Rylett Road stabbing: Piotr Mikewicz dies; Six arrests

Tributes on Rylett Road

The victim of the stabbing incident yesterday, Piotr Mikewicz, has died. He passed away in hospital this afternoon, having received a stab wound which pierced his heart. He received one other stab wound to his bottom. He died surrounded by his wife and brothers, but sadly not the rest of his family back in Poland - there just wasn't enough time to get them over here.

This is a man who tackled a burglar coming out of a house he would never have been able to afford in a million years, but had such a deep sense of right and wrong he was prepared to defend the property of people many times wealthier than him. He paid for that goodness with his life.

I can also tell you this evening that the police have, this afternoon, made six arrests. One man is in custody on suspicion of murder while five others are charged with assisting an offender. Here's what the police have just told me:

A street cleaner who was stabbed after trying to stop a burglar from getting away in west London has died from his injuries.

The man, aged 40, died in St Mary’s Hospital Paddington earlier today, Thursday 30 August. Although police believe they know the man’s identity, we await formal identification.

At approx 13:50hrs on Wednesday 29 August, police were called to Rylett Road, W12, regarding an assault.

A man had suffered a stab wound to the torso.

The deceased is from Eastern Europe - exact nationality awaits.

A post-mortem examination date and venue to be arranged.

Five people have been arrested today in connection with the incident.

[A] a man aged 30 was arrested on suspicion of murder. He is currently in custody at a central London police station.

Two other men [B and C] and three women [D, E and F] have all been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.

You can read more here

I have to say on a personal note today has been a difficult day but also a reassuring one. Difficult given the truly awful news about what was clearly a man with more bravery inside him than most of us will ever have, but reassuring having seen something of the way in which the police were going about their investigation.

Reassurance patrols are underway

In the meeting I attended as a member of the Independent Advisory Group this morning I met the investigating team. This was a group of people who were very clearly focussed on one thing and one thing only. They had little time for anything else, quite understandably, but even under those circumstances they clearly had great respect for the victim and his family, about which much concern was expressed. And the resulting arrests this evening stand testament to that determination, for which they deserve the community’s thanks.

So there we have it. A truly dark 48 hours in the history of Shepherd’s Bush.

One man who came here from the other side of Europe in order to work hard and provide for his family, and who didn’t just sweep those streets but cared enough about the people who lived on them, most of whom he never got to meet, to the point where he would fight to protect their property has lost his life.

People like him are both very rare and utterly irreplaceable, and we have all lost as a result.

Today's headlines are soon gone

Another five, along with the suspected killer, are locked up and will go to court.

Much will be written about this incident in the days and weeks to come. It’s right up most journalists’ street, so you can expect to see lots of “have a go hero” headlines and the rest. I would hope that whatever does get written is done with respect and dignity for Piotr and his family, and that includes the language that is used about the incident itself.

For the rest of us it’s time to reflect. The incident was a one-off and it doesn’t represent what happens in our area. There’s no danger to the public. We can take some reassurance that the police have done what they are there to do, and done it well.

But, for the time being at least, we can only mourn the passing of someone who represented everything that is good about decent people, and was prepared to fight for what was right. Rest in Peace, Piotr. 

Rylett Road stabbing: Burglar disturbed

Ashchurch Terrace this evening

A street cleaner has been stabbed after disturbing a burglary on Rylett Road W12. The condition of the street cleaner is not yet known but an air ambulance is presently landing in Wendell Park in order to give assistance.

Some other roads have been temporarily closed in order to assist with the investigation and getting help to the street cleaner. But no incident has taken place on Ashchurch Terrace itself. 

I have all of this information confirmed by the local Police and will update on details as they come in. In the meantime if any of you witnessed anything get in touch with the Police as soon as you can.

1455 UPDATE - The Police have asked me to advise any witnesses or those with any information about this case to please call 101 quoting "CAD4740". I understand road closures will be in place for the time being whilst a crime scene investigation team does their work. 

1730 UPDATE - the local press are beginning to catch up, having been tipped off by a reader, but they haven't published anything yet:

1820 UPDATE - Have just spoken to Police again. I appreciate some of you may have information to the contrary but as far as they are concerned *at this time* the victim has not died. He was, however, stabbed in the chest and is therefore very seriously hurt. I will keep updating throughout this evening and will know more tomorrow. 

1255 THURSDAY UPDATE - I attended a meeting this morning as a member of the Independent Advisory Group (IAG), a group intended to liaise with the police regularly to help both the police and the communities in our area know what each other are up to, how they feel and what they need. Clearly this is an upsetting incident and I know a number of you have been in touch directly with me to express your shock and some have shared your feelings in the comments here too. 

Coming out of the meeting I was immensely reassured. Both that this incident is without any shadow of a doubt a one-off, and that there is no knock-on risk to anyone living, visiting or working in the area, but also that the police are very well aware of the need to share information with us when they can. 

The facts are essentially that a street cleaner saw a burglary taking place and tackled an individual, who then responded with extreme violence, resulting in the cleaner suffering stab wounds. He is very seriously ill indeed at St Mary's Hospital. To say he was brave in tackling the burglar would be an understatement.

The police have multiple lines of inquiry which they are looking into and would ask any of you who have any information that havent already shared it to do so. Call 101. The suspect they are seeking, who ran from the scene towards Goldhawk Road, is described as white, approximately 6'00" tall and wearing a pale shirt and blue jeans.

We know Askew Road has had violent incidents before related to drugs. This isn't one of them. The area as far as I can see, and I am there daily, is on the up. And we owe that not only to the police who are prepared to put themselves in harms way to keep it that way but also to the untold heroes who keep the streets clean and everything working. This incident underlines just how heroic they can be.

When I have more I will share it with you. In the meantime please try to treat speculation you may hear from the press or elsewhere with some skepticism unless it is a direct quote from the police. Anything else is guesswork on their part and unhelpful to both the police and the victims' family. 

Residents need to check in and out of the road

1700 UPDATE THURSDAY Cllr Greg Smith, H&F Council Deputy Leader, has said this:

"One of the borough's street cleaners is fighting for his life after he was stabbed in the chest by a suspected burglar, who he spotted, on Rylett Road yesterday. An air ambulance landed in nearby Wendell Park and our street cleaner was taken to St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, where he remains in critical condition. 

"Although this is an isolated incident, it is deeply shocking that this genuine act of bravery should end in such brutal violence and everyone at the council is thinking of our brave colleague at this difficult time. We understand that the Police investigation is ongoing and we are hopeful that an arrest will be made soon."

A number of you have asked about sending flowers or support to the victim via Serco - I will be in touch with them and get back to you about this.

1930 UPDATE THURSDAY - I am so very very sorry to have to report that the victim has died. His name was Piotr Mikewicz  and  he passed away this afternoon in hospital from a stab wound which pierced his heart. I will have another update very shortly here on developments.

2005 UPDATE THURSDAY - Cllr Greg Smith, Hammersmith & Fulham Council Deputy Leader, has just released this statement:

"Everyone at the council is deeply saddened by the tragic news that Piotr Mikewicz, who was one of the borough's dedicated street cleaners, has died after being stabbed by some scum of the earth who obviously has no regard for human life. Piotr was a hard-working man, who was a friendly face to all who knew him on his regular beat.

"Piotr was a family man who courageously tried to intervene when he spotted a crime in progress and our thoughts are with his family and friends at this extremely difficult time.

“Although this is an isolated incident, it is deeply shocking that Piotr's genuine act of bravery should end in such brutal violence and we trust that the perpetrators of this evil will be brought to justice swiftly."

Arrests have been made - all details here. As one of you just commented, rest in peace Piotr.

West Ken: Veil of secrecy descends

LetterOur Council has decided to hunker down in a bunker, it would seem, and flatly deny any further requests from the residents of the estates they wish to demolish for information until after they have gone through the motions and approved the scheme at their Cabinet meeting of September 3rd.

This is not the first time H&F Council have resorted to the dark arts of secrecy. In June we saw how the Council had attempted to block residents from viewing responses to their 'consultation' on the scheme, only to be forced to back down when they went public. At that time their Executive Director of Housing and Regeneration had tried to use "data protection issues" as a means by which he could deny them more than 45 minutes in a room with the responses. As if everyone's data would be infringed by more than three quarters of an hours exposure.

The more we learn of the process and procedures used by this Council to get their way the more flimsy they seem when subjected to scrutiny. Which is why the community organiser working with the residents submitted some requests using the Freedom of Information Act, hoping to shine a light on those processes ahead of the Cabinet meeting on September 3rd.

He didn't ask for anything outrageously private, just for reasoning behind their decisions to exclude some views from the 'consultation', or the delays in the process. Take the letter above, for example, asking for the reasoning behind the views of children living on the estate being excluded from consideration. Why don't kids aged 12 or under count, he is asking.

He asked this on July 30th. The Council in its' response is saying thanks very much for asking. You asked well before the deadline. We're only allowed 20 days to answer. But actually, you know what, this question is so damned complicated we need another 20 days on top. So you might get an answer by September 25th - precisely 22 days AFTER the decision to demolish the estates has been taken anyway.

That is the commitment our Council has to transparency. And it's cynical in the extreme. So let's remind ourselves of this incendiary information that our Council thinks it needs the best part of two months to cogitate about.

Here's 9 year old Ana who was surrounded by H&F security guards as she handed her letter to a council official:

To: The Governor or to whom it may concern 

I am writing to ask why you are knocking our houses down, in West Kensington Gibbs Green. 

I understand you want to make plant, cycle parking and things like that, but there are going to be lots of happy memories here. Instead of knocking our houses down just change the name of the area instead. 

It’s really sad for us because not only adults live here but babies, children and old age people. I know it’s until next year but, my mum has a new born baby, so where will we live and where am I going to play with my little brother? 

If you want to reply to my letter then send it into this address. 

I hope this letter has changed your mind about your plans. Thanks you for reading this letter. 

Yours sincerely
Ana-Maria9 years old.

The Council's response has been to deny, to delay and to do everything in its power to undermine. The money on offer from developers CapCo matters more. And that, ladies and gents, is why the residents have given up on them and are going to the Government in a last ditch attempt to save the homes and the community they love.

West Ken residents issue Cameron challenge

H&F Planning Committee

Our Council's infamous planning committee will rubber stamp the local authority's plans to allow property developers CapCo to demolish the West Kensington & Gibbs Green estate against the wishes of the majority of residents on the 12th September, after a Cabinet meeting on the 3rd. There will be a little bit of pantomime at both meetings, as usual, and then the plans will be nodded through as they stand.

This follows numerous wars of words between the Council and residents, with the Council having funded an alternative residents group in order to have someone to agree with them. Until the chair of that group resigned in disagreement too. Money well spent. 

Given that this apparently flies in the face of the Government's oft-quoted Big Society ideas of handing power to local people, especially where they already value their existing local communities, the residents are shooting over the councillors heads and aiming right for the man at the top.

Here's what they say on their "People's Estates" blog:

What will the Government do next year when the Council applies for consent to dispose of our homes? Will the Prime Minister champion his Big Society by refusing the sale and demolition of the People’s Estates? Will he empower us to take charge, or will he impose the politicians and property and financial speculators on us? We don’t want to see him in the driving seat of the bulldozer that destroys our community and removes the last shred of credibility from his most heartfelt belief!

Sally Taylor and Diana Belshaw, Chairs of the two residents associations, said:

We remain true to the principles of the Big Society, and we stand firm by our belief that local people should take greater charge of where they live so they can exercise more responsibility for their environment and assume better care of their neighbours. We occupy the ground; these are our homes; and we shall restore ownership to the local community. Politicians and profiteers may come and go, but we the people shall never surrender.

Sterling stuff. And it comes as the Prime Minister is being ridiculed by senior members of his own party for needing to show he is made of sterner stuff. Is he a man or a mouse, they ask?

The Government has over-ruled H&F before, most dramatically when it forced the shut down of propaganda rag H&F News, very much against the wishes of the local authority. And the Council knows it could happen again, with former Leader Stephen Greenhalgh so worried he was at one time reduced to scribbling personal pleas to Ministers that "he really needed [your] help on this one!"

So, what's it to be? The Big Society or Big Bucks? 

Heathrow runway u-turn ahead?

The signs look ominous. Senior Ministers saying they can't "bind their hands" for the future and welcome lobbying in favour of it and senior back-benchers publicly warning that the third runway is some kind of virility test for the Prime Minister - is he a man or a mouse they ask?

We're about two and a half years away from a General Election and it seems very much like the vexed issue of a third runway for Heathrow is set to be a local political theme that dominates our choice of MP when it comes. Our current one, Andy Slaughter, resigned from the last Government when it decided to support the new runway and in so doing ended his Ministerial career, but kept his parliamentary one. 

Neighbouring MP Conservative Greg Hands is vulnerable on the issue, his constituency being even more under the flight paths than this one, only as far as it would be quite embarrassing. He is a Whip which means his job is to ensure the Government's business gets done and they don't lose any votes, so he would in theory be part of a Government performing a u-turn and delivering a reduction in quality of life to his constituents. 

But his is a rock-solid Tory seat so he doesn't have to resign if he doesn't want to. 

Our Council, and those of surrounding boroughs, are uniformly against the plan with many backing the Prime Minister in Waiting's alternative proposal of an airport in the Thames Estuary, the so-called "Boris Island".

The problem for them however is that Boris' backing for the option, following his eclipsing of the Prime Minister during the Olympics and rude calls for Cameron to "stop pussyfooting around" almost certainly ensure it will never happen while Cameron rules the roost.

And even within H&F Council there are cracks, with leading councillor Harry Phibbs leaving the door very much ajar when he spoke to me in March this year:

Great news! But, hang on, what's this...

Oh.

Susana Mendonça completes this BBC piece with an interview with Zac Goldsmith, a Conservative representing Richmond Park, who seems to think that there won't be anything in the next Tory manifesto that rules in a third runway but nothing that rules it out either. In that case he'd never stand as a Tory again he says proudly.

So where does this pantomime leave the ordinary person, for whom this decision will directly affect their quality of life? Nowheresville it seems. Is it any wonder so many people don't bother to vote anymore?

White City flooded in latest Thames Water burst

Wood Lane was flooded by another burst main from Thames Water this afternoon, threatenting the closure of the central line next door and leading police to cordon off parts of the road. Residents reported being fearful for their properties while the utility company was forced to switch off the water supply to the area. You can see the extraordinary scenes in the video above taken by Rob Coxwell.

This is not the first example of water being massively wasted by Thames Water, it seems to be a regular occurence. And as an illustration of how much importance they seem to attach to talking to ordinary people they studiously ignored all references to it on their Twitter feed - until Greater London Authority member Murad Qureshi responded to one of my own tweets and asked where it was. All of a sudden there was an immediate explanation.

 So you may wish to bear that in mind next time you see another Thames Water advert telling you not to waste water. Nobody wastes it on the scale of Thames Water themselves.

Hammersmith fails disabled on Paralympic eve

Not welcome in Hammersmith

Boris once told me, to my face and in public, that it was just too expensive to make Shepherd's Bush tube station accessible for disabled Londoners.

And that was after having spent £39 million on consultants with nothing to show for it.

You might think lessons had been learned ahead of the biggest disability sporting event in the world, when first class facilities are being made available in our own borough for those athletes and local people, such as these in Ravenscourt Park.

But read this account by a wheelchair user who tried travelling to Hammersmith to use the wheelchair ramps that Transport for London had proudly announced would be there, and you find that the reality experienced by disabled people themselves is often very different to what the politicians and officials proclaim. Sorry guv, no ramps and no staff to use them.

I wonder if the pen pushers would be quite so relaxed about this issue if they were the ones in the wheelchairs.