This is Croydon 2024.
Wanted: five weeks after the knife attack, Croydon police appeal for witnesses
A bus passenger is stabbed “multiple times” after asking another man to take his feet off the seat. It is not reported whether any other passengers, or the bus crew, intervened.
Only today, five weeks later, are Croydon Police issuing an appeal to identify the armed attacker.
This is the same Croydon police force that doesn’t even bother to turn up at a business address to collect physical and CCTV evidence when the shop has had their front windows bricked in by burglars on four separate occasions in the space of a couple of months.
This is where reports of drug gangs operating along Surrey Street market, and appeals from traders for more police patrols, were ignored until a young man was killed in broad daylight.
This has all happened in the borough where 11 people were killed on its streets in 2023.
That’s the same borough where the council’s Safer Neighbourhood Board – which is supposed to offer councillors and the public an opportunity to question local police chiefs on their conduct – has not met since November 2019.
Croydon police’s slow response team issued its latest appeal this morning, relating to an violent incident that occurred on June 4.
Slow motion: Croydon police’s Twitter appeal issued this morning
“Detectives investigating a stabbing aboard a bus in Croydon have released an image of a man they want to identify and speak with,” the Met said.
“Shortly after 03:00hrs on Tuesday, June 4, the victim was aboard a Route 64 bus in Croydon when a man boarded and sat with his feet on the seats.”
Notice that the “detectives” handling this case fail to mention where the suspect they wish to interview boarded the bus – surely a vital piece of information for potential witnesses?
“The victim, a man aged 50s…”, we think this is mean to say “aged in his 50s”, “…confronted the suspect and during a brief struggle was stabbed a number of times in the leg. The suspect left the bus at East Croydon train station.”
Even in the early hours of the morning, there are usually station staff, even British Transport Police, on duty on or near East Croydon station. Did the bus driver not manage to radio ahead to seek assistance?
“The injured man presented himself at hospital with knife injuries and police were called.”
Anyone who can name the man pictured should report online, dial 101 or post on X @MetCC quoting 923/4JUN24.
To remain 100% anonymous call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org.
And all this time, Croydon’s borough commander, Chief Superintendent Andy Brittain, continues to employ a man convicted of committing assault against a female member of the public.
None of which has ever been subject to council scrutiny at the Safer Neighbourhood Board.
Read more: Community groups demand dismissal of convicted Met officer
Read more: ‘Scared’ Surrey Street market traders in calls for more police
Read more: CronxWatch returns asking: ‘Where are Croydon’s police?’
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ROTTEN BOROUGH AWARDS: In January 2024, Croydon was named among the country’s rottenest boroughs for a SEVENTH successive year in the annual round-up of civic cock-ups in Private Eye magazine
These are all consequences of the Conservative party’s policy of defunding the police, resulting in a loss of experienced staff and the closure of local police stations.
Instead of cracking down on actual crimes, the Met have spent their time and resources on policing peaceful protests.
Will a Labour government make any difference? We’ll see
Not sure we’d agree with you there, Arf.
Not “all”.
There is a noticeable difference, and failure, in the policing in this borough compared to, say Bromley or Sutton (both under the same command).
Suppose the Tories response to this Arthur is that political operational control is the responsibility of the London Mayor. Undoubtedly he can only operate in the ultimate confines of the financial budgets of Central Government, but any criticism of the actions of the Met have to be shared amongst it’s political overseers.
The image of the suspect is so clear that it is difficult to believe the Police have not already identified him and perhaps the delay has occurred as they expected to have made a quick arrest, but now need more information as this has not been possible.