Police investigate criminal damage and appeal for witnesses

Police are investigating after the car windscreen of a local planning activist was smashed.

Ealing's veteran campaigner, Victor Mishiku, believes he may have been deliberately targeted because of his involvement in numerous controversial property issues.

Mr Mishiku, 70, has helped thousands of people throughout the country as well as in Ealing and stopped a variety of developments.

His thorough knowledge of planning regulations led to his setting up the Covenant Movement which has proved to be a thorn in the side to many.

Most recently he has been involved a number of cases including Peacehaven in Acton where he says he was 'manhandled' and forced off the site visit.

He has also been working on applications closer to home including a contentious redevelopment of a Victorian house on Castlebar Road - next door to where he himself lives.

He says his interventions in this case have forced developers to change their plans three times and caused delays. Ealing Council granted planning permission - six councillors voted in favour, three against and four abstained.

Last week Mr Mishiku says he noticed his car had been damaged :

'' I was at my computer upstairs and had the lights on when I heard a dull but quite loud bang and thought there might have been an accident outside in Castlebar Road but when I looked out my kitchen window nearby which was dark so I could see out, nothing could be seen.  On Wednesday, when I was about to drive off to help residents of Park View Road in the Playing Fields consultation, I saw that my front windscreen was totally smashed and looked like a spider's web.''

He reported the incident to the police but says it hasn't deterred him from his work.

'' I guess when you get involved in controversial issues like planning it's an occupational hazard but it's not going to intimidate me. I've been helping people for 30 years, I'm not stopping now.''

A police spokesperson said: ''Police are investigating criminal damage to a vehicle that is believed to have taken place at Castlebar Road, W5 on the evening of Tuesday, 1 September at around 2230hrs.   The windscreen of a white, Toyota vehicle was smashed. No arrests. Enquiries continue.

''Anyone who witnessed this incident or has information should call Ealing Police by dialling 101 and quoting reference number 2522289/15.''

9th September 2015