Sgt Dave Turtle's Last Chiswick Update

Local beat officer on incidents at local Churches and a persistent beggar

I write this as I prepare for Notting Hill Carnival this coming weekend. It is likely to be a very demanding event with security an ever present issue as we have seen in France recently.

I have been really busy dealing with a number of varying demands. One of them was to support grieving family in Chiswick who had witnessed the sudden death of a Detective Sergeant in the Met at home. This led to the kind assistance of Rev Richard Moy at Christ Church in hosting a full Force Funeral with up to 200 officers attending with the hearse arriving escorted by police outriders and blue lights. I continue to provide support to the family.

We have also arrested a man called Michael Rich who has been stealing from local churches and abusing priests. The latest incident was on Sunday 7 August where he shouted obscenities at the presiding priest, drinking from a can of lager. This caused significant alarm and distress to the children and families present. He had also committed the same offence two weeks earlier at the Sunday service. He was arrested on 19 August and remanded in custody to Uxbridge Magistrates where he was fined £100 and given a victim surcharge. We will not tolerate behaviour of this nature and look to prosecute where it occurs.

Begging on the High Road continues to be an issue and with this in mind we arrested a man called Sean Mciloney who has been given countless warnings and moved on. He can be seen frequently begging outside Greggs and Gunnersbury Tube station. He was issued with a Postal Charge Requisition to attend court several weeks ago. He failed to attend court and now awaits a court decision to issue an arrest warrant if he fails to attend again. In the meantime he has been issued with a Community Protection Notice which is a Written Warning to stop begging for a 4 week period. If he is seen could you, the good residents of Chiswick, consider calling 101 to let us know if he continues to beg ?

I was also called to Chiswick Youth Club to speak to 5 children under 16 years about respecting youth club property after two children thought it was clever to push a drinks machine and receive free drinks. I had to put my former Schools officer hat on and warn that these actions could lead to long term consequences if this had happened outside the protective and supportive environment of the youth club. All credit to Denny Anthony who managed this situation in a controlled but firm manner with parents involved at an early stage.

This will be my last blog as I have been asked to move to Hounslow Heath Ward to tackle issues over there from 5 September. It has been an honour and a privilege to serve you all and I will miss the kind comments and assistance you gave me on my regulate foot patrols.

Keep safe and enjoy your Bank Holiday.

Regards

Sergeant Dave Turtle 68 TX

NPT Turnham Green Beat Manager

August 24, 2016