thank god for this place

[Quothcorvus]

Pink you say, eh? Pink it is then!

[rogue trooper]

Well ladee's and gents

IM BACK

My sights are still fully tuned and sharpe after my iraq mission, and by the sounds of things, they may need to be

Threats well i have no room in my life for them and who ever is dishing them out, should standby, like bullies, they need tobe stamped out

Hang in Jo, i am sure your Dad is there for u and i for one, if not, we all as the UKG will be there for him and the whole family.

TK8271 Rogue trooper

[Havoc]

Too bloody right.
How screwed up is this getting? We're a bunch of grown-ups (mostly) who dress up as Star Wars characters and now people are now being threatened because of it. When is this crap gonna end?

Jo, name and shame 'em. If they've threatened anyone, they get what they deserve.

I'll still be at Colchester next weekend.

[femme-jedi]

[SJ3]

[Mcmaul]

Normal people water their frelling lawns on a sunday, and frell about around Ikea buying shite!!!



We terrorise the public FOR NO MONEY WHATSOEVER!!!!


And the great thing is, if certain disgruntled members of the public ever saw us, to wreak bloody revenge, they'd never recognise any of us!!!


I like that!!!

[Dr. Hobbs]

[TK1475]

[Havoc]

I've been slowly simmering about this all evening, and normally I'm Mr. Mellow.

I may not be the most integral person in the UKG, but it's become a major part of myl ife one way or another, and as Cliff said, a threat made against any of us is a threat made against all of us.

So if the person or persons in question are guests on this forum and want to direct any threats in my direction, please feel free. I'd be more than happy to find out where they are coming from.

[TK300]

Lately, I've been getting withheld number phone calls to my mobile with disguised voice veiled threats. The spineless chickens, haven't even the guts to say who they are? I'd gladly go one to one if you have the guts to say who you are.

This morning I shall be reporting these phonecalls to the police, so the perpertrators days are numbered, with held numbers can be traced. Anybody getting similar threats should do the same, report it.

Tony

[Agent Sheriston]

This is getting ridiculous, but serious. Threats, now? What's it supposed to achieve? The destruction of the UKG by members leaving? Failure of events because of people pulling out late in the day? Is someone trying to stop us getting more work/discredit us by forcing events to collapse?

Good luck getting a response, Tony (and everyone else who's being threatened). And whatever else happens, nils illegitimo carborundum...

[BH-8818]

Man, threats suck.

Jo, you and your family have my thoughts and support at this time. You should not have to go through this sort of crap! If I can be of any assistance, please don't hesitate to contact me. Your dad has my number.

In terms of the threats, I obviously have no idea who's made them, and it would perhaps be a dangerous thing for anyone to jump to conclusions as to whom the perpetrator(s) might be. Threats are dreadful, but a vigilante group making threats back is just as bad, even if the real perpetrator's identity is known.

No matter how tempting it is (and I can see how tempting it is, believe me) I would urge caution and restraint. There is a correct way of dealing with this sort of thing and I do not want to see any fellow hobbyists resort to anything untoward to try and even things out or do what they think is helping Jo. As soon as any threats are made back, you lose a lot of leverage from a legal standpoint. There is a saying in the law - "He who comes to equity, must do so with clean hands". It means if you ask (a judge, for example) for a just solution, you must have acted justly yourself. So if you ask them to do something about threats, say, and have yourself made threats, a Judge is minded to be of the opinion that you're as bad as each other and deserve it. Be whiter than white and you'll not go wrong.

It's easy to sit here, not being threatened, not going through what you're going through at the moment, and give advice, but please don't think I'm trying to be condescending. Just trying to give some helpful info.

This info goes for Jo in her present position and also anyyone else currently receiving threats, and is also good to know generally when out trooping, if we're subjected to attacks of more than "daft schoolboy prank" ferocity. A sticker on the back doesn't warrant police action, but happy slapping attacks would do, IMO, for example.

Threats are not nice and are illigal. If it is a threat of physical violence that puts you in real fear of imminent personal attack, then it is an assault. So, if you were at a troop and someone said "I'm gonna punch your lights out" and you genuinely believed it to be true, they have assaulted you. It's a common misconception that assault requires violence. It does not. Just the threat of violence and the belief that the violence will occur imminently.

From a legal standpoint it is an offence to threaten someone. The Criminal Justice & Public Order Act 1994 is your friend in this regard.


Criminal Justice & Public Order Act 1994

This act is a complex and detailed one. It covers such areas as trespassers on land, 'Raves', disruptive trespassers, squatters, and within section 154 'Intentional Harassment, Alarm or Distress' (sound about right for you at the moment, Jo?).

Section 154 creates the offence as such:

To intentionally either (a) use 'threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour, or disorderly behaviour'; or (b) display 'any writing, sign or visible representation which is threatening, abusive or insulting'; to cause someone 'harassment, alarm or distress'.
The maximum penalty for involvement in these is 6 months in prison and/or a fine of £5000.

Criminal Justice & Public Order Act 1994 in full.

Criminal law of Assault

It is an offence to actually assault an individual or threaten to assault them (e.g. if the courts interpreted this as the threat would actually be carried through).

Assault consists of an act which is hostile that causes an individual to fear attack. The term 'battery' concerns the use of actual force where a physical assault has taken place (e.g. 'Assault and Battery').

Assaults which lead to Actual Bodily Harm carry a 5 year prison sentence. It's important to remember too that the term 'Assault' doesn't always mean that physical contact has been initiated or used; threatening behaviour, gestures or language can also constitute an assault.

So, anyone who assaults you is commiting a criminal offence.

Similarly, if anyone tells someone else to threaten you, then the threatener and the person who told them to do it are as guilty as each other. Conspiracy to threaten, incitement, attempted assault. All these things would potentially apply to someone who said something along the lines of, "give her a call and tell her you'll beat her up if she goes to such and such". No one involved is safe. And it's a fair bet that if the actual threatener was caught and questioned, and was facing a £5k fine or doing time, they'd be pretty damn quick to point the finger and say he/she/they told me to do it". As I say, no one is safe, but it does require a leap of faith in reporting it and dealing with it the right way, more of which to follow.

how to deal with this?

Now, I love being part of this club (501st UKG) and would defend it to the hilt and protect it as much as I possibly can. That said, I would see it smashed and burnt before I accept that any threat made to a member, however spurious, was acceptable.

What do I mean?

I mean, if anyone in this club receives a threat, from whomever, don't feel some misguided loyalty to the club, or fear of what people might think about you. Inform the police. Period. If people think I'm being a bit harsh, then please PM me. I'd love to hear someone try to convince me that it's acceptable for my family or me to receive threats of physical violence and i should not involve the authorities. This is a hobby, and many things should be contained within these 4 'virtual' walls, but with threats to diminutive female members and their families (don't forget Jo has a little boy, no more than a baby, really), a line has been crossed and the rules on that subject have changed. This isn't a couple of guys having a bit of a toe - to - toe in the changing room. This is a calculated, pre-meditated, malicious and vindictive campaign, it seems.

This person/these people (remember I have no idea who he/she/they is/are) needs to be stopped and made a monumental example of so that any friends of him/her/them don't think it is acceptable or that they will get away with it.

My advice and recommendation? - Report it to the police as soon as possible. Give them as much information as you possibly can. They will want to investigate fully. They will need info on who you think has a reason to be upset with you or your family. That may lead them in certain directions, but have no fear, because the truth will out and if it leads them in the wrong direction, that will soon become evident and no harm will be done. If the certain directions are the right directions, then there is again no need to worry.

Whoever is reading this may rest assured that if my family or I receive so much as a sniff of a threat against us, I shall have the police knocking on their door within half an hour and an injunction slapped on them preventing them from coming within 500 yards of me, my house or any member of my nuclear family so quickly that it would make their head spin.

Similarly, whilst it is not my specialist area of law, I offer to try and help anyone who feels they have been threatened. Either informally in my role as UKG calm argument solving person, or as a real life lawyer.

I repeat, I do not know who is making the threats and I refuse to jump to conclusions about their identity, but the identity (if made known to me) will have no effect on how I pursue them if I find they are guilty of these Heinous crimes. Yes, that's what they are, crimes. The person making the threats is a criminal. As I say, their identity will not divert me from the Job in hand. You could tell me it's my mum and I'd still be as agreessive in getting the full weight of the law brought down upon her (with great vengeance and furious anger, no less!). If I find that the person or persons involved are UKG members, I shall petition for the appropriate disciplinary procedures to be taken, as well as criminal charges being brought.

Of course, I shall act within the bounds of the English law and will not pursue anyone out of malice, I shall pursue them simply out of a desire to have my friends be able to live their lives not in fear for their, or their loved ones', personal safety.

Whoever has made these threats has just made the Howard family my new best friends. I look after my friends. The fact that they are being attacked in this way makes me angry. Makes me want to put it right.

Someone is stupid enough to be threatening the friends of an angry lawyer.

Bring it on!

Guys, talk to me. I'm here to help, and I'll even waive my normal £165 (+VAT) per hour fees!

Sorry for the long post.

As you were....

[saintadjg]

It would appear so Gary,i think most of us really had no idea things had gotten so bad.Mind you i'm a stubborn bugger and threats would only strengthen my resolve.
The alien weekend is a prime example,the UKG integrity has already been jeapordised on the AL forum.
All those recieving threats please dont let them drive you away,as others have said you do they win period.

[BH-8818]

Tony, sorry mate. You posted up while I was typing "War and peace" there.

Sorry to hear about hits. You're doing exactly the right thing mate.

Yes, witheld numbers can usually be traced. If they have reasonable suspicion about anyone, then they can also get a warrant to get the phone records if you give them the numbers of the person you supect, etc.

Out of interest, how was the voice disguised? I have a hunch, but it is nothing more than that, and I have no evidence at this time.

[TK1475]

Can I just say that I know of another member that has had phone call that last about 10-15 sec with that person saying very evil and nasty thing!!!


I have also been getting calls to my mobile, then the person keeps putting the phone down???