Do you believe in the afterlife? Has Madeliene come back as a Red Admiral butterfly?

Here's a touching story from The Sun. It's not your usual Madeliene story. It's about a Red Admiral butterfly, that fluttered down in St.Peter's Square and touched Kate McCann by landing upon her. It's called the butterfly effect. What happens in Rome affects The Sun editor Rebekah Wade in London as though she has been touched by being out in the sun too long and suffering from sun stroke.

This Red Admiral butterfly recognised Kate McCann even amongst the 30,000 people crowded into St.Peter's Square, and when it flew off and came back a second time it picked her again out of all those who had come to see The Pope. Gerry McCann mistook the Red Admiral butterfly for a Symbol of Hope, this must be another specie, as this was definitely a Red Admiral says Nick Parker a Sun reporter.

Clarence Mitchell, a family spokesman, said “I almost welled up. It was as if Madeleine was with us and was a good omen".

War monger Blair gives himself title 'Chief of Peace'

No wonder Tony Blair is hardly able to contain his laughter in this photograph, because he was allowed to pick his own name when he was made a chief in Sierra Leone. The war monger chose the title Chief of Peace.

Right tits in the Tory Party

Proving that the remodelled Tory Party lacks substance, it has appointed Andy Coulson, the former editor of the News of the Screws, to deliver the spin more associated with Alastair Campbell and the Labour Party. The News of the Screws is famous for featuring tits. Andy Coulson should feel at home as their are some right tits in the Tory Party. Another thing that they have in common, is that Andy Coulson was forced to resign during the scandal when one of his journalists was jailed for hacking into mobile telephones of Royal Aides. At least it shows that the clean image is just a veneer and that underneath the same old scandal ridden Tory image remains intact.

Hat-Tip to Guido for the News of the Dave image.

Prison isn't working

Prison isn't working

If we were serious that 'prison works' we would have a prison-building programme that resulted in a gulag society.
Richard Garside

May 31, 2007 10:00 AM | Printable version

In 1998, the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee argued that the "huge rise in the prison population during the last five years is unsustainable". Something must be done or it would "end badly". Having oscillated between 40,000 and 50,000 during the 1980s and early 1990s, prison numbers in England and Wales rose to more than 60,000 by the time Labour came to power in 1997.

At the time of this stark message the prison population stood at around 66,000. It now tops 80,000. The argument that "prison works" might once have been a rather disreputable stance. Today it is becoming positively de rigueur to celebrate high prison numbers and call for even more.

Superficially, the argument is persuasive. In the 10 years from 1995 to 2005 the official crime rate, according to the British Crime Survey, fell by roughly half. During the same period the number in prison increased by roughly half. Crime apparently fell because we successfully imprisoned the kinds of people who commit it. Keep locking up more of those people who commit most crime and crime will fall further. The equation appears rather simple.

However compelling this argument might appear, and however popular it currently is within certain circles, it is in fact one that is at best misleading and at worst spurious. To understand why, let us start by considering the kind of people that make up the current criminal justice caseloads as convicted offenders.

They are largely men from poor or working class backgrounds. They will tend to be in their late teens or early 20s. A notable proportion will have drug and alcohol problems. Many will be living with significant mental health problems. Poor literacy abilities and intermittent employment histories will be common. While the majority will be white, a disproportionate minority will be black or from other minority ethnic groups.

These are the people who are both vulnerable to repeat conviction and repeat incarceration. It should not surprise us then that such individuals might regularly find themselves in trouble with the police, prosecuted in the courts and filling up our prisons. Indeed, the criminal justice system is largely there to deal with, manage and regulate the problematic behaviours caused by poor, young males. Unsurprisingly, they therefore tend to figure strongly in the criminal justice caseloads. They are in the prison system in such numbers not because there has been a mass outbreak of wickedness since 1997 but because policy makers have designed processes that have driven prison numbers up for this group of people instead of focusing on other policy responses.

Yet whether it is domestic violence or child abuse, middle class fiddles or corporate corruption, sexual abuse or the abuse of power, most crime never features in the official crime rate. Crime is a far more common and cross-class phenomenon than is apparent from the caseloads of police, prisons and courts. If we were serious that "prison works" we would have a prison-building programme that resulted in a gulag society.

At best, the argument about prison and crime is about a small proportion of all offenders, responsible for a small proportion of all crime. If some of our politicians and policy wonks choose to limit their vision to debating such matters then that is their right. The rest of us should not feel so constrained.

Turning fat prisoners into fit prisoners...

I have just had a call from BBC 1 Look North to do an interview in relation to this story. Of course a Tory MP, who I have never heard of, Andrew Rosindell, is trying to get into the spotlight. At least he refers to the prisoners as people, but then the idiot makes the stupid suggestion that the problem can be solved by turning the prisoners into vegetarians! I think that the lack of constructive regimes in some of our prisons already lead to too many prisoners vegetating.

UPDATE: This from the Star picking it up from The Sun. And the same from This is London.

Overcrowded prisons - must be a slow news day...

Pressure on Falconer as prison population hits all-time high


· Court cells could be full if too many fail to get bail
· Jail system could implode in two weeks, says union

Clare Dyer, legal editor
Wednesday May 30, 2007
The Guardian

The number of prisoners in England and Wales hit an all-time high of 80,846 yesterday, raising fears that the court service could run out of cell space this week if too few remand prisoners succeed in getting bail. The record numbers saw 450 prisoners housed in police and court cells made available for overspill.

At one point yesterday, prison governors estimated that every court cell on standby would be full by tonight, but later they said they expected enough remand prisoners to get bail to leave a few spaces available.

The latest figure means that fewer than 300 spaces are free to house prisoners, even allowing for the 400 police cells being used for emergency occupation under Operation Safeguard.

Only 100 court cells have been made available in London and three other locations. Cells in courts are expensive and difficult to staff and their emergency use for prison overspill makes it hard for prisoners to be brought to court for trials.

The need to get on with court cases means that prisoners in court cells are "hot-celling" with those in prisons, taking their space in prison while the jailed inmate goes to court.

The problem has been exacerbated by the bank holiday, with some probation officers taking an extra day off yesterday and unable to take part in bail applications for people remanded in custody over the weekend.

The crisis is expected to worsen when the smoking ban comes in on July 1, when options to double up in cells will be limited by a new right for non-smoking prisoners to refuse to share a cell with a smoker.

Ministers are pushing for more doubling up of inmates but Phil Wheatley, director general of the prison service, has made it clear that there are limits to the number of places that can be found. "When we are full, we are full," he has said.

Charles Bushell, general secretary of the Prison Governors Association, said there were "large and increasing numbers" of prisoners who could never be locked up with anybody else because they were dangerous or predatory.

Lord Falconer, the justice secretary, announced plans for legislation aimed at reducing the prison population when the new Ministry of Justice took over responsibility for prisons from the Home Office this month. But the latest record increase will bring more pressure on him to come up with a short-term solution.

Harry Fletcher, assistant general secretary of Napo, the probation officers' union, said: "If the current rate continues, within a fortnight the whole system will implode.

"The courts won't be able to function because there will be nowhere to hold prisoners and the police will be in difficulty because there will be nowhere to hold people they arrest on that day. So ministers will have to take short-term action."

He said the most obvious step to ease the crisis would be to permit the 1,500 to 2,000 prisoners who are allowed out of prison daily as a step to rehabilitation, to stay out overnight.

"The minister could argue that if these people are safe enough to be allowed out during the day and public safety isn't compromised, the same rule would apply to letting them out at night," he added.

A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Justice said: "A new capacity-building programme which will deliver 8,000 new prison places by 2012 was announced in July 2006.

"This comes on top of already planned expansions at existing prisons which will continue and deliver around 700 places during 2007.

"The National Offender Management Service is closely monitoring the prison population and continues to investigate options for providing further increases in capacity."

The shadow home secretary, David Davis, said: "The government have been warned about this impending crisis in our prisons for years. They have recklessly ignored both our advice and their own projections of prison overcrowding.

"Overcrowding means offenders are not sent to prison when they should be, prison rehab and skills courses are disrupted and prisoners are let out early. Ultimately, it is the public who pay the price."

The McCanns should face the music over Madeliene disappearance

Gerry and Kate McCann have left their children once again for a lengthy period of time. Only on this occasion it is not to go for a meal and drinks at a tapas bar and leave them with out supervision for 3 hours, they are visiting the Pope in Rome. "The pair's twins, Sean and Amelie, have been left in the care of relatives". Let us hope that they care for them better than the McCanns did in Portugal. At least the cost of the flight and accommodation will not be coming out of the fund set up to allow the McCanns to stage gigs throughout Europe. Because Sir Philip Green has put his private jet at their disposal and they will be staying with the British Ambassador to the Holy See.

"The McCanns decided their two-year-old twins were too young to take on the trip to Italy, and left them with Mr McCann's sister, Trish Cameron, and her husband Sandy". However, they were not too young to take on the trip from England to Portugal. Nor, indeed, old enough to be left unsupervised for 3 hours, when it is alleged that Madeliene was abducted.

"Mrs McCann plans to give the Pope a photograph of Madeleine". Perhaps, she is hoping that he will keep an eye out for Madeliene in case she turns up in the crowd in Saint Peter's Square? Gerry McCann said "Meeting the Pope is so potentially hugely important to what we are trying to achieve as a family". What's left of the family, aye Gerry? And just exactly what are you seeking to achieve Gerry? How to be responsible parents? This statement from Gerry McCann is a bit rich "We never for one moment thought we would get such publicity, but it means we can get our message across". This coming from the man who sought to control the media coverage from the word go. And what exactly is that message Gerry, I'm still waiting to hear it? Perhaps, it is that you both did what you believe was right? What I would like to hear is when do you both intend coming home to face the music? Important things first, aye Gerry, off to Spain next to see the Beckhams. Then Germany, the Netherlands and Morocco...

In your own good time. I understand that it is supposedly to raise awareness about your daughter. We are aware that she is missing. And we know what she looks like from the photos spread throughout the world. What we want to know is what happened to her. Can you shed any light on this either of you?

Memo: Duck. Low flying bogroll holders...

Civil servants alerted over lavatory peril

By Nigel Bunyan
Last Updated: 2:13am BST 29/05/2007

Civil servants have been warned of the dangers of flying toilet roll holders - and instructed to suppress their laughter.

A memo was circulated to staff at the Department for Education's headquarters in Sheffield following reports of empty dispensers springing open and catching unsuspecting lavatory users on the head.

Health and safety chiefs swung into action, dispatching a letter which alerted staff to the hazard and pledged to install less dangerous equipment "at the earliest convenience".

In the meantime, Government public servants have been solemnly advised in the memo to "take care" when braving the cubicles.

Anticipating the reaction of staff, the memo added: "I know many of you will think this is humorous, but it is a serious issue."

Something fishy going on at the Environment Agency

According to the Environment Agency website "We are the Environment Agency. It's our job to look after your environment and make it a better place - for you, and for future generations". Right, so far so good.

"The 7,000 acre Broadlands Estate, the former home of Earl Mountbatten of Burma now run by his grandson Lord Brabourne, will play host to the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh next month".

This pair of old fogies are keen anglers.

The problem is that "the Broadlands estate commercial fishery has been experiencing a serious shortage of salmon while the downstream Testwood Fishery has attracted envious attention from anglers as it is teeming with fish by comparison".

Therefore, the Environment Agency applied for a warrant to divert fish away from the Testwood Fishery onto the Broadlands estate so that the odd couple would be kept happy. The magistrate told the Environment Agency to go and fuck themselves.

Why is the Environment Agency wasting taxpayers money taking this matter to court in the first place? And, why was it going to waste taxpayers money to create this salmon diversion route? "The businessmen who own Testwood will this week apply to the High Court for a judicial review of the Environment Agency's conduct". And, so they should.

The Environment Agency denied the royal visit was connected to the court application. A spokesman said: "The Environment Agency believes it has right of access to Testwood Fishery to carry out any works to create a fish pass." Why on earth would the Environment Agency believe it has this right to gain access to private land? Not for any purpose to benefit the general population but solely for the private pleasure of the Queen, the Duke of Whatsisname, Big Ears and the Ugly Old Mare.

Lord Goldsmith sanctioned human rights abuses of Iraqi detainees

The Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith, is responsible for sanctioning the human rights violations against detainees in Iraq committed by British troops. This revelation may have the effect of putting another nail in Lord Goldsmith's coffin. There is no way that Lord Goldsmith can salvage any shred of reputation, he has proved himself to be devoid of any integrity whatsoever. His philosophy has been since he came into office to give Tony Blair whatever he wants, regardless of whether such conduct broke the law. Lord Goldsmith knew full well that his advice was in direct conflict to that given by the Army's senior legal adviser, Colonel Mercer.

It has been argued that Lord Goldsmith has not only put our troops at greater risk, but also have risked the values that make Britain worth defending.

Madeliene abandoned for at least 2 hours

It is an offence under section 1 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 to neglect or abandon a child under the age of 16 for whom a parent or carer has responsibility. At the very least, Gerry and Kate McCann abandoned 18 months old twins Sean and Amelie for at least 2 hours when they went out for a tapas meal. And, if Madeliene was also there, at the time, then it is clear that she was also abandoned for the same length of time. It has been claimed, in some reports, that the children were checked every half hour. However, there are weaknesses in these version of events. It is claimed that Kate McCann discovered Madeliene missing at 10pm. And, that their family friend, the so-called witness, joined the McCanns for dinner at 9.30. So, who was checking on the children at 9.30? Nobody. A report claims that she claims to have seen what she saw at 9.30. Another report claims that it is believed that Madeleine was taken between 9.10pm and 9.15pm. If this is to be believed, then the children had been neglected and/or abandoned for at least 45 minutes. We are talking about a 3 year old, and two 18 month old babies, being left to fend for themselves, by two professional adults who should have known better. It might not have been so bad, but still a criminal offence, to have left children of this age for 20 minutes. But at least double that time? It might not have been so bad had the children been locked in, however, the rear patio doors to the apartment had been left unlocked to allow easy access for regular checks by the parents in the group. A report claims that one of the group might have checked the apartment, but not checked on the children, only that it was quiet, and left. This was thought to have occurred after 9.10, but nobody seems sure of anything. If the front of the McCanns apartment faced the tapas bar, why leave the back patio doors open when it could not be seen from the tapas bar? Would it not have been safer to have left the front door open? So, when did one of the McCanns or anybody else last check on the children? If it was 9 'o clock, that still leaves them being neglected and/or abandoned for one hour. If that is the case, that's three times longer than the minimum 20 minutes to satisfy a criminal prosecution in this country. Obviously, culpability is decided on a case by case basis. Both the McCanns are doctors. Gerry McCann has become a spin doctor with the media. The children were left unguarded and unchecked for a minimum of one hour. What is to say that they were not checked for 2 hours?

UPDATE: A local newspaper today reported that Mr and Mrs McCann had failed to check on their children, including two-year-old twins Sean and Amelie, on the night Madeleine disappeared.

The couple claimed they were checking on the apartment every half hour as they dined at a tapas restaurant with friends, only 100 yards away.

But the Diario de Noticias, which has consistently attacked the parents’ actions, today discredited their account. The paper claimed that staff at the Mark Warner complex told them “they did not leave their table to go and check on the children while they were having dinner.”

UPDATE: As the McCanns allegedly put all three children to bed at 7pm, and Kate McCann checked on them at 10pm, that now makes it 3 hours the children were neglected and/or abandoned.

The early worm catches the bird

Hat-Tip to Theo Spark for his altered FJL button which gave me the idea.

Just in case you were wondering...

Just in case you were wondering how Iain Dale is able to afford to order one of these? It is rumoured that it is because he has done this. Put Dale Mansion up for sale...



And this is why he needed to get rid of his old Audi cabriolet...

Ghost Town

I woke up early this morning and was on the computer by 7.20, because last night all hell broke loose with my stats and I was getting over 60 hits an hour. The majority were in relation to this post. Which is odd because it had been up since Saturday morning and although there was some increased traffic and it was my top story there was no explanation for the sudden surge. I thought that perhaps a top site had linked to it, but Technorati had not picked it up if this was the case. I checked Google and it did head their list of stories in relation to the tags in the posts title. It was a nice feeling to find that I had pipped the Times, a national newspaper, to the top slot. I was that chuffed last night that I emailed my blogging friend Not Saussure and suggested that he check both our stats out to see who was in front for the day. The other week I beat him for the first time since I have been stalking his stats, and now I chalked up a second victory. Its a good sign that you have arrived when you start receiving visitors who are top bloggers themselves, and I set myself the small target of reaching stats like Not Saussure receives. Respectable, but not over the top.

About 9 o'clock I took Rocky for his morning walk and we have to cross the normally busy Beverley Road (A1079), and could not believe how deserted it was both ways for as far as I could see. I momentarily thought that it was a Ground Hog Day situation and that it was a Sunday, but I remembered that that was yesterday. Spooky. Pearson Park was also deserted. I was trying to figure out why everything was so still. I thought, perhaps something untoward had happened last night and that I was the only person left on earth. True the weather had suddenly turned chilly and I had to put the heating back on.

Princess Avenue had signs of life, a few people and cars were about, still it appeared pretty much dead. Shops had shutters down. The local butcher was closed and the notice on the door said it opened Monday to Satuday 8-5, and it was gone 9 on a Monday morning and it was still shut. Perhaps, it's a Bank Holiday Monday, I thought. Sainsbury's was open and the staff in there confirmed that it was in deed a holiday. I could put my mind at rest as that had solved the mystery. Then I remembered that last week I had received a letter from the DWP informing me that I would receive my money early because of a holiday. I remember that I had checked the dates and thought that the letter was late in arriving, and put it out of my mind. Then I thought that I would just go and check the cashpoint across the road to see if there was any money in my account. Lo and behold, there was £150! That's nice as I was down to my last tenner.

Adventure over, a bacon sandwich a cup of coffee and back to the computer.

UPDATE: I was looking for a picture to go with this story and simply typed Ghost Town into Google and was directed to this brilliant site. Check it out.

Another update: Just discovered why my stats went crazy, somebody posted a link to me on the Daily Mirror online forum.

Britain's national shame

It was announced over the weekend that the government was seeking more powers to curb the threat of terrorism. However, the government already has more than enough powers at its disposal, and those have been abused as the courts have shown. For example, in 2002, Britain provided false information to America about Jamil el-Banna which led to him being arrested by the CIA and imprisoned in Guantanamo Bay without either charge or a trial. Now America accepts that Jamil el-Banna is not a suspected terrorist and has cleared him to be released from Guantanamo Bay. However, Britain is saying that it doesn't want an innocent man back. Why is this?

Mr Banna entered Britain from Jordan in 1994 after he was tortured. He was granted refugee status after it was accepted that he had been tortured. If he was returned to Jordan he faces being tortured again. His wife and children live in Britain. It is a national shame that Britain has decided that Mr Banna should remain in prison or return to Jordan and be tortured rather than face up to its responsibility for causing the false arrest and false imprisonment of an innocent man. I do not believe that the power should exist to cause unnecessary suffering to another human being just to hide from embarrassment.

No wonder the police have started to suspect the McCanns

BBC: MAN'S DESCRIPTION
White
5ft 10ins
Medium build
Short hair
Wearing a dark jacket, beige trousers and dark shoes
Carrying "a child or an object that could have been taken as a child".

Gerry McCann: "We feel sure that this sighting of a man with what appeared to be a child in his arms, is both significant and relevant to Madeleine's abduction," he said.

Times: A family friend of Gerry and Kate McCann has told police she saw a blonde-haired girl being carried away from an Algarve holiday apartment wrapped in a blanket at the time Madeleine is believed to have been snatched from her room...was on her way to dinner with Gerry and Kate McCann when she saw the man close to the open window of the bedroom where four-year-old Madeleine had been sleeping. The girl he was carrying was wearing pink pyjamas, the same as Madeleine's.

So, a family friend, who, conveniently, was several hours late going to dinner with the McCanns, says she sees a man by the McCanns flat, outside of an open window, with a blonde-haired, sleeping girl, wearing pink pyjamas, and she wasn't suspicious what this stranger was doing with her friend's 3 year old daughter?

Isn't hindsight wonderful with a £2.5M reward at stake? A possible vague sighting gets clearer and more colourful and more elaborate with each telling...just like in Chinese whispers.

Gerry McCann's mistake in seeking to control the mainstream media was that he forget to take into account the blogosphere. He said that the public hold the key to this mystery. He's right. All it requires now is for it to unlock his mind.

July 7 survivor harassed by internet stalker

July 7 survivor harassed by internet stalker

By Ben Leapman, Home Affairs Correspondent, Sunday Telegraph
Last Updated: 12:34am BST 27/05/2007

A survivor of the July 7 London bombings has been subjected to a year-long campaign of abuse and harassment by a "cyber-stalker" she has never met.

Rachel North, 36, feared for her safety after she was bombarded with threatening emails. They began arriving after she created an online diary to recount her experience in the Piccadilly Line blast, in which 26 passengers were killed.

The messages were sent by Felicity Jane Lowde, 41, a researcher, from Oxford. Lowde was convicted of harassment after failing to turn up for her trial at Stratford magistrates' court, east London, on April 2.

She is now on the run but has continued to send abusive messages.

A spokesman for Thames Valley police said that a warrant for Lowde's arrest had been circulated to all forces. Sgt Colin Brooker, of Oxford police, said: "It went to court and she was found guilty in her absence."

Miss North, who married last month, said the abuse had worsened her post-traumatic stress disorder and left her fearing for her safety.

Describing her ordeal in her blog, Miss North wrote: "I was concerned and deeply distressed by her behaviour, and completely unable to understand why she was targeting me, a stranger whom she had never met.

"I tried from time to time to reason with her, and then I warned her, clearly and politely, when she still did not stop, that what she was doing was harassment, and that if I did go to the police she could be prosecuted."

Among more than 100 emails and comments, Lowde described the campaign by July 7 survivors for a public inquiry as "a self-serving publicity stunt", and accused Miss North of "making a living on the backs of the dead".

Miss North said: "For someone suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and survivor guilt, this was the most hurtful thing that anyone could possibly have said. And I will admit now that it nearly made me go under."

In a series of messages sent last week, apparently from a cyber cafe, Lowde wrote: "You are a warmongering bitch. No one believes you. People hate you for what you've done. Stop trying to promote yourself and GO AWAY RACHEL.

"In your wedding picture you look happy to have got away with it. But time is ticking and you'll wind up in jail with the stupid grin wiped off your evil face."

During the police inquiry, Lowde alleged that it was she who was stalked by Miss North.

18Doughtystreet.com presenter cops it in Russia

Peter Tatchell who recently became a presenter on 18doughtystreet.com, the internet TV station, was arrested by police in Russia for causing a disturbance. The publicity seeker was also attacked by protestors.

PM's secret stalker squad has power to detain indefinitely

PM's secret stalker squad has power to detain indefinitely
By Ruth Elkins
Published: 27 May 2007

A new national anti-terrorist unit to protect the Prime Minister and the Royal Family from stalkers has been secretly set up with powers to detain people under mental health laws.

The Fixated Threat Assessment Centre (FTAC) was established last year with the aim of identifying individuals who pose a danger to important public figures in Britain, reported The Mail on Sunday. Since its inception the agency, which is also intended to protect members of the Cabinet, has been given powers to investigate more than 10,000 individuals to identify mentally unstable stalkers and potential killers fixated on public figures.

The news is thought likely to reignite debate on the harshness of government measures used to deal with terror suspects.

The FTAC, part of the Metropolitan Police's specialist operations department, which oversees anti-terrorism and royal and diplomatic protection, has the legal right to detain people indefinitely without trial, criminal charges or evidence of a crime being committed.

The unit's team of psychiatrists and psychologists have the power to prescribe treatment for suspected stalkers, including detaining them in secure psychiatric units.

Tony Blair is a TWAT - Who in their right mind wants to be shackled by him?

Tony Blair almost said, "This extremism from me is not like anything you have faced before". It is not that long ago, that he actually said that he believed he was right to follow George Bush into an illegal war on Iraq. Now he is saying that we are all wrong again, and so is the law, and so are our judges, and so is our belief that we should have civil liberties.

Tony Blair is right about one thing, his extremism, "It needs to be confronted with every means at our disposal".



The Queen doesn't look too impressed with Blair either. I agree Ma'am, we are not amused...

What effing war?

Hat-Tip to Ron for this photo.

It is one thing for the Executive to be given Emergency Powers in times of war. Quite another for the Executive to be demanding them in times of peace. It is frightening that John Reid has not been subjected to a Control Order. The man is obviously quite mad, bad, and dangerous to know. This measure should be stopped at all costs. John Reid has taken it upon himself to become the Head of the Stasi or the KGB. When the police and psychiatrists join forces to lock people up without trial, it is more like Soviet Psycho-Prisons than a democracy we live in.



Whatever happened to Dixon of Dock Green?

Tory sleaze - keep it in the family

The mafia tend to keep it in the family to exclude from outsiders what naughtiness they are up to. So too with the Tory Mafia.

Pentagon worried about China's submarine military build-up

Pentagon warns of China's military build-up

By Toby Harnden in Washington
Last Updated: 4:09am BST 26/05/2007

China is developing long-range nuclear missiles that have the capacity to hit America, a Pentagon report said yesterday.

The report, delivered to Congress, highlighted increased American concerns that China is an expansionist power, aggressively building up its military forces so it had the capacity to launch "pre-emptive" strikes.

China's development of weapons, including a recent test in which a satellite was shot down "is expanding from the traditional land, air, and sea dimensions of the modern battlefield to include space and cyberspace," the report said.

"The expanding military capabilities of China's armed forces are a major factor in changing East Asian military balances; improvements in China's strategic capabilities have ramifications far beyond the Asia-Pacific region," it said.

Beijing was accused of trying to hide its military build-up. "China's published defence budget does not include large categories of expenditure, including expenses for strategic forces, foreign acquisitions, military-related research and development, and China's paramilitary forces."

The Chinese Communist Party's "heavy reliance on secrecy acts in tandem with military deception", the report said, although it noted that this could prove to "be a double-edged sword, confusing China's leaders as much as China's adversaries".

Among the weapons of greatest concern to the United States is the mobile, land-based DF-31A intercontinental ballistic missile which could reach anywhere in America and five Jin-class submarines, equipped to carry missiles with a 5,000-mile range.

A map in the report shows that the US is within range of the DF-31As and the CSS-4, also known as the Dong Feng 5.

"China currently is capable of targeting its nuclear forces throughout the region and most of the world, including the continental United States," the caption said. China could be in danger of over-reaching, however, because its "ability to sustain military power at a distance, at present, remains limited".

The report said that Chinese military training focusing on no-notice, long-range air strikes "could also indicate planning for pre-emptive military options in advance of regional crises".

The Pentagon report also condemned the successful anti-satellite test conducted in January, which was China's first. "The test put at risk the assets of all space-faring nations and posed dangers to human space flight due to the creation of an unprecedented amount of debris."

Robert Gates, the Pentagon chief, said the report was a sober assessment of China's weapons systems and intentions. "It paints a picture of a country that is devoting substantial resources to the military and developing... very sophisticated capabilities."

Police focus on the McCanns as suspects

The police in their leaving no stone unturned search for the missing Madeliene McCann now appear to have switched their focus upon Gerry and Kate McCann as being prime suspects in the investigation. I would be surprised if the police did not brief the presenters of both the BBC and Sky what questions they would like them to ask so that they could study the tapes for tell tale signs during the answers given by both Gerry and Kate McCann.

I think that it is right that they feel guilty for the disappearance of Madeliene. It was irresponsible for them to have gone off and left three young children home alone, and I don't accept that it is what thousands of other parents would have done. And, if this is the case, is it what thousands of professional couples would have done? Gerry McCann stated that he felt guilty that they were not there when Madeliene was abducted. The point is, if she was abducted, it would not have happened had they been there. He also said that he would have felt just as guilty had they been in the next bedroom when she was abducted, again, it would not have happened had they been in the next bedroom.

A couple of things that stand out for me are Gerry McCann's desire to control things, for example, "Influencing the publicity side of it", and, "The fund was really evolved to provide an outlet for people who wanted to contribute financially". I would like to know how The International Family Law Group became involved, did they contact the McCanns or vice versa? Finally, the McCanns announced that they had no intention of coming back to the UK. Personally, I can't wait to get back home.

BBC interview with the McCanns.

Sky News interview with the McCanns.

He needs help not more prison

Robber, 74, gets sentence wish
A homeless 74-year-old man who robbed a bank because he was desperate to return to jail has been granted his wish - a five-year sentence.

Robert Newnham told staff at the Halifax in Dorchester, Dorset, that he had a gun and demanded £1,000.

Newnham, who had been just released from jail, later told police it was easier to rob a bank than try to organise his pension.

He admitted one count of robbery at Dorchester Crown Court.

Earlier the court had heard the alcoholic had become institutionalised and committed the robbery so he would be sent back to prison.


He didn't have the knowledge or the faculty to get his pension and decided the only way he could get money was to commit this offence
David Campbell, defending

David Campbell, defending, told the court Newnham had struggled to cope with his alcoholism after being released from prison.

He added: "He didn't have the knowledge or the faculty to get his pension and decided the only way he could get money was to commit this offence in the knowledge there would be only one option - that of prison."

Recorder Andrew Langdon QC, told Newnham he would serve at least half the sentence before being released on licence.

Mr Langdon said: "This was far from being a well-planned or ruthless robbery.

"You were, as you so often are, drunk - you were almost incoherent."

But he added: "It was no less frightening for the victim that you were 74 as opposed to 64 or 54 or 44."

The court heard Newnham has been offending for 36 years with almost annual shoplifting convictions since 1983.

'Nowhere to live'

He also has previous convictions for possessing offensive weapons in public.

This latest offence was his third conviction for robbery.

He was jailed for six years in November 1998 at Chichester Crown Court for robbing a bank in Worthing, West Sussex, which was later reduced to four and a half years by the Court of Appeal.

In August 2002, he was jailed for five years for robbing a bank in Croydon, London, in March 2002.

When police arrested him in Dorchester after his latest robbery he had £940 in £10 and £20 bank notes on him and had not spent any of his loot, the court heard.

The 37 days Newnham has already spent in custody will be deducted from his sentence.

Det Con Jon Bayliff, from Dorset Police, said: "He said to us it was easier for him to rob a bank than to get his pension sorted out.

"He didn't have anywhere to live and was having a few problems."

UPDATE: See this similar situation in South Africa.

Cyber-stalker wanted by the police

Have you seen this woman?

Lest we forget

Every November we hold a service of remembrance, lest we forget, for those who gave their lives during conflicts so that the rest of us may live in peace. Last night Iain Dale's Diary blogged this post which is deserving of a wider audience and greater support. It is rare to get the chance to remember the deed of a living hero, who gave so much when we needed him. And now it is intended to repay him with a cold shoulder, a slap in the face, with such contempt we would not show to a dog. His conduct was faultless. Ours is shameful. There is time and the opportunity to reverse this shameful decision made in our name. Let us all inform the relevant authority that we do not support nor tolerate this disgusting conduct from those supposedly representing us. Whatever our political hue, differences of opinion, the blogosphere and mainstream media should unite and show vociferous solidarity in this genuine cause.

UPDATE: I have just emailed my MP Diana Johnson, so there is really no excuse for her not knowing about this case and raising it either in the House of Commons or with the relevant authority.

Control Freak John Reid

From The Independent: Reid threatens to suspend human rights laws after terror suspects go missing
By Nigel Morris, Home Affairs Correspondent
Published: 25 May 2007

John Reid faced growing anger as he signalled the Government was ready to declare that Britain faced an "emergency" over terrorism and opt out of human rights legislation.

As the recriminations flew over the disappearance of three radical Islamists who had been on control orders, he made clear his determination to bring in tougher curbs on terror suspects. The Home Secretary said that could mean "derogating" from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) so he could impose tougher control orders on suspects.

The convention, which entered British law via the Human Rights Act, allows countries to suspend parts of the ECHR in "time of emergency".

Control orders, which restrict movements and contact with other people for terror suspects who cannot be brought to court, were introduced two years ago. They replaced the detention without trial of the "Belmarsh detainees," which was ruled illegal.

The latest disappearances bring to six the number of people on control orders who have vanished in the past year and have left the control-order system in disarray. A major police search was under way last night for Lamine Adam, 26, his brother Ibrahim, 20, and Cerie Bullivant, 24, after they went missing this week. Police believe they may try to travel to Iraq or Afghanistan.

A third Adams brother, Anthony Garcia, 25, was jailed for life last month for his part in the "fertiliser bomb" plot to attack targets including a shopping mall and a London nightclub.

Bullivant is due to stand trial over claims he breached his control order on 13 occasions over the past 10 months. All three had been assessed at the lower end of risk, but the fact that they co-ordinated their disappearances has alarmed the police.

Sir Ian Blair, the Metropolitan Police commissioner, said: "Nobody can be perfectly satisfied they are not a risk to the public here, but the intelligence is pointing in another direction."

However, Mr Reid had said the men were "not considered at this time to represent a direct threat to the public in the UK".

News of the absconders triggered fiery clashes over the control-order system in the Commons. The Home Secretary admitted that he would prefer to detain terror suspects or deport those who are foreign nationals, but said he was constrained by legal and political opposition to that approach.

He said he wanted to impose tougher control-order regimes, but was hampered from doing so by court judgments under the ECHR. Mr Reid said he wanted the convention modernised by European leaders to reflect the realities of the terrorist threat. But he added: "We will consider other options, which include derogation, if we have exhausted ways of overturning previous judgments on this issue."

Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman, said: "By threatening to derogate from the European Convention on Human Rights, John Reid reveals a worrying mix of sloppy thinking and buck-passing." He said it was "wildly inaccurate to claim that the three escapees were somehow helped by our respect for human rights".

David Davis, the shadow Home Secretary, said the escapes were caused by the Government failing to use existing powers, such as tagging suspects. He also said the delay in releasing the identities of the fugitives had allowed them to flee abroad.

"He is now blaming his own Human Rights Act when he has not even tried to derogate under its provisions. He can blame the courts and the opposition, but the problems are of his own making," Mr Davis said.

Shami Chakrabarti, the director of the campaign group Liberty, said: "This is last year's rhetoric from yesterday's Home Secretary".

From The Guardian.

From the Telegraph.

Rocky 5 in doggy paddle

Taking Liberties

Taking Liberties: Dedicated to Rachel North London for the liberty FJL it taking.

US cyber-stalker flees to Europe to evade justice

The thought suddenly struck me as I was reading this story that I suspect FJL sees herself as an English version of Patricia Cornwell. Only in her case it is her who cyber-stalked Rachel North London.

In any event, it is difficult to see how Patricia Cornwell will get a satisfactory conclusion to the case because the cyber-stalker will probably continue to stalk her from Europe where the US law has no force.

Perhaps, it is time that a world wide law is drafted to combat this menace and provide no hiding place for cyber-stalkers?

China to drop its ban on anonymous bloggers.

UPDATE: FJLs latest cyber-stalking of Rachel North London.

Arse backwards

It would appear that this is arse backwards. In that "The Home Secretary will make a written statement to parliament tomorrow", whereas the Torygraph releases the news today.

Once again, David Davis gets hold of the wrong end of the stick and tries beating the hapless John Reid over this fiasco and misses the point. On the other hand, Nick Clegg recognises that the fault lies with the Control Order scheme and makes his point.

Attorney General to be sacked by Brown

I cannot say that I am saddened to hear the news that the corrupt Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith, is to be given his P45 and marching orders when Gordon Brown enters Number Ten. It is thought that he will be replaced by Lord Grabiner. Apparently, Gordon Brown was impressed by Lord Grabiner when he used him as an independent expert on this. I take full responsibility if this prediction is correct, and in mitigation, cite Head of Legal if it proves to be incorrect.

Exclusive: Jailhouselawyer buys out Global New Media

Won't this chap, Jonathan Sheppard, and Tory Radio be surprised?

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Conservatives vote themselves the winner

I can't understand why Tim Ireland and Iain Dale can't just kiss and make up. Tim has written a post praising Iain for winning the Tory Blogger Award. Of course, self praise is no recommendation. And, it was a con from conservativehome. There only being three nominations to choose from; Iain Dale, Dizzy Stinks, and A Waste of Time. Prat Tory won best new comer, or perhaps it was for being a tax dodger...

And I thought incest was illegal...

Mr Brown has asked me to respond on his behalf to Iain Dale's criticisms

Photomanip: Ron.

Madeliene parents to go on the run?

I don't suppose that this picture will get the same amount of media attention and outpouring of emotions from the public that followed the announcement that Madeliene was missing. We know what happened to this little girl who appeared to be about the same age as Madeliene.

For several days now the top story on my blog has been "What child abduction?". As a result of all the donations which poured in to the so-called find Madeliene fighting fund, "The parents of missing Madeleine McCann have said they will "travel wherever is necessary" in their search to find their four-year-old daughter". "Mr McCann said that since Madeleine may no longer be in Portugal the search for her would extend "far and wide"". "Kate and I will play a key part in that campaign. We will travel wherever is necessary to ensure people across Europe recognise Madeleine's picture and we will encourage them to come forward with any information which might lead to Madeleine's safe return."

You can run but you cannot hide. Was this whole thing an elaborate set up? Swanning off all over Europe in search of the Holy Grail? Why did they leave Britain in the first place? If the holiday was genuine, what do Gerry and Kate McCann know about Madeliene's disappearance? I feel that they are hiding something and would rather not come home and face the British police on their own turf. A life long holiday costs a lot of money. Perhaps the account should be frozen until satisfactory answers have been given to unanswered questions which have not yet been put to the modern day equivalents of Bonnie and Clyde...

Dinosaur discovered

A dinosaur has been discovered alive, but perhaps, not so well as it went on the rampage and attacked David Cameron the Tory Party leader. It is believed that this rare species, Enormas Tebbitus, was searching for its mother the last known dinosaur to lead the Tory Party before the Draculus dinosaur, which recently turned over in its grave and tried to bite Alistair Campbell on Newsnight.

Why is the judge on the bench?

I fully support the Norfolk police who are asking the CPS to appeal against the seemingly irrational light sentences handed down by a seemingly totally incompetent judge. It is disgraceful that our prisons are over full. Still, there are those serving sentences in custody who have not committed acts as bad as this. In my view, those who are inside and have not done this level of violence should be released to make way for the likes of these violent thugs. One of the Poles is seen to be offering a hand of friendship which one of the attackers shakes just before he launches an assault.

Right judge, if that was you facing this Magnificent 7 what sentence would you pass then?

The truth about Tory bloggers

Dizzy Stinks with his opinionated arrogance reminds me of those prison governors who are arrogant and believe themselves to be in the right until a judge informs them to the contrary. His blog was advertised on 18DS last night, so I thought I would go and take a look to see what all the fuss was about. It was this post. The trouble is that his waffle was based on a post from this blog. Perhaps, they should be reported to the charity commission? It's about us statement bore no resemblance to the post I read, nor to the other posts I was referred to in that post. My impression was that I was reading adverts for Tory bloggers. This statement beggars belief "The SAU is a charity. This means that its role and ambitions are wholly unpolitical. So we don't toe or promote any party line". One wonders what Tory bloggers have to do with the following statement of purpose? "The Social Affairs Unit addresses social, economic and cultural issues with an emphasis on the value of personal responsibility. We research, challenge and debate issues from welfare to warfare, always seeking to draw out the role of the individual's obligations. We identify research with a potential to inform public policy and translate it from academic discourse into public debate. The ideas it promotes come largely from historians, sociologists and philosophers but also medical doctors and hard scientists".

Dizzy Stinks claims that Watlington's post is interesting. He does so on the basis that it refers to him. The truth is that it is a waffle post, and not interesting for the reasons a Tory might think. It is interesting because it shows Tory bloggers up for not being what they make themselves out to be. They start out from the position that right is right because they are right-wing politically. Therefore any criticisms of them must be wrong because they come from left-wingers. However, Watlington claims that Iain Dale is a genius. I challenge this claim as being unfounded. It will be noted that whilst Iain Dale is happy to accept praise, he has not yet challenged my claims that he is both a liar and a hypocrite.

There is a bad smell coming from the mouth piece of David Davis, and that halitosis is called Iain Dale. Dizzy Stinks, and there is a smell of raw sewage emanating from the Social Affairs Unit. What they incorrectly refer to as misrepresentations and smears, is in fact the sweet smell of truth. They are so used to smelling their own rotten ideas and outpourings, that the breath of fresh air hurts their senses. They seek to destroy criticisms and yet proclaim that they believe in freedom of speech. Their corrupt world is one where everybody is supposed to say what they want you to say. The Tory Party has turned into the Monster Raving Loony Party.

A rather belated Hat-Tip to Chris Paul for the photo likeness of Iain Dale.

Ruth Kelly has HIP replacement

Nothing to do with old folk and the need for hip replacements. This story relates to Home Information Packs (HIPs). The government had intended to launch them on 1st of June, however, the set back is the result of legal action being taken by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. And, the House of Lords is non too chuffed either.

Police state descends from the sky

The police spy in the sky presently being tested by the police is a cause for concern. It is one thing to use such a device in the fight against crime, but quite another to use it to tackle anti-social behaviour which is not a crime and raise it to the level of surveillance of targets as though the general public are the enemy in some kind of war zone.

I don't accept the police argument that people like to be spied on as it makes them feel safe. It is like John Reid arguing that peoples liberties are being protected by being removed.

I would prefer it if the police got down to policing instead of playing about with their little toys.

Al-qa'eda training manual on Google yet man charged with terrorist offences for possession of the manual

It is a fact that a terrorist attack occurred on 7/7. The perpetrators were killed in the suicide bombings.

Another man has been charged, according to the Telegraph, with involvement in the July 7 terror attacks on London, and freed on bail.

Khalid Khaliq is charged with possessing an al-qa'eda training manual.

In particular, possessing "a document or record, namely the al-qa'eda training manual, containing information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism", said a police spokesman.

During research for this story, I Googled "al-qa'eda training manual" and it is freely available on several sites. Given that it is already in the public domain, and maybe read for reasons other than for committing or preparing an act of terrorism, I would argue that if this is all that the prosecution has to offer then the case should be dismissed by the magistrate.

Exclusive: Home Office secret weapon for detecting future crimes revealed

Tough on future crime, tough on the causes of future crime.

The government has shifted its focus from its failure to tackle present crime, to detecting future crimes and targeting future criminals. It is predicted that the crime statistics will rise as everybody becomes an expert on predicting future criminals. The answer has been staring us in the face all along. Tesco will be selling these all seeing crime kits at £4.99 each, from next Friday. No doubt doubters will doubt the effectiveness of using this hi tech gadget and just say that it is a load of old crystal balls...

Margaret Hodge MP goes Barking mad and joins the BNP

It would appear that Margaret Hodge MP, Labour for Barking, has gone barking mad with racist outpourings more in keeping with the BNP.

UPDATE: Downing Street supports Margaret Hodge's racist rant.

Police link Powell brothers in cash for honours and BAE/Saudi Arms bribes scandals

Police upset by political interference in their inquiries.

Jonathan Powell, the out-going Prime Minister Tony Blair's Chief of Staff, is in double trouble. He is wanted by the police for his roles both in the cash for honours scandal and the BAE/Saudi Arabia bribes for arms scandal. It is understood that an international arrest warrant is being sought by the US Department of Justice which is investigating the UK's role in the BAE/Saudi affair. Police have discovered emails and mobile phone traces between Lord Charles Powell an adviser to BAE Systems, and his brother Jonathan Powell. It was Jonathan Powell who advised the Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith, not to pursue a prosecution as it would not be in the national interests.

Downing Street is claiming that it is irrelevant that the Powells are brothers, because it is claimed that they did not discuss either of the cases. Poor Lord Charles Powell is suffering from a bout of selective amnesia, he has stated that he cannot recall if he discussed the matters with his brother. Of course, ha, ha, it was only a £40 billion contract. One must forget this kind of thing all the time. "It's perfectly possible", he says, as an after thought, "I mean I honestly can't remember...We discussed all sorts of things". No Freedom of Information Act here, as Lord Powell believes that what they discussed is "sacrosanct". Right.

Mafia runs a restaurant in prison

With this story about a prison in Pisa, written by Nick Pisa, I thought it was April Fools day all over again, or somebody was ataking the pisa. But, no, I Googled Nick Pisa and he is genuine. It sounds like a very good idea, and one well worth thinking about introducing over here to help pay for the high cost of imprisonment.

Related story here.

Daily Mail v Owen Barder (a blogger)

Not saussure has this post worth reading and giving some support.

When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.

When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.

When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.

When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out.

The not so clean dirty washing of David Mclean MP

No wonder David Mclean MP does not want his expenses to be disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act. Given that his basic salary is just £59,000 and his expenses fiddles are more than double that amount at £129,700. What on earth does he spend it on? How about one wife, two mistresses, and a quad bike, so that he can jump on and off here and there and everywhere and ride to his heart's content...

Google - search me...

It is staggering to learn that over 16 billion web pages are searched on Google every second.

What child abduction?

Stop the Maddy madness now. I find it incredible that the media keeps referring to the missing Madeleine McCann as having been abducted. I await one shred of evidence to support the media claims, which the media is announcing as a fact. Take one step back. True, Gerry and Kate McCann are alleging that Madeleine has been abducted. And, that is all there is. It is wrong to assume an allegation is true just because it is stated to be the case. The hue and cry goes up and the witch hunt begins. In my view, the hunt has set off in the wrong direction. The hounds are seeking non existent scents to follow. I would suggest that it is now time to back track.

Kate McCann is constantly photographed holding Madeleine's favourite Cuddle Cat toy in her hands. Kate McCann is a professional, not a child. The toy is not Madeleine and is not a substitute. It is not the toy that is missing, it is Madeleine that is missing and her whereabouts that is the puzzle. It would appear that a smokescreen has been deployed.

Madeleine's disappearance would have been questioned sooner or later. Questions would have been asked of Gerry and Kate McCann. There needs to be an explanation. It's the old locked room mystery. Whilst Gerry and Kate McCann were having a meal away from the flat, they claim that Madeleine was abducted. They claim that the flat was broken into. However, there is no evidence to support this claim. Still, it is unthinkable that Gerry and Kate McCann are in someway responsible for Madeleine's disappearance so a search begins for an abductor or abductors.

There is a publicity drive to say that Madeleine is missing. I think it is safe to assume that Madeleine is missing. Are the McCanns spin doctors? It has turned into a very profitable business. Meanwhile, the McCanns are said to pray morning and night for the safe return of Madeliene, and have visited a church. I have as much faith in prayer as I do in the publicity machine generated by the McCanns. I think it is right that the Algarve police are facing criticisms over the handling of this investigation. It's turned into a pantomime. I have one suggestion to shout to the chief police investigating officer, Guilhermino da Encarnacao, and that is, "They are behind you!".

UPDATE: "It is unusual for a small child to go missing without a trace - the majority of child abductions involve a family member".

UPDATE: Here.