As much as tight spandex has a certain ‘sex’ appeal, it by rights should stay in the realms of 80s aerobic classes. However when it comes to hiding ones identity and flaunting your superhero prowess, hoods and long coats are the uniform of a newly formed vigilante group patrolling the streets of Colchester.
The Nightwatchers, four twenty-something budding crime fighters hailing from the Colchester area have taken it upon themselves to ensure that those fortunate enough to have the money to spend on a decent night out get home safely. Going by the atypical aliases of Dr Insomnia, The Nightman, The Shover and The Green & White Knight, subtle references to a recent comic book adaptation are readily apparent. Vigilante groups have been a staple of literature since the times of Robin hood, and more recently in the age of the comic book superhero, yet it is in the land of the free that Americans unhappy with the way justice is served have setup groups to tackle these social ills. The Nightwatchers, and no doubt the copycats who will spring up to get in on the publicity, run the risk of derision even though their intentions may be well founded. The Guardian Angel organisation based in New York however faced opposition from the offset, with chapters being publicly
In response to the surfacing of the team, the police were quick to promote the superheroes that have been busting crime and drunk and disorderly behaviour on Friday and Saturday nights, their very own elite force of Special Constables. The local boys in blue however have criticized the wannabe Justice League’s efforts, stating that a lack of “training, backup or support” will hamper the League’s efforts in helping patrol the streets effectively.
I personally know many souls who live by the mantra that alcohol is the cause of, and solution to, all of lives problems, and it appears to be the glue that holds our social beings together. In saying this, bearing witness to the amount of fights in kebab shops and outside cab offices, all a result of happy juice induced anger it surely is a burden on the already stretched resources of the police.
Even with Colchester’s crime rates below the national average, many people are still upset at the current state of affairs in local politics. community activism also saw the rise of a national star in the guise of a walking pile of moss, the ‘Human Shrub’. Not just another comic convention reject, the Shrub in garnering the attention of the national press has really highlighted the plight of the shrubbery in the town, and is able to command a squad of eco-warriors in fighting against the infectious weeds that have plagued our peaceful lands.
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