Secure in the Knowledge

Hard Day’s Night

Alcohol in, brains out. And not a parent in sight! Photo by FlySi.

The party we covered last night was hard work. First we had to remove four invited guests who’d assaulted someone inside. These guys had been drinking before entering the house.

As we took them out, they threatened us. One said he had a knife; another mentioned a syringe. All four had their hands in their pockets.

Suddenly, one guy punched my staff member in the face while another lunged towards me, hands raised, as if about to assault me too.

As we restrained them and ejected them from the premises, they threatened to come back with 20 more guys. An hour later, they did. We observed them loitering about ten houses away. Fortunately, they didn’t try to enter the party.

This group (aged 13 to 17) began intimidating innocent passers by. One young teenager told me they’d hit someone on the head with a beer bottle.

Then fighting broke out all over the street. Cars had to stop or swerve to avoid hitting bodies. I watched and wondered who’d get hurt and how many vehicles would be damaged.

Twenty minutes later, the local police arrived and made their presence felt. All things considered, they achieved a reasonable result from a very bad situation.

I’m sure the neighbours were terrified. Only when the fighters eventually dispersed did some property owners venture out.

It was amazing: a place so nice during the day turned evil at night. I’ve worked hundreds of events in all different areas, but this one was a shocker – like a disaster movie!

When I spoke with the police, they attributed the area’s problem to a mix of private and public schools and an influx of gangs.

My question is: where do these kids’ parents think they are? It’s just not good enough to blindly accept that little Tommy is ‘going over to someone’s house’.

I firmly believe parents should ask more questions and keep tabs on their children.

Do you agree?

Naomi Oakley, Managing Director, U-NOME Security Communication Specialists.