Got an opinion? Why not submit your article for inclusion on the PPP website.
Speed cameras...Anonymous said...
The speed cameras on A610 SE just off the M1 J26 into Nottingham, then on the ring road. Major hot spot BEWARE.
The speed cameras entering Manchester from the south & east etc? are 'GREEN' blend in well with the trees etc.I now welcome autumn and winter.
Coming out of Grantham on the A52 east after the A1 there is a dual to single carriageway down hill and at the bottom of the long down hill usually hidden by hedge row a very profitable camera. occasionally has a scorched effect or been turned around facing the fields usually catching the odd speeding grazing cows if your lucky.
speed kills stress from paranoia excels.
Remember they are cold error free? computers backed by a heavy system a machine of heartless procedures to freeze you out of the real world. please consider our inevitable human error. We humans are doomed, mitigating circumstances seems to be our only loop.
So many partners, babies & children's quality of life rides on the pressure to earn & usually on the bread line, when some parents fall foul of these machines.
We had a new postman delivering parcels for a few weeks he was polite prompt & patiently helpful at the door, suddenly we had a poorer service loads of non delivered cards??? when we eventually caught the new post-vanman he stated he heard the sacked guy had lost his license due to a torrent of speeding tickets on his routes making him license-less & unemployable. so sad.
After passing through the Birmingham spaghetti junction a while ago it was turning dusk at the point we found ourselves the roads all around, above bellow across all around, we became shocking aware of a seemingly disco light show, no so many speed cameras were seemingly randomly flashing at all the other cars, thank god not me. an area to avoid. had to wait a month to be sure though. STRESS
I have a clean license use a sat nav that usually gives 5 mph faster than my speedo?
but always leave home on a long random trip with now in-trepidation, a level of stress & anxiety i had never endured in the past.
Aware there is always a risk of that cold indifferent letter in the post landing through my letterbox to steal my future freedom to travel.
increase my costs, obligations to respond & insurance ratings risks costs etc. surely this is inhuman?
Although an experienced driver & not because i choose to speed but the risk is real, as not all speeds for roads are clear no signs or small signs & LOCAL vehicles normally right up my rear even lorries i feel i am looking for the speed signs more than driving for the conditions some times dropping behind vans, lorries & coaches hoping their dependence on their license will keep me under the radar, but lungs full of toxic diesel fumes. surely this is a real distraction to safe at peace calm driving??.
The young are new to all this & with a lower 6 point? threshold can find them selves out of car, free so fast. & for them the obtaining a first even 2nd user car can be so expensive to set up usually with their family's initial support & now disappointment. A serious kickback, down on their life. can easily disillusion our young.
HETT
Well said Sir whoever you are PPP
Top Blogger in all Wales
Police Commissioner Job;
"Hello daddyhal its bubsytal not nice and dim here. Just been thinking , now i've NOT got the job (Despite the party machine and huge red rosette) I only have a few measly tax payer funded quangos and committee jobs so perhaps you could speak to the other gravy trainers in the "bay" and find me a position which I could, like the rest of you, abuse".
"Funny you should ask , I was thinking of a completely new quango, you head it with a staff of say just 200, lots of travel, unlimited / unchecked expenses and only ten minutes a month !!.
Perhaps counting acorns ?, clowd disembarkment strategy ? or a review of the location of strategic vision and menapause in frogs ?"... " I think we could get a few £million funding from the WAG, pay you ...say £90k plus lots of travel and top hotels / food in Brussels. Two PA's ( one gay of course ) and a good selection of ethnics , disadvantaged, musslims and a diversity officer. You will of course also need palatial offices in the Bay , as well as In North Wales , fully staffed and chauffer driven limo"
"Well daddyhal that sounds fine as, like you and all the other gravy trainers I could not be expected to work in industry, in fact w'ere all unemployable and in any case we would be sacked when we fiddled our expenses in the private sector"
PS " Whats an acorn ?"
Winston Roddick is now our PCC
from: Monty Slocombe
area: Old Colwyn
article: We now know that Mr. Roddick is our Police and Crime
Commissioner. Those who didn't bother to vote, or find out
what the candidates stood for have given by their apathy power
to him. Don't believe those who may say there is "no mandate"
from the public. Those not voting have said "I don't care who
does the job".
This site has been in hibernation for some time and it is time
to re activate it. It is one way of conveying our wishes to
this important person who will not be re elected if fails us.
The old Police Committee ignored us. They never even
bothered to reply to my requests such was their contempt for
the paying public.
If the Commissioners don't prove effective, it is our fault.
Let's start the engine again. Let him know what we want.
from: Concerned Parent, Valley,
Hi people, no doubt you would have seen valley in the news
papers about a year ago for thugs hanging around the local
spar and railway station. The police in the end said no more
than 2 young people to hang about together and a curfew. This
seemed to work for a time, now roaming gangs of these youths
acting in a threatening manor and smashing glass over local
playgrounds and railway lines are no longer bothersome to the
police for some reason. Simply calling them won’t even bring a
visit, there starting to be very destructive to local property
and very disrespectful, and all anyone can say is "aww but
the parents are druggys / piss heads" personally I don’t find this
in any way an excuse, in fact more should be done to help these
little cherubs from this situation if causing so much
emotional damage. As summer is rolling up I can only imagine
the fun myself and my wife are going to have this year, as
only last week we come across a child emptying our recycling
box and throwing the contents at a friend!, I mean come on,
what the hell is all that about?? There either some really
strange puppys about or the local families are a bit too close,
either way nothing is being done to help hinder this sort of
thing, you never see a local bobby anymore, a couple of years
back there was quite a few and on constant beat, even the
specials, now none, is this because of cut backs? or just as
we were half fixed they thought the job had been done?
Community Policing ?
phone: 01492512064
from: Monty Slocombe
area: Colwyn Bay
article: Does anyone read this site now ? Anyway, here goes in the
hope they do:
Once again we will all face rises in domestic rates, and this
at a time when we are told to expect cutbacks in front line
policing. Last night I was in a public house and was incensed
when I saw beer towels on the bar with motives telling us how
safe the community is because of North Wales Police. Who had
the time to plan and distribute them ? Where did the money
to do so come from ? Whilst they were so engaged, what did
they consider were police priorities ? Could they have been
doing something else ? Do we, who pay for this, consider this
a priority ?
I have asked the Chief Constable to address Old Colwyn
Resident's Association to explain the proposed cuts. He has
agreed to send an Inspector to the CHURCH HALL, WYNNSTAY RD.
OLD COLWYN (OPP. ALDI) AT 7.0PM., WEDNESDAY, 9.3.11.
If you are able, please come to fill the seats and let them
know we care about how they spend our money. It's a public
meeting, you don't have to live in our district. There are
many other things that they perform which are questionable and
not related to front line duties.
Hope to see you there
Asupporter on Holiday tells us
Hi Friends,
I'm just on holiday with my girlfriend Sarah and a few friends in Cyprus.
I took Sarah out for lunch earlier today and dumped the car in a layby by the cafe.
I was expecting to have a ticket waiting for us on the car when we got back an hour later ...but there wasn't.
Then on the way to our next destination there was a small crash that had temporarily blocked the main road out of town.
I thought "oh no, we will be stuck here for at least an hour". But then we saw that the Police were handling the situation with ...common sense!
They were waiving the cars up on to the pavement and past the accident and keeping the que to a 2 minute wait in both directions.
All I could think was that if this was in the UK then the whole town would be brought to a standstill while the Police stood around faffing about and telling anyone who had the audacity to ask "no you cant drive up on to the pavement Sir, now get back in your car"...
The roads over here are very Anglicised. They drive on the left and all the road signs and traffic lights are the same as in the UK.
Because I can't switch off I've been on the lookout for speed cameras to see how they do it over here. But all I can find is signs stating that they are here, but no sign of the cameras themselves.
If you can't read Greek then the speed camera signs are quite funny (and telling?). They've got the word "TAX" right in them which made me chuckle and I took a picture on my phone for you:
But the really interesting thing is that despite the apparent lack of speed cameras, and the fact that you can seemingly park where you want to, there are no traffic jams, no irate motorists and no Police pulling people over left right and centre.
It seems like the people here are sensible enough to decide what is the right place to park and what is the right speed to drive at without big brother breathing down their necks.
Think I might stay out here another week
All the best,
Adam
Where is everyone
from: Monty Slocombe
area: Colwyn Bay phone: 01492 512064
article: ? Is no one blogging because Brunstrom has
gone, and everything will be alright now ? I hope not.
Having just read the observations of Simon Reed of the Police
Federation at their National Conference complaining of
civilianization in general and P.C.S.O.s in particular, I
wonder if the fine words of the new Home Secretary will result
in basic change ?
I well recall as a young police Federationist in 1969 voicing
my concerns to the visiting Inspector of Constabulary about
diminishing police numbers as we were being shoe horned into
cars and given radios, that we would become a "fire service"
style service rendering us reactive, instead of proactive,
thus divorcing us from the community who paid us.
Since then, police methods have altered to such an extent that
the public have all but lost faith in them in spite of the
wealth and technology poured into the structure, and I
believe that this process will continue, in spite of the
pressure of common the common sense observations of people,
and organizations like P.P.P.
How is it that it has taken so long, for example, for the
people who could have prevented it, for the issue of North
Wales Police horses to be even discussed ? This cavalier
wastage of money and resources went ahead when most people,
including the police themselves, were saying NO, NO, NO.
I am afraid that there is an unseen, unelected, few
intellectual idiots who really govern from behind the scenes,
and little will change. Brunstrom was just the vociferous,
publicity seeking tip of the iceberg who, after taking the
Mickey out of us all, is now enjoying the fruits of his
pension and bonusus given by those (us ?) lurking behind the
curtains and pulling the real strings of power. Trouble is,
many of these people are in Brussels.
I'm afraid it will take more than the pen, but I hope I am
wrong, and the new Liberal Conservative nice people will sort
the mess out. Who think they will ?
Welsh speakers in NWPF
from: Monty Slocombe
area: Colwyn Bay
article: If we need any more proof of the contempt North Wales Police
has for the public who pay it, we have it in the recently
announced statistics of those who are able to speak Welsh in
that organization, 94% Everyone must know that this is
patently untrue. All it means is that the remaining 6% cannot
even say "bore dda".
Do they treat crime statistics in the same cavalier manner?
One must infer that they do.
SOMALI PIRATES CAPTURE TOP COP
News has just been released confirming the capture of a former North Wales police chief.
He was captured while sailing his tax payer funded yacht off the east African coast having decided to sail around the world after presiding over ten years of hell for the residents and visitors in North Wales. A spokesman for the foreign office said “ A single mast boat called Disingenuous was seized earlier this week some 30 nautical miles off the Somali coast . Only the captain was aboard and was first described as being English , of slim build and mentally deranged”
The Somali pirates ransacked the boat, the booty included 65 mirrors , hundreds of pictures of the captain himself , seven tazers and what appeared to be a collection of hand held speed cameras. He initially attempted to communicate in broken Welsh not realising that Arabic is the common language although some speak a little English just like his former PA members. The boat was towed to a secluded harbour and moored alongside dozens of other seized craft ,although all of them had been paid for by honest hard work. During interrogation he suggested to the local warlord that they could use the speed cameras to get revenue off poor innocent people the same as he had done for years back in his adopted home. The tazers could be used on starving old men and donkeys.
Realizing that they were holding somebody worthless they contacted the foreign office but when they gave out his details communications suddenly ceased. The local warlord then spoke , through an intermediary , to the head of British naval operations in Mombassa to broker a deal all to no avail. After three days of holding him the Somali pirates despaired at their folly and even took pity on the people of north Wales sending them parcels of local delicacies including goat meat and marijuana.
After considerable debate more than a dozen pirates offered several thousand dollars a piece to the British government to take him back , one warlord even offered two goats which surprised the British military as they didn’t think he was worth one goat let alone two. Some long term European captives even offered to chip in just to get rid of him.
He is reported to claim that since his capture goat death rates have halved , fleas and bed bug detection rates have doubled and a survey ( conducted by himself ) showed that 99% of pirates think he’s the best captive ever. The local Arabic newspaper “ The Captors Times” quoted one senior pirate as saying, god bless us all we don’t understand how we made such an error as all of our other captives are normal and worth a few bob , enshalla ( god willing ) somebody will accept our offer of goats and dollars to take him away , we’ll even clean his boat and re-hang all the mirrors.
The Kenyan government will not take him as they already have unrest in the country.
So if anybody out there wants a few bob or a pet goat get in touch with the Somali pirates ‘get him out of here’ leader Hassan Now Sorry .
Top Blogger
From Top Blogger
North Wales Top Blogger. The phone rings out; “ Hello is that my top man Grunting Unwell Williams” the voice said on the other end of the line. He replied “ oh yes sir , master it’s so lovely to hear from you after all these months , things are really bad now hardly any one tells lies on a cosmic scale like you used to and there’s even a rumour that the new boss is slightly honest. Some of us hand picked by yourself are really worried that well have to start doing our job”. Don’t worry he replied as you can always get a big fat tax payer funded pension and sit back enjoying seeing the country fall apart , all thanks to the likes of you me and the politicians so cheer up. “Any how , the reason I’ve called is to tell you that my new boat has finally been delivered and I am going to launch it this weekend so do come along for the official first dip , I’ve asked all my old mates to come”. My bestest supporters Malqueen and Rob the shop are definitely up for it” Saturday..a local harbour. All his friends had gathered , they travelled together in a Vauxhall Corsa. He stands proudly at the helm , “it’s a mirror dingy” he explains. Grunting looks puzzled for as well as being a prolific liar himself he also knows about boats. He dares to suggest that it is not a mirror dingy ….the snarl comes on to the captains face.. “ of course I know its not you fool ( thinking to himself why did I elevate him to such a high position ? ) .”It’s a twin sail ocean going yacht but I’ve put mirrors in every nook and cranny so I can admire myself at every opportunity . It can be very lonely out at sea and because I only like myself I can look in every mirror at any time admiring my physique , even in the roughest seas I’ll be able to get the odd glance at myself” . He dips into a green eco friendly bag a brings out a bottle of tax payer funded bubbly. They clamber forward headed by queen , hoping to be first for a sip but no such luck. “ Aha this is not for drinking but for christening my boat”. He fastens it to a short rope and hands the bottle to grunting. “ Now then my man smash it on the side and I’ll pull down the curtain covering her name”. Smash , cord pulled and the name is revealed DISINGENUOUS. The three cronies look on baffled as their command of the English language is limited. They wish him well and bid him goodbye in the knowledge that never again will they be in such a position of authority to plunder the finances and reign fear and terror over the residents and visitors of north Wales again.
The question, Will he be back??
Pay more for less and less
from: Monty Slocombe phone: 01492512064
area: Colwyn Bay
Thanks to the Police Authority and the councils we are to pay 5% extra this year for
"Policing" and we read that the 'boys' are unable to protect one of their
ever increasing palatial buildings, but have to make us pay
over £209,000 extra over a 6 month period for a private firm to protect
one building. As extra buildings are erected, they are filled with officers and
support staff all busily doing....what exactly?
I have a suggestion; The Equinine Department could have been
deployed here, aided by the personel currently employed in
creating web sites like "Y Glas" etc., officers learning Welsh
in duty time, and many other activities the rate paying public
could well manage without. In times of pressure, perhaps some
of the time and effort devoted to the activities of Black and
Gay Police Associations etc., could have been used to
supplement manpower?
I note that Old Colwyn has been deprived of a front line
officer. Does this mean that we will have to pay a private
firm to protect us in addition to the extra rate this year?
I think we should perhaps devote all our pensions and wages to
these people in order to achieve maximum security, which means
at least two full corps of black, gay mounted officers, all
fluent in the use of the Welsh language, and backed up by Y
Glas, Twitter, You Tube, Blackberries, Rasberries and E Bay.
We have to pay for the latest, cutting edge techniques.
As buildings and personel increase, so does the boys in blue
ability to persuade us that all is really rosy on the crime
front. We read that they have been "cuffing", police jargon
for falsifying the crime figures; (if you did it with money, they'd lock you up)
H.M.I.C. has discovered that when you are hospitalized after
some yob has attended to you, "no crime" is entered in up to
one third of cases. Cuffing was always a problem in my time
as a police officer, but now it has reached serious
proportions, and we have to pay more for the privilage.
What is going on? Where is the cavalry?
An obituary
An Obituary printed in the London Times
Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who
has been with us for many years.
No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.
He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:
- Knowing when to come in out of the rain;
- Why the early bird gets the worm;
- Life isn't always fair;
- and maybe it was my fault.
Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend
more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are
in charge).
His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but
overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy
charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens
suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for
reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.
Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the
job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly
children.
It declined even further when schools were required to get parental
consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could
not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an
abortion.
Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses;
and criminals received better treatment than their victims.
Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a
burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.
Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to
realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in
her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.
Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust,
by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason.
He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers;
I Know My Rights
I Want It Now
Someone Else Is To Blame
I'm A Victim
Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.
If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do
nothing.
From a supporter
From a supporter in Devon
Police Complaint - just brilliant!
This is a genuine complaint to Devon & Cornwall Police Force from an angry member of the public
A true email sent to the force, lengthy but brilliantly written......
--------------
Dear Sir/Madam/Automated telephone answering service,
Having spent the past twenty minutes waiting for someone at Bodmin police station to pick up a telephone I have decided to abandon the idea and try e-mailing you instead.
Perhaps you would be so kind as to pass this message on to your colleagues in Bodmin, by means of smoke signal, carrier pigeon or Ouija board.
As I'm writing this e-mail there are eleven failed medical experiments (I think you call them youths) in St Mary's Crescent, which is just off St Mary's Road in Bodmin.
Six of them seem happy enough to play a game which involves kicking a football against an iron gate with the force of a meteorite. This causes an earth shattering CLANG! which rings throughout the entire building.
This game is now in its third week and as I am unsure how the scoring system works, I have no idea if it will end any time soon.
The remaining five failed-abortions are happily rummaging through several bags of rubbish and items of furniture that someone has so thoughtfully dumped beside the wheelie bins. One of them has found a saw and is setting about a discarded chair like a beaver on ecstasy pills.
I fear that it's only a matter of time before they turn their limited attention to the caravan gas bottle that is lying on its side between the two bins.
If they could be relied on to only blow their own arms and legs off then I would happily leave them to it. I would even go so far as to lend them the matches.
Unfortunately they are far more likely to blow up half the street with them and I've just finished decorating the kitchen.
What I suggest is this - after replying to this e-mail with worthless assurances that the matter is being looked into and will be dealt with, why not leave it until the one night of the year (probably bath night) when there are no mutants around then drive up the street in a Panda car before doing a three point turn and disappearing again. This will of course serve no other purpose than to remind us what policemen actually look like.
I trust that when I take a claw hammer to the skull of one of these throwbacks you'll do me the same courtesy of giving me a four month head start before coming to arrest me.
I remain your obedient servant
???????
Mind how you go!
Public expenditure
from: Monty Slocombe
area: Colwyn Bay
It seems to be currently newsworthy to examine public
expenditure following the Telegraph's outing of M.P.'s
expences and more recently those of the B.B.C. After reading
of the £1,000 spent trying to persuade Poles to complain of
non existent problems Chasing moonbeams slips unbidden into
the mind.
After 30 years spent in the Police Service, I can assure all
that this waste is chicken feed. I was was recently at Bangor
University where I discovered that police personel are
studying Welsh in duty time. Commendable this may be, but
where does this fit in with the priorities of the paying
public? I understand that the police horses we pay for must,
of course, learn Welsh commands!
Let's hope that the snowball of looking at ALL public
expenditure continues to grow momentum. I am sure that it
would go a long way to paying the huge debt New Labour his
saddled us with.
Police Chief Constables should be elected, and the "Service"
should come under the scope of the Trades Description Act as
all vendors of "Services" are in the private sector.
Inquest on teenager who died
: Monty Slocombe
area: Colwyn Bay
I cannot pass judgement about the boy who was refused a lift
in a police vehicle, and subsequently died. I was not there
to make a valued assessment, as was the officer. (daily Post
report,Steve Bagnal, 28.4.09.)
The thing that struck me however was that the only objective
reasons for refusing him "a lift" were "THAT IT WAS AGAINST
THE RULES AND REGULATIONS" There were no observations from
the officer concerning his apparent condition, weather
conditions, was he likely to arrive home safely left to his
own devices, how far from home was he, road conditions and so
on. Only "the computer says". (therefore, stop thinking)
Since the first duty of a police officer is the protection of
life, one wonders if this officer saw his as obeying the rules
instead? Maybe these questions were raised, and given
satisfactory answers by the officer, but not reported I know
not?
This issue I feel raises the main policing problem of today:
Too much central control of every detail, and the stifling of
individual discretion, common sense and above all, personal
responsibility towards the public. This, coupled with the
overeliance on expensive resources is killing policing as some
remember it.
It strikes me that the natural actions of any human being is
to help people in need. Some sections of the public have
excluded themselves from this basic assumption by their own
attitude. However, if a human being performing a duty to
protect life, paid for by all of us doesn't think of his
primary duty as a human being and as a police officer,
questions need to be asked.
This has been a long standing problem in the police service,
and is getting worse all the time.
The great (and highly paid) minds leading the "Yorkshire
Ripper" murder hunt were told early in the inquiry who the
most likely suspect was by officers at ground level, but chose
to ignore them until, after several more murders, a beat
officer at ground level, used his common sense and discretion
to lock Peter Sutcliff up and put him where he belonged.
Most police duty only requires a presence on the street, and
basic common sense. The police are losing it, along with the
respect and support of the public, without comment on this
individual case.
Colwyn Bay
I have just read the minutes from the Police Authority/Public
meeting on Crime and Public Perception of Crime, held in Old
Colwyn on 21.1.09., at which I was present and am struck by
the difference between their account, and my recollection of
events. My understanding of the message from the floor is
incompatible with those minutes. Democracy?
Under "MEDIA" it is suggested that the force should ensure
that "positive stories are sent to the press" Does this mean
they want to control the press?
Under "STATISTICS" It is said that people should be
"encouraged to report crime even if it means increased
figures" and yet I, and several others told the Police
Authority at that meeting that they had reported crimes,
occasionally with the names of the alleged offenders, and the
police had not even bothered to record the events, let alone
investigate.
As an operation police officer some 20 years ago I saw the
trend of an upward tolerance of the idea of "crime" within the
police establishment, which was quickly perceived by the few
street officers, encouraging them to ignore serious matters as
they knew that management would condone their actions in order
to control the figures. Plus ca change.
Control of the media, and control of the statistics is what
George Orwell warned us against:
"Those who have the most complete knowledge of what is
happening are also those who are least able to see the world
as it really is. The greater the knowledge, the deeper the
illusion. The most intelligent are the least normal."
We see this phenomenon regularly. Gordon Brown studying
economics whilst he deftly mismanages the current financial
situation. Tony, our last great leader suggesting that yobs
should be led to the cash point with their credit cards.
Brumstrum asking for an increase, and spending thousands on
horses to deal with robbers. Jacqui Smith managing home
affairs. (need one continue, or should we mention the great
bankers recently in the news?
Most people know this to be true, yet I am afraid that in 20
years time, the same observation will be made about the same
kind of people because the great British public are so easily
pacified by magic words and figures that no one understands or
believes.
In Animal Farm, George also sussed out the leaders as
requiring more because they used their brains to lead, thus
using more energy than the workers. Does this ring a bell
with Jacqui and her £100,000 allowance for a second home, and
Brumstrom's bonus for "performance", bankers etc. I wonder?
You may recall that the leaders were, of course, pigs.
Dates and minutes are here www.nwalespa.org/WiSSCMS-en-201.aspx
Attend these meetings!
Monty Slocombe
area: Colwyn Bay
I refer to my earlier comments re the letter I delivered
personally to the Police Authority on 21.1.09. outlining what
I and most other people feel about police performance, also
asking why I should not consider witholding part of my Council
Tax.
7 weeks later it may interest you that they have not bothered
to reply. It obviously does not interest them either.
They only 'consult' on their terms
youths made journey feel unsafe
26th February 2009 A supporter sent us this story
I am a driver and drive everywhere I can. I am not a supporter of the recently proposed congestion charge in and around Manchester.
However, last Friday night when venturing out to meet some friends in central Manchester for some evening drinks I decided to use the Metrolink for my outward journey and return journey.
I got my tram at 7.30pm from Bury and within three stations I already had a banging headache caused by youths making obscenely loud noises and playing music loudly on mobile phones.
The youths also used profound and offensive language. Needless to say there were not many other “normal” people using the Metrolink like myself. Now I know why.
As the time came to get the tram home at around midnight, I decided against it. I felt I would be vulnerable and still felt angry at what I had to endure on my outward journey. If the behaviour of people was so bad at the early stage of 7.30pm then I could only imagine how abusive and dangerous a place an enclosed carriage such as a Metrolink tram could be for normal passengers at a time like midnight.
I paid for a taxi home and felt much safer.
If the councils want to bring in this congestion charge and encourage the use of public transport then the one and only thing that needs to be guaranteed is the safety of law abiding passengers.
For me that is not the case. The driver sits in a safe carriage with a public address system. There are no burly security men or officers patrolling the tram carriages. This would be the first step in encouraging people to use public transport and therefore the first step in the green light for the congestion charge.
Reality worse than Perception
Australia day in Oz
From a member's son in Oz
Australia day is a national bank holiday,it is celebrated by all Australians
with barbecues and beer and wine,the celebrations in 2008 ended with a punch-up
which had to be broken up by the police,so this year they decided to take
action,and that action was to arm themselves with pepper sprays, tazers
& hand cuffs etc. Then a large force of about eighty officers,
went through the parks and confiscated all the alchol to the point of opening
their cool boxes and searching all the picnic hampers. The people who were
subjected to this, quite simply view the action as being just as violent as
the fisty cuffs that it was supposed to have avoided. They say why did the
police not go around and reassure the people there that they were safe and
this time they would be able to prevent and control it. From what my son tells
me the ordinary people of Australia are not happy with their police.
Richard Brunstrom visited Australia a few years back,he has given the
Australians something far worse to worry about than the natter jack toad.
Perception vs Reality
I attended a Police Authority called meeting on "Crime -
Reality v Perception" in Old Colwyn on 22.1.09. where the
public were assailed with chosen statistics in order to
"prove" that things were not as bad as we think. I believe
that the were sufficient comments from members of the audience
about personal experience of crime reported by them, to be
followed by no ensuing police action, to show that the figures
were meaningless to ordinary folk.
The Chief Superintendent informed us that it was to some
extent our fault anyway, because people left doors unlocked,
and property in cars. I managed to point out that perhaps in
the future we may be required to have bars on the windows, and
all cars garaged. From what he went on to say, I had the
impression that they were bound up by so many other restraints
and obligations that police presence on the streets was of
little consequence.
At the end of the meeting I submitted my thoughts to the
Chairman which mainly concerned lack of police presence, and
the excessive deployment of valuable resources which had no
bearing on police duty. He promised to reply. I also
suggested that people may feel justified in witholding part of
their rates unless things improved. Somehow, I don't think I
impressed him too much.
Monty Slocombe Colwyn Bay
Engagement with VUNERABLE groups?
HOW TO CALL THE POLICE WHEN YOU'RE OLD AND DON'T MOVE FAST ANYMORE.
George Phillips of Marsh Green Wigan, was going up to bed when his wife
told him that he'd left the light on in the garden shed, which she
could see from the bedroom window.
George opened the back door to go turn off the light but saw that there
were people in the shed stealing things.
He phoned the police, who asked 'Is someone in your house?' and he said
'no'. Then they said that all patrols were busy, and that he should
simply lock his door and an officer would be along when available.
George said, 'Okay,' hung up, counted to 30, and phoned the police
again.
'Hello, I just called you a few seconds ago because there were people
stealing things from my shed. Well, you don't have to worry about them
now because I've just shot them.' Then he hung up.
Within five minutes three police cars, an Armed Response Unit, and an
ambulance showed up at the Phillips' residence and caught the burglars
red-handed.
One of the Policemen said to George: 'I thought you said that you'd
shot them!'
George said, 'I thought you said there was nobody available!'
Just one of many similar stories
from: Monty Slocombe Colwyn Bay
article: Having just read Nicky Sumengo-Turner's account of his experience in London (on this page), I couldn't
help contrasting his experience with the incidence some time
ago when a local "Outlaw" motorcyclist died suddenly (natural
causes!) outside a pub. The ambulance arrived, before the
police, and witnessed the dead man being "cleaned", i.e. all
incriminating evidence of weapons, drugs etc., removed from
the body.
When the police arrived eventually, I am informed that none
dared to enter the pub where many of these types remained
after the incident, and no doubt also in need of "cleaning" by
somebody or other.
On the day of the funeral of this character, hundreds of
bikers were permitted to ride through the streets without
helmets by the police (if it is dangerous for us, and also
against the law, why not for these people? were the police
aiding and abetting? did they do a risk evaluation
beforehand?) On the same day, at the same time as they were
thus permitted to break the law by the hundred, I was booked
by a sneaky copper hiding in Llanrwst for exceeding the speed
limit slightly.
I am also informed by locals that after the wake of this
gentleman, dozens of bikers, clearly with drink inside them,
were totally unmolested by the local police. Lack of
manpower, no doubt. I suppose they were all busily engaged
in booking speeders, grooming horses, and searching for Swiss
Army Knife criminals.
I suggest that we all pay the totallity of our wages pensions
and savings in order to train, and employ some police officers
to perform police duty as in the old days. I am afraid that
everyone will meekly pay the next increase in the police
precept in order to clear the streets of penknives and
motorists late for work.
NORTH WALES TOP BLOGGER.
Back by popular demand
I bet everyone’s missed me, what with the economic downturn (well for the tax paying none government workers that is ha ha), bad weather on the way and a lot of gloom forecast for fixed penalty paying Jo public.
Lots of my friends, all one of them, have been chasing me to start blogging again as they say the people of North Wales have been really concerned at the absence of my made up stories and Spike Milligan antics all paid for by you the tax payer !!
Not a lot has been going on, at least not of great significance. Crime continues to fall at more that 99% per day, violent crime was down again yesterday with only one stabbing, seventeen violent muggings and three armed robberies, which was down by 17% on the previous day between the hours of 2 to 3 pm. Very encouraging.
Things have been going well for my favourite con. department, The Safety Partnership. (It’s such a ‘reassuring’ title!) Although I’m not quite up to date with the latest income stats I gather we are only slightly down on previous years at about 60k motorists robbed by our team of brilliant scam van operators. As numbers were slowing during the summer, due to the wet weather the gullible tourists had not been coming to N. Wales (not to mention our reputation of course !) we decided to use more hand held scameras which helped increase revenue quite a bit.
Other favourites that proved really popular with burglars, illegal drivers and little kids were my very own mounted babes the very lovely looking mounties. They’ve been such a breath of fresh air to all those kid’s and old folk who manage to stroke them (the ponies that is) as they meander through our busy streets and parks in pursuit of criminals. Their detection rates are the highest in the equine community and have been highly commended by myself and my grovelling authority mates, as “best use of public money”.
Once Christmas is over, I hate it, as there is no such a person as father Christmas despite what some of my senior top brass claim, my PCSO’s, CBM’s and perhaps even the mounties will be out and about in the communities, they don’t serve, doing something really useful. Which will include clearing up dumped Christmas trees, repairing wrecked play grounds and of course getting their mugs in the paper along with equally none productive councillors.
Meanwhile I’ll just keep making things up as I go along and waiting for that letter with the London postmark opening even more doors for me to get my mug in the national press .So many opportunities and so little time!. I could create the first Met gay horse association, festoon the beasts in paramilitary horse uniform and do away with all white stallions.
Oh just the thought of it gets me so excited, not enough to smile of course !!!
Top Blogger
Mind how you go!, Ahari's about
New Labour’s police state
On Wednesday 3 November I was driving along the Embankment towards the City when a police constable stepped out into the road and flagged me down. It was 11.30 in the morning, and I was in reasonable time for a meeting with some corporate lawyers which was due to start at midday.
The constable was accompanied by another policeman and a group of three men in what looked a little like traffic wardens’ uniforms, with pale blue bands round their caps. These, I later discovered, were Mr Blunkett’s new militia, the police community support officers. Their task, according to Sir John Stevens, is to ‘perform the vital role of security patrols in central London, deterring criminals and providing intelligence to police officers’.
‘We are conducting random stop and search under current anti-terrorist legislation,’ began the constable, addressing me through my open side window. ‘Would you mind if we searched your vehicle? We’re training these new community support officers.’
Although a little worried about being late for my meeting, I was impressed by their air of professionalism and vigilance. I was pleased that the government was doing something to keep us all safe and thought it would be selfish to refuse. ‘I don’t mind at all,’ I replied, ‘as long as it doesn’t take a huge amount of time.’
I unlocked the doors and they went through my car and its contents: my overnight bag, my wash bag and glove box. Next, they gestured towards my briefcase and asked if I could open it. Of course, I said, and as I lifted the lid I pointed out to them a Victorinox Swiss multi-tool, contained in a small webbing case, and a small collapsible baton, contained in another piece of webbing.
It is perfectly legal to buy both of these items. The penknife I carry because I find it useful for many small everyday tasks —cutting through packaging, opening bottles. The baton I bought over the Internet to keep at home for security reasons. I live in a rural part of Suffolk that, although thankfully relatively crime-free, is policed very sparsely. I often hear people outside the house at night — that same Wednesday evening, for instance, my wife discovered a harmless but mentally ill tramp yelling loudly in a nearby barn — and I feel more comfortable with the baton inside the front door. A week or so before my police search, I had discovered my nine- and twelve-year-old girls playing with it and had locked it in my briefcase for safekeeping.
The community support officers reacted immediately. They behaved as if they had never seen a penknife before, pulling out the bottle-opener, the corkscrew, the thing that gets stones out of horses’ hooves. ‘This device has a locking blade,’ said the constable, after which a short, whispered debate ensued. My goodwill towards the police began to give way to alarm. I reached for my mobile to call the lawyers and explain that I was going to be late for my meeting, but the constable stopped me. ‘Turn that phone off,’ he said. ‘You’re about to be arrested for possessing offensive weapons and carrying a bladed instrument in public. You’ll be allowed one call when we get you to Charing Cross police station.’
I felt confused and indignant. As we stood by the side of the road, waiting for a police van to arrive, I asked the constable whether this whole business was, in his opinion, a valuable use of police time and resources. This was when the policemen and the PCSOs started to become hostile. ‘You’ve committed an offence, mate, and you’d better get used to the fact that you’re going down for six months,’ said one policeman.
‘Do you realise, sir,’ said another, ‘that behind us is the Ministry of Defence, a key target for potential terrorists?’
‘But why did you stop me in the first place: do I seriously look like a potential terrorist?’ I asked.
‘We stop one in every 25 cars on a random basis, and, let me tell you, sir, criminals and terrorists come in many different guises,’ replied the policeman.
‘Shouldn’t you be concentrating on men of Arab extraction?’ This seemed to me to be a sensible question, relevant to the current state of the world. The policeman said, ‘That is a racist comment, sir.’ Then the van appeared. I was locked in the back and ferried to Charing Cross. As we drove there, the policemen made small talk. They told me that they would be out for a pint tonight, whereas I was going to prison. They wondered what it would feel like for me not to be sleeping in my own bed.
Upon arrival at Charing Cross, I was subjected to the as-seen-on-TV rigmarole of being booked in by the desk sergeant. Most of the questions focused on my racial origin and HIV status. They asked if I had a craving for non-prescription drugs, and if I required any religious paraphernalia. My belt and personal effects were removed, and after a statutory telephone call to my lawyer I was ‘banged up’.
By this time it was about 12.20 and I spent the next three hours dozing on a wooden bench. At about 4.30 p.m., my solicitor had arrived and it was time for an ‘interview under caution’. First, I had to be fingerprinted. The police constable who had originally flagged me down reappeared, and began the arduous business of ‘processing’ me. The man’s lack of competence was comical. He had problems applying my fingers to what appeared to be a sophisticated and expensive fingerprint-scanning machine, and with each failed attempt he became angrier and angrier. Tired and fed up, I gave in to the temptation to needle him. ‘Having problems with your new toy?’ I asked. He replied, ‘Shut the fuck up, you arsehole.’
He was no better at operating the tape recorder used for my interview. Much fumbling of cassettes was followed by screeching noises from the equipment. During the interview itself, I found him inarticulate, incompetent and only tenuously in control of his temper.
After the interview, I was re-introduced to my cell. I understood from my solicitor that the same police constable would speak to the Crown Prosecution Service, and a decision would be made about whether to charge me formally. I was also told that if the policeman had wanted to, he could have let me off with a caution after my car had been searched and the penknife and baton discovered.
Sitting in my cell, I thought a bit about the way I had been treated. For the police to be behaving like this at a time when we are all concerned about terrorism and street crime, and when resources are stretched and manpower is limited, seemed extraordinary. It was also, I decided, in direct contrast to the qualities of professionalism, endurance and discipline that are the hallmark of Britain’s armed forces. I have (now long outdated) personal experience of two training establishments, the old Guards’ Depot at Pirbright and the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst, both of which are successful in creating tough but professional men who are in control of their actions and able to make sensible decisions under pressure. Whether on the streets of Belfast, in the mountains of Bosnia or in the deserts of Iraq, lieutenants and second lieutenants as young as 19 and 20 provide the linchpin between senior officers and rank-and-file men on the ground.
And this, I suspect, is the problem with the police — they have no proper training and no officer corps. The old adage goes ‘there is no such thing as bad soldiers, only bad officers’. The scruffy, overweight, badly turned-out, ill-mannered policemen I encountered at Charing Cross police station were desperately in need of decent leadership.
So I was not surprised when I was brought back before the desk sergeant and told that the CPS had made the decision to go ahead and charge me with possessing an offensive weapon and carrying a bladed instrument in public. I was bailed to appear at Bow Street magistrates’ court and informed that I was free to leave.
As I was about to pass through the door to freedom, I am ashamed to say that I snapped. The knowledge that we could, so easily, have avoided the whole drawn-out, expensive and upsetting procedure was too much for me. I turned to the police constable and said, ‘You really are a prize wanker.’ At this point, and in full view of my solicitor, he lost it. He grabbed my lapels, and pushed me up against the wall. My solicitor yelled, ‘You have just assaulted my client!’
Four other police officers rushed into the corridor, accompanied by the desk sergeant. ‘Right, rearrest him: public order, breach of the peace,’ shouted the sergeant at me. ‘You’ll be spending the night here.’ My solicitor said that she wanted the assault entered in the daybook, and that we would be bringing an action. So they let me go.
In the aftermath of my experience, I started some purely anecdotal research on the type of behaviour and attitude displayed by the police towards me. In speaking to friends, acquaintances, tradesmen, cab drivers and people in the pub I rapidly came to realise that a quite staggering number of ordinary, law-abiding people had endured similar experiences.
It is worth remembering how new these powers are. It is only since the Terrorism Act of 2000 that the new community support officers, in the company of a constable, have been allowed to stop and search a car; and that is by no means all they can do. After a mere three weeks’ training, a CSO can give you a £30 fixed penalty ticket for such minor derelictions as riding your bike on a pavement, or dropping a crisps packet. He or she may take away your booze if you are drinking in public, or confiscate the fags of an underage smoker. These CSOs may detain you by force for 30 minutes, pending the arrival of a police officer, if they think you may be guilty of an arrestable offence. And who can doubt that they will soon be able to demand the production of an ID card, and detain you if you fail to produce it?
And on it goes. Last week Parliament passed the new Civil Contingencies Act, which gives the government astonishing powers to declare and prolong a state of emergency sine die. This week Her Majesty announced in the Gracious Address that there is to be a new Counter-Terrorism Bill, and among its provisions are rumoured to be judge-only Diplock courts for terrorist suspects.
Such measures are surely only justified in a society at war, and they might be acceptable if we were truly a nation under siege. But that is not how it feels to most of us. We have a terrorist threat to London and elsewhere, a chronic and worrying problem; but that does not amount to a war, any more than the IRA bombing campaigns of the 1970s did, and yet we are enacting measures more repressive than those applied in the Blitz.
By the way, once I had been sprung from the police station, I walked back to the Embankment, where my car had been left since the arrest. It was, by this time, 6.45 in the evening and, sure enough, there on my windscreen was a Metropolitan Police parking ticket. One further thing — I have just found out from my solicitor that the copy of the interview tape sent to us by the police is entirely blank. The Metropolitan Police said, ‘This matter is currently sub judice and as such it would be inappropriate for us to comment on any of the information in the article.’
Nicky Samengo-Turner, formerly an investment banker, now works in the Formula 1 motor-racing industry.
We don't yet know the final outcome
Once upon a time in North Wales
I was walking down the main street in Conway the other day, early evening actually, when a couple of yobs came rushing past. One was hooded and the other wearing a Nike cap, the standard issue for yobs along with the oversize trainers and white striped jogging trousers.
The light was not at its best as it had been a pretty grey and overcast day, the sun had all but disappeared and the street was fairly quiet after the days frenzy by the touring made in China gift seekers. I quite like the coastal towns this time of year as there’s just something about the cry of seagulls, smell of the sea and that clean breeze which refreshes the lungs on every intake. I paused to gaze through a shop window at some dreadful multi coloured Welsh dragons and peep up the road to see what the yobs were up to, curiosity I suppose.
Something in the distance caught my eye, working in heavy industry makes one alert to the sight of fluorescent jackets and it was this that my minds eye had caught. Two bodies were making their way up the street, painfully slow to the point were one seemed to be struggling. Even at this distance combined with poor light I was still able to see that one was male and the other female in stature, she was small, overweight and seemed to have some difficulty in ascending the less than horizontal street. Their high viz jackets swung open in the evening breeze, one seemed to be at least one size too big and the other too long for its occupant. The ladies trousers covered her shoes, or perhaps they were “jack” boots, one never knows what working guys and girls wear these days.
As they got closer I could also see they were wearing caps, baseball caps, as they are referred to, black with some white chequered markings around them. Not yobs my mind assumed but a couple of scruffy construction workers hitting town for an early evening scoop after a hard day at the building site I thought. Alas I was wrong, the radio gave them away as did the multi tool jacket and array of pencils sticking out of one of the countless pockets all of which seemed to be weighing down the five foot something lady. Now I was close enough for a detailed inspection , black baseball cap, collarless shirt open at the top, ill fitting and unfastened high viz construction site jacket, black slacks and jack boots.
I looked back up the street after they walked past, the blue label on the back of the jackets reassured my confused state of mind brought on by the sight of the invisibles on foot and the distant memory of what Conway coppers used to look like!
A resident
Translation costs rise
from: Monty Slocombe December 15th 2008
area: Colwyn Bay
article: Is everyone aware that we are now to pay for an extra two full
time Welsh translators in North Wales Police?
This I understand brings the total to 7 and I find it hard to
believe that all are engaged full time in translating,
especially when a reasonable percentage of police officers are
Welsh speakers who may be trusted to do this work. Or are
there some monoglot Welsh speakers in the force?
Can anyone tell us how much extra this will add to each
Council Tax Payer?
Denbigh robbery
As a resident in the Denbigh area I would comment as follows on your article about the raid on the Music Shop.
This shop is on the main high street, less than 100 yards from the old police station. Of course, the new police station, costing hundreds of thousands of pounds, is on the edge of town and only manned during weekdays.
There is a total lack of nightime policing in Denbigh, yet about 9am each morning there are lots of police cars about (arriving from St.Asaph HQ) and again at 5.30pm as the officers go home.
They aren't Emergency service
What's going on
from: Roaduser area: Flintshire No doubt many people have witnessed this or something similar: Early evening, starting to go dark. A494 Aston Hill 50mph limit. Westbound. Vehicle in front is going at 50mph and driving safely. Suddenly they slow down to 30mph! Vehicles behind also forced to brake or swerve to avoid an accident. What has caused this? A VOSA Ford Galaxy parked on the slip road. Barely visible until up to it. VOSA markings only visible when passed it. It has Police style chequered decal markings (yellow green squares). Usually rear pointed at traffic, just like a scamera van. I have been involved in several near misses now on this road (cars, foreign wagons) all panicking when this vehicle is spotted. It is also been spotted "hiding" in laybays, bus stops and behind hedges, scamera van style. Its police style markings are no doubt delibrate. Maybe VOSA has legit reasons for these tactics. Finding dangerous vehicles, and taking them off the road is a good thing. But why imitate a scamera van? Scamera vans, CCTV vans, mobile cameras, handheld tax gun-cameras. Now is VOSA joining in?
The PPP will investigate.
Skewed priorities
On my way home from Ireland I witnesed an artic. traveling at 75mph on the A5 by Holland Arms. Further along I saw what I thought had to be a broken down police car, it was at a right angles at the end of the slip road by Tesco A5 Bangor. I then saw that a police officer was tryng to catch motorists straying over the speed limit coming down the hill this must be the most manic place any one can think of to park a car.
Has anyone else seen this going on?
The War of the Worlds...in Wales
The year 2010,
Welsh roads had become almost deserted due to visitors being frightened away, and others banned. This small beautiful corner of the UK had first been invaded during the early part of the century. It started off by just a few scameras then they doubled, trebled and soon, by the end of 2008 they had been placed at almost every revenue gathering spot imaginable. Most of them now hidden and operating twenty four hours a day, there had been a massive recruitment drive in recent years employing mostly retired “favoured“ officers to boost their fat pensions and members of the public who had some psychological defects. Their qualifications to be a scam van or hand help operator was limited to being able to pass water into a pop bottle and guarantee not to miss any motorist.
However plans were being drawn up to reclaim the roads by innocent motorists.
June 14th, Llyn Peninsula
The first wave of motorists landed on the beaches of Nefyn and Abersoch at dawn and simultaneously knocked out more than thirty fixed scameras in the first hour despite heavy flashing from the enemy. A scam van took a direct hit from one motorist who had been banned and lost his job and home after doing 32 in a 40 limit. By lunch time they had reached Caernarfon to the North whilst other forces, including van drivers had just made it to Barmouth but suffered heavy losses from two fixed scamera batteries and several hand held units. The résistance forces, started covert operations in both the east and central areas taking out more than a dozen hand held units and two scam vans before being halted by a barrage of flashing in a previously safe 30 mph limit just outside the town of Mold.
The unexpected invasion took the worlds finest officer and propogandarist by surprise .When he heard of the fight back he rushed to propaganda palace, headquarters of all North Wales scamera operations. Headquarter doors flew open , he hardly had time to look in the mirror at reception such was his concern at the bad news. He summoned his head of operations …” yes sir oh masterful one what is it” he asked as he entered the palatial office glancing at the latest full length mirror. The snarling boss showed him videos taken just minutes ago from numerous scam vans dotted around the west coast and areas around Mold. “ Look you dithering idiot were being invaded by innocent motorists out for revenge as a result of my excellent road safety initiatives “.They go down to the bunker were all senior officers would meet at noon to draw up plans for a counter attack. Some of his top scam van operators were called in, some of his most dishonest including officer Sodon soon appeared all visibly shaken.
They stood around a map of the whole of North Wale, red lines showing where the motorists had attacked earlier in the day. Sodon suggested, much to the pleasure of his master, that they should start to issue scameras to village lollipop ladies, PA members and the women’s institute. Another scammer suggested that scam vans have orange flashing lights placed on the roofs so the enemy would think they were just ordinary site vehicles. The boss asked how many motorists had been caught speeding since the early morning raid, a statistics officer confirmed that revenue had falling by 60% in the occupied areas of West Wales and around Mold but that if they moved all units back to central division and form a line From Llandudno to Denbigh income would increase from motorists fleeing the chaos of the occupied areas.
Not one to listen, the boss decided to try a pincer move by deploying some of his finest scam van operators south and east of Barmouth immediately. They said that it would be safer to stay in the bunker below propaganda palace so the boss ordered that his latest uniform and several mirrors be brought down so he could take some pleasure in admiring himself as the battle raged.
By 5 pm all the arrive deprived reinforcements had arrived at the front line, flashing indiscriminately at hundreds of motorists most of whom were returning home from a hard days work. The battle raged and the night sky was lit up by heavy flashing. Soon his finest had to retreat as far back as Rhyl as more fixed units were destroyed and many hand held units battery’s ran flat, some of the older units even ran out of film. Meanwhile back in the bunker the bad news filtered through. A senior roads safety officer and former drag queen reported that income was dropping drastically and that if the onslaught continued they would have to make more than a hundred Prestatyn ticket office staff redundant. The boss was furious pranting up and down muttering obscenities comforted only by his books The jolly Sailor and Mein Camp. They were all issued with a copy of the latest road casualty statistis showing how RTA’s had increased ten fold since scameras had been introduced. He instructed them to eat every page “ even if it kills you “ rather than the public know the truth. He told one of his officers to get him a tazer as he didn’t want to be taken alive.
They all gathered at 6am for an update, standing around the map things looked grim. The motorists had now taken over St Asaph, Llandudno and Wrexham right through to Abergele destroying every fixed scamera in their wake. However it was pointed out by Sodon that they were still managing a decent income with hand held units and they had reinforced car mounted ones all around Colwyn Bay. The chief asked “ how many fixed scameras have we got left you grovelling minions” , there was an eerie silence as no one wanted to give him the bad news…. Some one muttered something inaudible “ what ?” shouted the voice. “ Sorry masterful one there are only ten left and three of them are due to run out of film soon “ Rage came across his face , he disappeared to his heavily fortified room for a change into his latest uniform and a couple of peeps in the mirror only to return, with a cunning plan, to his cowering officers.
“ Right “ ,he shouts, “ we'll bring twenty scam vans and our best hand held units from the eastern division and cut the motorists of on the A55”. All his grovelling cronies stared at him (for who was going to tell him the bad news), they all looked at the head of arrive deprived to give the answer ….. “ Sir oh masterful one we have no more units to call on, there are only a handful of scameras left, as I speak motorist are rampaging through Colwyn bay and breaking speed limits everywhere. There are reports that road casualties are down more than 100% in the last 24 hours and even tourists are coming back “. The boss went quiet, even from down in the bunker they could hear the flashing of the last remaining scameras, the BBC Wales radio reported no accidents or traffic jams during the past 24 hours, one reporter even commentated that some motorists had been seen to smile as the fear of points became a thing of the past.
They all ate copies of the latest road casualty statistics, coughing and choking whilst Britains finest retreated into his fortified room. There he stood in front of his biggest mirror donning his favourite Musolini style uniform, adjusting his beret, polishing his Prif Copyn badge as he did so. Thinking to himself “how good looking and fit I am , what will Wales do without me“. He placed the tazer to his chest, wondering what it would feel like as he’d never really been shot with one before.
Bang, thousands of volts shot though his body rendering him a civilian.
Later that day men in white coats came to collect him and return him back to the laboratory in Essex where he had originally been made more than fifty years ago in the failed experiment to try and create a normal human being …………. If only it was true !!!!!.... have a good day
Wait for the movie!
Gardener's world
Was not my weekend on so I decided to spend some time down the garden. Up at five, a quick glance in the mirror then a nice cold shower followed by some vegetarian bacon and egg cooked by me. I’m such a good cook and make a wonderful cup of coffee, in fact as all the people of North Wales know … I’m the best at everything.
Last night whilst looking in the mirror I thought to myself “ how lucky the North Waliens are to have me another two years or even more!"
Saturday was a really good day for getting the veg patch ready and clear out the green house. Wellies on and away to go, firstly took a glance at my reflection in the greenhouse then I began digging. I’m so fit all the others are really envious of me …. Five minutes shovelling, another quick glance at my reflection, and that jobs done for another year.
Not a weed in the garden, in fact I’ve got the best garden in England and Wales according to the latest HMIG report which gave me ten out of ten for weed detection. I also scored better than any other ground force by reducing spider deaths by more than 40% and KSI’s of worms also fell by 42%. Bird nesting rose by a staggering 36%, higher than any other garden in England or Wales.
This confirms that I’m the best gardener , “ something I already knew of course”.
Back to the house for a quick cuppa and peep in the mirror then down to the local newsagent to see if I’m in my favourite paper the Daily Lost, My mate Rowland Rat has promised to give me at least five full pages a week… Low and behold there I was again, second page being praised by a fellow gardener and pal shopkeeper. I must speak to them about the side on shots.
Well folks I’ll have to blog off for now as I have quite a few meetings this week and need to get my facts twisted for them all as I’d hate to be caught out telling the truth for once !!
He's promised regular contributions
One probable future
The year is 2012 and its all go in a cosy office in North Wales. A small gathering of some of the country’s finest huddle together around a large table .
“ Not many here sir” a voice says.
It’s the party of all party’s. He’s finally going after several extensions and a £3m pension fund pay off. The fund had been boosted by the authority as a result of his fantastic contribution to crime busting , “ worth every penny “ said a leading Wrexham member , after all it’s only vermin tax payers money.
All the rank and file had been invited , some were too busy , others booked last minute holidays and dozens had called in sick. Still the top brass were there along with all his friends and family , all two of them . The table was enormous as it had been anticipated that several dozen would attend this fifth and final farewell. A local catering company , Bonkers Barbeques , had been given the job of furnishing the table with all that money could buy.
The menu read like a Rick Stein special;
Rack of Welsh lamb
Welsh beef
Welsh chicken
Welsh potatoes with knobs of Welsh butter.
All the plates were pink as were the paper hats that all had to wear, “ special request “ said one of the finest top brass.
The gravy train was a gift from the authority members , this too was pink although the gravy was brown of course.
Welsh whipping cream was sprayed all over the top man’s favourite backberry tart. A large cake sat as centre piece in the shape of a bobby’s helmet offending some of the high ranking females, others looked questioningly at it.
“ What will you do now your finally leaving “ one asked. “Well I intend to go off quietly into the sunset sails up and rudder down never to hear from me again” he claimed. Of course no one believed him.
“Now that we’ve finished the grub what about a little game “ , he glanced for approval from the boss , soon to be ex boss. Spot the druggie was played for the first ten minutes but no one won. Next came a game of mystery murder and again all lost. Patience was wearing thin until the boss came up with a winner .. candid camera and unsolved crimes. All excelled on that bit of fun and finished off with a toast to the worlds finest , Welsh wine of course !!
It doesn't have to be 'the' future
Police Garbage Department
On September the first, my ghast was flabbered when I witnessed 5 (five) police officers engaged in clearing household rubbish for residents. They had 2 (two) police vehicles in attendance and must have spent the best part of the day engaged in this crucial activity in Tan-y- Lan, Colwyn Bay. Evidently there were none of the great unwashed to ferry to St. Asaph that day. This is not the first time I have seen police doing this task. I would suggest that next time you see your peace being disturbed or your property trashed, you dial the police and say you have some rubbish to be removed urgently. I am sure that the rubbish removal section of North Wales Police will have available manpower and transport which the operational department usually don't seem to have available. The Home Office issue a list of what is or is not a recordable crime. In my time they also issued a list of what constitutes "police duty." It seems that rubbish removal must have been added to that list. That's the sort of progress one expects from a socialist governement of course. I am applying for an increase in my pension in order to pay for the anticipated increase in the police precept to cover the cost of the new Police Garbage Department.
Monty Slocombe on Tuesday, 02/08/08
Where are the horses?
Colwyn Bay Where are the horses I want to know? I believe we will see police on the street tomorrow, 1.9.08., in Tan-y-Lan, when they will be engaged in cleaning up the rubbish left by the scum who cause these problems. Like waiting for an eclipse. At least we know when they are likely to appear, and they will be doing something remotely useful for a change. I suggest another raise in the police precept in order that Brumstrom might purchase more horses to tackle the problem. I have advised the police that they might like to consider deploying the equinine crime fighters in Old Colwyn, but apparently they are rather busy training for some horse show somewhere or other. It is evident that they are under resourced in horse power, and we cannot really blame them if they haven't the tools to do the job. In an ideal world, I envisage a horse and rider for every 3,000 of population, 24 hours on 24, 365 days per year. My calculations show that this would require some 20,000 horses and riders and, in order to support them, everyone would have to pay into the police precept the whole of his/her salary. Economies could be made in stabling by converting the Glan-y-Don and Saint Asaph buildings into stables. All the paper work they contain could be shredded, thereby making excellent bedding for the forseeable future, another great saving. It is hard to imagine that the Somerfield robbers would have dared to even think of committing their felonies had there been a horse in the vicinity. Horses have always been the scourge of the criminal fraternity, their one great dread. One only has to recall the fear that Roy Rogers and John Wayne caused to the great unwashed to realise how effective they are. A horse on every corner I say, and to hell with the cost, Our security comes first. Colwyn Council planned a c.c.t.v. camera in Cefn Road, and all the work was done to initiate this, but at the last minute, changed their mind, and intend to place it near the new Aldi (not yet accomplished) It would be interesting to know if the recent Sommerfield robbery would have been prevented had it been installed as originally intended after much local people pressure. This is the problem. No cameras, and no horses. What is to be done I wonder?
Monty Slocombe on 31, 08. 2008
Police ban the Ty Croes show
A PPP member comments on the recent Police ban of the Ty Croes Motorcycle show.
I initiated the use of Ty Croes, Trac Mon, as a serious motorcycle race track in the early nineties. Since those early days it has been developed from a disused military camp to a national circuit hosting major motorcycle and car events. The track has been used by former world superbike champion Carl Fogarty and more recently F1 driver Nelson Piquet . Many thousands of motorcycle fans have visited both the track and surrounding areas including of course Rhosneiger shops and pubs.
Since the circuit was opened I have never heard of any trouble / problems related to any motorcycle or car events. I have never seen any police officers at the entrance guiding traffic or controlling the crowds. The events are void of any need for a police presence.
If one travels through Wrexham from the mold road on a football match day they will witness dozens of riot gear clad officers, previously there were mounted police and a host of police cars and riot vans. Are they planning to ban major football events next.
Are they going to force the council to close the Ty Croes circuit?.
The demise of democracy.
NWPF is it value for Money?
from: Monty Slocombe
area: Colwyn Bay
01492 512064
To Mr. Richard Brunstrom and the North Wales Police Authority:
We are all suffering a period of economic hardship whereby
most are obliged to shop judiciously, choosing suppliers of
goods and services to our best advantage. Indeed there is
legislation to sanction those who fail to meet certain
standards. You sir are the Chief Executive of an organization
which calls itself a "service", and for which we pay.
Unfortunately, all but the very rich have no recourse to any
alternative "service".
In order to provide that service you have recently exacted two
increases in the police precept part of Council Taxes.
Police numbers have been increased greatly and yet almost
everyone I meet complains of poor "service" confirming what is
to be read, heard and seen in the media. Many say that their
confidence in the police is such that they don't bother to
report matters because they feel they will get no, or little
action in response. The public perception of the police in
north Wales is low, as is our morale.
We see money spent on obsessive action in order to trap
motorists, most of whom are the law abiding citizens, and
whose support the police so badly need. The much vaunted
reduction in the road death toll is not supported by
statistics. Money is spent on needle exchange machines, and
subsequent failing legal actions in connection with them, and
futile legal battles against certain individuals. You are
observed on television appearing in programmes which bring you
and the force into disrepute and further alienate the public
who pay you and your organization. If only some of that
time, energy and expence could be directed towards Police
Duty. You have taken police from the streets, and put them
on horseback, which effectively removes them from police duty
as I know only to well as an ex mounted officer in Liverpool
City Police where horses may, on very rare occasions, be of
limited use.
There are other examples, and I have no doubt that your
officers could site them. Research has shown that north
Wales police officers have the lowest but one morale in the
coutry, which is hardly suprising and not inducive to
efficiency is it?
In conclusion Mr. Brunstrom, could you please tell us why we
should not consider withholding the police precept part of our
Council Tax until such time as we receive services "to a
proper standard of workmanship" in accordance with the Sales
of Goods and Services Acts as amended? Any prosecution
against you would probably fail as you are not a "trader" as
defined under the act. However, I feel that morally you
should comply with the spirit of the act as it is evident that
the requirments of "efficiency" under the Police Act are too
ambigous and and open to subjective interpretation. I feel
that we require a response from you, and also the Police
Authority of north Wales as to whether we are receiving a
proper standard of workmanship.
In the hope of an answer,
Monty Slocombe.
Retired Officer Colwyn bay
Colwyn Bay
I joined the police in 1961 and left in 1991. Paper work was
the bug bear in 1961., but I was able to process a simple
crime from start to finish (say shop lifting) in two hours.
That included a conviction (assuming a "guilty" plea.) Most
of my time was spent on the streets, and all crimes were
recorded as they should have been, so crime figures were a
little more accurate.
Since then, political control and with it paper work have
increased beyond all reason. Discretion has been taken from
individual officers.(Brunstrom seems to be an exception)
The "service" has strayed way beyond the sound guidelines of
Robert Peel and they seem to be involved in all manner of non
related tasks other than "the protection of life and property,
the prevention and detection of crime, and the prosecution of
offenders" laid down by Peel for the "citizen, locally
appointed, having authority under the Crown" for these tasks.
Note the word, "citizen", or, one of us! I recently observed
police officers involved, with the council in collecting
street rubbish in Landudno. Is that Police duty?
These citizens were originally dressed so as to look like us,
with an intentionally hidden weapon, the truncheon. Their
main weapon against crime was their rapport with the public
and the support thereby gained.
Contrast this with today's baseball cap wearing black shirted,
weapon toting (our constitution forbids the use of the
military against the public. O.K., let's turn the police
into soldiers then) officer whose stint on duty seems to be
behind a camera, or in an office dealing with paper work and
tasks usually not associated with his objectives, as above.
What is needed is a return to the basics, as laid down by
Peel. I wonder if it would work?
A North Wales fuel protester.
As a co-organiser of a local fuel protest, I have witnessed
first hand the bully boy tactics of our local Police force, using
lies to try and deceive us in to filling forms in giving
members names and addresses and signing forms. I was also gob
smacked that at the end of the protest as five cars and 2
bikes were heading back to their headquarters to see them come
tearing past me exceeding the speed limit by at least 30 mph!.
What makes them think that people will respect them when they
flaunt there law breaking in the public's face. I think this
government is storing up so much trouble for the next few
years and I can see an explosion of protests contacted us within the next ten years
What I do and DON'T need
Monty Slocombe
area: North Wales
article: Again, I object to being called a customer, and object to the
use of the word "service" in Richard Brumstrom's latest blog.
A "customer" implies that I may go elsewhere for "services" if
disatisfied. "service" implies that I need what is supplied.
Both are untrue, unless one is extremely rich.
I do not need horses. I do not need needle exchange machines
at £10,000, and I pay the council to clear rubbish from the
streets, so do not need police officers to do it for me.
There are many other things that a closer examination of the
huge buildings and offices at St. Asaph and Colwyn Bay would
reveal that I do not need, but am required to pay for.
I could hardly believe it!
As a resident of North Wales and opponent of North Wales flawed safety partnership and in particular abuse of speed cameras, I have to congratulate them on this one rare occasion.
I travel almost daily between Gwernafield and Mold. As one enters Mold there is a 30 mph speed limit in place, this is I assume because of the number of houses and junctions along this stretch of road. Many vehicles add to these potential hazards by parking on each side of the road.
Some years ago one of my employees was caught by a camera van entering the speed limit from Gwernafield, an open stretch of road, he was duly slowing down for the built up area and was some what not too pleased at being “done“ at that point. So it was the usual scam, camera not where the real problem is but out to gain maximum revenue.
Earlier this month a camera van was unbelievably located on that stretch of road BUT trained on vehicles passing through the built up area, often with vehicles being driven well above the safety margin of between a probable 15 - 30 mph depending on the number of children out playing, parked cars and road conditions, etc .
As far as I’m aware this is a FIRST and they should be applauded for this change in tactics.
Williams , Mold
Mr Williams, Mold
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A SCAM VANNER
He sits down to breakfast, the wife waves goodbye to the kids winking and smiling. It’s dads birthday today and they’ve bought him a present, it’s been such a job getting them not to tell him what it is. “ Don’t forget it’s daddy’s birthday today and granny is coming for tea at seven” . He shouts after them “ don’t go speeding on your bikes to school and remember to tell tales on your mates”.
She looks at him wondering why she walked down the Isle with such a moron “ Dad did warn me not to marry ‘one of them’, shop their own mother they would” she recalls him saying. He guzzles his toast and coffee, “have to go” he says. She asks what the rush is , he responds with a smile “I’ve got two new locations for robbing pensioners today, some of the lads reckon I’ll get 50 – 60 in a good hour as the van will be hidden behind a large road sign and at the bottom of a hill on an open road. The council partnership (he chuckles) have moved the 30 limit out another 200 meters to catch them out”. She looks curiously at him asking how many people had crashed there ?. He frowned at her for asking such a stupid and irrelevant question.
“Don’t forget your new bottle now” she reminds him. Her sister works for the NHS and managed to get one of the latest bed bottles. ”Would I forget it ?” he says. ”It’s one of the best things I’ve ever had, so much better than the old pop bottles as I can use it sitting down still zapping pensioners so I don’t miss a trick“ . His smile was a true picture of happiness and satisfaction, she looked at him questioningly perhaps feeling sorry for him and wondering what happened in his early life.
Down at the station.
He collects the keys for his scam van, pre start check and away to go for a mornings pickings. Van suitably hidden behind the sign he opens the back window, does a sighting check and calls in to HQ. ”P.C. Hardly Soddon reporting in for today’s scamming, location Anglesey, open safe road extended speed limit”. The response comes back indicating that the location should prove profitable, at least until a few thousand safe driving motorists have been done and got wise to the latest sneaky trick.
He adjusts his seat, zip down, flask at his side and switches on his little radio for a morning of Terry Wogan. “This is the life he thinks to himself” This certainly beats chasing granny muggers and yobs, he mutters to himself and of course a big fat pension and £35k a year to boot !
No sooner is he set up than his first victim appears, an elderly couple, probably served in the trenches fighting for King, Queen and country. Conscience was never his strong point. “Got ya 36 and spot on yippee“. The morning goes by without incident and a nice steady flow of speeders go past not only swelling the coffers but bringing him envy from the ranks and acclaim from top dog CS Unwell Jones. Two cups of tea later the first passing of water into the alloy purpose built container warms the side during which no motorist escaped, what a gem he thinks.
Later that day, he hands the keys back, “good day then ?", the sergeant asks . “You bet, really good spot that Anglesey one, loads of road vermin possibly my best ever“. Brimming with pride he heads off to his long awaited tea party.
Back home the birthday cake is out, the kids are anxious and can't wait to give dad his present, the wife is laying the table for gran, his mum. Soon she appears smiling and also wondering what went wrong with his upbringing?. “ Hope you didn’t break any speed limits driving here “ he smirks at her thinking to himself, “I’d love to do my mum “ .
The wife calls the kids in, they sing happy birthday and give him a card, granny also joins in and begrudgingly wishes him well. The kids pressure him to open his new present, mum had helped choose it last weekend in the local farm shop. He carefully unwraps it, the kids look on hoping he’ll like it, the wife knows he’ll like it and the gran is baffled. As the present is exposed his face lights up with joy , he just cant believe they knew what he wanted, kisses and hugs all around, granny looks on a bit bemused. This will take pride of place on the mantle piece but only after I’ve shown all the lads down at the station first, they’ll be as jealous as hell when they see it. The wife said to the kids, “There now I told you daddy would like a horse trailer“
Top Blogger , North Wales
Really dangerous driving
Tuesday 22nd. April I was driving on the A55 towards Conwy when I witnessed a woman driving a light coloured lexus coupe at high speed in the outside lane. She crossed directly to the the slip road towards Tesco and Llandudno junction whilst on her mobile phone. I estimated her speed to be in excess of 100 mph, at a guess I would say she was late for a meeting at Conwy business centre. She was expensively dressed & had shoulder length dark brown hair. Where were the traffic police?, so much for Arrive Alive SAFETY cameras.
Professional driver Conwy
NWPFstaffing levels
from: Undercovercop
area: North East Wales
article: It is a fact that North Wales Police have deliberately reduced
staffing levels on Bank Holidays to below the agreed minimum
safe staffing levels because of budget cuts.I note that in
response to the article in the Daily Post that the famous
North Wales Police spokesperson said"we have dedicated
neighbourhood policing teams".These are the teams paid for by
the extra increase in local taxes -- perhaps the famous
spokesperson could explain why no community beat
managers/PCSOs ever work on Bank Holidays when most people are
off work and they have more chance of seeing them than any
other day.The reason is money -- they have to pay them double
time hence the skeleton staff.You will also find that although
response officers work 9 and 10 hour shifts to provide maximum
coverage they are then rostered to work 8 hours on Bank
Holidays.Oh by the way -- arrive alive do work for double time
!!!!!!!!!!!
NWPF mounted unit.
Message: Hi,
Interesting article about the North Wales Police mounted
branch. Even more interesting which you may not know about is
that their original purpose has been diluted even further.
They will not be allowed to police Wrexham football matches or
any public order situations, which leaves them doing basically
no more than was mentioned in your article. At the time of
proposal the rank and file in North Wales Police opposed the
whole concept, but Brunstrum in his usual bullying fashion
railroaded the scheme. A rider can rarely arrest anyone and
even if they did, they would have to call for back up to
convey the person to the station etc. Another interesting fact
is that the whole team are women. If they had been all men
there would have been uproar from various groups.
7 Police officers who all have riding as their hobby are now
having a great time and not actually doing anything
constructive. The money in the set up could have funded many
civilian investigation officers(retired police officers) to
take on many of the crime enquiries which officers have,
allowing the uniform officers to spend more time on the
streets on patrol. The 7 officers on the team should be back
doing real policing.
See DCC Wolfendale's latest Blog
Blame the criminals Dec 10 2007
IN response to stories in the press about armed police patrolling shops, may I offer a view that the police themselves may not be able to give for understandable operational reasons?
It is highly likely the police have intelligence that forced them to deploy those armed officers. They would have had to carefully weigh up that intelligence, the likely threat to businesses and the public before taking that decision.
An operation like this is not taken on a whim nor are they deployed unnecessarily.
Historically, Christmas is a busy lucrative time for criminal gangs many of whom now carry guns as a matter of course.
They often come to us from over the border, and if you want to blame anyone for the presence of armed bobbies on the beat and in shops, blame the criminals, not the brave police officers who have to confront them.
Consider the hue and cry there would have been had an armed robbery taken place and the police had not acted on that intelligence.
Coun Phil Edwards, Rhos on Sea
In the Shadow of Police HQ
I was having a pint with a friend on sunday night in the Caley Arms on the front at Rhos on Sea. Two young men came in, they where a little noisy and within a few minutes the staff had to have words with one of them and things rapidly got worse. The young men where asked to leave, one of them I was told, had been taking drugs and the mixture of alcohol and the drugs had made his behaviour so awful he had to be removed from the pub by force. In the scuffle that followed, the landlord was lnjured and the police where called. I would like to know how our Chief Constable's (& resident of Rhos) policy to legalise drugs would make this man's behaviour and attitude any different.
Picture this driving home from work
Picture this: Monday 17th Dec, driving home from work. Flagged down by a PC and then informed I was to be randomly breathalised. Oh and if I didn't comply I would be arrested! No grounds to do so, no reasonable suspicion, just NWP assuming the right to harass people legally going about their private) business. The PC also demanded ID and personal details "for the record". Why? What 'crime' have I commited? Will an entry be made, in a database somewhere, that I was stopped and breathalised on suspicion of drink driving, despite the test being negative? I simply find it hard to believe how we allow the police to behave like this. Saudi Arabia or Iran I can understand but the UK? What happened to our legal system to allow this? And is this system being run against a quota target?
Area: Mold
Persecuted pensioner
As a pensioner, 80 years old, having been driving for over 60 years, never any convictions, driving or other offences. Having taken part in wartime atlantic convoys, I'm back home to enjoy retirement. To assist others, I went to help a sick family member doing 37 mph just for 200yds to pass a very slow car sightseeing in a very safe area with no children and a cycle path, a high off road walk area with no on coming traffic. I was fined £60.00 +3 penalty points. So many people I've overheard talking about similar treatment in North Wales. Why is Mr Brunstrom treating us this way ? If we object to the fine, giving sensible reasons, it means trouble and heavier costs. We just can't win with this chief constable in North Wales. Plaid Cymru helpwch ni ?
From: Atlantic Convoys, Llandudno
good policing
I had a serious vandal attack on my business and the local WPC seems to be dealing with it in a very positive manner i hope there will be an arrest soon I will keep everyone posted as to the out come.
Area: Llandudno
Police attitudes East Wales
As a professional engineer I travel a lot both overseas and in this Country.As I have an interest in policing ( many of my family served in North Wales ) it's natural that I observe the local constabulary in the many locations I frequent.
It is interesting to note how the attitudes of serving fficers has changed in recent times. Possibly because of olitical correctnes, the threat of being sued or simply ressure from " above " one sees a decline in the freindly approach that once seemed the norm. However in my experience this somewhat arrogant attitude seems to more more prevelant amongst the traffic officers rather than the ones who may be encountered in the street.I s it because all motorists are deemed a threat ? or is it because many of those employed in that division have been unable to do better in other areas ?
The problem may stem from the attitude of the senior " managers " that run the so called safety partnership.
What ever the reason may be the few are causing harm and anger towards the decent hard working majority and continue to alienate middle Englad ... or Wales as the case may be .
Lets hope that the likes of the PPP can make a difference, who knows one day the very public the police are here to serve may be able to vote for their top brass which would, no doubt, render one or two jobless !!!!
East Wales
The Great Outdoors
I have never been one for criticising the Police as I believe their task is difficult, but an accumulation of events has led me to believe that their critics may have a point. Living in a rural location I am lucky to see a police officer even once a year outside of a speed trap vehicle. That doesn't mean we have no crime. Why is it ok to spend thousands of pounds fixing up the smashed toilets by the Brenig Archaeology trail subsequent to regular vandalism but not acceptable to expect a patrol to come out when a drugs party is set to gather in the Clocaenog Forest nearby, they even put up signs to these raves of drugs and alcohol . Motorbikes race around the newly built Alwen trails despite this being illegal, there is no police presence and in the summer it is now unsafe to walk or cycle this wonderfully built trail targeted at families. There are many like me who would welcome the occasional sight of the police and this presence would surely send a message out to those who abuse these wonderful facilities. Come on guys, catching people is one thing but preventing crime is far more beneficial to the public.
Hiraethog
Arrive Alive Anglesey
Following PPP meetings with North Wales Police, at their Headquarters and In Anglesey, to view and discuss road safety on the A5025 we were really pleased when Anglesey council redesigned a staggered crossroads near City Dulas. Drivers (often slow tractors) joining the main road were unable to see traffic approaching over the brow of the hill from the Amlwch direction The new layout is a real improvement & gives a clear long distance view and could prevent a serious crash. Unfortunately the 'partnership' couldn't resist including a parking 'pad' for the Scamera van. These will also have a long distance 'shot' at any driver entering the NEW 40 limit on the 3 lane down hill section at 46 or more. Many drivers do so in this previously 60 mph section as the new limit reaks all the earlier and scientifically based guidelines. Recently the Van isn't even using the pad but parking across the new section of footpath .... anti-social policing at it's worst! A few drive at silly speeds through this section when the van is no where around and deserve to be punished.
Anglesey
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