Opinion

Maryland vigilantes

I am always delighted when victims fight back, and I am thrilled when victims fight back and win. And so I am delighted to read that the people of the Newcastle suburb of Maryland are preparing to defend themselves against thugs apparently roaming the suburb looking for victims. As you may have read in the Herald these thugs assaulted two men on the one night recently, putting one of them in hospital with serious injuries. Later the Herald reported plans among the men of Maryland to band together to fight back, to defend themselves against the thugs, and naturally they were described as vigilantes.

If they respond with force to an attack or a threat of an attack these men must be acting sensibly, because not reacting in number and with force is why individuals among them have been bashed and their families imperilled. I have never understood the disapproval by those on the high ground - the high and safe ground! - of vigilantism. I mean, if the police cannot protect us, as they have not done at Maryland, do we cower in a corner of the laundry?

If confronting those who threaten and attack us, if pursuing them and meeting their force with greater force, is vigilantism, then I have long been a vigilante. As I describe in more detail in my column today, I have chased and caught men stealing my car or trying to break into my house quite a number of times, and in most cases handed them over to the police. Five years ago I recovered a valuable bike stolen that day by burglars when I found a fellow riding it in a nearby Department of Housing complex, and it seemed odd to me that the police were unhappy about that. They were unhappier when I returned to the estate to find the rider to ask about a stolen laptop and so they followed me as I searched, which was good because they were at hand when I found people who knew something about it.

There is nothing like a little vigilantism to pique police interest in the case, and so the people who come together in Maryland to watch, to harass, to film the roving louts, and to use as much force as necessary to defend themselves will find a much greater police presence in their suburb. Remember, keep it legal.

Do you see a community banding together to defend itself as positive vigilantism? Is there an alternative when policing fails?

Posted By: Jeff Corbett on 21/11/2011 3:00:00 AM | Comments (86)

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Date: Newest first | Oldest first

I would never suggest a single soul going out on their own to pursue a crim. But a reasonable size group is good.

Thuggery and attacks are way too prevelant these days and we certainly need protection.

But if you don't act within the Law, then you could end up the one on charges and the villians get away - again!

Take care.

Posted by Kurri 'n Rose, 21/11/2011 4:15:07 AM, on The Herald

It must be very frustrating to be a police officer and knowing what to do to reduce crime and community violence only to have your hands tied by the snivel libertarians.

Posted by GetReal, 21/11/2011 5:43:47 AM, on The Herald

When law and order has failed and it is no longer safe for the general community then society needs people who are prepared to take back the streets !

Posted by Crazyivan, 21/11/2011 6:45:50 AM, on The Herald

this was a sickening attack. I know Gary and as a sports referee he is used to calming volatile situations. What occurred here is was completely unprovoked and i'm stunned by the savage nature of it from such young perpetrators. He is now left with a long and likely expensive recovery and rehab, and the ongoing threat from these crims. it's an unimaginably bad situation, and one that the family did nothing to create. I understand the police have done good work in locating the thugs & i hope they are supported by the courts, but even if they do what then for the victims. They still live there.

Posted by mike king, 21/11/2011 7:02:37 AM, on The Herald

hhhm this is a difficult one. If there were enough police it wouldn't be such a problem?! And if the ones we had weren't so stressed dealing with the trash of society I think we would get a better response.

When my neighbours confronted/spoke to the police with me after another encounter with my stalker/neighbour, the police gave the typical response, of not being allowed take action. IT seemed so strange to me that one man could be allowed to do basically what he wanted - yes he has a mental illness but that is still no excuse. My neighbours wanted to protect but were warned off.

Posted by leahkf, 21/11/2011 7:11:20 AM, on The Herald

Have you applied for an AVO Leah?

Posted by Jeff Corbett on 21/11/2011 7:57:33 AM

So go for it Maryland vigilantes! Work out what your rules will be for dealing with the little toads and go for it.

Posted by leahkf, 21/11/2011 7:12:17 AM, on The Herald

Vigilantism has to happen Jeff because no matter what our successive governments keep promising us. We know the police corporations have too few poorly equipped police to do the job governments expect them to do! Just now Sydney news 79 year old struck in the face by an intruder who stole his car and fled.

Posted by Edward James, 21/11/2011 7:33:32 AM, on The Herald

Vigilantism is the refuge of choice for 'community' blowhards and roughnecks. It rarely, if ever, achieve anything other than to waste police time. It has never been safer in this safest of all countries. These stats were buried in the NMH on 28/10/11:

"The latest figures from the Bureau of Crime Statistics showed . . . over the last five years to June. In NSW robbery with a firearm has decreased by 3.5 per cent over the same period and robbery with other types of weapons went down by 11.5 per cent. Those statistics include violent robberies in houses, on the street and at businesses"

Posted by Hank Williams, 21/11/2011 8:06:30 AM, on The Herald

Sounds like a great topic for Scott. Police are hampered by all sorts of internal and external expectations and restraints. An example of Policing would be patrol the area, find a group of suspect trouble makers, stop them with reasonable cause, do a search using knife legistaion, found nothing give them a move on direction if they are loitering. This will be repeated possible several times during the night. Approapriate intell reports and computer entries done. Police want to get rid of these urban terrorists, they want to charge them but it is not 30 years ago.

Posted by Buell, 21/11/2011 8:11:38 AM, on The Herald

Some years ago in the U.S.of A a vigilante group known as the Lavender Panthers was formed to avenge the bashings of gay men. The victims who were on the recieving end of the panthers revenge usually did not go to the police as it was a big mark against their masculinity to fall foul of the group. Maybe a few Ninjas are needed in Maryland to sort things out. Apparently it is common in Britain and Europe for vigilante groups to act when they are unhappy with the police efforts. Is the situation in Maryland racial?

Posted by Bush Bunny, 21/11/2011 8:17:08 AM, on The Herald

No, BB, the conflict is not a matter of race, so far as I know. I'm not advocating revenge attacks, by the way. I do, however, believe it is eminently sensible for members of the community to band together to protect themselves when the police are unable to. I cannot understand why anyone would say the community members should not.

Posted by Jeff Corbett on 21/11/2011 8:24:50 AM