What Does ‘Assisting In Community Relations’ Really Mean..?

Well, according to Handsworth community leader Desmond Jaddoo, it means ‘let this woman off her fine for driving in a bus lane, ‘cos she is black’:

In a letter to West Midlands Police, he said: “The officers’ actions were beyond the scope of their authority as it was a clear civil matter and their duty was to observe and not get actively involved.

“In dragging a disabled person out of the car in a stand off, was a breach of the disability discrimination act, unlawful as Mrs Clarke was in her own property peacefully protesting.

“The police have acted unlawfully, as they assisted a bailiff in a civil matter, with no apparent written and endorsed warrant issued by a court, which may well render the car actually being stolen.

“Clearly, despite the best efforts, this does not assist in terms of community relations and once again response officers are over stepping the mark at a trying and sensitive time here in Birmingham when we are seeking to build those all important bridges.”

The council, however, fill in a few gaps in their own statement:

“The entire recovery process has been followed correctly. At no point has Mrs Clarke contacted the council or bailiffs to make payment or appeal.

“Mrs Clarke’s vehicle was caught in a bus lane on Horton Square southbound on 3 July 2015, for which she received a penalty charge notice. Eight months on, this fine has still not been paid, despite seven letters being sent to her advising of increasing charges and enforcement action if it remained unpaid – all of which have been ignored.

“The bailiffs (Jacobs) wrote to Mrs Clarke last month (26 February) reiterating this position – that payment must be made in order for her car to be returned.”

Hmmm. To paraphrase Hermann, “Whenever I hear the words ‘community relations’, I reach for my revolver…”

And thanks to the comments, we find that Mrs Clarke has featured in this newspaper before:

A Birmingham mum of four who was on sick leave for 12 years is facing a bill for more than £257,000 after losing her claim for unfair dismissal against an insurance company.

Stunned Cherry Clarke, aged 50, of Walsall Road, Great Barr, now wants to take her case to the European Court for Human Rights because she says she cannot afford to pay and claims she was not given a fair hearing.

Does she indeed?

“This has been a huge shock to me and has had a terrible impact on my family. I can’t believe the amount they are asking for,” she said.

“I am not prepared to pay even £5 of this.”

That seems to be a recurring theme with you, love…

She … claimed the tribunal focussed too much on an incident which resulted in her husband, Lambert Clarke, being found guilty of the false imprisonment of a private investigator and jailed for eight months in 2007.

No wonder the council needed the police present!