by Carl Andrew
“So this is really happening? Is it the whole force or just the Met?”
“The movement is gaining momentum, rapidly. It’ll be up and down the country before too long,” the man said. More in control of his emotions now, he was talking with a comfortable air.
“And when is this likely to start?” Leon asked.
“Soon, within a week at least.”
Leon was dumbfounded by what he was hearing. One further question beckoned.
“One final thing I want to ask, why are you telling me? What do you expect to get out of it?”
“Mr Bryant…. I mean Leon. It’s common knowledge that your blog engages more readers than any other news source in Britain. The people need to know. They feel safe now but that’s all going to change. I’m sick of seeing blood soaked streets and innocent people suffering,” the man spoke with precision and genuine angst now.
“I want you, no…. no… I NEED you to tell the people that this is happening. They need to be protected against the backlash from the violent gangs that will obviously follow the removal of the police from their current active duty under Lawson’s Law,” he concluded.
“This is really going to take place isn’t it?” said Leon, almost in need of final corroboration.
“Leon, I’ve never been more certain of anything. I could see it in the faces of my colleagues at the meeting,” he responded.
“Ok, I’ll write something, but please stay in touch and let me know if you hear any other news that needs to be shared,” Leon concluded, eager to maintain what could be a crucial and unique source for future stories.
“I’ll be in touch,” the man signed off and Leon was left with a dial tone. He kept the phone by his ear for a second or two longer than normal still trying to collect his thoughts after the baffling and inherently intriguing conversation.
He ignored the urges of his stomach and went straight for his laptop, opened the lid and logged in.
The screen revealed his blog page and he started typing:
Police action threatens Lawson’s Law, Public Warned to be vigilant
Unconfirmed reports today revealed that Police forces up and down the country are on the verge of what would be tantamount to strike action. This is due to what they consider unfair working conditions as a result of the short term policy put in place by the Lawson Government to curb anti-social behaviour.
While ‘Lawson’s Law’, as it has been dubbed in media circles, has been successful to a point, it has placed huge pressure on an already stretched force.
Sources revealed that officers up and down the country could be prepared to lay down their batons as early as next week as momentum builds for action to be taken.
If these sources are correct, it will come as a second huge blow in the space of a week for Prime Minister Lawson and Home Secretary Brooks following the Ministry of Justice report into the prison system a few days ago.
So, where do we go from here?
If strike action or, as my source referred to it a protest against working conditions resulting in Police Officers refusing to work, does take place it will create significant issues for the general public with no protection against the thugs that will undoubtedly, once again, plague our streets.
The onus is now back on Lawson and Brooks to formulate a plan to counteract this latest setback in what has become a ‘one step forward, one step back’ Government since taking office.
Many observers will say that they always knew the stronger police presence was unsustainable so expect the ‘I told you so’ experts to deliver their editorial pieces over the coming days.
Until things are clear, however, our sources from within the police force advise for the public to remain vigilant and consider their safety when deciding whether to venture into town centres until a resolution is in place.
Will martial law become an eventuality or has the Government got any other rabbits to pull from the proverbial hat. Prime Minister Lawson, it’s over to you!
We appreciate your feedback, so please share your thoughts with us below or contact us at [email protected]
Rereading what he’d written, Leon was satisfied with the piece, clicked to publish and waited to see the response from his growing band of readers.
He finally went to free his lunch from its refrigerated cell and satisfy the low grumbling noise now emanating from his stomach.
On returning to his laptop some five minutes later with a freshly reheated plate of curry, he saw that there had already been 30 comments posted.
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10 Downing Street, London
Vanessa read and re-read the post along with the increasing array of comments before picking up the phone to Russell.
“Russell, take a look at the latest blog post on The Day Today. Do you know anything about police action against unfair working conditions?”
“What? Wait a second, let me just pull it up,” said Russell.
There was a pause long enough for Vanessa to read a further two comments condemning the Government and undoing all of her good work in the process.
An audibly frustrated Russell returned to the phone. “Where the bloody hell does this, this ‘urchin’ get his stories from. This is lies, pure lies. I’ve heard nothing of any strike action. Besides, it’s against the law. The police can’t strike.”
“Looking into this a bit deeper Russell, it doesn’t look like a strike as such but more a protest against their working conditions. Either way, even if this is just lip service, it’s out there now and that will ensure that something has to happen. Most likely, we’ll need to restore normal working conditions for police. Might be an idea to call the Police Commissioner to get his take,” Vanessa responded.
“I’ll get on it, come back to you soon.”
Vanessa got up from her desk and walked around trying to collect her thoughts. She stared out of the window taking in the vista without really looking at it.
She had just finished her recommended strategy for working with Dr Jennifer Hopwood and was hoping to present it to David this afternoon. She felt this latest setback might actually be a blessing in disguise.
The pressure would now be on to get something happening as part of the long term strategy to deal with the issue. David would be eager to consider the option more so now than before. It could make the pitch a lot easier than she had anticipated.
The chime of the phone disturbed her thought process and she picked up the receiver, checking who was calling as she did so. It was Russell.
“That was quick, Russell.”
“Yes, quick and pointless. Our Police Commissioner fumbled around to try and find a cover for the story that had broken before admitting that he was embarrassingly oblivious to any of this. He’s investigating internally but, I fear, the damage has already been done following this blog post,” Russell said.
“We need to take this to David,” he continued.
“Agreed,” said Vanessa. “It might even work in our favour now as there’ll be increasing pressure to find a solution. David might be more open to our recommendation than he would have otherwise been.”
“What do you suggest as the next step Vanessa?” Russell enquired.
“I’ve been giving that some thought. When we first considered how to deal with the issue of anti-social behaviour, David suggested establishing a new department to tackle it specifically. I think we need to recommend David progress this. I’ve got in mind something we should refer to as Department of Social Behaviour and you should run it.”
“With this move, we’ll show the public how serious this Government is about tackling this problem. To have the Home Secretary role superseded by a new brief focused primarily on social behaviour sends out a very strong message in my opinion. What do you think Russell?”
“I don’t think we have an alternative. We’ll need to be careful what we’re promising here though Vanessa as just announcing a new Government Department is n
ot going to change much on the streets. How do we pacify the public?” Russell said.
“I think we need to encourage people to look out for each other, reinvigorate the neighbourhood watch schemes and give them some sort of legal authority to detain potential aggravators,” Vanessa responded, thinking on her feet now. The collection of thoughts she’d engaged while Russell was speaking with the Police Commissioner were now starting to fall into place in her mind.
She carried on describing her plan: “David can talk about how the Department of Social Behaviour will be tasked with finding a solution for the issue and reducing the level of crime on the streets while also reducing the need for custodial sentences.”
“Meanwhile, we go back to the bargaining table with Dr Hopwood to discuss the level of autonomy we’re prepared to allow her in exchange for supporting our needs to tackle this issue, that’s what you’re thinking right?” Russell interjected.
“That’s certainly what I had in mind. Are you comfortable meeting with David in an hour and discussing this with him? I’ll get it set up,” asked Vanessa.
“Absolutely, we need to get on to this ASAP. You set it up Vanessa and I’ll get a car over to you now.”
She pressed to end the call and then pressed the speed dial to Janet, David’s assistant.
“Hi Vanessa, how can I help?”
“Janet. Does David have a window at 2pm? There’s something Russell and I urgently need to discuss with him,” Vanessa requested.
“There’re a few things in his diary but I think I’ll be able to move them. I’ll put it in there. Consider it confirmed unless you hear from me before,” Janet replied with the air of confidence and authority of a typical experienced assistant.
“Thanks Janet, we owe you.”
“That’s what I keep telling people Vanessa but the numbers still remain the same in my pay packet,” Janet responded dryly.
An hour and a half later, Vanessa and Russell had a reluctant David on board with the strategy. They included as many details as David would require and left out some that he didn’t need to know particularly when it came to the role Dr Hopwood would play. David was more convinced than ever that Leon Bryant was a problem and Vanessa agreed to manage the situation.
Another hour later, a hastily pulled together press conference introduced the Department of Social Behaviour into the UK political sphere along with an adjustment in the cabinet which saw Russell as the new Minister for the department.
The public were encouraged to work together with the Police to help eradicate the thugs from the streets. Additional legal powers were imparted to neighbourhood watch schemes that agreed to apply for official status accepting stringent guidelines and regulation by the police.
Only time would tell if the public decided to buy into the idea.
Chapter 9:
Mid-November, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire
Jennifer was a lot more collected during her second meeting with Vanessa and Russell just three days after the previous one.
Vanessa had insisted on meeting sooner and Jennifer was only too happy to oblige albeit at the ungodly hour of 7am. She had a big day ahead of her and that was the only time available to fit the meeting in.
Her last opportunity for independent funding had been rejected the day before but that information was something she would do her utmost to keep contained from her fellow meeting attendees. She knew there was every chance they were already aware of the situation.
“Jennifer thanks for meeting with us at such short notice. After our meeting of a couple of days ago we’ve discussed how this, err... partnership could work between us,” Vanessa started.
“We’re happy to support your request to set up an independent research Institute but what we can’t move on is the level of autonomy you’ve requested. If the Government is to fund this Institute then we would need to have an active role in agreeing its direction.”
“Vanessa, my concern is that I don’t want people who don’t understand science to influence the direction science moves in. I wouldn’t interfere with Government policy so I don’t expect you to interfere in scientific research. We need to accept our individual level of professional competency,” Jennifer responded.
“Agreed Jennifer,” Russell jumped in. “All we’re requesting is that we have a say in the direction the Institute takes and accept an open discussion approach to running it. Can I propose that we organise a scheduled monthly briefing where you, Vanessa and I meet to discuss the research findings and next steps,” the diplomat in Russell continued to nods of approval from Jennifer. She was coming around to the idea.
“That way we, the Government, can request research into certain areas to help support our policy and you, as controller of the Institute, have day to day freedom to run the Institute. Is that something you’d be prepared to at least try in the first 12 months? We can then review this way of working and decide if changes need to be made,” concluded Russell.
Jennifer considered this for a second. She had no real alternative and it was obvious neither Russell nor Vanessa would accept relinquishing all control over the Institute. She already knew that it was unlikely she’d have total autonomy when she first mentioned it during the initial meeting.
Finally she spoke: “I think that’s a way we can move forward. So, where do we go from here?”
“Ok, we’ll need a list of requirements from you including staffing, equipment etcetera as well as an agreement with the research facility to change the terms of your contractual obligations with them. The director here is a supporter of David Lawson so it shouldn’t be an issue. We’re assuming you’d want the Institute to remain here, is that correct?” enquired Vanessa presenting the points as if she’d already mapped out this stage.
“Yes absolutely. What about a name for the Institute?” Jennifer responded.
“Let’s worry about that at a later time. Right now, we need to get the ball rolling on these other areas,” said Vanessa.
They spent the rest of the meeting discussing the finer points of the new Institute and a further meeting was scheduled to discuss Jennifer’s recommendations for the initial research projects into human behaviour.
Jennifer informed Russell and Vanessa that she had an upcoming TV interview about her research and they agreed that she could announce that she was working on a new project that would allow her to continue her current work as well as broaden her activities.
She accepted that Russell would announce Government funding for the Institute as part of the Department of Social Behaviour portfolio in the next week or so.
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Finsbury Park, London
After receiving a raft of comments following his blog post the previous day as well as one or two disgruntled journalist contacts trying to identify his source within the police, Leon decided to get out for some fresh air.
It was a beautiful November day, cold but sunny, the perfect way to explore the capital. He’d lived in London for a while but never really afforded himself the time to experience what the City had to offer.
He was often so busy working that life tended to pass him by so he was looking forward to taking some time out.
Closing the door of his apartment behind him, he made a point of pulling his phone out and switching it off. This was his time and he felt he’d earned it.
He walked along Stroud Green Road towards the junction of Seven Sisters Road where Finsbury Park tube station was located. It was mid-morning and he decided to take a walk around the park. He was in no hurry and it had been a fair while since he’d last enjoyed being one with nature in a large open expanse.
Turning left into the park after walking under the railway tracks, he made his way towards the lake.
He had a sudden urge to see ducks swimming around in a pond. Simple pleasures were the order of the day.
He scanned the park and saw the usual collection of mums with small children, elderly locals and counc
il workers scattered around.
Lost in his thoughts, he was unaware of the two men walking twenty or so metres behind him, tracing his steps.
He walked past the tennis courts on his left and spied a bench ahead of him next to a copse of trees that looked like the ideal place to soak up some winter sun.
He deviated from the main path onto a smaller artery towards the bench. As he did so, he was still oblivious of his two burly shadows now closing on him to within five metres.
He was almost at his chosen resting place when a powerful surge hit him from behind and forced him into the covered tree area hidden from the open park.
Without a chance to review his attackers he was struck in the stomach fiercely and fell to his knees.
This was followed by a number of brutal blows to his stomach and legs. Leon was cowering trying to protect himself with little result.
“Please, take my money, I’ll give you my wallet,” Leon managed to get his wallet out between strikes.
He was convinced this was an everyday mugging and he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
When only a response of physical violence was forthcoming, he cried out:
“Why are you doing this? What do you want from me?”
“You want to watch what you fuckin’ write about sunshine,” came the response from the larger of the two thugs.
“Any more shit about the so called street violence and we’ll really fuck you up.” The words were followed by another volley of punches, this time to Leon’s face. Blood started pouring from the corner of his right eye.
Leon was genuinely scared now. This was a direct and planned attack on him. Even more frightening was that they were obviously monitoring his movements.
