Police dog bites the 'wrong man'
"A man who escaped uninjured after an attempted shooting in Nottinghamshire was later bitten by a police dog who mistook him for the attacker".
At least Rocky allegedly bit the right man!
A mixture of law, politics, autobiography and humour. Once described as "The Devilish Advocate" (Guardian), I do have the ability to provoke a response. Sometimes it comes from someone who uses a thought process, and sometimes from jerks usually associated with the knee.
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Thursday, May 15, 2008
I can save economy again - Brown
I can save economy again - Brown
"Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said he is the right man to steer the country through difficult economic times".
Errrr? It's the economy stupid. That's the job of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling, or is he just a spare prick at a wedding?
Either Gordon Brown sticks to the job of Prime Minister, or he should stand down and let someone else do the job. He should not be interfering in the jobs of other ministers. We do not want a dictator. And, why have we not yet got a deputy prime minister?
Nicholas Soames banned from driving
Nicholas Soames banned from driving
"Nicholas Soames, the Conservative MP, was banned from driving for two months after being caught riding a quad bike on a public road with no insurance".
I am led to understand that Paul Staines/Guido Fawkes is to appear in court today to be sentenced for his drink driving and driving without insurance charges. I hope Jack Straw has a prison cell ready and waiting for him.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Madeleine McCann: reconstruction may occur
Madeleine McCann: reconstruction may occur
"A reconstruction of the night Madeleine McCann went missing may still go ahead, her parents' Portuguese lawyer has said".
Don't hold your breath for too long.
Bad PR not to go.
"A reconstruction of the night Madeleine McCann went missing may still go ahead, her parents' Portuguese lawyer has said".
Don't hold your breath for too long.
Bad PR not to go.
Blogger in need of laces appeal
No jail term for speeding officer
No jail term for speeding officer
"A lying policeman who invented a bogus car chase to avoid paying a speeding fine has been spared jail".
I'm sorry, but I fail to see how someone who is suffering PTSD can reasonably be expected to serve and protect the public.
I don't think his quick thinking and quick action displays PTSD. However, now he has used that excuse it remains for the internal police inquiry to instantly dismiss him.
McCanns: judge extends secrecy time limit
McCanns: judge extends secrecy time limit
"A Portuguese judge overseeing the Madeleine McCann inquiry has extended judicial secrecy by a further three months, court officials have confirmed".
Let's hope that this pair will soon be laughing on the other side of their face, and from the other side of prison bars. Grrrrrrhhhhh!
Ripper in legal bid for freedom
Ripper in legal bid for freedom
"Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe is aiming to win his freedom by claiming his human rights have been breached, a leading law firm has confirmed".
I think that the BBC headline is misleading. And I think that his lawyer is misusing the Legal Aid fund for pursuing a pointless case. As I understand it, Sutcliffe was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a recommendation that he serve a minimum 30 years. That is the tariff, what part of that does Miss Smarty-Pants, Saimo Chahal, fail to understand? Bindman & Partners have a good reputation, I don't think this case reflects that.
I disagree with Jacqui Smith on two points, dead people do not have human rights, and you don't keep the country safe by pressing for 42 days internment.
I suspect if push came to shove, the State would be more than happy to accommodate Sutcliffe's desire for the maximum sentence he must serve by announcing he will serve natural life.
I do believe that Sutcliffe has human rights and is entitled to them. I do not believe a successful challenge can be mounted in his case under Article 5 of the Convention.
Town swears in first Muslim mayor
Town swears in first Muslim mayor
"The first Muslim mayor in the Humber region will be sworn in on Wednesday".
One of my friends across the Humber Bridge, in Scunthorpe, phoned me up yesterday to tell me how excited she was about going to the swearing in ceremony today. And, phoned me up again today to underline the message.
Meanwhile, not a million miles away, South of Watford, the primitive people of London have voted in a cigar case stealing, red light jumping, buffoon as Lord Mayor.
Drunk father 'forgot about baby'
Drunk father 'forgot about baby'
"A drunken father who abandoned his baby daughter in a sweet shop has been strongly criticised by magistrates".
This case follows on from this case, but still the McCanns are given celebrity status for the far worse crime!
"A drunken father who abandoned his baby daughter in a sweet shop has been strongly criticised by magistrates".
This case follows on from this case, but still the McCanns are given celebrity status for the far worse crime!
American man jailed after daughter fails exam
American man jailed after daughter fails exam
"A father who was ordered by a judge to keep a close eye on his daughter's education has been jailed for six months after she failed a maths exam".
I thought America was the land of the free? This is complete madness. I am almost innumerate and there is no way I could pass a maths exam. As if prisons are not overcrowded as it is, without sending more to prison because of the conduct of others.
"A father who was ordered by a judge to keep a close eye on his daughter's education has been jailed for six months after she failed a maths exam".
I thought America was the land of the free? This is complete madness. I am almost innumerate and there is no way I could pass a maths exam. As if prisons are not overcrowded as it is, without sending more to prison because of the conduct of others.
Thief absconds from open prison then asks to be taken back in
Thief absconds from open prison then asks to be taken back in
I wish the Daily Telegraph would desist from reporting upon people escaping from open prison. For the benefit of the editor of the Daily Telegraph, it's escape from a closed prison and abscond from an open prison. As for cushy prisons, it's a constant worry being on the run, always having to look over your shoulder, so the apparent freedom becomes a kind of prison of one's own making, and I can understand why this chap threw in the towel and handed himself in to the authorities.
I wish the Daily Telegraph would desist from reporting upon people escaping from open prison. For the benefit of the editor of the Daily Telegraph, it's escape from a closed prison and abscond from an open prison. As for cushy prisons, it's a constant worry being on the run, always having to look over your shoulder, so the apparent freedom becomes a kind of prison of one's own making, and I can understand why this chap threw in the towel and handed himself in to the authorities.
'Half of web users' support bloggers' code
'Half of web users' support bloggers' code
"A voluntary code of conduct for bloggers and internet commentators is supported by almost half of all internet users, a survey has claimed".
"The researchers said 46 per cent of web users believe bloggers should agree to a set of guidelines which reflected the laws on defamation, intellectual property rights and incitement".
"A voluntary code of conduct for bloggers and internet commentators is supported by almost half of all internet users, a survey has claimed".
"The researchers said 46 per cent of web users believe bloggers should agree to a set of guidelines which reflected the laws on defamation, intellectual property rights and incitement".
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Death and destruction in the Delta - aftermath of Nargis
Death and destruction in the Delta - aftermath of Nargis
Watch it and weep...
Watch it and weep...
Why don't we let 7 year olds be the judges?
Why don't we let 7 year olds be the judges?
On the one hand we have Gingersnaps 7 year old daughter asking this question: "Why do we kill people who kill people to prove that killing people is wrong?".
On the other hand we have Head of Legal blogging the US Supreme Court decision in Baze v Rees on lethal injection. http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/07-5439.ZS.html
On the one hand we have Gingersnaps 7 year old daughter asking this question: "Why do we kill people who kill people to prove that killing people is wrong?".
On the other hand we have Head of Legal blogging the US Supreme Court decision in Baze v Rees on lethal injection. http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/07-5439.ZS.html
Duchess of Pork joins benefit family life
Duchess of Pork joins benefit family life
"The Duchess of York has spent six months with a family of six who live on benefits for a new ITV1 documentary".
The Duchess of Pork is reported to have said: "I could live in a council house and below the benefit line, of course. Anyone could".
Right, why doesn't the rest of the Royal Family and all those expenses fiddling MPs do what she claims?
Photo: 3As forum.
The survivors' stories leave no doubt: Guantánamo makes us all less safe
The survivors' stories leave no doubt: Guantánamo makes us all less safe
Official accounts reveal with chilling clarity that acts carried out in the name of the war on terror have backfired dreadfully
"Without a presumption of innocence, without charges, representation, trials, or due process of any kind, there is no reliable means of determining whether or not a man is guilty. The abuses at Guantánamo not only deny justice to the inmates, they also deny justice to the world".
Official accounts reveal with chilling clarity that acts carried out in the name of the war on terror have backfired dreadfully
"Without a presumption of innocence, without charges, representation, trials, or due process of any kind, there is no reliable means of determining whether or not a man is guilty. The abuses at Guantánamo not only deny justice to the inmates, they also deny justice to the world".
Driver fined for putting beer's safety before child's
Driver fined for putting beer's safety before child's
"An Australian motorist has been fined for putting a seatbelt around a case of beer instead of a five-year-old passenger.
Police who pulled over the man's sedan on the Ross highway near the outback town of Alice Springs found the child sitting unrestrained in the back of the vehicle with the driver and other adult passengers apparently unconcerned for the child's safety".
Like the McCanns, this driver put drink before child safety...
"An Australian motorist has been fined for putting a seatbelt around a case of beer instead of a five-year-old passenger.
Police who pulled over the man's sedan on the Ross highway near the outback town of Alice Springs found the child sitting unrestrained in the back of the vehicle with the driver and other adult passengers apparently unconcerned for the child's safety".
Like the McCanns, this driver put drink before child safety...
Worcester's newest tourist attraction: a family of peregrines
Worcester's newest tourist attraction: a family of peregrines
"For many years, Worcester did not boast many notable tourist attractions. A porcelain centre and a dusty museum on Elgar were about all that the city's visitor website could muster.
But the arrival of a family of peregrine falcons has changed all that".
Watch the birdie via webcam.
http://www.worcester.gov.uk:8080/peregrine/index.htm
Monday, May 12, 2008
McCanns: Gerry appears to spill the beans; when and where?
McCanns: Gerry appears to spill the beans; when and where?
“Yes, yes, I know,” Gerry says bitterly. “Kate killed her in a frenzy...".
Link
A clue is Nourishing Obscurity and how the blog author sometimes posts apparently invisibly.
UPDATE: I hear Metodo 3 are to hire a famous French detective http://inspectorclouseau.com/images/clouseau.gif
“Yes, yes, I know,” Gerry says bitterly. “Kate killed her in a frenzy...".
Link
A clue is Nourishing Obscurity and how the blog author sometimes posts apparently invisibly.
UPDATE: I hear Metodo 3 are to hire a famous French detective http://inspectorclouseau.com/images/clouseau.gif
McCanns: Laugh or cry - take your pick
McCanns: Laugh or cry - take your pick
The Three Arguidos forum is an excellent site. This thread asks some interesting questions about the odds of events happening or not happening in the McCann case. Some serious and some funny posts.
Photos: Three Arguidos forum
The Three Arguidos forum is an excellent site. This thread asks some interesting questions about the odds of events happening or not happening in the McCann case. Some serious and some funny posts.
Photos: Three Arguidos forum
MI5 instigated torture of British citizens
MI5 instigated torture of British citizens
MI5 arranged for British citizens to be arrested by Pakistani authorities, they were then softened up by torture, followed by questioning by the MI5. In my view, this is the same as MI5 doing the torture themselves. Or to put it another way, this is like the person who pays a hit man to do the killing: both are guilty of murder.
MI5 arranged for British citizens to be arrested by Pakistani authorities, they were then softened up by torture, followed by questioning by the MI5. In my view, this is the same as MI5 doing the torture themselves. Or to put it another way, this is like the person who pays a hit man to do the killing: both are guilty of murder.
McCanns: Are they sick?
McCanns: Are they sick?
I think there is something sick about the McCanns celebrating the so-called 5th birthday of Madeleine. They claim that they are only doing it for the benefit of their 3 year old twins. I think the MSM has to take some of the blame, after all they printed and broadcasted reports of the so-called 4 year old Madeleine after the time she would have been 4 had she still been alive. But for dead people, time stops still. Surely, the twins would have benefitted more if the McCanns had ensured that Madeleine was still alive to celebrate her 5th birthday?
Meanwhile, the McCanns are stating that their appeal for people to ring the Metodo 3 hotline has produced several leads. Clarence the cross-eyed liar is stating that they cannot go into detail. Why not? It has nothing to do with the PJ and the Portuguese secrecy laws. It is just producing trails leading away from the McCanns door.
Last year I ran a poll on my blog, and 73% believed the McCanns to be guilty. According to the FBI, there is a 90% chance that the McCanns are involved in Madeleine's disappearance. Both these statistics are a long way off the 1% which the McCanns claim do not support their innocence.
UN prison holds death-row convicts
UN prison holds death-row convicts
"A state-of-the-art prison, built by the United Nations to hold Afghanistan’s drugs barons, is being used to house ordinary prisoners awaiting execution".
"The decision to move death-row convicts into the new U-10 wing of Policharki prison in Kabul, which has lain empty for 20 months, has caused acute embarrassment to the UK government, which opposes the death penalty and contributed about $2m (€1.3m, £1m) to the scheme".
Hat-Tip to Ball and Chain for alerting me to this story.
"A state-of-the-art prison, built by the United Nations to hold Afghanistan’s drugs barons, is being used to house ordinary prisoners awaiting execution".
"The decision to move death-row convicts into the new U-10 wing of Policharki prison in Kabul, which has lain empty for 20 months, has caused acute embarrassment to the UK government, which opposes the death penalty and contributed about $2m (€1.3m, £1m) to the scheme".
Hat-Tip to Ball and Chain for alerting me to this story.
Mentally ill 'go without food'
Mentally ill 'go without food'
"Almost three-quarters of people with mental health problems run out of money at the end of each week, a study says".
Tell me about it. I recently received a letter from Yorkshire Water informing me that it was applying to the DWP to deduct money I owed them from my benefits. It works out at £7.50 per week. With the bank taking £28 per month in over charges, they are just sending me deeper and deeper into debt.
My understanding was that a charity was paying my water bill via the social services. By the time I found out that it was a one off payment, it was too late and Yorkshire Water presented me with a bill of over £100. At a time when gas and electric had gone up, and heating over Winter meant costs went through the roof, there was no way I could pay.
What makes it worse, is that the DWP made a decision to grant the Yorkshire Water's request without allowing me any say before the decision was reached. I can only appeal against the decision, which I intend to do. In my view, the process falls foul of a Court of Appeal decision in my favour which decided that I was entitled to have an input into the original decision on the principle that it is harder to overturn a decision once made.
And more bad news...
British Gas bills may rise again
"Almost three-quarters of people with mental health problems run out of money at the end of each week, a study says".
Tell me about it. I recently received a letter from Yorkshire Water informing me that it was applying to the DWP to deduct money I owed them from my benefits. It works out at £7.50 per week. With the bank taking £28 per month in over charges, they are just sending me deeper and deeper into debt.
My understanding was that a charity was paying my water bill via the social services. By the time I found out that it was a one off payment, it was too late and Yorkshire Water presented me with a bill of over £100. At a time when gas and electric had gone up, and heating over Winter meant costs went through the roof, there was no way I could pay.
What makes it worse, is that the DWP made a decision to grant the Yorkshire Water's request without allowing me any say before the decision was reached. I can only appeal against the decision, which I intend to do. In my view, the process falls foul of a Court of Appeal decision in my favour which decided that I was entitled to have an input into the original decision on the principle that it is harder to overturn a decision once made.
And more bad news...
British Gas bills may rise again
Addicts who steal may escape jail
Addicts who steal may escape jail
"Burglars and thieves could escape jail if they commit their crimes because of addiction to drink, drugs or gambling, under proposed sentencing guidelines".
The guidelines say: "Many offenders convicted of acquisitive crimes are motivated by an addiction, often to drugs or gambling. This does not mitigate the seriousness of the offence but an offender's dependency may properly influence the type of sentence."
"Burglars and thieves could escape jail if they commit their crimes because of addiction to drink, drugs or gambling, under proposed sentencing guidelines".
The guidelines say: "Many offenders convicted of acquisitive crimes are motivated by an addiction, often to drugs or gambling. This does not mitigate the seriousness of the offence but an offender's dependency may properly influence the type of sentence."
Sunday, May 11, 2008
McCanns: Red Alert - Don't drink and childmind
McCanns: Red Alert - Don't drink and childmind
Don't drink and childmind
Don't drink and childmind
McCanns: Words
McCanns: Words
We're doing some YouTubes on the McCann case.
Private investigations
P.S. That computer glitch is back again. You can see this but I can't.
We're doing some YouTubes on the McCann case.
Private investigations
P.S. That computer glitch is back again. You can see this but I can't.
Beverley Westwood Pasture
Beverley Westwood Pasture
In about half an hour Rocky and I are going here for a long walk, whilst my friend and his friend take part in an annual long distance run over the pasture. My friend's dog Barney will be with Rocky and myself. I have just seen the St John's Ambulance Brigade heading that way, so my friend and his friend should be ok if they need assistance.
I doubt if I will be back until after lunch.
Meanwhile, something is cooking on the McCann front...
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Google your sorry isn't good enough
Google your sorry isn't good enough
I can do everything but view my blog!
Google
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We'll restore your access as quickly as possible, so try again soon. In the meantime, if you suspect that your computer or network has been infected, you might want to run a virus checker or spyware remover to make sure that your systems are free of viruses and other spurious software.
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I can do everything but view my blog!
Error
We're sorry...
... but your query looks similar to automated requests from a computer virus or spyware application. To protect our users, we can't process your request right now.
We'll restore your access as quickly as possible, so try again soon. In the meantime, if you suspect that your computer or network has been infected, you might want to run a virus checker or spyware remover to make sure that your systems are free of viruses and other spurious software.
If you're continually receiving this error, you may be able to resolve the problem by deleting your Google cookie and revisiting Google. For browser-specific instructions, please consult your browser's online support center.
If your entire network is affected, more information is available in the Google Web Search Help Center.
We apologize for the inconvenience, and hope we'll see you again on Google.
Woman in US pregnant with her 18th child
Woman in US pregnant with her 18th child
What's up, haven't they got a TV? Have they never heard of contraception? And, what's with every kids name beginning with the letter "J"? Perhaps the idea is to have one kid for each hole on a golf course, and the bun in the oven when it's delivered will stay in the clubhouse?
Dilemma of conflicting rights
Dilemma of conflicting rights
Rapist murderer had right to be housed
What is wrong about the above headline is at the time he was housed he was not a murderer. But, even if this was the case, the council still has to house someone who is homeless.
What is disturbing about this case, is that the council did not house him somewhere else.
Surely, with a bit more thought the conflicting rights could have been accommodated?
Rapist murderer had right to be housed
What is wrong about the above headline is at the time he was housed he was not a murderer. But, even if this was the case, the council still has to house someone who is homeless.
What is disturbing about this case, is that the council did not house him somewhere else.
Surely, with a bit more thought the conflicting rights could have been accommodated?
Core blimey
Core blimey!
"Mr Hirst said he was tapped on the shoulder by a police community support officer as he walked to the chemist at lunchtime on April 21.
The officer accused him of dropping the core – which Mr Hirst denied – and demanded his name and address".
I hope that Mr Hirst (no relation) sues the police community support officer for assault and battery, at private law, because that is what occurred when he was tapped on the shoulder.
I trust that they have the apple core as evidence? Given that they took Mr Hirst's DNA, if they test the apple core to see if his DNA matches that on the apple core it's case proved. If it doesn't, or they did not collect the apple core as evidence, then the case should be dismissed.
It is advisable to give your name and address to a police officer if he or she asks for it, simply to avoid being arrested and locked up whilst they discover who you are and where you live. However, you still have a right to refuse to give the information and it is not obstructing a police officer to refuse.
In my view, it was excessive to keep Mr Hirst locked up in a cell for 18 hours. Upon arrest, at the police station, he would have had to empty his pockets before being placed in a cell and no doubt the police would have established his identity from the contents, especially if he had a wallet. I suspect that the police were abusing their power to punish Mr Hirst for creating more work for them.
"Mr Hirst said he was tapped on the shoulder by a police community support officer as he walked to the chemist at lunchtime on April 21.
The officer accused him of dropping the core – which Mr Hirst denied – and demanded his name and address".
I hope that Mr Hirst (no relation) sues the police community support officer for assault and battery, at private law, because that is what occurred when he was tapped on the shoulder.
I trust that they have the apple core as evidence? Given that they took Mr Hirst's DNA, if they test the apple core to see if his DNA matches that on the apple core it's case proved. If it doesn't, or they did not collect the apple core as evidence, then the case should be dismissed.
It is advisable to give your name and address to a police officer if he or she asks for it, simply to avoid being arrested and locked up whilst they discover who you are and where you live. However, you still have a right to refuse to give the information and it is not obstructing a police officer to refuse.
In my view, it was excessive to keep Mr Hirst locked up in a cell for 18 hours. Upon arrest, at the police station, he would have had to empty his pockets before being placed in a cell and no doubt the police would have established his identity from the contents, especially if he had a wallet. I suspect that the police were abusing their power to punish Mr Hirst for creating more work for them.
McCanns: The ball's in your court
McCanns: The ball's in your court
Dear Gerry and Kate McCann, Clarence Mitchell, the McCann Camp, and lawyers
Big mistake fighting a war on too many fronts. According to Abraham Lincoln: "You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time".
There has been a lot said in the Mainstream Media and new media (blogs and forums and chat rooms) about Madeleine's disappearance and the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.
Take this quote: "Jill Renwick told GMTV the McCanns were certain that Madeleine has been abducted". I don't dispute what Jill Renwick said. I dispute that the McCanns are certain that Madeleine was abducted. I am claiming that the McCanns are certain that Madeleine was not abducted, and it is an excuse put out by the McCanns. Because they have something to hide, they would say that by way of an explanation for Madeleine's disappearance. However, the explanation is not good enough.
Here's another quote: "They would not let her out of their sight". It's a statement, but it is also just a neighbour's opinion. However, it's not true. The McCanns let all three children out of their sight. It's not my idea of a family holiday to dump the kids in a creche most of the day, but at least they were supervised by responsible adults whilst there. It's the leaving them out of their sight, at night, in Apartment 5A, whilst the McCanns went binge drinking with their friends which concerns me.
I particularly like these two quotes because the second cancels out the first:"...the shutters had been broken open and they had gone into the room and taken Madeleine", and "Mr Hill said that despite the report by a family friend that the shutters to the couple's apartment were broken, there was no sign that anyone had forced their way in while the McCanns ate at the tapas restaurant 200 yards away". I don't want to get into the distance at this stage, save to say that it's not like being in your back garden is it? The main point here is that both Gerry and Kate McCann made false statements in relation to a break-in. True, Clarence Mitchell has since stated that there was no evidence of any break-in. Whilst it is refreshing to hear Clarence Mitchell make a truthful statement, it does not cancel out the lies told by the McCanns. Instead, it raises the question why did the McCanns tell lies? The short answer is, it was an attempt to shift blame for Madeleine's disappearance from the McCanns and to scapegoat a fictitious abductor.
I will leave you with this to be getting on with. I like 'the best form of defence is attack' approach that you have taken. So you won't mind if I adopt the same approach in return? May the best team win. If at any time you wish to raise the white flag, you can email me and I am happy to negotiate the terms of your surrender.
UPDATE 1:
"We need to get people focused on the facts. And what is out there. And there has been far too much innuendo, speculation, myth, rumour and lie" (Gerry McCann), source.
I agree with Gerry McCann (but for different reasons) that we need to get people focused on the facts. For example, it's a fact Madeleine is missing. It is not a fact that Madeleine has been abducted, that is merely a version of events put out by the McCanns. The question which should be put to them is What child abduction? I also agree with Gerry McCann (again for different reasons), and what is out there. The answers are out there, if you look in the right places. Once again I find myself in agreement with what Gerry McCann has said (for reasons he had not intended) And there has been far too much innuendo, speculation, myth, rumour and lie. Whilst he meant from outside the McCann Camp, I mean from within the McCann Camp. For example: "...fuelled by some bizarre behaviour by the Portuguese police and some wildly unsubstantiated reporting by some Portuguese newspapers (happily repeated by some British papers), the hate brigade has had a field day.
Lurking on websites and often hiding behind pseudonyms, these pathetic and cowardly cretins have acted like judge and jury, after first putting the boot in on Kate and Gerry McCann – Kate, especially.
Their casual, callous cruelty and almost-gleeful responses to various developments in this heartbreaking and horrifying human tragedy have been outrageous, breathtaking – and utterly depressing. A little girl is missing, but all some pathetic excuses for human beings want to do is bitch and gloat and goad.
Kate and Gerry McCann don't read the newspapers any more, but their families do and, sometimes, they see what has been posted on the internet by poisoned minds, simple minds and sick minds".
Not the McCanns I know, still it's worth bearing in mind: Man jailed for baby shake death particularly this bit "The court heard he became "frustrated" when left to look after her alone".
(To be continued) No further comments allowed because of the cyber-stalker Shotgun.
Dear Gerry and Kate McCann, Clarence Mitchell, the McCann Camp, and lawyers
Big mistake fighting a war on too many fronts. According to Abraham Lincoln: "You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time".
There has been a lot said in the Mainstream Media and new media (blogs and forums and chat rooms) about Madeleine's disappearance and the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.
Take this quote: "Jill Renwick told GMTV the McCanns were certain that Madeleine has been abducted". I don't dispute what Jill Renwick said. I dispute that the McCanns are certain that Madeleine was abducted. I am claiming that the McCanns are certain that Madeleine was not abducted, and it is an excuse put out by the McCanns. Because they have something to hide, they would say that by way of an explanation for Madeleine's disappearance. However, the explanation is not good enough.
Here's another quote: "They would not let her out of their sight". It's a statement, but it is also just a neighbour's opinion. However, it's not true. The McCanns let all three children out of their sight. It's not my idea of a family holiday to dump the kids in a creche most of the day, but at least they were supervised by responsible adults whilst there. It's the leaving them out of their sight, at night, in Apartment 5A, whilst the McCanns went binge drinking with their friends which concerns me.
I particularly like these two quotes because the second cancels out the first:"...the shutters had been broken open and they had gone into the room and taken Madeleine", and "Mr Hill said that despite the report by a family friend that the shutters to the couple's apartment were broken, there was no sign that anyone had forced their way in while the McCanns ate at the tapas restaurant 200 yards away". I don't want to get into the distance at this stage, save to say that it's not like being in your back garden is it? The main point here is that both Gerry and Kate McCann made false statements in relation to a break-in. True, Clarence Mitchell has since stated that there was no evidence of any break-in. Whilst it is refreshing to hear Clarence Mitchell make a truthful statement, it does not cancel out the lies told by the McCanns. Instead, it raises the question why did the McCanns tell lies? The short answer is, it was an attempt to shift blame for Madeleine's disappearance from the McCanns and to scapegoat a fictitious abductor.
I will leave you with this to be getting on with. I like 'the best form of defence is attack' approach that you have taken. So you won't mind if I adopt the same approach in return? May the best team win. If at any time you wish to raise the white flag, you can email me and I am happy to negotiate the terms of your surrender.
UPDATE 1:
"We need to get people focused on the facts. And what is out there. And there has been far too much innuendo, speculation, myth, rumour and lie" (Gerry McCann), source.
I agree with Gerry McCann (but for different reasons) that we need to get people focused on the facts. For example, it's a fact Madeleine is missing. It is not a fact that Madeleine has been abducted, that is merely a version of events put out by the McCanns. The question which should be put to them is What child abduction? I also agree with Gerry McCann (again for different reasons), and what is out there. The answers are out there, if you look in the right places. Once again I find myself in agreement with what Gerry McCann has said (for reasons he had not intended) And there has been far too much innuendo, speculation, myth, rumour and lie. Whilst he meant from outside the McCann Camp, I mean from within the McCann Camp. For example: "...fuelled by some bizarre behaviour by the Portuguese police and some wildly unsubstantiated reporting by some Portuguese newspapers (happily repeated by some British papers), the hate brigade has had a field day.
Lurking on websites and often hiding behind pseudonyms, these pathetic and cowardly cretins have acted like judge and jury, after first putting the boot in on Kate and Gerry McCann – Kate, especially.
Their casual, callous cruelty and almost-gleeful responses to various developments in this heartbreaking and horrifying human tragedy have been outrageous, breathtaking – and utterly depressing. A little girl is missing, but all some pathetic excuses for human beings want to do is bitch and gloat and goad.
Kate and Gerry McCann don't read the newspapers any more, but their families do and, sometimes, they see what has been posted on the internet by poisoned minds, simple minds and sick minds".
Not the McCanns I know, still it's worth bearing in mind: Man jailed for baby shake death particularly this bit "The court heard he became "frustrated" when left to look after her alone".
(To be continued) No further comments allowed because of the cyber-stalker Shotgun.
Friday, May 09, 2008
Home Office adds insult to injury
Home Office adds insult to injury
"A Filipino man whose wife died after being given an epidural in the arm rather than the spine during childbirth has lost his fight to stay in the UK".
It beggars belief at the insensitivity of the Home Office, first one arm of the state kills his wife, then the other arm of the state has ordered that he should be deported because he has no family life here.
Man escapes being fired by Alan Sugar
Man escapes being fired by Alan Sugar
"A teenage girl gang may have settled a dispute with a schoolmate by blowing up her house with a “purple” liquid bomb researched on the internet, police have said".
Following this Harrow blast, perhaps the gang should target Eton?
McCanns search for media attention: Leave no page unturned
McCanns search for media attention: Leave no page unturned
10.50pm 3 May 2007: "The first call Gerry made on the night of the crime was to Alistair Clark, a good friend from University days and a diplomat close to Gordon Brown. Clark must have immediately contacted people at the highest level".
12.01am 4 May 2007: "Three year-old feared abducted in Portugal
By staff and agencies
Last Updated: 12:01am BST 04/05/2007
A three-year-old British girl has gone missing while on a family holiday in Portugal, the Foreign Office said today.
Portuguese police are investigating the disappearance from a holiday complex in Praia da Luz in the western Algarve.
A Foreign Office spokesman said that he understood the girl's parents had gone to have dinner once their children were asleep last night, but returned to check on them only to find the girl had gone missing.
"They reported it straight away," he said, adding that consular assistance was being offered".
Whilst everybody else was searching for Madeleine, the McCanns were searching for something else, that is, media attention and political interference.
An hour had not even passed since Kate McCann had announced Madeleine missing.
"Were the friends and relatives simply used by the McCanns in order to provide a smokescreen for their real aim - which was to shift attention away from themselves and unleash a typhoon of media comments that would wipe out all opposition to their story?".
Kate/Gerry ring another friend, Jill Renwick, at 07:00am (4 May 2007)
"Jill Renwick, a family friend, told GMTV at 7:45am, on the morning of 04 May, that the distraught parents were certain that Madeline had been abducted...Poor Kate and Gerry don't know where to turn".
I would say that they knew exactly where to turn.
UPDATE: I have since read that the timeline for the Telegraph article is wrong. It has been claimed that the British Embassy in Portugal did not inform the Foreign Office until 12.30am. Still, there was Gerry McCanns phone call to an adviser of Gordon Brown's at 10.50pm.
10.50pm 3 May 2007: "The first call Gerry made on the night of the crime was to Alistair Clark, a good friend from University days and a diplomat close to Gordon Brown. Clark must have immediately contacted people at the highest level".
12.01am 4 May 2007: "Three year-old feared abducted in Portugal
By staff and agencies
Last Updated: 12:01am BST 04/05/2007
A three-year-old British girl has gone missing while on a family holiday in Portugal, the Foreign Office said today.
Portuguese police are investigating the disappearance from a holiday complex in Praia da Luz in the western Algarve.
A Foreign Office spokesman said that he understood the girl's parents had gone to have dinner once their children were asleep last night, but returned to check on them only to find the girl had gone missing.
"They reported it straight away," he said, adding that consular assistance was being offered".
Whilst everybody else was searching for Madeleine, the McCanns were searching for something else, that is, media attention and political interference.
An hour had not even passed since Kate McCann had announced Madeleine missing.
"Were the friends and relatives simply used by the McCanns in order to provide a smokescreen for their real aim - which was to shift attention away from themselves and unleash a typhoon of media comments that would wipe out all opposition to their story?".
Kate/Gerry ring another friend, Jill Renwick, at 07:00am (4 May 2007)
"Jill Renwick, a family friend, told GMTV at 7:45am, on the morning of 04 May, that the distraught parents were certain that Madeline had been abducted...Poor Kate and Gerry don't know where to turn".
I would say that they knew exactly where to turn.
UPDATE: I have since read that the timeline for the Telegraph article is wrong. It has been claimed that the British Embassy in Portugal did not inform the Foreign Office until 12.30am. Still, there was Gerry McCanns phone call to an adviser of Gordon Brown's at 10.50pm.
Prisons watchdog attacks closure
Prisons watchdog attacks closure
The chief prisons inspector has criticised the closure of a unit for teenage offenders which inspectors found was a "beacon of good practice".
If it works, don't fix it.
Judge frees man after sex with 11 year old girl
Judge frees man after sex with 11 year old girl
"A "high-risk" paedophile who groomed and abused an 11-year-old girl on her school lunch break has walked free after a judge said the girl "welcomed sex"".
Notwithstanding that the young girl wanted sex, it was sexual abuse of a minor by an adult. I feel that the sentence passed by this judge was unduly lenient, and that the CPS should appeal for a heavier sentence.
"A "high-risk" paedophile who groomed and abused an 11-year-old girl on her school lunch break has walked free after a judge said the girl "welcomed sex"".
Notwithstanding that the young girl wanted sex, it was sexual abuse of a minor by an adult. I feel that the sentence passed by this judge was unduly lenient, and that the CPS should appeal for a heavier sentence.
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Bedtime stories
Bedtime stories
Of course Iain Dale (who? you might ask) has to have a daily dozen. I only have the one. Well worth a read if you like dying men's last words. White Rabbit and Go Ahead Warden and Murder Me.
Of course Iain Dale (who? you might ask) has to have a daily dozen. I only have the one. Well worth a read if you like dying men's last words. White Rabbit and Go Ahead Warden and Murder Me.
Heatwave
Heatwave
Just been down to the chemist's to pick up my eye drops and take Rocky for a walk. What a belter! Can any of you old codgers remember the Summer of 1976 when it started in May? The prison authorities had to paint the skylights black as the Wings were like ovens inside. We had many a sit down strike on the exercise yard, and even the screws preferred sitting around watching us rather than working. They would bring us all cheap ice creams, lolipops and gallons of orange juice. Prisoners were dropping like flies fainting all over the place. Oh, and there were the flared tempers and a few riots.
The good old days...
Just been down to the chemist's to pick up my eye drops and take Rocky for a walk. What a belter! Can any of you old codgers remember the Summer of 1976 when it started in May? The prison authorities had to paint the skylights black as the Wings were like ovens inside. We had many a sit down strike on the exercise yard, and even the screws preferred sitting around watching us rather than working. They would bring us all cheap ice creams, lolipops and gallons of orange juice. Prisoners were dropping like flies fainting all over the place. Oh, and there were the flared tempers and a few riots.
The good old days...
Thought crime
Thought crime
Mother's porn law campaign ends
"A mother whose daughter was murdered by a man addicted to violent internet porn has completed her fight to have such images banned".
This is more knee-jerk legislation which will only overcrowd the prisons even more and all a person has done is sit at their computer and not even download child porn!
Mother's porn law campaign ends
"A mother whose daughter was murdered by a man addicted to violent internet porn has completed her fight to have such images banned".
This is more knee-jerk legislation which will only overcrowd the prisons even more and all a person has done is sit at their computer and not even download child porn!
MI5 knew about torture, says Guantanamo Briton Binyam Mohamed
MI5 knew about torture, says Guantanamo Briton Binyam Mohamed
"A Guantanamo Bay inmate is demanding that ministers release documents that could free him from the US internment camp.
Binyam Mohamed, 30, claims in High Court documents that British agencies hold material that would show he was tortured while in custody and subjected to extraordinary rendition. His lawyers argue that if he can prove he was tortured they might be able to force the United States authorities to abandon plans to put him on trial before a military commission at Guantanamo Bay".
No surprise there then!
"A Guantanamo Bay inmate is demanding that ministers release documents that could free him from the US internment camp.
Binyam Mohamed, 30, claims in High Court documents that British agencies hold material that would show he was tortured while in custody and subjected to extraordinary rendition. His lawyers argue that if he can prove he was tortured they might be able to force the United States authorities to abandon plans to put him on trial before a military commission at Guantanamo Bay".
No surprise there then!
Me and Mr Jones: is John Hurt the latest Indiana Jones villain?
Me and Mr Jones: is John Hurt the latest Indiana Jones villain?
I never did tell you about the time I went to London to record The Choice for Radio 4, and I was put up at a swank hotel, and was driven about in chauffeured limos. At any rate, the one who was taking me back to Kings Cross to go home turned up at the hotel and there was a case of mistaken identity. He assumed I was John Hurt rather than John Hirst, and was buzzing he said because he was driving someone famous. I would have thought infamous more like. I didn't give any of the others a tip because I could neither afford it and the Beeb were paying any way. But this one, I didn't want to burst his bubble and he was very chuffed at the tenner tip he received. I know I couldn't really afford it, but it was worth it to make his day. I have wondered since whether the real John Hurt is a skinflint or would he have given more than a tenner?
I never did tell you about the time I went to London to record The Choice for Radio 4, and I was put up at a swank hotel, and was driven about in chauffeured limos. At any rate, the one who was taking me back to Kings Cross to go home turned up at the hotel and there was a case of mistaken identity. He assumed I was John Hurt rather than John Hirst, and was buzzing he said because he was driving someone famous. I would have thought infamous more like. I didn't give any of the others a tip because I could neither afford it and the Beeb were paying any way. But this one, I didn't want to burst his bubble and he was very chuffed at the tenner tip he received. I know I couldn't really afford it, but it was worth it to make his day. I have wondered since whether the real John Hurt is a skinflint or would he have given more than a tenner?
Police will harass yobs in new plan to tackle antisocial behaviour
Police will harass yobs in new plan to tackle antisocial behaviour
"Thousands of yobs are to be photographed and videoed in big-brother style police operations to tackle persistent antisocial behaviour, the Home Secretary announced today.
Suspects will be “harassed” by officers visiting them day and night and issued with repeated warnings about their behaviour under the drive to deal with a hard core of offenders who persist with yobbish behaviour on estates".
I'm sorry, but isn't anti-social behaviour by the police unacceptable? And, isn't harassment against the law? So, the police intend to break the law to uphold the law? Wouldn't that make them no better than the alleged offenders? I remember when prison officers thought they were above the law...
"Thousands of yobs are to be photographed and videoed in big-brother style police operations to tackle persistent antisocial behaviour, the Home Secretary announced today.
Suspects will be “harassed” by officers visiting them day and night and issued with repeated warnings about their behaviour under the drive to deal with a hard core of offenders who persist with yobbish behaviour on estates".
I'm sorry, but isn't anti-social behaviour by the police unacceptable? And, isn't harassment against the law? So, the police intend to break the law to uphold the law? Wouldn't that make them no better than the alleged offenders? I remember when prison officers thought they were above the law...
Police officers suspended over beatings video
Police officers suspended over beatings video
"More than a dozen police officers have been taken off the streets of Philadelphia while officials investigate a video showing three men being kicked and beaten after being pulled from their car".
I can't wait for the inquiry or jury to clear them. Or am I being too cynical?
"More than a dozen police officers have been taken off the streets of Philadelphia while officials investigate a video showing three men being kicked and beaten after being pulled from their car".
I can't wait for the inquiry or jury to clear them. Or am I being too cynical?
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
New kid on the blog
New kid on the blog
Ball & Chain
"About Me
lawschoolinmate
Currently detained in Georgetown University Law Center, a facility of approximately 2,000 inmates. The inmates are often driven to work 16+ hours a day for no pay and are constantly verbally demoralized by staff. Contact your local congressman immediately".
His header proclaims "Prison law blawg/blog dealing with anything and everything prisons".
Why don't you pop along there and give him a welcome?
Ball & Chain
"About Me
lawschoolinmate
Currently detained in Georgetown University Law Center, a facility of approximately 2,000 inmates. The inmates are often driven to work 16+ hours a day for no pay and are constantly verbally demoralized by staff. Contact your local congressman immediately".
His header proclaims "Prison law blawg/blog dealing with anything and everything prisons".
Why don't you pop along there and give him a welcome?
Guardian: Prison special
Guardian: Prison special
Today the Guardian is running a Prisons special. Well worth a read. It's about time there was some positive media coverage given all the crap that was flying about last week about cushy prisons.
Gordon Brown sentenced to 12 months
Gordon Brown sentenced to 12 months
55% of Labour voters want Gordon Brown to resign
Perhaps electing Gordon Brown to succeed Tony Blair by way of a written agreement on a beer mat in some restaurant was not such a good idea after all?
Chelsea siege gunman 'was a barrister'
Chelsea siege gunman 'was a barrister'
"A gunman shot dead by police after a five hour stand-off was a practising barrister, it was revealed today.
Mark Saunders, 32, was named locally as the man at the centre of a gun battle in upmarket Markham Square, Chelsea, in West London.
Mr Saunders worked in family law, specialising in the division of property and other assets during divorce. According to QEB Chambers, Mr Saunders is a graduate of Christ Church, Oxford, and was called to the Bar in March 1999".
Judge's son jumping off a bridge, barrister in shoot out with police, is the legal world suddenly going mad?
Judge's son kicks bucket after jumping off a bridge
Judge's son kicks bucket after jumping off a bridge
"In 2000, after a family party, he was jailed for four months for drink driving, his second conviction".
There's hope for Guido yet...
"In 2000, after a family party, he was jailed for four months for drink driving, his second conviction".
There's hope for Guido yet...
Is this a good example of a government that listens?
Is this a good example of a government that listens?
"Cannabis is expected to be reclassified as a class B drug today as ministers prepare to over-rule their own expert drugs panel".
"Cannabis is expected to be reclassified as a class B drug today as ministers prepare to over-rule their own expert drugs panel".
Jolly Roger jolly dee old chap
Jolly Roger jolly dee old chap
Yesterday James Higham of Nourishing Obscurity posted a pirate themed quiz. Therefore, I blame him for the fall out associated with this story. Surely, this is political requiring planning permission for a flag other than a national one?
Yesterday James Higham of Nourishing Obscurity posted a pirate themed quiz. Therefore, I blame him for the fall out associated with this story. Surely, this is political requiring planning permission for a flag other than a national one?
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Housing plan for ex-inmates
Housing plan for ex-inmates
A scheme to re-house ex-offenders in some of Hull's 600 empty council homes has been put forward.
Video link from BBC 1 Look North.
Thanks to Ron for alerting me to this story.
And, £2M to be spent fencing residents in on an estate in an attempt to keep criminals and druggies etc out. Is this the ghetto comes to Britain?
Video link.
A scheme to re-house ex-offenders in some of Hull's 600 empty council homes has been put forward.
Video link from BBC 1 Look North.
Thanks to Ron for alerting me to this story.
And, £2M to be spent fencing residents in on an estate in an attempt to keep criminals and druggies etc out. Is this the ghetto comes to Britain?
Video link.
Location, location, location
Location, location, location
In my experience of prison there are desirable and less desirable cells. A cell with a view is like gold dust. I have had one on the "Threes" in Lewes Prison which had a view over the Sussex Downs, and another in Winchester Prison, in the Segregation Unit, which only looked out to a small yard. On one occasion, I arrived at one prison and had only time to eat 2 may be 3 mouthfuls of lunch before an escort arrived and I was handcuffed and bundled out of the cell and into a waiting van enroute to another prison.
Drug dealer refuses to leave his 'comfy' cell
This report describes a judge hopping mad because a prisoner preferred to stay in his cell rather than appear before him. I suspect that his appearance would entail his going to Lewes Prison perhaps a week early to attend the hearing and having done so wait in Lewes Prison afterwards until his transfer back was organised by some private contractor. Meanwhile it is unlikely the cell would have been kept vacant for him, so not only would he lose whatever by the court imposed confiscation order but his most precious cell as well.
The judge displayed his ignorance of the law firstly by not knowing that a person does not have to appear before him, and secondly by claiming incorrectly that it is as a result of human rights rules that the prisoner refused to appear. Whilst a production order may compel a prisoner to attend the court confines it does not extend to forcing him to appear before the court. The prisoner chose to exercise his right and let his legal representative deal with the court appearance.
Whilst I found the news report amusing, I was sickened by many of the comments attached to the article in Have Your Say.
In my experience of prison there are desirable and less desirable cells. A cell with a view is like gold dust. I have had one on the "Threes" in Lewes Prison which had a view over the Sussex Downs, and another in Winchester Prison, in the Segregation Unit, which only looked out to a small yard. On one occasion, I arrived at one prison and had only time to eat 2 may be 3 mouthfuls of lunch before an escort arrived and I was handcuffed and bundled out of the cell and into a waiting van enroute to another prison.
Drug dealer refuses to leave his 'comfy' cell
This report describes a judge hopping mad because a prisoner preferred to stay in his cell rather than appear before him. I suspect that his appearance would entail his going to Lewes Prison perhaps a week early to attend the hearing and having done so wait in Lewes Prison afterwards until his transfer back was organised by some private contractor. Meanwhile it is unlikely the cell would have been kept vacant for him, so not only would he lose whatever by the court imposed confiscation order but his most precious cell as well.
The judge displayed his ignorance of the law firstly by not knowing that a person does not have to appear before him, and secondly by claiming incorrectly that it is as a result of human rights rules that the prisoner refused to appear. Whilst a production order may compel a prisoner to attend the court confines it does not extend to forcing him to appear before the court. The prisoner chose to exercise his right and let his legal representative deal with the court appearance.
Whilst I found the news report amusing, I was sickened by many of the comments attached to the article in Have Your Say.
MPs say give us back the money we stole from you
MPs say give us back the money we stole from you
Still on the crime does pay theme, our poor MPs who are paid over £60,000 per year plus expenses, that's over a £1,000 per week, now want a £15,000 - £20,000 pay rise to claw back the expenses money they have been prevented from stealing from the public purse. Given that Gordon Brown personally intervened to prevent prisoners from receiving a pay rise of £1.50 per week, to increase their pocket money from £4.00 to £5.50 per week, I am livid at the cheek of MPs.
Still on the crime does pay theme, our poor MPs who are paid over £60,000 per year plus expenses, that's over a £1,000 per week, now want a £15,000 - £20,000 pay rise to claw back the expenses money they have been prevented from stealing from the public purse. Given that Gordon Brown personally intervened to prevent prisoners from receiving a pay rise of £1.50 per week, to increase their pocket money from £4.00 to £5.50 per week, I am livid at the cheek of MPs.
Crime it seems does pay
Crime it seems does pay
There is something absurd about a case where the State freezes the assets of a convicted criminal said to be worth £4.5M, so that he cannot pay his legal costs and has to rely upon State funded Legal Aid. However, because the State has cut funding of Legal Aid to such an extent it is not worth a barrister's while to represent clients and they refuse to accept briefs. In this case, the judge accepted the man could not have a fair trial and dismissed the case.
There is something absurd about a case where the State freezes the assets of a convicted criminal said to be worth £4.5M, so that he cannot pay his legal costs and has to rely upon State funded Legal Aid. However, because the State has cut funding of Legal Aid to such an extent it is not worth a barrister's while to represent clients and they refuse to accept briefs. In this case, the judge accepted the man could not have a fair trial and dismissed the case.
McCanns: If you were guilty of killing your daughter and sought to evade justice would you assist the police investigation by taking part in a reconst
McCanns: If you were guilty of killing your daughter and sought to evade justice would you assist the police investigation by taking part in a reconstruction?
At approximately 10pm, at Praia Da Luz, Portugal, on 3 May 2007, Kate McCann announced publicly that her daughter, 3 year old Madeleine, was missing.
At 11.40pm, Gerry McCann phoned his sister Trish in Scotland claiming that Madeleine had been abducted, and claimed that the window in the bedroom and shutters were jemmied open.
On 4 May 2007, The Independent reports that the manager of the Ocean Club, John Hill, "said that despite the report by a family friend that the shutters to the couple's apartment were broken, there was no sign that anyone had forced their way in while the McCanns ate at the tapas restaurant 200 yards away".
The report continues: "He said detectives had not found a forced entry into the apartment but said the shutters had been slid up and the bedroom window opened since the McCanns left".
On 18 October 2007, Ch4 in the Dispatches series aired the documentary 'Searching For Madeleine'. In that documentary, it was effectively proved that there was no way anybody could break into the apartment and leave no forensic trace or damage to the lightweight aluminium shutters, which are covered with a fine coating of polyurethane paint which marks extremely easily.
They also tested the thumb prints, that showed up under the red dust of the forensic fingerprint powder, and proved the prints came from somebody moving the shutter from inside the apartment.
Again, Prof Dave Barclay said: "We must be very careful that we're not saying this is actually staging but it's difficult to see how anybody could have interefered with those shutters, from outside, without leaving some trace. In fact, having looked at them, I think it's almost impossible".
Madeleine is still missing. However, the evidence did not support the McCanns claim of a break-in. "Clarence Mitchell's statement about the McCanns reversal of their 'break in' story, came one week after Dispatches aired the documentary 'Searching For Madeleine' on 18 October 2007". I think this is what's called a damage limitation exercise. McCann family reverse story over break-in 'evidence'.
Originally, the McCanns were convinced that there had been a break-in. From the outset, the McCanns were convinced their daughter had been abducted. The McCannsfiles states that the Times article is particularly interesting because "It again highlights, despite a number of other possibilities, the McCanns immediate insistance that Madeleine had been kidnapped".
The McCanns claimed that they knew Madeleine had been abducted because of the break-in. Evidence takes away the fake break-in. However, the McCanns still claimed that the abduction took place. Now they offer this revised explanation: "Speaking to RTE's 'Prime Time', Clarence Mitchell said she could "easily" have been kidnapped by an abductor who did not leave the trail of a break-in".
And what does Clarence Mitchell base this new claim on? "I'm not going into the detail, but I can say that Kate and Gerry are firmly of the view that somebody got into the apartment and took Madeleine out the window as their means of escape, and to do that they did not necessarily have to tamper with anything. They got out of the window fairly easily".
But, wasn't it Kate and Gerry who were firmly of the view that there had been a break-in? And, they firmly held that view until it was disproved by evidence. Originally, the McCanns claimed that the apartment was locked. This claim requires a break-in to explain the claim of abduction. Then the McCanns changed their story and claimed that they had left the apartment unlocked. This then allows the claimed abductor to get easy access into the apartment, and to leave just as easily.
I would have thought if you take the break-in out of the frame you also take the abductor out of the frame? What you do have in the frame is the McCanns lie about the fake break-in. Also in the frame is the original lie that they left the apartment locked. The third lie is the claim that the McCanns thought it was safe to leave a 3 year old child and 2 year old twins for hours on end without supervision. This lie is exposed if you Google the question "Is it safe to leave children under 4 years unsupervised?". None of the entries state it is a safe practice. The McCanns claim that if they had thought for one minute that it was not safe they would not have left their children in this position. It took me less than one minute to discover it is not safe via the internet. How can the McCanns legitimately claim otherwise? The answer is they cannot. Their excuse does not stand up to scrutiny. The McCanns claimed that they left the apartment door unlocked in case of fire. This indicates an element of risk. On that ground alone they should not have left their children unsupervised. I would have thought that if there had been a prowling paedophile, an unlocked door is an open invitation? The children were not safe to be left unsupervised. I did note during the last interview with the McCanns when asked about criticisms about leaving their children unsupervised Kate McCann struggled to offer an explanation but the words would not come out and she was left speechless.
It is understandable that the McCanns fled back to Britain rather than face the tough questioning of the PJ. It is also understandable why the McCanns fear returning to Portugal when a reconstruction would assist cracking the case. If you were guilty of killing your daughter and sought to evade justice would you assist the police investigation?
UPDATE: McCanns keen for Madeleine reconstruction
Is this the McCanns idea of a sick joke? Which one of them will be the producer and which one the director? Gerry and Kate, we are not playing Deal Or No Deal here. You are both suspects for good reason.
At approximately 10pm, at Praia Da Luz, Portugal, on 3 May 2007, Kate McCann announced publicly that her daughter, 3 year old Madeleine, was missing.
At 11.40pm, Gerry McCann phoned his sister Trish in Scotland claiming that Madeleine had been abducted, and claimed that the window in the bedroom and shutters were jemmied open.
On 4 May 2007, The Independent reports that the manager of the Ocean Club, John Hill, "said that despite the report by a family friend that the shutters to the couple's apartment were broken, there was no sign that anyone had forced their way in while the McCanns ate at the tapas restaurant 200 yards away".
The report continues: "He said detectives had not found a forced entry into the apartment but said the shutters had been slid up and the bedroom window opened since the McCanns left".
On 18 October 2007, Ch4 in the Dispatches series aired the documentary 'Searching For Madeleine'. In that documentary, it was effectively proved that there was no way anybody could break into the apartment and leave no forensic trace or damage to the lightweight aluminium shutters, which are covered with a fine coating of polyurethane paint which marks extremely easily.
They also tested the thumb prints, that showed up under the red dust of the forensic fingerprint powder, and proved the prints came from somebody moving the shutter from inside the apartment.
Again, Prof Dave Barclay said: "We must be very careful that we're not saying this is actually staging but it's difficult to see how anybody could have interefered with those shutters, from outside, without leaving some trace. In fact, having looked at them, I think it's almost impossible".
Madeleine is still missing. However, the evidence did not support the McCanns claim of a break-in. "Clarence Mitchell's statement about the McCanns reversal of their 'break in' story, came one week after Dispatches aired the documentary 'Searching For Madeleine' on 18 October 2007". I think this is what's called a damage limitation exercise. McCann family reverse story over break-in 'evidence'.
Originally, the McCanns were convinced that there had been a break-in. From the outset, the McCanns were convinced their daughter had been abducted. The McCannsfiles states that the Times article is particularly interesting because "It again highlights, despite a number of other possibilities, the McCanns immediate insistance that Madeleine had been kidnapped".
The McCanns claimed that they knew Madeleine had been abducted because of the break-in. Evidence takes away the fake break-in. However, the McCanns still claimed that the abduction took place. Now they offer this revised explanation: "Speaking to RTE's 'Prime Time', Clarence Mitchell said she could "easily" have been kidnapped by an abductor who did not leave the trail of a break-in".
And what does Clarence Mitchell base this new claim on? "I'm not going into the detail, but I can say that Kate and Gerry are firmly of the view that somebody got into the apartment and took Madeleine out the window as their means of escape, and to do that they did not necessarily have to tamper with anything. They got out of the window fairly easily".
But, wasn't it Kate and Gerry who were firmly of the view that there had been a break-in? And, they firmly held that view until it was disproved by evidence. Originally, the McCanns claimed that the apartment was locked. This claim requires a break-in to explain the claim of abduction. Then the McCanns changed their story and claimed that they had left the apartment unlocked. This then allows the claimed abductor to get easy access into the apartment, and to leave just as easily.
I would have thought if you take the break-in out of the frame you also take the abductor out of the frame? What you do have in the frame is the McCanns lie about the fake break-in. Also in the frame is the original lie that they left the apartment locked. The third lie is the claim that the McCanns thought it was safe to leave a 3 year old child and 2 year old twins for hours on end without supervision. This lie is exposed if you Google the question "Is it safe to leave children under 4 years unsupervised?". None of the entries state it is a safe practice. The McCanns claim that if they had thought for one minute that it was not safe they would not have left their children in this position. It took me less than one minute to discover it is not safe via the internet. How can the McCanns legitimately claim otherwise? The answer is they cannot. Their excuse does not stand up to scrutiny. The McCanns claimed that they left the apartment door unlocked in case of fire. This indicates an element of risk. On that ground alone they should not have left their children unsupervised. I would have thought that if there had been a prowling paedophile, an unlocked door is an open invitation? The children were not safe to be left unsupervised. I did note during the last interview with the McCanns when asked about criticisms about leaving their children unsupervised Kate McCann struggled to offer an explanation but the words would not come out and she was left speechless.
It is understandable that the McCanns fled back to Britain rather than face the tough questioning of the PJ. It is also understandable why the McCanns fear returning to Portugal when a reconstruction would assist cracking the case. If you were guilty of killing your daughter and sought to evade justice would you assist the police investigation?
UPDATE: McCanns keen for Madeleine reconstruction
Is this the McCanns idea of a sick joke? Which one of them will be the producer and which one the director? Gerry and Kate, we are not playing Deal Or No Deal here. You are both suspects for good reason.
Monday, May 05, 2008
Swans nesting
Swans nesting
It's a beautiful day in May and Rocky and I went for a walk to the large park at the end of Beresford Avenue off Beverley road (A1079). I noticed that the swans had built their nest and Mrs Swan was sat on 10 eggs. I decided to shoot this video but I did not expect it to come out as well as it did because I could not see the mobile phone screen for the brightness of the sun.
It's a beautiful day in May and Rocky and I went for a walk to the large park at the end of Beresford Avenue off Beverley road (A1079). I noticed that the swans had built their nest and Mrs Swan was sat on 10 eggs. I decided to shoot this video but I did not expect it to come out as well as it did because I could not see the mobile phone screen for the brightness of the sun.
Panorama: Entertainment for dummies
Panorama: Entertainment for dummies
Last week it was being claimed that prisons were too cushy that prisoners did not want to escape.
This week they are claiming that prisons are too cushy and prisoners are escaping.
Do you get the feeling that somebody is shit stirring?
Violent criminals 'escaping from open prisons'
"Hundreds of dangerous offenders, including murderers, are being sent to low security open prisons to ease jail over-crowding and then escaping, a television documentary will claim".
Criminals convicted of violent offences tend to go to prison. This does not mean that they continue to be violent once in prison. Part of the reintegration into society for prisoners usually involves their being sent to a resettlement prison, which is what open prisons now tend to be called. They tend to be risk assessed and generally speaking dangerous offenders will not be transferred to resettlement prisons. Legally, prisoners do not escape from open prisons. Escape involves a breach of security, those walking out of an open prison merely breach trust therefore they are absconders and not escapees.
All this just goes to show that the BBC has dumbed down Panorama. It used to be a factual programme. Didn't somebody at the BBC question what agenda NAPO and POA are trying to push through?
Last week it was being claimed that prisons were too cushy that prisoners did not want to escape.
This week they are claiming that prisons are too cushy and prisoners are escaping.
Do you get the feeling that somebody is shit stirring?
Violent criminals 'escaping from open prisons'
"Hundreds of dangerous offenders, including murderers, are being sent to low security open prisons to ease jail over-crowding and then escaping, a television documentary will claim".
Criminals convicted of violent offences tend to go to prison. This does not mean that they continue to be violent once in prison. Part of the reintegration into society for prisoners usually involves their being sent to a resettlement prison, which is what open prisons now tend to be called. They tend to be risk assessed and generally speaking dangerous offenders will not be transferred to resettlement prisons. Legally, prisoners do not escape from open prisons. Escape involves a breach of security, those walking out of an open prison merely breach trust therefore they are absconders and not escapees.
All this just goes to show that the BBC has dumbed down Panorama. It used to be a factual programme. Didn't somebody at the BBC question what agenda NAPO and POA are trying to push through?
Drunk holiday couple face child neglect charges
Drunk holiday couple face child neglect charges
"A British couple on holiday in the Algarve face neglect charges after an alleged all-day drinking session left them in hospital and their three young children in care".
Compare and contrast the authorities action in this case with the inaction in the McCanns case.
"A British couple on holiday in the Algarve face neglect charges after an alleged all-day drinking session left them in hospital and their three young children in care".
Compare and contrast the authorities action in this case with the inaction in the McCanns case.
Sunday, May 04, 2008
Petty fraudster was informant in botched Forest Gate raid
Petty fraudster was informant in botched Forest Gate raid
"Scotland Yard's botched anti-terrorist operation in Forest Gate, east London, which led to the shooting of an innocent Muslim man, was based on the word of petty criminal serving a sentence for dishonesty offences unconnected to terrorism".
"Scotland Yard's botched anti-terrorist operation in Forest Gate, east London, which led to the shooting of an innocent Muslim man, was based on the word of petty criminal serving a sentence for dishonesty offences unconnected to terrorism".
Saturday, May 03, 2008
McCanns: What's another year?
McCanns: What's another year?
The McCanns are celebrating the anniversary of 1 year of evading responsibility and justice. As the Daily Telegraph points out, the McCanns claim that Madeleine was abducted between 9.15pm and 10pm 1 year ago. And that's it, it remains just a claim without any basis in fact.
I suspect that the findmadeleinefund will pay for this: "Mr McCann’s brother John and other relatives are travelling to Praia da Luz on the couple’s behalf, and will attend a vigil in the Algarve town’s Church of Our Lady of Light".
The only illumination I am interested in is the McCanns shedding light on what really happened to Madeleine in Apartment 5A on May 3 2007.
McCanns show their true colours
Lights, camera, action, the McCanns turn on the fake grief and fake emotions, forget the camera is still running, oh what a jolly time...
Disabled woman fined for permit slip-up
Disabled woman fined for permit slip-up
"A traffic warden issued a £35 ticket to an 82-year-old sufferer of Parkinson's disease, who was asleep in a car, because her disabled parking badge was upside down.
The car was legally parked in a disabled parking bay when Jean Raine felt unwell and took a rest.
While she was sleeping a parking warden noticed that her disabled parking disc was the wrong way up but rather than wake her to explain he simply stuck the penalty notice on her windscreen".
WTF? No discretion. No compassion. No common sense.
"A traffic warden issued a £35 ticket to an 82-year-old sufferer of Parkinson's disease, who was asleep in a car, because her disabled parking badge was upside down.
The car was legally parked in a disabled parking bay when Jean Raine felt unwell and took a rest.
While she was sleeping a parking warden noticed that her disabled parking disc was the wrong way up but rather than wake her to explain he simply stuck the penalty notice on her windscreen".
WTF? No discretion. No compassion. No common sense.
Friday, May 02, 2008
Chinese build secret nuclear submarine base
Chinese build secret nuclear submarine base
"China has secretly built a major underground nuclear submarine base that could threaten Asian countries and challenge American power in the region, it can be disclosed".
click image to enlargeAnalysis: China's nuclear secret exposed
Does China pose a threat to global security?
From my archives: Chink in America's suit of armour.
Prison staff walkout
Prison staff walkout
"Staff at six prisons in Yorkshire walked out in a row over the handling of staff disciplinary procedures".
Video link to the story here.
"Staff at six prisons in Yorkshire walked out in a row over the handling of staff disciplinary procedures".
Video link to the story here.
Hull flood of support for LibDems
Hull flood of support for LibDems
I woke up late this morning undecided if I was going to bother to vote. Nevertherless, I dug out my polling card and put it in my jacket breast pocket before I went out with the dog for a walk. I intended to pass by the street where the polling station is situated. I did but I forgot about it as I went about my shopping.
In the afternoon I took the dog for another walk and went to the polling station. I was minded to vote for Labour. However, I didn't recognise the name of the Labour candidate and his address was down past the city centre miles away, I did recognise the name of the LibDem candidate and his address is just a few streets away.
Admittedly, Carl Minns the LibDem leader of the council had lied about the amount of houses damaged by the flood from 16,000 to 10,000 to 6,000. Still, I don't have much to gripe about with the council. This is a local and not a national issue. I voted for the LibDems.
It was my vote that won it - as the Sun would say. The LibDems gained +5 seats and they only needed to win 1 to gain control of the council again after they lost it on account of a couple of defections.
I woke up late this morning undecided if I was going to bother to vote. Nevertherless, I dug out my polling card and put it in my jacket breast pocket before I went out with the dog for a walk. I intended to pass by the street where the polling station is situated. I did but I forgot about it as I went about my shopping.
In the afternoon I took the dog for another walk and went to the polling station. I was minded to vote for Labour. However, I didn't recognise the name of the Labour candidate and his address was down past the city centre miles away, I did recognise the name of the LibDem candidate and his address is just a few streets away.
Admittedly, Carl Minns the LibDem leader of the council had lied about the amount of houses damaged by the flood from 16,000 to 10,000 to 6,000. Still, I don't have much to gripe about with the council. This is a local and not a national issue. I voted for the LibDems.
It was my vote that won it - as the Sun would say. The LibDems gained +5 seats and they only needed to win 1 to gain control of the council again after they lost it on account of a couple of defections.
Thursday, May 01, 2008
The McCanns and Clarence Mitchell declare war on bloggers and forums
The McCanns and Clarence Mitchell declare war on bloggers and forums
Video Clarence Mitchell attacks forums and chatrooms.
Muslim claim sparks prison review
Muslim claim sparks prison review
Female prison officers will be stopped from being present when male inmates are strip-searched, after a Muslim prisoner said he had been degraded.
The inmate told the newspaper Muslim News in March he felt degraded, oppressed and provoked on a daily basis at Whitemoor Prison, Cambridgeshire.
The man said he was forced to strip in front of a female officer, which the Ministry of Justice has admitted.
It said it has reviewed procedures to ensure the incident is not repeated.
Ahmed Versi, editor of Muslim News, said the prisoner who wrote to the newspaper withdrew himself and refused to interact with the staff because he felt degraded.
Mr Versi said: "He said this was one of the many things he wanted to complain about, but this for him was the most degrading.
"I think it's a lack of understanding, but he did try to explain these are sensitivities that he had to consider."
In a statement, the Ministry of Justice said: "In a recent isolated incident at Whitemoor Prison, a female officer observed part of a full search of a Muslim prisoner.
"Following the incident a local review of search procedures was conducted to ensure that the situation would not arise in future."
Female prison officers will be stopped from being present when male inmates are strip-searched, after a Muslim prisoner said he had been degraded.
The inmate told the newspaper Muslim News in March he felt degraded, oppressed and provoked on a daily basis at Whitemoor Prison, Cambridgeshire.
The man said he was forced to strip in front of a female officer, which the Ministry of Justice has admitted.
It said it has reviewed procedures to ensure the incident is not repeated.
Ahmed Versi, editor of Muslim News, said the prisoner who wrote to the newspaper withdrew himself and refused to interact with the staff because he felt degraded.
Mr Versi said: "He said this was one of the many things he wanted to complain about, but this for him was the most degrading.
"I think it's a lack of understanding, but he did try to explain these are sensitivities that he had to consider."
In a statement, the Ministry of Justice said: "In a recent isolated incident at Whitemoor Prison, a female officer observed part of a full search of a Muslim prisoner.
"Following the incident a local review of search procedures was conducted to ensure that the situation would not arise in future."
Dirty Mac brigade or the circus clown?
Dirty Mac brigade or the circus clown?
South of Watford there is a contest going on. I cannot help but think that Ken Livingstone in this photo reminds me of the Dirty Mac brigade who used to frequent pornography shops in Soho in the 1960s. And Boris the Buffoon is looking for a job as a clown in a circus.
South of Watford there is a contest going on. I cannot help but think that Ken Livingstone in this photo reminds me of the Dirty Mac brigade who used to frequent pornography shops in Soho in the 1960s. And Boris the Buffoon is looking for a job as a clown in a circus.
Kate McCann is angry with bloggers: I am angry with ITV
Kate McCann is angry with bloggers: I am angry with ITV
I made the right decision last night to watch Traffic Cops and The Apprentice on BBC 1 rather than watch Madeleine, One Year On: Campaign For Change on ITV, which I taped to watch at 10 O' Clock. Unfortunately I missed the News At Ten special, which I am led to understand featured even more of the McCanns, if 2 hours of them wasn't enough to make you sick!
I find it distasteful that Gerry and Kate McCann who are prime suspects in the disappearance of their 3 year old daughter, Madeleine, are trying to preach to the rest of us how an Amber Alert system Europe-wide could assist in cases of child abduction. I don't doubt that such a system might be beneficial, it has appeared to be successful in the USA. However, in Madeleine's case she was not abducted. True, Madeleine is missing. Her disappearance is something the Portuguese police are investigating. No sooner were the McCanns made suspects than they fled Portugal, on police bail, on the next available Easy Jet flight. A flight from justice. I feel that the police should have imposed bail conditions and made them surrender their passports. Then if they fled the country at least they would have been treated as fugitives rather than allowed to have 2 hours of prime-time TV to air their propaganda. I think 1 hour would have been enough to hear what they had to say in their defence. Unfortunately, there was nobody to ask them tough questions. It was not balanced, the McCanns had an easy ride. They got a fairer deal from ITV 1 year on than the pair of them gave Madeleine on the evening of 3rd May 2007.
I don't know exactly what happened on that fateful day, but I do know that both of the McCanns have told several lies and that their stories which they keep changing do not stand up under scrutiny. It is an inescapable fact that these so-called responsible, professional, adults left their 3 year old and 2 year old twins without any adult supervision whilst they went out on evenings binge drinking with their so-called responsible, professional, friends. That is bad enough, child neglect and/or child abandonment is a crime in both this country and Portugal. We know that Madeleine was crying for ages the evening before at being left Home Alone. Gerry and Kate McCann were more interested in drinking and socialising with their friends than to care for their children. Since when has going down the road to the pub been like watching your children in the garden?
The fake break-in arranged by the McCanns failed to fool the police. If somebody had genuinely abducted Madeleine, as the McCanns falsely claim, why stage the fake break-in? Obviously, the McCanns sought to cover something up. The McCanns did not seek to cover up the disappearance of Madeleine, very few will not know that Madeleine is missing. What the McCanns are accused of is why is Madeleine missing. If it was simply a case of accidental death, why didn't the McCanns just report it to the relevant authorities? Did they fear what an autopsy would reveal, and decided to rob the coroner of a body? Did they fear losing their reputations? Who stands to gain the most out of this crime? Certainly, the McCanns have the most to gain from any cover up.
I believe their initial stories and desire to seek media attention was to distract attention from Madeleine being the victim to them being the victims of a bogus abductor. Then when Gerry McCann learnt that £10,000 had been raised by staff and patients at his hospital, the realisation came that if this went national and international how much more could be made. The McCanns have profited out of Madeleine's death.
I can understand why the McCanns are angry with bloggers and forums. What I cannot understand is why ITV gave them a platform. Will they next be giving Ian Huntley 2 hours of airtime?
I made the right decision last night to watch Traffic Cops and The Apprentice on BBC 1 rather than watch Madeleine, One Year On: Campaign For Change on ITV, which I taped to watch at 10 O' Clock. Unfortunately I missed the News At Ten special, which I am led to understand featured even more of the McCanns, if 2 hours of them wasn't enough to make you sick!
I find it distasteful that Gerry and Kate McCann who are prime suspects in the disappearance of their 3 year old daughter, Madeleine, are trying to preach to the rest of us how an Amber Alert system Europe-wide could assist in cases of child abduction. I don't doubt that such a system might be beneficial, it has appeared to be successful in the USA. However, in Madeleine's case she was not abducted. True, Madeleine is missing. Her disappearance is something the Portuguese police are investigating. No sooner were the McCanns made suspects than they fled Portugal, on police bail, on the next available Easy Jet flight. A flight from justice. I feel that the police should have imposed bail conditions and made them surrender their passports. Then if they fled the country at least they would have been treated as fugitives rather than allowed to have 2 hours of prime-time TV to air their propaganda. I think 1 hour would have been enough to hear what they had to say in their defence. Unfortunately, there was nobody to ask them tough questions. It was not balanced, the McCanns had an easy ride. They got a fairer deal from ITV 1 year on than the pair of them gave Madeleine on the evening of 3rd May 2007.
I don't know exactly what happened on that fateful day, but I do know that both of the McCanns have told several lies and that their stories which they keep changing do not stand up under scrutiny. It is an inescapable fact that these so-called responsible, professional, adults left their 3 year old and 2 year old twins without any adult supervision whilst they went out on evenings binge drinking with their so-called responsible, professional, friends. That is bad enough, child neglect and/or child abandonment is a crime in both this country and Portugal. We know that Madeleine was crying for ages the evening before at being left Home Alone. Gerry and Kate McCann were more interested in drinking and socialising with their friends than to care for their children. Since when has going down the road to the pub been like watching your children in the garden?
The fake break-in arranged by the McCanns failed to fool the police. If somebody had genuinely abducted Madeleine, as the McCanns falsely claim, why stage the fake break-in? Obviously, the McCanns sought to cover something up. The McCanns did not seek to cover up the disappearance of Madeleine, very few will not know that Madeleine is missing. What the McCanns are accused of is why is Madeleine missing. If it was simply a case of accidental death, why didn't the McCanns just report it to the relevant authorities? Did they fear what an autopsy would reveal, and decided to rob the coroner of a body? Did they fear losing their reputations? Who stands to gain the most out of this crime? Certainly, the McCanns have the most to gain from any cover up.
I believe their initial stories and desire to seek media attention was to distract attention from Madeleine being the victim to them being the victims of a bogus abductor. Then when Gerry McCann learnt that £10,000 had been raised by staff and patients at his hospital, the realisation came that if this went national and international how much more could be made. The McCanns have profited out of Madeleine's death.
I can understand why the McCanns are angry with bloggers and forums. What I cannot understand is why ITV gave them a platform. Will they next be giving Ian Huntley 2 hours of airtime?
150 bail hostels are being built in secret
150 bail hostels are being built in secret
I don't know what is secret about it all, I read about this on the Prison Service website and Clearsprings website and blogged it here.
I don't know what is secret about it all, I read about this on the Prison Service website and Clearsprings website and blogged it here.
Crime doesn't pay
Crime doesn't pay
By Erwin James
Gordon Brown talks about the responsibilities of prisoners, but in refusing to increase their measly allowance, he's shirking his own
Well done Gordon Brown for stepping in to ensure that people in prison are denied any chance of the "pay rise" that had been recommended by senior Prison Service managers. After all, as one of the prison officer's leaders told us last week, life in prison is so good none of the lags want to escape.
What with Sky television in their cells, free telephones, and every morning a slap-up full English breakfast in bed, how dare anybody consider rewarding these miscreants with an extra £1.50 a week (the bulk of which no doubt would have been spent on even more indulgences from the prison luxury items shop)? As the prime minister told the Today programme: "There have got to be rights. But there have also got to be responsibilities, and it's the responsibilities of prisoners that I'm interested in."
Quite right too. The rise, had it gone ahead, would have taken the average amount of money made available to prisoners who work from £4.00 per week to £5.50 per week. Unemployed prisoners would have received £4.00 instead of the current £2.50. Thankfully, thanks to Brown's intervention, the nation's prisoner population will remain in penury for the forseeable future. Good enough.
Actually it is not good enough. The prime minister's decision to personally veto the rise in prisoner allowances, (for the pitiable amount of money that people in prison receive from the prison authorities could never seriously be called "pay") - was cheap and childish. This would have been the first increase in prisoner monies in 10 years.
Brown was clearly influenced by the hysterical rantings of Prison Officers' Association spokesman Glyn Travis last week, (in case anyone missed it, it was he who revealed to the world at large that prisoners were now enjoying the "cushy" life and did not want to escape, though how Travis would know what the reality of prison life is from the point of view of a prisoner is a mystery.) Brown justified his decision by saying that prisoners had to have "responsibilities." But I think he is missing the point here. Putting the onus on prisoners to demonstrate "responsibility" while the state shies away from meeting its own responsibilities to those it incarcerates just breeds resentment and antipathy.
We want prisoners to work and to show willing. But if we are not prepared to reward their efforts how can we truly expect them to want to engage with the system?
On the outside, you do a day's work and you get a day's pay. Responsibility is shared by employer and employee. On the inside, if you have a job, you do around six to eight hours work in a day and you receive less than two pounds and perhaps as little as a pound. Now how on earth does such a situation encourage any kind of "responsibility"?
In truth, all paying a pittance encourages is skiving, ducking and diving. Brown says he will review the money given to prisoners as part of their "contract" for good behaviour.
In other words, if they behave well and prove they are worthy of it, they may indeed receive their measly extra £1.50 per week. Now I know that Brown is struggling in the popularity stakes - but hammering the nation's already battered and bruised prisoner population in order to glean back a point or two in the opinion polls was about as mean-spirited as it gets.
By Erwin James
Gordon Brown talks about the responsibilities of prisoners, but in refusing to increase their measly allowance, he's shirking his own
Well done Gordon Brown for stepping in to ensure that people in prison are denied any chance of the "pay rise" that had been recommended by senior Prison Service managers. After all, as one of the prison officer's leaders told us last week, life in prison is so good none of the lags want to escape.
What with Sky television in their cells, free telephones, and every morning a slap-up full English breakfast in bed, how dare anybody consider rewarding these miscreants with an extra £1.50 a week (the bulk of which no doubt would have been spent on even more indulgences from the prison luxury items shop)? As the prime minister told the Today programme: "There have got to be rights. But there have also got to be responsibilities, and it's the responsibilities of prisoners that I'm interested in."
Quite right too. The rise, had it gone ahead, would have taken the average amount of money made available to prisoners who work from £4.00 per week to £5.50 per week. Unemployed prisoners would have received £4.00 instead of the current £2.50. Thankfully, thanks to Brown's intervention, the nation's prisoner population will remain in penury for the forseeable future. Good enough.
Actually it is not good enough. The prime minister's decision to personally veto the rise in prisoner allowances, (for the pitiable amount of money that people in prison receive from the prison authorities could never seriously be called "pay") - was cheap and childish. This would have been the first increase in prisoner monies in 10 years.
Brown was clearly influenced by the hysterical rantings of Prison Officers' Association spokesman Glyn Travis last week, (in case anyone missed it, it was he who revealed to the world at large that prisoners were now enjoying the "cushy" life and did not want to escape, though how Travis would know what the reality of prison life is from the point of view of a prisoner is a mystery.) Brown justified his decision by saying that prisoners had to have "responsibilities." But I think he is missing the point here. Putting the onus on prisoners to demonstrate "responsibility" while the state shies away from meeting its own responsibilities to those it incarcerates just breeds resentment and antipathy.
We want prisoners to work and to show willing. But if we are not prepared to reward their efforts how can we truly expect them to want to engage with the system?
On the outside, you do a day's work and you get a day's pay. Responsibility is shared by employer and employee. On the inside, if you have a job, you do around six to eight hours work in a day and you receive less than two pounds and perhaps as little as a pound. Now how on earth does such a situation encourage any kind of "responsibility"?
In truth, all paying a pittance encourages is skiving, ducking and diving. Brown says he will review the money given to prisoners as part of their "contract" for good behaviour.
In other words, if they behave well and prove they are worthy of it, they may indeed receive their measly extra £1.50 per week. Now I know that Brown is struggling in the popularity stakes - but hammering the nation's already battered and bruised prisoner population in order to glean back a point or two in the opinion polls was about as mean-spirited as it gets.
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