London – Metropolitan Police Aren’t Happy When Justice is Done the Shomrim Way

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    Stamford Hill Shomrim volunteers Jacob Schweitzer and Chaim Rubin patrol the streets Stamford Hill, London – With his dark-blue uniform, earpiece and walkie-talkie, Nochem Perlberger could pass for a police officer as he patrols the leafy streets of London’s Stamford Hill neighbourhood. Like an officer of the law, he responds to emergency calls, visits crime scenes and pursues suspects.

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    However, he is a member not of the constabulary but of the Stamford Hill Shomrim Rescue Patrol, a group of Orthodox Jewish men who, for the past two years, have been “policing” the streets of their community in Hackney.

    Set up nearly two years ago, the group now has 22 patrolling members, a headquarters and even a 24-hour emergency number, staffed by six operators, which residents call to report crime. “Every house and child in the community knows this number off by heart,” said Mr Perlberger, one of the group’s committee members.

    In the five months since the Stamford Hill Shomrim hotline was established, they have dealt with more than 2,000 calls including break-ins, thefts and muggings. On average, they identify three to five suspects a week and hand them over to the police.

    When a crime is reported on the emergency line, the operator alerts the police via 999 and the Shomrim patrolmen via radio. Patrolmen close to the scene will then attend, day or night, often arriving before the police. They will then go about trying to identify and pursue the suspect.

    But while the figures look impressive, not everyone is happy. The Metropolitan Police is not keen on the suggestion that their services require supplementation. Senior officers have voiced concern over the group’s existence, insisting that trained police officers and no one else should attempt to deal with crimes in progress.

    Hackney’s borough commander, Chief Superintendent Steve Bending, said: “Whilst I have a great amount of respect for the Orthodox Jewish Community within Hackney, I do not support the concept of any community having its own form of patrol service. There is a risk of other communities feeling intimidated by this course of action.

    “There is also an issue of members putting themselves at physical risk through attending an escalating situation, interfering with possible evidence or potentially risking criminal prosecution themselves, should their conduct in dealing with members of the public justify that course of action.”

    Predictably, the Shomrim disagrees. Mr Perlberger countered: “There are a number of barriers which sometimes make it difficult for Jewish victims of crime to contact the police. There is a language barrier and a culture barrier. Also, the police have a lot of things to do and if a crime is minor they will take a long time to visit the victim. People think ‘Why waste time calling the police, if they won’t attend?’

    “The police would like it if I said we were their eyes and ears, but I like to say that we are the first response. If someone is a victim of crime they call us and we can be there sometimes within 40 seconds. The nearest police station is a seven-minute drive.”

    Once at the scene the Shomrim members say their first responsibility is to calm the victim, then they will attempt to “secure” the suspect. Mr Perlberger explained: “We try to ensure that the suspect does not run off, although we never put our hands on the suspect. If he does leave the scene we will follow him either on foot or in a car and relay our information to the police.”

    The Stamford Hill Shomrim is twinned with a similar group in Golders Green. Both were established after a rise in petty crime in their respective areas and are funded by local fundraising. They are based on the Shomrim groups which were established in the USA in the 1980s.

    To join the London Shomrim, members must be Jewish, male and married and willing to devote large chunks of their free time to the cause. Mr Perlberger added: “We only recruit people who can give away their hours. If someone has a 9am to 7pm job he is obviously not for this organisation.

    “All members must be married because we think they will be more respected by the community. Also it shows they are not youngsters who are just looking for a bit of action, it shows they have responsibilities.”

    All new recruits are given training. The group says that they teach members to approach situations with caution and never to get into a face-to-face confrontation with a suspect. “If anyone steps out of line they are dismissed,” Mr Perlberger adds.

    While the group mirrors the US model, the major difference is that many of the American groups work in tandem with the local police department. In the UK it is not just Chief Supt Bending who is unhappy with the Shomrim set-up. When the group was established in 2008, Supt Steve Dann, the then Hackney commander, said: “I am very upset that no-one has approached me about this. It has been done behind my back. I see this as a slight against me that we were not delivering a service.”

    And when the Golders Green group came into existence earlier this year the then commander Chief Supt Steve Kavanagh said: “Uniformed patrols which communities are asked to pay for make me extremely nervous.”

    But Mr Perlberger is nonplussed. “Working with the police is our aim and I wish it was that way and if we had been welcomed by the police then that is the way it would be,” he said. “They say we might intimidate other groups, but we are not exclusively helping Jewish people. When people call us we don’t ask their religion, we will help anyone.

    “If the police think this is a slight against them that is their problem. They might think we are vigilantes, but we are just trying to do what the police is supposed to be doing.”

    Several pillars of the community like what the Shomrim do. Rabbi Kurt Sterm said: “These men are not vigilantes or anything like that. They are just really dedicated youngsters who want to help their community.”

    Michael Levy, the Conservative Party councillor for the Springfield ward, added: “The police are understandably nervous because it is a new organisation but they will soon pick it up and realise that the group is a benefit and can help to drive down crime. It is a valuable service and will be able to augment the police service.

    “The police encourage neighbourhoods to have a neighbourhood watch service and I cannot see a great deal of difference between that and this, apart from the fact that this is active rather than static. But that is a good thing because it will inevitably provide a great deal of intelligence for the police service.”


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    30 Comments
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    Avi
    Avi
    14 years ago

    I hope there is no legal trouble down the road and that the police learn to appreciate what the Shomrim are doing. I realize that the UK and US are not the same, but I worry about the concept that private citizens are expected to rely on the Government to take care of every situation. In theory, the police are employees of the public. It should be up to the public to decide if they are doing enough, or if help is required.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    When Shomrim started being active in Brooklyn, or for that matter, the Guardian Angels, founded by Curtis Sliva who were active citywide, they faced significant opposition by both, the Police brass and the Mayor. But everyone realized eventually, that these groups are an asset and they work jointly with the Police, rather than against them. Same thing is happening in London. One of the Police commanders admitted in so many words that it hurt his pride, to have an active Patrol organization, other than the PD.

    nisht aza tamevate
    nisht aza tamevate
    14 years ago

    chevra ! get some good pr for this. u can’t double cross the proud british chief constable, however effective u may be in reducing crime

    Golders Green
    Golders Green
    14 years ago

    QUOTE “And when the Golders Green group came into existence earlier this year the then commander Chief Supt Steve Kavanagh said: “Uniformed patrols which communities are asked to pay for make me extremely nervous.”

    CH Supt Steve Kavanagh has not a clue and did not have a clue. As far as i’m aware the community does not pay the North West Shomrim for their valuble work! Steve Kavanagh has been replaced with Chief Supt Niel Basu who is happy with the communication he receives from and regarding the NW Shomrim.
    Well done Shomrim. Keep up the good work.

    Ex stamfordhilly
    Ex stamfordhilly
    14 years ago

    Go Stamford Hill – knock that crime down!! good 4 u!!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    So how long till Shmira gets on the scene? 🙂

    michoel in london
    michoel in london
    14 years ago

    I lived in Stamford Hill, and have dialled 999 (the equivalent of 911) three times. Once I was attacked myslef, I was with my wife, a newborn on myself and a four year old, the police did not show up. A secon time a bochur was attacked by a gang at the entrance of our building, the police did not show up. A third time, a woman was being raped at 2:30am on a side street behind our building and again of course they did not show up; they are upset people have given up on the force and are taking things in their own hands!?!?!?!?

    ex. stamford hillian
    ex. stamford hillian
    14 years ago

    I only wish the shomrim has been around whilst I lived there. Always worried about my children coming home from school, and myself walking back from shull on Shabbosim. Would have been very comforting to know that these dedicated young men were there, ready to assist. More power to them !!!!! Besides knowing that a quick response was available if one had a burglary.

    moishe weizer
    moishe weizer
    14 years ago

    if want police cooperation & consent I suggest London shomrim retain a retired NYPD precinct commander from either the 90 (willimsburg) or 60th precinct (boro park)that would act as a go between & work out an arrangmnt acceptable to the local police in london

    GG Jew
    GG Jew
    14 years ago

    “All members must be married because we think they will be more respected by the community. Also it shows they are not youngsters who are just looking for a bit of action, it shows they have responsibilities.”

    Actually a large number of the members of Golders Green Shomrim (including one of the organisers) are not married. I know a lot of the members quite well, but to be honest, even among the married ones, there are certainly guys who are just looking for a bit of action and to play cops n robbers.

    Mark my words, sooner or later these guys are gonna cause a major chillul hashem…

    Lemel-62
    Lemel-62
    14 years ago

    I could only tell u in the brooklyn neighborhood my experience w/shorem as i had a break in about 3 weeks ago 2am i immediatelly dialled the 24 hour shomrem hotline & it didnt take 5 minutes till the VOULENTEERS surrounded the building.
    but in fact i didnt want to put them in danger so i called 911 to show up to this crime IN PROGRESS!! about 15 minutes till NYPD showed up. but i was shocked of the very nice neet close good relation between Shomrem & Police!

    & i think this is the 1 and only way S.H.S.R.P. london shomrem will be able to stay active & keeping crimes low by haveing good relation with police!!

    stamford Hiily
    stamford Hiily
    14 years ago

    SH shomrim will only be respected when they get rid off the low life bocherem who hang out and patrol with them and swear like troopers!!!!!!!!! they are a disgrace and a chillul hashem and should stick to catering……..

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Chief Superintendent Steve Bending, said: “Whilst I have a great amount of respect for the Orthodox Jewish Community within Hackney… There is a risk of other communities feeling intimidated by this course of action…”

    Uh, Mr. Chief Superintendent, I think that is exactly the point. To intimidate the troublemakers from other communities who are causing the trouble!

    BigMoish
    BigMoish
    14 years ago

    A new organization will always have their flaws. How many years did it take Hatzala to get up and be recognized here in SH?
    I know countless stories of members getting out of bed in the freezing cold running to help another yid. I don’t call that fun or action – that’s dedication.
    WELL DONE SHOMRIM!! KEEP IT UP

    Gershon R
    Gershon R
    14 years ago

    can people please see the good work all these people do. its very easy to complain but just remember no one is perfect. I know from experince if one complains the right way they do lishen and change . they know they are new and the have a few teathing proplems which they are sorting out

    best of luck to all the teams

    SOCIALISM IS A DISEASE!!
    SOCIALISM IS A DISEASE!!
    14 years ago

    Maybe the cops in Limey Town should do something about the crime and there wont be a need for Shomrim. Being that they are not able to control the animals, Shomrim is needed. Whats the problem with a neighborhood watch?

    londoner
    londoner
    14 years ago

    Can’t understand criticism of the SH police. Parking outside Netto or Carmel has been stopped! Try driving 10 yards without your seatbelt or using your cellphone! Drive at 31 mph! Try to stop out side YHS for 2 minutes to drop off your 4 year old. All this has been successfully enforced by our wonderful police. Of course, the muggings, burgularies, ATM card thefts, molestations and occasional rape etc. are getting worse all the time but you can’t expect our police to do everything, now can you?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Stamford hill in general has a hard time adjusting to new things give it some time they will get over it

    G.O.Freinds
    G.O.Freinds
    14 years ago

    SH Shomrim is a very good Service. They do a great Job for their community. i can clearly say Comment 15 is Just so not . Comment 17 is apprciation. Shomrim Keep up ur great Work. Ur doing a Job that no one else can replace. The Way it has been running lately, I can say its going on the right track. P.S. soon Police will Be working officially together. That’s my STRONG feelings.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Stamford hill in general has a hard time adjusting to new things give it some time they will get over it

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    When seconds count the police are only minutes away. The only thing is the Shomrim members have to be careful about what is legal in England. They don’t have a robust legal tradition of allowing private defense of others (or even self defense). Much harder than in America.

    sam scott
    sam scott
    14 years ago

    just wondering… is carrying a (unlicensed/or w/o permit) billy club in the uk , as bad as carrying a (unlicensed/or w/o permit) gun here in the us? HAHAHAH the uk is a joke! a proper joke though…..;-)

    freed
    freed
    14 years ago

    all i know is shomrim is doing a wonderfull job, example the cmc breakin, watch for your self on you tube…. and i personally was helped more then onces….