Am I Wrong in Thinking !!

[Glammanana]

To-day was my last day at work until next Thursday and we had a very relaxed sort of day,mince pies and coffee/tea etc in abundance whilst we carried working and chatting to customers suddenly a guy who has previously been barred from entering our shop and others in the area made his way about a quarter of the way down the shop floor,as soon as I saw him I told him he wasn't allowed to be in the shop and to leave please,well he went off like a fizzy bottle of pop and stormed towards me arms waving and I fully expected to be hit in the face if my volunteer friend had not stepped in between us,he did manage to shove me slightly but she managed to push him away,whilst this went on my volunteer manager didn't even attempt to try and talk to the guy and stop him and he was very close to him touching distance really,my female friend did send him on his way out of the shop to the grand volley of the most abusive language I have ever heard,after settling down and regaining composure I rang 101 and reported it and they are coming to see me next week when I return to work as I don't want them coming to visit me at home in case any of my boys are here and take it upon themselves to deal with the problem as this guy is well known locally I would have expected the Police to come out straight away or within a reasonable time frame not next week with them knowing his history and the fact he has already been barred from our premises once before,I didn't want to dial 999 as there are far more serious crimes being committed but I thought at least 101 may have tried to have made a visit to-day.

[aggie]

That sounds horrific ! You would think that some one could have come and checked that he was out of the area ! and checked you were ok

[Daisy]

Glamm - I think a lot of people don't realise how vulnerable you can be in a retail situation. All sorts of people can and do walk in off the street. Thank goodness your friend stepped in and helped.

I really think the police should have investigated - this man could easily have gone on and seriously injured someone in another shop. And it would be all the same if you had been on your own and he had physically injured you. It's also unpleasant to be subjected to a torrent of verbal abuse and can leave you feeling very shaken. I do hope you're ok. xx

[Grauntie Mag]

Regarding the response from the police I am not surprised. DD1 has had a horse box stolen from her yard recently. There is CCTV evidence of the van used to tow it away. Most other yards nearby have been visited by the same gang, travellers. One yard had a tack room full of saddles stolen. The police say they don't have the manpower to deal with it although they know who is responsible. DD has two policewomen who stable their horses at her yard and they say the same. The force has been pruned until they just don't have the man power to deal with this kind of crime. I suppose if no-one was hurt it must go to the bottom of the list. What a good job you weren't hurt Glamma.

[Plantaholic]

That must have been very scary Glam., are they going to wait until he hurts someone

[Mimi]

Glam this doesn't surprise me at all . I was once threatened and spat at by a customer who had been banned from the shop where I used to work. I wasn't even in the shop at the time of the assault. I had just left work and he was in the street. No one stepped in to help, people just looked the other way . I was terrified.

[Glammanana]

I have since found out that this chap has mental health issues and when his medication needs assessing he goes off the rails he had just come out of hospital and obviously he had not been taking the meds,I have sympathy for the problem he has but do personally think he should have a key worker with him when he is out and about as this behaviour seems to be part of his usual dimeniour I do think he will harm someone one day and then it will be too late.

[Bizzy Lizzy]

Horrible experience Glam. How many times do we hear of a horrible crime committed by someone who had stopped taking their medication. Care in the community leaves much to be desired.
Everyone is a potential victim.

[Nanto2girls]

So pleased you didn't get hurt Glamma.
All too often we here the words not enough manpower.

[Oma]

Very scary Glam , your manager doesn't seem to be of any use either . I agree he should have a case worker with him but again they are paring these services to the bone too ,Having said that even if the police had sent community officers to take a statement would have been better than nothing wouldn't it . I hope it hasn't spoilt your Christmas xxxx

[Gemini]

Oh Glamma, what a horrible experience, and what a total waste of space your volunteer manager is!!
Sending you HUGS for a peaceful Christmas.

[Elisi]

Awful start to Christmas Glam. It seems there are some strange people about. Someone in CintheC should make sure he takes his meds, surely? So glad you came out of it without harm.

[Glammanana]

Thanks for all the kind words ladies,it hasn't spoilt the start of my Christmas I have looked at it now with more empathy and concern for this chap as he will not doubt meet up with someone who will react in a stronger way than I did and he may come off the worse for it and all for not taking his meds.

[Daisy]

Glam this doesn't surprise me at all . I was once threatened and spat at by a customer who had been banned from the shop where I used to work. I wasn't even in the shop at the time of the assault. I had just left work and he was in the street. No one stepped in to help, people just looked the other way . I was terrified.

Mimi - that must have been very scary too. My DIL once got pushed into a busy road by an aggressive customer who had been banned from their shop. She was lucky she's very agile and managed to throw herself the other way, out of the path of an oncoming car. I don't think the man had mental health issues, though, he was just a nasty piece of work. Some time later I ran into him in a doctor's waiting room and he was being a pain there, too.

Glamm - I suppose it's almost impossible to make sure that patients take the medication they need, and I also feel sympathetic towards him, but the 'system' shouldn't be one that puts people doing their normal jobs in danger of attack. I hope he gets the help and support her needs.

[Nana]

How awful. It must be so frightening to feel threatened. There are some truly aggressive people but thankfully they're in the minority.