Rocky is innocent ok? And so am I
Yesterday I went to see my probation officer because she, according to the notes of the interview, "requires details leading to offence". Surely, that should be alleged offence? The onus is upon the prosecution to establish guilt beyond all reasonable doubt. However, it would appear that the probation service tends to believe allegations just because they are printed in black and white. Humphrey, my friend the judge, on the other hand, has stated that whether a dog is under control or not, when it is not on a lead, is a grey area. Admittedly there are notices proclaiming that "All dogs must be on a lead" in Pearson Park. However, the rule is not enforced. I did ask one of the parkie's about this when I first got Rocky, and he said that provided a dog was not a control problem the policy was not to enforce the rule. So, we have a rule that states one thing and a policy that states another. This is a contradictory state of affairs. It means that whether a dog is under control or not is at the discretion of the dogs owners and individual parkies. This may lead to conflict. As this case has highlighted.
From the notes of the interview, it states that I would be amazed if I was to discover that the Animal Rescue Centre had sold me a dangerous dog. I added that I did not believe that Rocky is dangerous.
When I got recalled to prison in 2004, I noted that much was made of a so-called "pattern of behaviour". This consisted of observations and hearsay evidence written down by hostel staff in the Occurance Book. During the police interview, to back up the initial two charges, they introduced a log compiled by a couple of parkies, of their observations which the police have stated show a "pattern of behaviour". I knew that my probation officer would focus on this so-called "pattern of behaviour". It is supposed to indicate that somebody is deemed to be a risk to the public. However, I get up on a morning and take Rocky for a walk at 9am, 2pm feed him at 5pm and walk him again at 7pm. That to me is a pattern of behaviour. It couldn't be more innocent.
We are living in dangerous times...
A mixture of law, politics, autobiography and humour. Once described as "The Devilish Advocate" (Guardian), I do have the ability to provoke a response. Sometimes it comes from someone who uses a thought process, and sometimes from jerks usually associated with the knee.
And let this be a lesson to us all...
ReplyDeletes3 Dangerous Dogs Act: -
An offence is committed by the owner (ie you) if a dog is dangerously out of control in a public place.
Now, what is "dangerously out of control", you ask.
The answer: Where there are grounds for reasonable apprehension that it (Rocky) will injure any person, whether or not it actually does so.
I think plod may have an argument. Maybe not. I'd get a proper criminal solicitor's advice if it were me.
What a waste of time and money! I think there is something personal behind all this from: the parkie; the police, could it be team McCann?????
ReplyDeleteSeriously, can't you just say you'll keep Rocky on the lead in future? There must be more important things these people are paid for, surely! What a waste of tax payers' money!
But, we have always lived in dangerous times, we just didn't have computers to give a voice to 'ordinary' people before. Long live the internet!
Judging from this case, the law really is an ASS!!!!!
What the F*** are the McCanns up to??? They are obviously too clever for the police and the law, so why not go gunning for animal owners?! PATHETIC.
I'm as bad as Mel Gibson's character in the Conspiracy movie, I know, but then he was proved right in the end. I did wonder about the McC family till someone mentioned it here on the comments. maybe you've got under some powerful person's skin. It's just there are loads of people walking their dogs in the park and this bozo decided to pick on you. Get onto those human rights barristers, e.g. the firm that worked with the de Menezes family. I really don't trust the authorities in this country, and what's happening to you smells of fish! Good luck in your quest. But don't ever allow yourself to be intimidated!
ReplyDeleteI was an Insurance Agent before I retired. I hated all dogs, especially those that had never ever bitten a soul before they had bitten me, or The Man from the Pru, or the rent collector, or the guy next door. Don't get me started on vicious cats or their bloody owners. Well known cats smell and so do their owners, and their homes have a catty whiff that takes your breath away.
ReplyDeleteDon't get me started on 'ANIMAL HATERS'! An animal knows when someone hates them, or wants to do them harm. I am inclined to agree with the sentiment of 'bad animal owners'. Some people have dogs as guard dogs, and they are cruel to them for that very reason. When you have an animal it does affect the odors of the house or apartment, as does having a baby, extra people, or a foreign visitor whose eating habits are different from their hosts. Animals, children, visitors etc, are hard work; you have to clean everyday, you have to have money to ensure the comfort and safety of your animals, children, visitors. Comfy socks...as a social worker I visit many types of people and homes and I have seen and smelt many horrors in places where there were no animals just young, middle-aged and old-aged people left to rot by their families and friends. It's the beginning of a New Year please let us all have LOVE, COMPASSION and UNDERSTANDING in our hearts and minds. Don't you want to live in a world of diversity/plurality?
ReplyDeleteIn the dim and distant past I was a mental health social worker. One of my clients was sectioned at night by a duty social worker. When I visited her in the morning, her medical notes included the observational gem: 'exhibiting obsessive writing behaviour'. To which I responded: "She's a fucking novelist; she writes all the time - whatever state she's in."
ReplyDelete'patterns of behaviour', indeed.
buenaventura durruti: I think we all have our little patterns of behaviour and obsessions. When I was recalled to prison in 2004, the probation officer argued that my pattern of behaviour led him to believe that my risk to the public level was unacceptable therefore he recommended my recall. My barrister cross-examined him and left him a sweating profusely quivering wreck as she either explained away or produced evidence to the contrary of the allegations.
ReplyDeleteIt was also said in reports on me in prison that I was obsessed about prison law. Given that my study of it has made me arguably the country's foremost expert upon it, I don't think that giving the subject so much attention is a negative thing.