Met urges public to consider wishes of those leaving flowers after burglary suspect’s death

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Police have urged members of the public to respect the wishes of the family of an intruder who died at a home in south-east London, after floral tributes were removed for a fourth time.



Henry Vincent, 37, died after a struggle with Richard Osborn-Brooks, 78, whose house he was allegedly burgling with an accomplice who remains at large.



A three-day standoff between Vincent’s family and residents in Hither Green continued on Wednesday as a neighbour pulled down 16 bouquets from the fence where they had been displayed.

The family, who have identified themselves as Gypsies, said they were being treated differently because of their backgrounds and said they wanted to remember Vincent as a brother, son and friend and “a good man”. They have vowed to continue returning to the scene to replace the tributes.

The Metropolitan police issued a statement on Wednesday saying that while a small police presence was in place, “the location and nature of floral tributes is generally not a matter for police”.

But they added that “the wishes of family and friends to mark the loss of a loved one” should be respected.

The statement added: “We urge members of the public to respect the wishes of those who choose to place flowers and other tributes in the area.”

Osborn-Brooks, who was arrested after Vincent’s death and later released without charge, has been hailed as a hero by some locals for taking on the intruders. .



Neighbours have described the tributes on a fence opposite Osborn-Brooks’ house as inappropriate and in poor taste.

On Wednesday an angry local resident tore down the flowers, shouting: “These are scumbags, scumbags, scumbags. We’ve had enough in the country of scumbags.”

In front of a scrum of cameras and journalists on South Park Crescent, Iain Gordon called Osborn-Brooks a hero and said: “I’d like to shake his hand and buy him a drink. I’m sure he’s distressed. He had to kill someone, how would you feel. It’s disgusting.”

Another neighbour, who did not want to give her name, said she agreed. “It’s disgusting. He [Vincent] is not a victim, he walked into someone’s house,” she said. “The way they are treating [Osborn-Brooks] is disgusting, he was only protecting his house.”

Her sister added: “I think people are angry that he’s had to leave his house. I think the police made the right decision but the fact they can’t protect him isn’t right.”

Osborn-Brooks has not returned to the property since the incident. Vincent’s family have denied allegations that threats have been made against Osborn-Brooks.

Lisa Smith, a Romany journalist, said the focus on Vincent’s ethnicity in some media reports was concerning. “This is a horrible situation, and it can’t be condoned but it was a crime committed by one man, it has nothing to do with ethnicity,” she said. “Gypsies and Travellers are already demonised, and this just plays into that.”

On Tuesday an inquest into the death was opened and adjourned at a coroner’s court in Borough, south London. Two female relatives, accompanied by a police family liaison officer, were present for the brief hearing, during which police authorised the release of Vincent’s body to his family.

The Met has released an image of the man alleged to have been Vincent’s accomplice in the burglary. He was named as Billy Jeeves, who the force said had links to Orpington and Swanley in Kent, and Cambridge.