West London: Staff threatened in Hammersmith Park
Hammersmith Park is behind TVC Several reports have recently emerged of confrontations between staff in White City and gangs of youths in nearby Hammersmith Park. The first incident took place in the park early last week at around 6:30pm. The female member of staff, who was wearing headphones, found herself surrounded by a group of ‘five or six teenagers’ who were wielding blocks of ice ‘about the size of two coke cans’. After being hit on the head by one, which she later discovered had caused bleeding, she screamed at the gang and continued walking, calling the Police Community Support Team when she arrived home. The second incident occurred last Friday evening, when the man was followed by a gang of ‘six to seven teenage males and a female who was filming’ after objecting to them throwing stones at a woman with a pushchair. The gang hurled further projectiles at the male staff member, who safely exited the park through the BBC security gate on Frithville Gardens. The matter has been reported to the local Safer Neighbourhood Policing Unit, and officers from the unit are patrolling the park and surrounding area in an attempt to put a stop to this behaviour.The following security advice is offered to staff who use the area and roads in and around Hammersmith Park:Be vigilant while in the area and try not to have on display any valuables such as telephones or laptop computers. If you carry a shoulder bag, carry it across your body, with the bag in front of you. As always, be careful in how you interact with anyone that confronts you in the area. For your own safety it is best to ignore them if possible.Remember that help is nearby in the form of the uniformed security guards at the various posts around the Television Centre, where you can go to report any criminal or unruly behaviour, and get appropriate assistance.You can also report any such activity directly to the police on 0300 123 1212.
Carol Burge ● 5813d2 Comments