TVL Assault
This is a video of disabled Ron Sinclair being assalted by Capita's David Clark on behalf of the BBC.
“As I type this I am still shaking with shock. A man called from TVL at about 5 pm and after the same old banter of would you please get off the property he went next door asking for information about me.
I took my video cam and started to video him from my front garden. Then suddenly he lashed out over the garden fence hitting me in the face.
At that point I called the police and pressed charges against the man. I will keep you all posted on the outcome, I will be seeing my MP and making a formal complaint to TVL.”
So says Ron Sinclair of Ormskirk, Lancs, after his most recent visit from the TVL on Wednesday 1 September.
The recording starts after the TVL officer has left Ron’s house and is interviewing his neighbour.
Suddenly, his interview with the woman concluded, the TVL “officer” appears to swing at the video camera. You can see and hear an impact.
A “conversation” ensues in which the TVL officer appears to defend his behaviour by seemingly suggesting that Ron has been in some way violating “the data protection act.” (Leave aside the rich irony that this is a TVL “officer” who has suddenly discovered a right to privacy!)
Ron is obviously outraged. He counters that he is on his own property and can do what he likes. He also makes a number of fairly salty comments to the TVL man. Although I would not recommend escalating any such confrontation through the use of salty language, I can see how difficult it might be to restrain oneself, if someone has just swiped at your head.
And we must applaud Ron, after all, for not jumping over the fence and returning the blow.
However, as Ron is disabled, this would not have been possible.
The TVL man, however, is not finished. He appears to invite Ron to step off his property and continue the confrontation. Ron declines.
To add credence to this story, I have also interviewed the neighbour who confirms that on seeing the video camera, the TVL “officer” appeared to lose his temper and just “flew over the hedge” and struck Ron.
She said this assault was also witnessed by her two children, aged 14 and 10, who were terrified by the incident.
She added that a woman in a car who appeared to be accompanying the TVL officer leapt out of her car and made an obscene gesture.
Whether or not the CPS prosecutes in this case, or whatever the outcome of any prosecution, the video raises important questions of compliance, accountability and, ultimately, governance.
Since when have TVL officers been allowed to interview your neighbours?
It is possible that a serious violation of TVL’s own procedures may have occurred.
I know from my many spies at TVL that “officers” are only supposed to visit specific premises which would never include those that are licensed. So what was the TVL man doing asking Ron’s neighbour about him?
Of course, when the “officer” saw the video camera he may well have imagined that he had been caught with his pants down. This explains the swing at Ron’s head, if this is what it was.
As I say, you must draw your own conclusions.
Ron has made other allegations to me that are also very serious.
It would be interesting to know how many convictions this TVL “officer” has achieved in his TVL career. (I know his name but shall not publish it for the time being.)
Ron tells me the local police have approached him on behalf of the “gentleman concerned” and asked if there is a “way to sort this out amicably.”
Instead, Ron has insisted on giving a statement to the police. They are now scheduled to interview the TVL “officer.”
I have asked TVL to comment on this incident and will post any reaction from them in due course.
In the meantime please can I ask everyone to sign the petition if they have not done so – and ask everyone to spread the news of this website to everyone on their mailing list.
I am still waiting for the TVL “officers” to return to my own residence but they should know that I, too, always have a video camera at the ready! As well as a huge German shepherd who will not take kindly to anyone who takes a swing at me!
Jonathan Miller (Sunday Times)
This is blatant abuse by one of the BBC's enforcement agents on a elderly person.
The bullying tatics of Capita, who prey on the old, students and single mums cannot be tolerated. If this has happened to you or you know of some one this happened to, then please let us know.
