Security powerless against Drug-users & drunkards outside Sutton Job Centre 

I am unemployed – that’s not a secret!  My last employment was running a 3 year Charity project `Employment Training for Tamils’  - for South London Tamil Welfare Group ( Charity based in Merton Borough and going on for 25 yrs). My project had funding from LDA: London Development Agency, worth about quarter of a Million Pounds!  I was Project Coordinator, and managed the 3-year project – which had it’s own office/ training centre in Mitcham. That’s the background.

So earlier today, I went to hand my fortnightly Job search, and to `sign-on’.

And as I entered the Job centre building (Sutton, Surrey), I saw 3-4 people just outside it, with beer cans in their hands and something else.

As I entered I could smell `weed’ in the air. It’s blooming hard to miss – even for an asthmatic like me who suffers from hayfever and often has a blocked nose.

After handing my job-search document, I approached the Security Guards – and asked them politely if they could do something about the people smoking dope outside and drinking. I asked them how can we – the rest of us get on and build a good future, with this sort of things going on!

The Guards (whom I happen to suddenly notice were wearing the now infamous brand that supplies Security for the London Olympics!!) told me they can’t do anything, as it’s outside.  They told me perhaps I should pop into the Local MP’s office nearby and lodge the matter.

It is quite appalling - and terribly pathetic and a sorry state of affair- that literally a foot outside a government Office such as Job Centre, local people can stand and drink beer and smoke drugs!  They are laughing in the face of the law and the government and the system.

There is a punch-line to this account.

Few hours later, I got a call from one of the ladies from the Job centre – asking me questions on my Job search. I answered all her questions, explaining how I keep record of my searches, and even the self-employment efforts I am making. She wasn’t bothered about those matters. I said I can stop recording those aspects – which after all is something I am doing under the support of the government’s `Work Programme’.  I referred to her as `you have sent me to it, so am reporting’.   And she said it’s not her but the government that sends me to that.

REALLY? Come on. I have worked in the Home Office (Immigration) for a whole 6-7 years fielding inquiries from the public – inland and foreign and while we Civil Servants are on duty – we ARE the face of the government. Nothing personal.  We represent it.

I know that the Job Centre staff represent the government. Do they know it?

What a bloody system… It excretes on the people who strive to do the `right thing’ and yet turns a blind eye to those who buck , mock and f**k the system.  Yeah, am angry. I phoned the Job centre and complained about the Officer who not only was patronizing, but actually hung up the call on me.  I had to, because, otherwise, it will be her word against mine, and I’ll be the one getting vilified for some make-shift behavioral problems.

-Mani