Working Together For A Safer London

Last night, Vilex and I were working together with the Metropolitan Police for a safer London. And, we were extremely proud to receive this acknowledgement from the Metropolitan Police.

Thanks.


We want a safe London.

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Due to the group design project, we needed to scan some documents and drawings urgently to send to someone. And because there isn't any device called a scanner existing in 118A and 122A, we traveled to the library to have the documents scanned at 11:00 pm.

Yes, it was 11:00 pm. 23:00. I couldn't believe I was still going to uni at this hour, even after my exams. My life is sick!

I want to capture those people who are having holidays now, and own their holidays!

So yeah, we took a bus there, and by the time everything was accomplished, it was already 12:30 pm and the last bus back to our area was 12:20 pm. In frustration, we decided to climb over the fence of Hyde Park, and walk through the big pavement back to our place.

It was Vilex's first time. Well it wasn't mine because I had walked a few times with Patrick at midnight back to our house during our library session. It wasn't too bad to be frank. Obviously it is dodgy but when there's a company, it was alright, and it wasn't actually entirely dark. The night in London seems to be a bit orangy. Nothing happened to us before and we always reached home safely.

So, Vilex and I decided to take a short cut, climb through the locked gate, and walk back. It's really annoying when the alternative route would actually take us 40 minutes to 1 hour to get us back. And this way, spend us at most 20 minutes.

So, we walked, and walked, and talked. Just when we were discussing whether to climb through the fence or not at the exit, we saw a patrol car in front of us.

The headlights of the patrol car was off. Suddenly they went on, started flashing on us, and eventually the patrol car stopped next to us.

Obviously, we had to stopped as well.

2 words came to my mind at that moment : Hailat!
2 words went to Vilex's mind at that moment : Hamchat!

Two police officers came down, and started talking to us individually.

These are a few conversations that I recall we had.

Police: Hey young man, how did you get in here?
Me: Err.... I er.... climbed...?
Police: Do you know this place is locked and closed for a reason? When its closed, you are not allowed to come in.
Me: Yes I know (worrying face started to appear).
Police: Do you know you are offencing the law?
Me: I'm sorry but because I was in a rush, so I took a short cut back instead (had to fake a bit of stories).
Police: Yes, I understand but still, you are not allowed to do so.

He took out some forms,

Police: Well now that you have offended the law, and I have stopped you here, I need to do some paper work, have a record about you now. I need your details.

I was thinking, wahlau a summon? A fine? Court summon? OMG how I wished I was in Malaysia, then everything will be settled by RM50 (and then I get to go home safely).

Me: Yes sure alright you can have my details (HELL NO! I DON'T WANNA BE A CONVICT!)
Police: Alright, do you have any ID with you?
Me: (Passing him my student ID) Will I get any problem with this?
Police: If you are in trouble, you will definitely know at the moment when we stop you. It's just a record that we need to do, you know, whenever we stop or seach people. It's normal. You are not in any trouble.
Me: (A BIG BIG BIG BIG SIGH OF RELIEF.......) Oh alright. Phew.

So I was wrong. Metropolitan police are better than the kopi police in Malaysia. They don't charge and we are told directly we won't get into trouble. Malaysian police? Even if it's not offencing they would scare you with some words and try to con some kopi money. I have experienced too much of this on traffic last time. -_-

So this is how I was "acknowledged". With my big name on it.

The conversation continued:

Police: So what are you studying?
Me: Civil Engineering.
Police: You plan to stay here after graduation?
Me: Well, that really depends, if I could get a job here.
Police: You like London?
Me: Yeah well, it's not too bad actually. I kinda like it here. But the weather is horrible. It gets really freezing cold during winter.
Police: It's actually alright now. Back then when I was young, it was definitely much colder. Froze my ass off.
Me: Really? The other thing is, there is no spring this year. It just skipped from winter right to summer.
Police: Yeah, there is no seasons in London.

*This kinda conversation is more likely to occur when I sit and talk to some random uncle in some random kopitiam when I am buying Chu Cheong Fun.*

Police: So you know what you shouldn't have done yeah!
Me: Yes definitely, I am so sorry.

What have I done in a police's perspective? Read this.


Police: Of course I know you are not trying to cause any trouble here. But it can get really dodgy at night in Hyde Park. You might get robbed, stabbed or any crazy thing could happen. You get what I mean?

He knew I was harmless. Hence the N's below.


Police: Don't do this again next time young man. Just for your info, some guy was robbed here and the robbers were only 12 years old. So you know, it can get really dangerous out here.
Me: 12 years old? (I said it with a bit of laughter, coz I haven't heard of such stories before)
Police: Don't laugh.
Me: ............. (silent)
Police: Well of course I know you are not laughing because you think it's funny. You think it's ridiculous to have such young robbers running around in Hyde Park at night. I understand. It's true though. Just don't do this again alrite.
Me: Yes definitely.

Police: Basically London is a very safe place but at night, it's different stories.
Me: Yes I think so too (my ass!)

Frankly, I was expecting them to send Vilex and I home since they had a patrol car and also, since they sounded it was really dangerous out here, they might give us a free ride back!

Police: Alright mate. Don't do this again yea. Don't climb through the fence in front. There is a cut through at the left side of the gate. Take that way.

Then they went into the car, and drove off.

-_-

Apparently, Vilex said his officer was much stricter and very serious towards him. Freaked him out a bit.

Mine? Because he at the first place reassured me I wouldn't get into any trouble, I was more of talking to him casually without so much worries. =)

But what to say? We were lucky not to be summoned.

We were glad! We worked with 2 friendly (maybe 1) officers to keep London safe. That is what every resident in London should be responsible of! And I have just relished this responsibilities of mine! I am proud!

Yea right. Lucky bastard I am.


Short note:

When I went back home, I took a careful look at this copy of record he gave me. Scroll up to the 2nd picture, you will realise that I was stopped for a code D (stop code). So I turned to the other page, and tried to find out what was stop code D.


SOLI!!!

I was thinking, what? What did I carry? What offensive weapon? My bag? Or my ass?

And then I realised, there was another box section below, which indicated "Stop Code".

Oh, I referred to the wrong side. Phew.

Stop Code D: To investigate suspected crime/disorder/anti-social behaviour.


Please please tell me, I will be safe, I won't be summoned to court, I won't be black-listed, I won't be labelled a convict, I am still an innocent citizen of this world (think I was no longer one when I bribed the traffic police in Malaysia).

Okok, at least still an innocent citizen in London. Please tell me! Lawyers? Engineers? Doctors? Psychologists? Anyone? I need some reassurance from professions.