What a miserable, wet, murderous and bloodthirsty bank holiday weekend that was. Despite the washout of much looked-forward-to barbecues, fetes and boot sales, we had a nice couple of killings to liven things up and take our minds off the great British weather.

First we had the death of Rob Knox, who decided to spend the night in one of the most appalling ‘pubs’ in Sidcup; The Metro Bar. This place has always been a no-go area for those whose idea of a good time is not eardrum-splitting music, karaoke and poker nights.

It is now apparent that this establishment posts bouncers on the doors to stop undesirables from gaining entry.

I assume the 'doormen' failed to find knives on the assailants because they have stopped vetting customers as the place would be empty if they turned away every prospective customer who looked on the dodgy side.

Just as we were getting our teeth into the Sidcup murder story, we were treated to another juicy killing; that of Amar Aslam, 17, murdered in what the police described as a ‘sustained attack’, in Crow Nest Park, Dewsbury, on Sunday evening.

The Amar Aslam story has got everyone excited because not only are there rumours that this killing had a racial motive but also that it could be gang related.

Oh, what joy for the readers and television news viewers!

I left a comment on the Rob Knox story yesterday asking how long we would have to wait for another teenage murder. I gave it two weeks but I lost my bet as it turned out to be only two days.

Thankfully, the police have done their job and arrested suspects in connection with both murders, so hats off to them for that but what can be done to halt this murder epidemic?

Firstly, I would like to ask why a bar or pub in a residential area like Sidcup should feel the need to employ bouncers or doormen, call them what you will, in the first place?

Amazingly, when The Metro Bar was called the Iron Horse and was frequented by bikers, bouncers were not deemed necessary, probably because the clientele were not such a bad bunch and sorted their problems out far away from prying eyes.

Then again, in those days the pub did not run poker nights either.

I remember a time when it was up to the landlord to decide who got served in his pub. He was in charge and needed no help from anyone in throwing out unwelcome visitors but then again that was in a time when people had respect for not only authority but also each other.

Surely, if a pub or bar employs knuckleheads to look menacing at the entrances to their establishments, they must be expecting trouble of one sort or another.

One would hope that this dreadful den of iniquity, which would not look out of place in the middle of a run-down council estate, will soon be closed down for good and the licensee and 'doormen' given the opportunity of finding alternative employment.

The Metro Bar is not only an eyesore with its garishly painted blackboards advertising karaoke and poker nights, it is now a magnet for all the scum in the area to congregate for trouble.

It should be closed down forthwith, not only out of respect to Rob Knox but also for the safety of future victims who inadvertently stumble across the place and decide to make it their home for the evening.

My advice to you all is simple: if your son or daughter tells you that they are going to spend the evening in a bar that has to be manned by two scummy dummies with broken noses who have LOVE and HATE tattooed on their knuckles, bear in mind that the next murder victim might be someone very close to your heart.


Do you think that pubs should have bouncers on the doors and that things have gone too far? I welcome comments from you all.

Erastus