The authorities in the UK are coming round to the idea that the so-called ‘war on drugs’ cannot be won, at least in the forseeable future, and that the traditional law enforcement approach of arrests and seizures has no long term benefit on the situation. The UK Drug Policy Commission, one of those ‘think tanks’, concludes that a policy of …
There is always a choice
The UK Foods Standards Agency wants the manufacturers of cholocate bars to voluntarily reduce the size of their products by one fifth in order to reduce daily calorie intake and help fight what is described as an obesity ‘epidemic’. If they hadn’t noticed, manufacturers have regularly been reducing the size of chocolate bars over the years and without a corresponding …
It won’t be long before ‘special powers’ are no longer ‘special’
Bouncers (or ‘Door Supervisors’), Neighbourhood Wardens and Parking Attendants are the latest group to be given ‘special powers’ by the Home Office in the UK. This will give such individuals the right to patrol streets and hand out on-the-spot fines for such things as drinking in an illegal, disorder, harrassment, flyposting and dog fouling.
Signs of the times
Jeweller Michael Plant believes that his shop has been targeted for the past eighteen months by a group of East European thieves who regularly remove items from his shop without paying for them. Like any law-abiding citizen, he left matters with the local constabulary but, as the raids continued and there were no signs of arrests being made, he decided …
If it works, ban it
The big yellow ‘witness appeal’ sign boards have long been an accepted and sensible way of helping the police to solve crime by appealing for public help, trying to jog memories. So, no wonder they are now being virtually banned in London as the police move away from the traditional crime solving to concentrate on political correctness and the harrassment …
Amazing the jobs on offer at the Job Centre
A UK Job Centre has been advertising for someone to host an Adult TV (Porno, in other words) channel. Requirements for the position include working ‘semi-nude’. The successful applicant will work three days a week, from 9pm until 5am, earn £220 per shift but will have no pension entitlement.
Earth calling
A few weeks ago, a school in the UK banned parents from taking photographs of their children during the school’s Sports Day, quoting ‘health and safety’ concerns for their action. The school authorities were worried that ‘undesirables’, namely paedophiles, would possibly take advantage of the event to photograph the children. Now, a school in Bedfordshire has gone one step further, …
Jellyfish wrestling
In response to a UK Government Green Paper on policing, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) came up with: The promise of reform which the Green Paper heralds holds much for the public and Service alike; local policing, customised to local need with authentic answerability, strengthened accountabilities at force level through reforms to police authorities and HMIC, performance management …
Biggs to die in jail
In a rare, if not unprecedented move, Minister Jack Straw has rejected the advice of the Parole Board and ruled that Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs must stay in jail. The decision has come as a total shock to many people.
Behind closed doors
Ignoring the main story of the day: Coleen unveils her mini Rooney baby bump in a bikini in Barbados it seems that the ever more unpopular and unelected Prime Minister of the UK, Gordon Brown, is facing more criticism, from all sides, after announcing an investigation ‘of unprecedented scope’ into the events leading up to the invasion of Iraq.