TeriG

Thanks all - can I reiterate just that if anyone else was in the park on sunday and saw those concerned to continue to contact me on private messaging. I really dont want to get drawn into the debates around park users/dog walkers etc - it's a free country and anyone (with or without pets) is allowed to be in a public park; NO ONE though, has the right to punch and kick an innocent person - that is outright GBH and is ILLEGAL. I would hate to think it could happen to another park user - hence my post. As stated elsewhere, I am aware that others saw the perpetrators, who appeared to be abusive to other park users on sunday as well (I dont think they were drunk)- so I have no idea what their "gripe" was and if they were football supporters or not. The title of the post is "scary dog" - even to me, as an adult, I gave it a wide berth - goodness knows how it would appear in the eyes of a child; in the area it was in it should have been on a short lead.

All, to clarify my boyfriend who was jogging was on the tarmac-ed circuit that goes around dulwich park - where there were, lots of people, dog walkers cyclists etc and the dog was not on a leash but got tangled up in his legs (the dog didnt bite or jump up but almost tripped him over as it wound around his ankles and between his legs). Annoyed at having to stop,rather than trip over it, my boyfriend did say to the owners to "keep control of their dog" - and to add, having just jogged past that area myself there were literally crowds of people - adults and children too etc; but rather than just verbally responding the men responsible then decided to start punching and kicking my boyfriend.... He had a bloodied lip and cuts and bruises to his legs, torso and was punched in the head too. I have had confirmation from other park users that the same guys were seen verbally abusing other park users later - so they seemed to be getting angry and agressive very easily. All those reports have been sent on to the park authorities to ensure they are aware of all the facts. If anyone else saw similar incidents, do continue to get in contact via private messaging.

Sayroo, thankyou too for your supportive post & to all previous people who've posted support. A number of forum members who were in the park at the time have contacted me privately with info about the perpetrators and Id continue to encourage others too, so that all statements can be collated by the police and parks authorities - they have been very efficient in dealing with it so far. Hopefully the park will be a safer place once again. Thanks for your concern.

hi all, thanks again for your posts and if any of you saw them or the incident, do please get in touch. Tony, yes, he did call the police - I think he was quite shell shocked for a while... I completely agree, that at least by recording the incident, then the perpetrators are closer to getting caught, as they're clearly a danger to society. We also contacted the district parks authority who've also been in touch and logged the incident for the park safety records etc. I didnt mean to "offend" any dog owners; Im an animal lover myself; but have been "jumped on" by a friendly-looking dog before which caused me to get quite shaken up, so always give them a wide berth when out walking/running. The point here was that some areas of the park, esp near the kids playground - dogs should be under control and in some areas there are notices that they should be on a lead. This was one such area, i think. Hopefully it wont happen again; and yes, the park authorities clarified that there was a police prescence later in the day in the park. There were many witnesses around, but most probably equally shocked and "none of their business" etc Im hoping that somehow by raising awareness to the park authorities the perpetrators wont get away with that violent behaviour towards anyone.

Hi all, again, thanks for your help/remarks etc. The two men were approx 5'8", white, mid to late 30s; casually dressed, large, stocky build both had "beer bellies"; brown-ish short hair. Dog: white pit bull terrier off lead, poss with light brown patches. As a woman, i'd feel intimidated by such characters at any time of day, and as I ran past them walking in the opp direction and through crowds of people, I recall avoiding what to my mind, looked like a "dangerous dog" to be off a lead - esp with young children around... but didn't really pay a great deal of attention to its owners as I sped past (hence I cant be even more descript). Nearby there was an icecream van and just outside the playground a group of (I think) 20 or so Italian-speaking teenagers. The dog didnt attack my boyfriend (fortunately) - but it got in between his legs as he ran past and that was why the 2 men, in a "split second" came over to my boyfriend and started kicking and punching him (by this point I was a few mins away, oblivious to what was going on, by Roseberry gate wondering where he'd got to). That's the best description I could give - since there were many people, and the dog came close to my "path" of running, I made a mental note to "give it a wide berth". Ive run around the park and the local area for 9 years and NEVER come across such an incident; occasionally the odd spat with a dog owner about "keeping it under control" - but as you state too - shocked that this could happen in a crowded area in broad daylight- truly a sad reflection on society. I'll always carry a phone with me in future to be able to get help and ideally photo/video evidence.

Thanks - Alex K / John L and all the others who've responded so far. Ive contacted the Dulwich Friends and they put me in touch with the Dulwich Parks authority as well as giving me the local police number. We have contacted the police as well and the incident is being recorded both by the park and by the local police - as, as you rightly say, by formally reporting the incident sooner, we are more likely to prevent another attack happening. These guys are clearly violent and have a "dangerous dog" off the leash in an area where there were many children and people enjoying the park. They kicked and punched my boyfriend and I do hope locals who were there will report it. I have warned local friends and one of the local running clubs too, so that everyone knows to be "on the alert" even in a leafy green park etc. Ive often run around the park myself and enjoyed it over 9 years - and this is the first "incident" I have known of - I find it very sad and upsetting; as well as a poor reflection on todays society. Hopefully such criminals will be brought to justice and not able to do further harm to anyone. Thankyou all for your best wishes etc

Yep, cant believe it myself, as Id run past that area - and it was packed with people - adults, young kids, etc etc near the playground area. One guy apparently asked my boyfriend if he was okay. Im trying to convince him to still call the police - but he doesnt like "confrontation" in any way and thinks it would be a waste of time... I think they should be brought to justice, but wanted to warn other park users - Im in the process of emailing local friends etc as Id hate to think it happened and that it could happen to anyone else. Thanks for your concern - tiddles and womanofdulwich - Im still in shock myself, retrospectively; and I think my boyfriend is just trying to "block the whole incident out" - other than putting ice on his leg where it was kicked and scrapped and where he got physically punched by the two. Gutted too - in broad daylight, in dulwich park. We both regularly run around there - I'll always carry a phone, and if I come across them, will take photos to send to the police.

That's what I was really worried about - especially as it happened so close to the playground area. My boyfriend is a "pacifist" and doesnt like to "confront" such people, but rather avoid the situation. Ive warned my running club (Dulwich runners) who use the park alot as well as emailed "friends of dulwich".

All, Just wanted to warn everyone about two large, vicious looking men, who this morning (sunday I4th) in broad daylight, near the playground area of dulwich park, attacked my boyfriend, who was just out for a run on a sunny day. Essentially, we had been running together but I was ahead and unaware of what had happened (but passed the 2 large men with their bulldog-type dog a few mins earlier). I stopped and waited at Roseberry gate - as it seemed strange he was so far behind, but I couldnt see him. Literally, a few mins later, he came into view, firstly walking and then jogging, with cuts and scrapes, a scratched leg, bloodied lip and recouted what had happened.... The big bulldog/pitbull type dog was off the lead (I remember seeing it myself, and avoided it) and it had run into him and around his legs. The two large, scary looking men then went up to my boyfriend and punched and kicked him - in broad daylight with people stood around.... My boyfriend is the most harmless guy and was no where near a stature to "stand up" to them - neither of us had a phone or money to call the police and besides, my boyfriend didnt think we should as we had "no evidence" - ie photos etc etc. I just wanted to post this to "warn" others - as, to my mind this is grievous bodily harm and the two men sounded both physically and verbally dangerous with a large scary dog, off its leash. Im gutted too that my boyfriend doesnt want to retrospectively call the police or get these "thugs" brought to justice - he had done nothing, but just jogged in the park on a sunny day. I hope and Pray that this doesnt happen to anyone else.