Trevor that's just not true. 

The problem with Colin is that he is mentally ill. When he takes his meds, he 
becomes a peaceful decent and well-behaved guy. But he doesn't like his meds so 
he stops taking them and becomes the Colin we know. 

So over the years, many times, we have engaged social services and had him 
committed a couple of times. He goes into hospital, gets cleaned up, takes his 
meds, and behaves impeccably. And promises to take his meds when he's released. 

So there's no reason to hold him anymore. He has committed no crime that a 
magistrate has sentenced him for. Our legal framework doesn't allow indefinite 
'Cuckoos's Nest' type indefinite psychiatric detention (thank goodness!) unless 
the person can be proved to be a real danger to himself or others. And Colin is 
not a danger, he's just a nuisance. 

Back on the streets Colin stops taking his meds and reverts back. To go through 
the commitment process again and again would require a huge commitment of 
scarce resources from social services and metro and anyway would only ever 
result in getting Colin off the streets for short periods. 

So tell me, what else exactly should the 'authorities' do?  

Justin

Sent from my iPhone

On 06 Apr 2013, at 12:39 AM, Trevor Hughes <[email protected]> wrote:

> This might sound a tad facetious but have you tried soap and water? I am 
> pretty sure Colin's allergic to those agents and will move on if they are 
> liberally applied.
> 
> Make you area less hospitable - fence it off, lock the gates, whatever it 
> takes to prevent his access or comfortable lodgings. Might not solve the 
> Colin problem, but YOUR cooling problem will be solved.
> 
> The authorities clearly do not care about Colin
> 
> Trev
> -- 
> OPS [Obsid Public Safety] - 24/7 control room
> ----------------------------------------------
> 021-447-1066 072-063-1653
>  
> For all emergencies please dial 10111
>  
> ----------------------------------------------
> ONW: 082 081 0142, ONW email: [email protected]
> WEB: www.obswatch.org.za
> ----------------------------------------------
>  
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups The 
> Observatory Neighbourhood watch group. To post to this group, send email to 
> [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to 
> [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at 
> https://groups.google.com/d/forum/obsnw?hl=en
> --- 
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups 
> "The Observatory Neighbourhood watch" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an 
> email to [email protected].
> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
>  
>  

-- 
OPS [Obsid Public Safety] - 24/7 control room
----------------------------------------------
021-447-1066 072-063-1653

For all emergencies please dial 10111

----------------------------------------------
ONW: 082 081 0142, ONW email: [email protected]
WEB: www.obswatch.org.za
----------------------------------------------

You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups The 
Observatory Neighbourhood watch group. To post to this group, send email to 
[email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to 
[email protected]. For more options, visit this group at 
https://groups.google.com/d/forum/obsnw?hl=en
--- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The 
Observatory Neighbourhood watch" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email 
to [email protected].
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.


Reply via email to