be progressed a stage at a time.
*Venue for both events to be announced in accordance with bookings
It is hoped that at least one of those on the pier last year will write a letter to at least one of the 'victims' of that fire, so that it can be read out at the anniversary meetings:
Wednesday 5th October 7.30pm-10pm*
Film: Burning Bridges
(Followed by a discussion on what community justice looks like in Hastings/St Leonards)
SAME AGAIN; ONLY DIFFERENT
Saturday 8th October 7.30pm-10pm*
Film: Burning Bridges
(Followed by a discussion on what community justice looks like in Hastings/St Leonards)
"Some years before I became a Criminologist, with a Masters Degree in Criminology from Cambridge University, I was a foolish young man at Oxford Polytechnic, where, amongst other things, I threw away my would be degree in Business Studies; focussing instead on political activism. Also politically active there was Jon Djanogly, now the minister for courts, so it will no doubt be an interesting set of correspondence or meetings that I have with him to advance the mediation process in Hastings / St Leonards in relation to the pier fire." (Paul Crosland, CEO, Mediation Support Ltd)Jonathan Djanogly's much appreciated initiatives in advancing mediation in divorce law are reported by the BBC here; the main issue I have here though, is the exclusion of mediation work in Domestic Violence cases.
Here I disagree with the non-Domestic Violence view expressed by my colleague Maria in this interview on the Vanessa show:
To understand what role mediation can play in generating safety (& clarity) for family members in Domestic Violence cases may require a longer period of time than a TV programme like this can give it, and the case for mediation for all conflicts (other than those where 'the protective use of force' is required urgently) may better be progressed a stage at a time.
*Venue for both events to be announced in accordance with bookings
Press release about not pressing charges in relation to the fire
"The Crown Prosecution Service has decided that no charges can be brought against either of the two men arrested on suspicion of their involvement in a fire at Hastings Pier in October 2010.********
Tim Thompson, head of the CPS Brighton Trials Unit said: "Sussex Police arrested two suspects in connection with this fire. The focus of the police investigation has been to establish what happened and who was responsible. The case has been carefully reviewed by the CPS, in consultation with the investigating officers.
"The nature of the structure and the extent of the fire combined to make this a particularly difficult crime scene. There is evidence to place both suspects, as trespassers, on the pier at the material time. There is evidence that a fire started through some human act at the time they were on the pier. We are left in the position where we cannot show how the fire was started and cannot show that the human act must have been a criminal act.
"We cannot show that there was or must have been any kind of joint plan. We have no admissible evidence to show which of the two suspects might have been responsible. We cannot prosecute on the basis that one or other of the two suspects might have been responsible; we can only prosecute where there is enough evidence against an individual.
"All reasonable lines of enquiry have been pursued and I have concluded that the two suspects should be told that they will not be charged. The decision has been taken on the evidence and information available to us. If new information comes to light the case will be reconsidered.
"I appreciate there will be concern that no one is being prosecuted. It is disappointing that we are not able to mount a prosecution in a case that is of considerable local interest but it is our responsibility to only bring prosecutions where there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction."
Here's a sideways response from the top of a hill:
The above response is by the incorrigible Imperfect Idealist,who has experienced a thing or two in relation to growing by facing up to what he's done.
How this has been reported in the national media:
Local Press:
- The Argus (Brighton)
More news will be found on the three other main other channels I use, so subscribe (or just read) 1-3 of these:
- YouTube Channel: Toothpaste007
- Twitter Stream: www.twitter.com/paulcrosland #HastingsJustice
- "Hastings Justice" Facebook Group
- Hastings Justice blog
(Transcript of this interview on this Restorative Justice home page)
Who decides what justice is?
Other pages on this blog:
Home
Mediation Support at Southwater Community Centre
Action for Happiness -A Good Week
Paul C -AKA Lend-It-All Man
Why Move to Hastings?
What I did that led to Hastings Pier Fire
I offered earlier (here) to share my theory about how I let Hastings & St Leonards down in 2010 in the run up to the 5th October fire. Many of us probably did something that impacted on which building caught fire that night; it's just that the links between our actions and those of some identified (yet anonymous) youths from St Leonards are not so easy to see.
I was nervous about posting this video, and the reactions I've got have justified those nerves. Am I too far out on a limb here in what I'm communicating with the community I've chosen to move into as a result of the 5th October fire?
Some would say that when I say something that doesn't go down well, I should stop digging a hole for myself:
I suggest that the best I can do is carry on in my imperfect way (my AKA is 'The Imperfect Idealist') doing all I can to share.
(My other alias is 'Lend-It-All Man':
Having worked part-time on sharing initiatives since summer 2007, when I co-founded a 'transition group' in my local area, my work has been recognised by environmental and business innovation think tanks i.e.on the importance of sharing, and the innovations that will make it happen.
Now my recommendation is that people use www.streetbank.com and that Hastings/St Leonards (where resources are scarcer than many other places) becomes a model of sharing for the rest of the UK.
Anyhow, here's the video I offered in December; I'm keen to hear what events you connect together as the deeper story of this sea-side town getting to this place of pier destruction:
Other pages on this blog:I was nervous about posting this video, and the reactions I've got have justified those nerves. Am I too far out on a limb here in what I'm communicating with the community I've chosen to move into as a result of the 5th October fire?
Some would say that when I say something that doesn't go down well, I should stop digging a hole for myself:
(My other alias is 'Lend-It-All Man':
Having worked part-time on sharing initiatives since summer 2007, when I co-founded a 'transition group' in my local area, my work has been recognised by environmental and business innovation think tanks i.e.on the importance of sharing, and the innovations that will make it happen.
Now my recommendation is that people use www.streetbank.com and that Hastings/St Leonards (where resources are scarcer than many other places) becomes a model of sharing for the rest of the UK.
Anyhow, here's the video I offered in December; I'm keen to hear what events you connect together as the deeper story of this sea-side town getting to this place of pier destruction:
Home
Mediation Support at Southwater Community Centre
Action for Happiness -A Good Week
Paul C -AKA Lend-It-All Man
Why Move to Hastings?
How's your inter-generational communication?
Below is an example of how some understanding was built between two people of different generations who've never met and yet who have impacted on each other's lives.
First there was the 5th October 2010 Hastings Pier Fire. Then there was their communication about how they were affected. If you were affected too:
How would you respond to someone making fun of your sadness and tears? The Level 1 response might well be frustration, rage, hatred and/or withdrawl/depression? The response that might come beyond that (Level 2) might be a wish to have yourself understood. Is it likely that you will get that understanding from them?
One way that is more likely to get that understanding is the Level 3 response - by seeking to understand first
what is going on for the other.
Getting to Level 3 - Mutual understanding - enables many possible Level 4 outcomes; commitments to make things better in the future. For example, you may want to live in example, a safer society and to create a more "caring and sharing Hastings" etc.
By learning about what lay behind people's actions you get the opportunity to create whatever you care about that depends on the behaviour of all involved. Level 5 goes beyond making commitments; it tests those commitments over time, bringing the people who made them back together to check out that the plans are working for people and creating what they wanted to create. Sometimes adjustments are necessary to the strategies we have been following; others can help us get real in how we make our dreams of what we want where we live come true.
To seek to understand what motivated an action is not to deny or excuse anyone their responsibility for what happened.
Other pages on this blog:
Home
Mediation Support at Southwater Community Centre
Action for Happiness -A Good Week
Paul C -AKA Lend-It-All Man
Why Move to Hastings?
First there was the 5th October 2010 Hastings Pier Fire. Then there was their communication about how they were affected. If you were affected too:
- How have you been communicating about it?
- What's happened as a result of your communication?
How would you respond to someone making fun of your sadness and tears? The Level 1 response might well be frustration, rage, hatred and/or withdrawl/depression? The response that might come beyond that (Level 2) might be a wish to have yourself understood. Is it likely that you will get that understanding from them?
One way that is more likely to get that understanding is the Level 3 response - by seeking to understand first
what is going on for the other.
Getting to Level 3 - Mutual understanding - enables many possible Level 4 outcomes; commitments to make things better in the future. For example, you may want to live in example, a safer society and to create a more "caring and sharing Hastings" etc.
By learning about what lay behind people's actions you get the opportunity to create whatever you care about that depends on the behaviour of all involved. Level 5 goes beyond making commitments; it tests those commitments over time, bringing the people who made them back together to check out that the plans are working for people and creating what they wanted to create. Sometimes adjustments are necessary to the strategies we have been following; others can help us get real in how we make our dreams of what we want where we live come true.
To seek to understand what motivated an action is not to deny or excuse anyone their responsibility for what happened.
Other pages on this blog:
Home
Mediation Support at Southwater Community Centre
Action for Happiness -A Good Week
Paul C -AKA Lend-It-All Man
Why Move to Hastings?
Even those who started the fire may have loved the pier
-is that possible?
Black Tide; poem by CVG, St Leonards-on-Sea, 9/10/2010
Black Tide
A black tide has rolled in,
A black tide of starlings,
A black tide of rats’ bones, charred,
A black tide of timber, plastic, glass and twisted metal:
The sea-claimed refuse of the night of flame.
‘You can save me’ read the banners.
‘Everyone loves the Pier’ said the poster
You trampled as you scaled the railings
To tear the heart out of the town
And release the black tide
Home
Mediation Support at Southwater Community Centre
Action for Happiness -A Good Week
Paul C -AKA Lend-It-All Man
Why Move to Hastings?
Black Tide; poem by CVG, St Leonards-on-Sea, 9/10/2010
Black Tide
A black tide has rolled in,
A black tide of starlings,
A black tide of rats’ bones, charred,
A black tide of timber, plastic, glass and twisted metal:
The sea-claimed refuse of the night of flame.
‘You can save me’ read the banners.
‘Everyone loves the Pier’ said the poster
You trampled as you scaled the railings
To tear the heart out of the town
And release the black tide
(Photo is of blog author, Paul Crosland)
Other pages on this blog:Home
Mediation Support at Southwater Community Centre
Action for Happiness -A Good Week
Paul C -AKA Lend-It-All Man
Why Move to Hastings?
A Telling Time in Sussex
My focus is on providing a way for privately recorded videos and text-messaging for those who have something directly to say to 'Was 18' and 'Was 19', their representatives, or others.
I am amazed and greatly heartened by what one local resident in particular wishes to record and communicate to them on an appropriate timescale.
For clarity, I am in no hurry to establish the direct contact with the arsonists, even though I know someone who knows them. Rather, I will prudently be involving individuals employed in the criminal justice system to moderate/mediate communications which do go to 'Was 18', ''Was 19'.
Communication on "The People's Justice" website will also be for anyone else who is charged in Hastings with offences involving criminal damage, especially by fire. (eg Hastings Observer, 29th October, p3 -"A teenager has been arrested after a spate of car fires.)
Home
Mediation Support at Southwater Community Centre
Action for Happiness -A Good Week
Paul C -AKA Lend-It-All Man
Why Move to Hastings?
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