Thursday 16 October 2008
Employment assault.
Posted on Thu 1 Mar 2007, 19:23 in Work
Ever wondered what would happen if you were assaulted at work? Would you be surprised if it was nothing. Surprised if it was nothing at all?
The Police brought me home today for my own safety. This was due to a few of the kids at the youth centre I work at deciding to have a full-scale brawl in the reception area. The overwhelmed and undermanned security of the building tried to calm the situation down but it was not fast enough to prevent an innocent bystander (me in this case) to walk out from the back offices only to have a football smacked into my face. This was the start of an ordeal that I really could have done without. I confiscated the ball and put in behind the locked door that I had just come though. From this the brawl that started between them started on me. A group of 14/15 year olds descended on me. Bruises and scratches later the pack was dispersed by the security and I was put into the control room to be debriefed.
The CCTV of the reception area was played back to prove that I didn't 'man handle' any of the kids, so I wouldn't be sued. The rabble stayed outside the building, as they still wanted their ball back. The police were there in twenty minutes and came in via the back door as the gang were still kicking off outside. That way the Young persons (as we are meant to refer to them as) couldn't follow me home. I was advised to go straight back to work tomorrow so I don't show fear.
Though the footage was clear as to what had happened, security told me it wasn't worth taking any further; the best outcome would be that their parents might get called. As I sat waiting it reminded me of an article on Radio 4 that was on the other morning about NHS staff being abused at work and only 2% of cases getting a conviction.
I work in a place of hostility in an area of Manchester known for its gun crimes. Thursday's jobs paper can't come fast enough because I know it's faster getting out than it is to get a change.
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Always the same thing in these bloody situations, if you had gone to defend yourself from them you could be facing any number of charges from some little shits, but it seems once again the "young persons" get away with it , through no fault of your own
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Don't know how you feel the day after being attacked, but I'm guessing pretty wobbly and uncertain?
Having been chased around a car park by a drunken schizophrenic youth in a stolen taxi, I know that your head goes into a "wrong" place for a long time to come, and you do get unavoidably paranoid about situations which previously you wouldn't have even noticed. You end up "damaged" by the experience, and this is something you didn't intend to happen in your head when you went to work yesterday.
Today it's probably feeling like a good idea to put it behind you and move on. Try thinking about the next person who will inhabit your seat after Thursday's job's paper. Has your company/organisation changed it's policy after the incident?
Another thing to consider. It's not for the local security person (semi-retired, minimum wage, bloke??) to decide what steps are taken next. Let's get this straight - your employer, or contractor will be absolutely shitting kittens right now. You have witnesses, and CCTV footage. A less pragmatic person than yourself may decide to approach a no-win, no-fee merchant and just go for the cash.
I think you should get a copy of the CCTV footage and make a note of the folk who witnessed the event. Whether you choose to stay or go, I think you could apply some great pressure to your employers and persuade them to adopt some safer staffing policies for the poor folk that will follow you.
You don't need to think in terms of securing convictions. You could though try to secure some form of change on the ground.
Cheers.
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