Verbally and physically abused: should I have called the police?

[san_d]

Long post. Apologies.

 

I am a long term unemployed and for the last 15 months I have lived in a cheap guest house. I receive Housing allowance and pay the guest house directly every week by debit card. For a number of reasons I decided not look for a more stable accommodation as I had been planning to move abroad whenever a decent job opportunity would come up. I have almost given up on finding a job in UK. The guest house has a communal area with TV, kitchen and internet cafe, where I'm used to meeting with a few other 'permies'.

 

So far so good until a couple of months ago, when the junior manager started a smear campaign on me, telling people around that I'm a long-term unemployed and living off the state and that I move around the house as if I was the boss of the place and other not very nice remarks. I know it was him because some people heard him saying that and later on he admitted saying all these things. He then apologised saying he had drunk too much and he meant no harm.

 

After this episode there have been two episodes of a casual guest first and the another 'permie' verbally abusing me in the common area, shouting that I'm a lazy scrounger and citing details that only the guest house staff could have known. After the second episode I complained (verbally) to the senior manager of the guest house and he looked understanding and he promised he would speak to staff members asking them not to disclose personal information around.

 

A couple of nights ago another member of the staff came drunk late at night and verbally abused me, threatening to beat me one day. I just left the common area and went to my room. The morning later this same geek spoke to me friendly as if he didn't even remember what happened the night before, so I let the whole thing go.

 

The very same day I saw a 'permie', that is another long stayer, loitering the common area. I approached the manager and he evicted this person form the common area. A few hours late I saw this 'permie' speaking with the junior manager. Them the permie came to me and kicked me in my feet and then shouted abuse at me and threatened me, scaring not only me but all the casual guests in the house. I told him to go away and he did. Then I went to the reception and reported teh incident to the junior manager and he said I was exaggerating things and that if people abuse me all the time there must be something wrong with me. When he said that I told him that I would have called the police, which I did (101 not 999) but while waiting to be connected the senior manager came in and asked me to stop the call. Again he looked quite understanding and promised a full investigation. I didn't know what to do and I decided not to carry on with my call to the police.

 

My question is: should I have called the police? Should I have logged these incidents in some written form? Does the guest house have the duty to protect my privacy? Is the junior manager allowing, committing or fostering hate crime? Any help appreciated. Thank you

[assisted blonde]

If you have been assulted and you want to persue the matter then yes call the police and report it, however if you are living in close proximity to the person who assulted you this could escalate the situation.

Whether the owners have a duty of care or the junior manager is fostering hate crime I dont know, but the chances of getting anything done realistically are I would think remote.

In an environment such as a guest house you will get many different people and some of those may not be as nice as you would wish, its a difficult situation and IMO you would be better off trying to find alternative accomodation.

[san_d]

Thanks assisted blonde,

the chances of getting anything done realistically are I would think remote.

Yes I know, chances are remote, I just wanted to have something in writing as I don't really trust the manager's word.

you would be better off trying to find alternative accomodation.

This is a valid point, but bear in mind that I am unemployed with no recent references. I have tried to get accommodation of my own but in the area nobody wants to rent to DSS, I've only found a couple of dodgy geeks on Gumtree who ask me for a 'premium' cash-in-hand for the privilege of letting a room to a DSS. This is why I stay at a guest house.

[sallypotter]

Call the police if you want but in my experience they are useless in fact worse than that.

[assisted blonde]

Is there any other guest houses around that you could move to?, or perhaps try a different area as you say you are unemployed there may be a job somewhere else.

I dont subscribe to the Police being usless as previously said the trouble with somthing like this is that there is not a lot they can do, if they interviewed the people concerned and even charged them CPS would probably not take it to court and all that would happen is that the situation could just become inflamed.

Whatever you do good luck

[sallypotter]

Assisted blonde,

 

Why do you think there are Solicitors purely dealing with Action Against The Police then?

[san_d]

A quick update, hoping somebody can give me advice.

 

After a period of relative calm and after the manager begged me not to call the police and promised to speak to his staff, a new serious episode of bullying and intimidation has happened and I have decided I will leave leave shortly. I have a bit of more money running so I hope I can afford something more respectable.

 

I have witnesses to this incident and of course I could have called the police in but most likely this would have resulted in more or less nothing.

 

When I have left, is there any trade organisation that I can write to in order to highlight the shortcoming of this business? Is it the council or maybe some tourist office that I have to write to?

 

Thanks

[Fuzzgin]

Have you been to the council and asked to speak to a housing officer?

[san_d]

Have you been to the council and asked to speak to a housing officer?

 

No I haven't. It's a good idea and I have nothing to lose.

[renegadeimp]

You also need to contact the police if you are being harassed or bullied, regardless of if they dont do anything. It will be recorded, so if something more serious ever happens, then there is solid proof that its not a "one-off".

[san_d]

Yes, I should have called the police. I have stupidly believed the manager but I was wrong. Too late now but I have learnt the lesson.

[renegadeimp]

It isnt too late. Have a word with them and see what they say.