Letter to Editor: If you took photos of a person in distress in Harvey Centre……Have a care, it could easily be someone you love
Your Say / Tue 31st Mar 2026 at 06:05am
Dear Editor,
Have a care, it could easily be someone you love
THIS evening my journey home was delayed by the closure of the Harvey Centre car park and adjacent roads as emergency services attended to a young person in distress on the roof of the car park.
Firstly, I’m pleased to say that the young person was brought to safety by the excellent professionalism of the emergency services, Harvey Centre staff and other agencies.
The majority of people I spoke to who were delayed were concerned for the welfare of the young person and content to wait until the situation was resolved.
What disturbed me was the number of others who complained and worse still took photos and videos of the scene.
I challenged some of them to stop, asking them how would they feel if it was someone they knew, a member of their family or a friend and someone was taking pictures of them in their time of utmost distress?
The lack of compassion and care for a fellow human in this most extreme of situations was truly shocking.
The circumstances or mental health issues that lead a person to this position could easily be you or I next time around. I sincerely hope that the complainers and video takers might find a bit more humanity and compassion if they are faced with this sort of incident in future.
Take a walk, grab a coffee and come back to collect your car or get your bus later. Next time it could be someone you love.
Hopefully the person involved today is now getting the care they need and, in time, they too will recognise the fantastic work of the emergency services and others in saving a life today.
If you need help please don’t suffer in silence, call 116 123 (it’s free 24hrs a day, 365 days a year)
www.samaritans.org
James Griggs
David Forman
2026-03-31 08:13:33
A good point well made by James Griggs. However, the zero lack of interest shown by local politicians in the ongoing Lampard Inquiry into unnecessary deaths within the Essex mental health system over a 23 period says to me nobody really cares. There has been 44 days of hearings with the first day on September 9, 2024. YourHarlow has printed four articles related to the run-up to and the ongoing Lampard Inquiry. Not one comment from James Griggs or any other councillor. Not one Letter to Editor from them either on the topic, although most councillors output in letters is next to zero. Consequently, when Griggs and the political class in Harlow shed a tear or two for the appalling treatment of mental health patients in Essex then I might take seriously Griggs' pious sentiments about the photos and videos taken by bystanders. See Day One of Lampard at https://lampardinquiry.org.uk/hearings/hearing-day-01-opening-statements/
Paul fagan
2026-03-31 09:00:43
Well said
Kirsty Matthews
2026-03-31 11:24:10
Sorry to hear about this, hope the person with mental health issues get the care they need, the other people who were delayed and taking photos without permission should ask first, not everyone likes having their photo taken and should be taken into consideration xx
Jim bob
2026-03-31 14:59:32
Who cares about mental health the real problem we should be talking about are those bloody flags!
Mr T.
2026-04-02 16:18:04
Jim Bob your a pratt mate.
Derek Clark
2026-04-08 16:42:16
David Foreman, now is not the time to jump up and down about something not related to the incident, your just as bad as the fools taking photos. Well done Greggs, you were correct to try and stop these fools, its so unfair when someone is in need to then take advantage of them for your own gain.
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