Trident Dismantled

The killings that go on in our community predominantly amongst young Black Boys (Wherever they are in the world).  Is appalling.   (Looking for stronger word).  The sadness I feel in my heart with this senseless killing, whenever I hear about another killing a piece of my heart breaks even more.  

A few years ago we there seemed to be an epidemic of young men being killed.  The Police appeared helpless, this was during the time of TRIDENT, a police initiative which.  I will say it how I saw it, ‘Standing by and waiting for information from local communities’  The theory seem to be that within the Black Community we knew who was responsible for the killings and we were keeping these secrets within our community.  I objected  to this on many reasons, I pay my taxes like everyone else why was I being subjected to what I could only consider to be, lets call it ‘Special Treatment’.  Special treatment which meant we were all made to feel like we were all withholding information which could lead to the resolving of a crime.  What could we possibly have to gain from allowing these criminals to go around killing young men.

At the time I was in my 30’s sincerely I knew, no one who knew about the killings, about who was doing it, as part of the elder community we could speculate.  We would agree with the speculation it was no doubt drug related.  I lived within Brixton at the time a notorious area for such killings and drug dealing of which I saw nothing and knew nothing, I wasn’t in the loop although I had lived in this area for over fifteen years and I knew no one.  So whoever had this information that the TRIDENT officers were relying on to approach them I didn’t know them.  After about ten years it was  dismantled.  How many cases did they resolve? How many cases are still open? How many cases were resolved by the information provided by the community?

I wrote this poem as I was haunted by  picture  I remembered seeing in the Metro a few weeks earlier, such  beautiful picture one for the album.

Posted FB 25/02/13

#23 Last Smile

The picture of a proud mother

Her hand placed gently on his shoulder

Him smiling in that

'I really should be embarrassed at my age to be skinning my teeth like this'

But Mum's so happy I will give my street cred a miss

They share the same smile

They share the same goals

Some wicked person, who? We just don't know

Has taken him from his loving Mother

Ended his life

Terminated his dreams

That picture captured them so well

smiling because no one knows what the future holds

Cherish our children grow them well

There is nothing that can prepare you for this type of hell.

The taking of another life it is not correct it's not right

Daily on our screen this phenomena is clouding our dreams.

Make it stop! Make it stop!

No more of our young men taken down in their prime

Its like a culling of the next generation

where only the ruthless heartless and troubled will survive.

Crowd Control

Travelling on London underground can be daunting, they have carried out studies in Crowd Control, they spend a considerable amount of time and money on ensuring that passengers are safe whilst travelling on the underground.  When you purchase a ticket you are not just paying for a journey from point A - B you are investing in a safe service from the point of entry to when you leave the transport system.  I occasionally interchange at Holborn Station which can get very busy during the rush hour.  It can be quite worrying when you first arrive on the platform you end up in what seems like a bottle neck, it takes you a time to get your bearings.  You have arrived  in the middle of the platform with everyone else in close proximity to you, all doing the same thing.  Everyone is trying to read the matrix board to see what time the next train is.  How can this be improved. On average everyone stands there for about 30 seconds motionless, of course people are still streaming in behind you, before you know it you are standing 5 people deep feeling quite claustrophobic.

This is where London Underground’s money and research come into play, Crowd Control (Sounds like a Football Crowd).  They have deployed a member of staff to stand on the platform with a loud haile, his role is to say ‘Move to the right’ he explains that if we moved to the right there would be more space towards that part of the train, I believed him.  Two trains later I was able to board the train, was there more space for me at the position on the platform? I can’t say, what I did know is I didn’t want to be here anymore, after all I am on my way home and this is just meant to be an interchange, the walk from the Piccadilly line to Central was long enough now my estimated 4 minutes change is now looking like 10 minutes.  I don’t have 10 minutes spare in my day, so despite the amount of people already packed on the train I will get on.

Posted FB 07/04/13

#65 Move to the Right

I arrived at the platform

I wasn't alone

It was like everyone had left home

They stood congregated at the station

Move to the right Said the voice

Instructions firm yet polite

I felt I had no choice

I obediently complied

When the train arrived I wanted to ask why

This was requested of me I felt cheated

My initial thoughts cannot be repeated

I should of stood where I stand

Not listen to the Man

After all am I my own wo-man

My people have spent years being transported

From land to sea to land

Here was me doing it freely

Where is the fighting spirit in me?

I can’t respond to every voice

They all can’t all be right

So next time I am commanded

I will be demanding

An explanation at least

Before I listen to this headless beast