The Persecution of a shopkeeper: Lewisham Council's POCA abuses

Kevin Bottomley, the former proprietor of KJ Building Supplies in Brockley, dragged out of retirement, still finds himself ensnared in an unrelenting kafkaesque legal battle with Lewisham Council. His alleged crime? Storing basic construction materials on land and in a container adjacent to his shop.

However, beneath the thin veneer of law enforcement lurks a profit-driven agenda. Lewisham Council, under the guise of the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA), stands to gain a significant portion, 37.5%, of what it claims is £167,000 of the proceeds from successful prosecution. A crime indeed.

Bottomley's plight illuminates the unjust practices of a local authority operating as modern-day bounty hunters, all under the guise of democracy. This article exposes the unjust treatment of a senior citizen and the dubious tactics employed by Lewisham Council's enforcement officers who place discretion aside in the pursuit of an easily forged shilling

The prosecution

Lewisham Council's aggressive pursuit of Kevin Bottomley underscores a troubling pattern in its enforcement practices condoned by its legal department. Instead of prioritising genuine public safety concerns, Lewisham Council has targeted small businesses like Bottomley's DIY store and local residents. 

However, by weaponising POCA, a law intended to combat serious criminal activity, Lewisham Council exploits its power to prosecute law-abiding citizens, all in pursuit of financial gain. 

Bottomley, faced with a staggering £167,000 penalty for routine business activities, serves as a pawn in the council's quest for gluttonous and shameful profit.

Abuse of POCA

The abuse of POCA in Bottomley's case is glaringly apparent. Instead of focusing on combating serious criminal enterprises, Lewisham Council has set its sights on individuals merely trying to earn an honest living. 

POCA was never intended as a means for revenue generation or punishing minor infractions. Yet, Lewisham Council's enforcement practices suggest otherwise. 

By relentlessly pursuing prosecutions like Bottomley's, we can reveal that Lewisham Council stands to profit immensely, receiving nearly forty percent of the confiscated funds. This ill-gotten gain, obtained at the expense of hardworking individuals like Bottomley, is nothing short of scandalous.

Modern-day bounty hunters

In their relentless pursuit of prosecutions, Lewisham Council's enforcement authorities resemble modern-day bounty hunters and latter-day slave-traders. Call it the POCA triangle: victim, enforcement, profit. #

However, by prioritising financial gains over the welfare of their constituents, it is the elected members, the councillors, who abandon principles of fairness and proportionality by remaining silent. 

Bottomley's case serves as a stark reminder of the perils of unchecked local government power and the erosion of civil liberties via its executive. 

Enough we say. Kevin Bottomley's struggle underscores the urgent need for reform in local government enforcement practices.

Bottomley's fight transcends his own circumstances; it symbolizes the broader battle against injustice and local government overreach. 

Lewisham Council must re-evaluate its tactics and prioritise the welfare of its community over financial gain. 

The council's motto, "Salus Populi Suprema Lex," rings hollow in the face of its exploitative enforcement tactics against a retired man, however, while acknowledging the council's financial needs, it should not debase itself by resorting to predatory enforcement practices. 

This abuse of POCA by authorities like Lewisham Council simply cannot go unchallenged. It is incumbent upon us to hold our elected officials accountable and demand transparency and fairness in the administration of justice.

Hopefully a new mayor may heed the warning: Ask not for whom the bell tolls.

 

 THE BIG RETORT