A Snapshot of Britain.

[Rhah]

Not really much point to this thread, I just thought I'd share a small portion of the local news in Britain with our multinational contingent. (excuse me if some of this doesnt make sense, I had no sleep last night)

Actually, on second thoughts, I'd be interested in seeing what the national news is in other countries (or States if you are in the US). Basically, pick all the worst news stories that you can find and post them up for a comparison.
Then, we can have a nice "my country is worse than your country" discussion.

Anyway, back to the UK.... the good news is that we don't seem to have had any shootings this weekend.

all of these are taken from the BBC website for England (regional news) , Strangely there don't seem to have been any nasty incidents in Scotland, Wales or N.Ireland.

Youth throws paint over baby boy
A baby boy has been treated in hospital after having paint thrown at him when his father confronted a man who was vandalising his car.
The seven-month-old was being held by his father in Blakedown near Kidderminster, Worcestershire, when a youth threw black paint over them both.

The father had gone outside on Sunday evening to find the youth smashing his car windows in Belbroughton Road.

Staff at Redditch's Alexandra Hospital removed the paint from the boy.

Police said the youth shouted abuse at the man, threw the paint over him and then made off in a dark Audi TT being driven by another youth.

The father's car needs repair work estimated at £200.

Teenager dies after street fight
A teenage boy has died and three others are in hospital with stab wounds after a fight between two groups of youths.
Eugene Attram, 16, of Thornton Heath, was taken to St George's Hospital in Tooting after being stabbed but later died from his injuries.

Police were called to Lavender Avenue, in Mitcham, south London, on Saturday evening.

One man and five male youths were arrested and questioned and later released on police bail.

The three other boys, two aged 14 and the third aged 17, were stabbed but their injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

Two men stabbed in attack on bus
Two young men have been stabbed during an alleged unprovoked attack which started on a bus.
Police said the pair were set upon on the 154 bus by two men in Wallington, south London.

The assault continued on the pavement when the bus pulled over in Mollison Drive about 0130 BST on Saturday.

The men, aged in their 20s, were taken to hospital suffering stab wounds and were later discharged. A third man who was with them at the time was unhurt.

Officers want to trace two suspects, both aged in their 20s, who fled the scene.

Police hunting for tyre throwers
Police are continuing to hunt for yobs who caused a motorway crash by hurling tyres from a bridge on the M5 near the Devon and Somerset border.
Six tyres and a wheel were dropped from the Culmstock bridge as cars travelled underneath on Saturday.

A number of vehicles were forced to swerve and five collided. One person suffered minor injuries.

Pc Ian Hutchings, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said it was a dangerous prank and it could have been very serious.

One of the seven dropped objects was a tyre still on a wheel, police said.

Pc Hutchings said: "It is seriously dangerous. Anything at all that is dropped from a bridge on to a car passing by underneath at 70mph, or even 30mph or 40mph, stands no chance whatsoever.

"And if one those tyres had hit the windscreen, then almost certainly we would have been looking at fatalities."

Police said they believed the people involved had two vehicles with them on the bridge, possibly a 4x4-type of vehicle and a car.

Man may lose sight after attack
A man may lose the sight in one eye after he was beaten up in front of his family by a gang of up to 20 teenagers.
The 50-year-old victim was kicked and beaten unconscious by the youths in what police say was a "nasty and apparently motiveless" attack.

The man suffered facial and head injuries in the attack on Sunday in Hoole, Chester, and may lose the sight in his right eye.

An 18-year-old man is being questioned by Cheshire Constabulary.

Officers have appealed for witnesses to the attack, which happened near the Piper pub at about 2045 GMT.

The attackers were aged between about 15 and 19. One of them had a Staffordshire Bull Terrier with him.

A force spokesman said: "We are appealing for help in tracing the perpetrators of this nasty and apparently motiveless attack on a man in front of members of his own family."

Rule Britannia!

[Stalins Ghost]

Its a shockingly poor picture of Britain really, and I, as a teenager actually find it saddening to see such events happen. What I find even more appalling is the fact that many of our number will try to actually defend teenagers. Take for example Daniel Radcliffe, the actor who plays Harry Potter; he is one of many child celebrities who's trying to actually change peoples minds on what is going on in the adolescent mind.

OK, I know, its not all youths who are like this. Most I know are respectable, but theres a vast number of people my age who do actually revel in such behavior. I am going to apply a stereotype here. Its the townies/chavs, whatever you may call them. I am sorry, but when you encounter a group of 10-15 youths, dressed in the standard chav attire, you do feel intimidated. It doesn't help that they hurl abuse. Sometimes its childish, but it doesn't help their image at all.

There is a problem with much of Britains youth, and no number of Hug a Hoodie campaigns are going to change my opinion of large chunk of my generation.

[Freddie]

Is it really any wonder why we are at this stage? Our country is run by a bunch halfwits so consequently you have no boundaries and no deterrents.

[Shaun]

all of these are taken from the BBC website for England (regional news) , Strangely there don't seem to have been any nasty incidents in Scotland, Wales or N.Ireland.

Hmm, maybe the reason that there hasnt been any nasty incidents reported in your site is because its BBC England :hmmm: ???

Anyway, that dosent put a very good picture on Britian, but I am sure that there are many other countries as bad as us for petty crime like paint and tyre throwing.

[Freddie]

We ought to review the criminal justice system for a start, issues with devoiced parents is also a major factor towards antisocial behaviour, and bring back national services for a year or two might help matter’s.

[Markas]

Here's the headlines of my local rag-

HOAX CALLER SENT TO JAIL

A 'Serial Offender', who made hoax calls claiming he was being threatened by armed men and that his son had been swept out to sea, has been jailed for four months.
Martin john savage, 35, who has 38 convictions for a variey of offences, admitted making the calls in August.
The magistrates heard how, on 13th August, a man calling himself Michael Johnson dialled 999 from a mobile phone and said his son was trapped on the cliffs. Police alerted the Coastguard, who were told the boy was swept out to sea.
No one was found and the cost to the coastguard was put at more than £136.

£136... there goes the annual budget!

[Tom Paine]

We ought to review the criminal justice system for a start, issues with devoiced parents is also a major factor towards antisocial behaviour, and bring back national services for a year or two might help matter’s.

Criminal justice system: which endemic flaw would you seek to deal with? The problem of branding, universities of crime, ASBOs as awards, or what?
Devoiced parents: I'm not sure what you are getting at here, please elucidate.
National service? That really would't help, in the end. That'd drive me to criminality, in the end, and might well do the same to others, in that it would be illegal to refuse. And I would refuse. It doesn't, as far as I can tell, seem to have had any real effect.

[Freddie]

Criminal justice system: which endemic flaw would you seek to deal with? The problem of branding, universities of crime, ASBOs as awards, or what?

What makes you think it only going to deal with one or two issues? The point of a review of the criminal justice system is look at all aspects of how we deal with crime not just the blatant gimmicks that you have pointed out (ASBO'S etc). You can’t cure what's wrong until you know where you're going wrong.

Devoiced parents: I'm not sure what you are getting at here, please elucidate.

Look at home office stats and talk to your local policeman. A lot of young offenders come from broken homes, I'm not saying that the two are inextricably bound but they are closely related. Often what happens the custody of the children often fall to the mother, that mean the father is no longer around and the children no longer have a farther figure to look up to. Another problem is that the father is more often then not the disciplinarian of the family, and with no father to fear children (if not controlled) go of the rails. The point I;m trying to make is that bringing up stwell behaved children is easier with two responsible parents (I’m not talking about the laybout chavs).

National service? That really would't help, in the end. That'd drive me to criminality, in the end, and might well do the same to others, in that it would be illegal to refuse. And I would refuse. It doesn't, as far as I can tell, seem to have had any real effect.

It would drive into crime? So what? Kids are going into crime anyway so we afraid either way. I can't see national servic making things worse. Teaching kids disapline whilst there still young should stand them in good stead for the future.

BTW why do I get the feeling you always pick on me?

[Tom Paine]

What makes you think it only going to deal with one or two issues? The point of a review of the criminal justice system is look at all aspects of how we deal with crime not just the blatant gimmicks that you have pointed out (ASBO'S etc). You can’t cure what's wrong until you know where you're going wrong.

Ah, ambitious! All right, let's have some potential solutions then, if you think you are able to come up with ideas better than the government (not that I doubt that you could, you understand).

Look at home office stats and talk to your local policeman. A lot of young offenders come from broken homes, I'm not saying that the two are inextricably bound but they are closely related. Often what happens the custody of the children often fall to the mother, that mean the father is no longer around and the children no longer have a farther figure to look up to. Another problem is that the father is more often then not the disciplinarian of the family, and with no father to fear children (if not controlled) go of the rails. The point I;m trying to make is that bringing up stwell behaved children is easier with two responsible parents (I’m not talking about the laybout chavs).

Yes, its easier with two parents, but you already make exception for chavs; how about parents who have to work incredibly long hours; or those who are abusive. Equally the father figure is irrelevant, what's missing is a caring parent there enough of the time, really...

It would drive into crime? So what? Kids are going into crime anyway so we afraid either way. I can't see national servic making things worse. Teaching kids disapline whilst there still young should stand them in good stead for the future.

Hardly so; it teaches them how to fight, it teaches them how to act in the army, but when would you apply it? Remember many, many juve offenders are below 16; you'd apply national service while they were in compulsory education? And equally, enforced membership in the army? You really think people wouldn't not turn up? People skive school, and even people who do not might well be tempted into skiving NS.

BTW why do I get the feeling you always pick on me?

I have no idea why you feel that way.

Right, ctc, let's strip away the humane nature of society, let's arm policemen and encourage thugs and criminals who currently are either unarmed or using knives to get guns, let's turn prisons into places where reform is impossible, and self-improvement is impossible, and let's bring back a punishment that the majority of the populace, when asked about its application for specific offences (eg, murder), say shouldn't be brought back, and that prevents any form of appeal in the light of new evidence. An... interesting plan for Britain's "bright new future".

[carl-the-conqueror]

Right, ctc, let's strip away the humane nature of society, let's arm policemen and encourage thugs and criminals who currently are either unarmed or using knives to get guns, let's turn prisons into places where reform is impossible, and self-improvement is impossible, and let's bring back a punishment that the majority of the populace, when asked about its application for specific offences (eg, murder), say shouldn't be brought back, and that prevents any form of appeal in the light of new evidence. An... interesting plan for Britain's "bright new future".[/QUOTE]


or would you rather live in a place, where chavs are aremed with guns, knifes and clubs, where chavs try to get into jail, because its nicer, and dont get reformed anyway, and as for execution, only mass murderers, who have clearly done the most heinous of crimes (like saddam huisein). that would mainly be a showpeice.

and as for the guns, i dont know where you got that from :hmmm: ?

[Freddie]

Ah, ambitious! All right, let's have some potential solutions then, if you think you are able to come up with ideas better than the government (not that I doubt that you could, you understand).


Yes, its easier with two parents, but you already make exception for chavs; how about parents who have to work incredibly long hours; or those who are abusive. Equally the father figure is irrelevant, what's missing is a caring parent there enough of the time, really...

Hardly so; it teaches them how to fight, it teaches them how to act in the army, but when would you apply it? Remember many, many juve offenders are below 16; you'd apply national service while they were in compulsory education? And equally, enforced membership in the army? You really think people wouldn't not turn up? People skive school, and even people who do not might well be tempted into skiving NS.

I have no idea why you feel that way.

On the parent thing we will have to agree to disagree, a father figure is an important part for any child who is growing up.

As for national service I can't see what harm there is in trying. If after 5 years it's not having any effect we can scrap it. It will iether make the bad, bad or turn the bad the good, we having nothing to lose.

[Stalins Ghost]

Hmmm, I somewhat disagree with the point about separated parents. Mine separated when I was 13 and I'm fine!

I do agree that a review of police powers, and possibly even national service are needed.

[the Black Prince]

its easy to focus on the bad news....

from the same page today
Pictures of the London to Brighton Vintage Car Rally
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/6118568.stm
(how typically british LOL)

West End Traffic Free Christmas
Two of the most famous shopping streets in the UK will be traffic-free for the first time to help Christmas shoppers.

Both Oxford Street and Regent Street in London's West End will be free of vehicles on Saturday 2 December. The area attracts about 40 million shoppers over the festive period and the organisers of the day, the West End Company, hope to attract even more. The day has been dubbed West End VIP Day - standing for Very Important Pedestrians. Oxford Street will be closed to traffic from Portman Street to Tottenham Court Road, with Regent Street shut between Margaret Street and Piccadilly Circus. Buses will be diverted.

Redevelopment plans
The idea is part of major plans to draw customers back to London's main shopping areas and challenge competition from increasingly popular out-of-town retail parks. Other plans include the redevelopment of Bond Street and Tottenham Court Road Tube stations and converting Marble Arch into a large public space. More ambitious plans include having a tram link running along Oxford Street.

West End VIP Day runs from 1030 GMT to 1730 GMT.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6119926.stm

Cash grants to Help New Drivers
A council is offering new drivers cash grants towards the cost of extra training behind the wheel.

Pass Plus is an initiative aimed at reducing the number of car crashes involving newly-qualified drivers. A spokesman for Somerset County Council said the six-lesson course run by the Driving Standards Agency would include motorway driving for beginners. Anyone who has passed their test since 1 October is being offered £100 towards the £130 cost of Pass Plus. Hazel Prior-Sankey, of the council, said: "Newly-qualified drivers are more likely to have a collision in the two years after passing their test than at any other time in their life."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/6116222.stm

City to Reveal Cultural Programme

Details of the biggest events that will mark Liverpool's year as the European Capital of Culture are being revealed.

Millions of pounds have been spent on the city since it won the bid for capital status in 2008. About 70 highlights from the extensive programme are expected to be announced, along with a list of performers who will appear during the year. The Liverpool Culture Company will unveil the events in a ceremony at St George's Hall on Monday evening. The announcement is expected to include major art exhibitions, music and performance events.
Organisers promised a year-long festival featuring art, architecture, ballet, comedy, cinema, food, fashion, literature, music, opera, science and theatre when the bid was submitted.

Liverpool was crowned European Capital of Culture on 4 June 2003, beating a host of other major cities. The city also saw off UK competition from Bristol, Birmingham, Cardiff, Newcastle-Gateshead and Oxford. Liverpool's bid placed culture, creative industries and tourism at the heart of its regeneration project for 2008. The renewal of its waterfront, a World Heritage site, and cultural centres like Tate Liverpool strengthened its credentials.
The city is also home to the Film Arts and Creative Centre, FACT, the UK's only exhibition and performance space dedicated to film, video and digital art.

The UK's last City of Culture - Glasgow in 1990 - saw a massive increase in tourism as a result of winning the title. Patras in Greece is the current European Capital of Culture.
# Details of Liverpool's programme will be carried live on BBC Radio Merseyside at 1800 GMT.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/m...de/6120270.stm

There's more to life than bad news
Rule Britannia indeed

[LoZz]

good point black prince

[Carach]

the last story disgusts me (well actually they all do, but the last one most)

seems to be a growing trend in the UK, my friend was assualted by half a dozen teens at a local park for absolutely no reason a few months ago..2 of the people involved in the attack were already on bail for previous offenses, one of which is now in proper jail (he already spent much of his childhood in youth detention centres..)

all this in a pretty suburban 'fantasy land' which supposedly, is a decade behind the times in social structure...

[vikrant]

well here is a strange news re uk ;neither good nor bad

And two thirds of British teenagers are now considered too fat to join the Army, it found - with just 33% of 16-year-old boys meeting the Body Mass Index target of 28 - which has since been raised to 32.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/frontpage/...938441,00.html

[Carach]

well here is a strange news re uk ;neither good nor bad

http://www.guardian.co.uk/frontpage/...938441,00.html

during the Boer war we had similar problems (although, not down to overweight issues heh) - the population of Britain were in a sorry state...wasnt a shortage of volenteers, was a shortage of fit ones though.

Its Americanism gaining strength in Britain's youth. and Americanism is NOT good for the youth. (why our leaders dont just look at the sorry state of affairs in America's youth for an example i have no idea)

[the Black Prince]

i guess it depends where you are from...

Stoke on Trent is hardly a rich idyll of peaceful britain though. the number of staffordshire and british transport police around whenever Stoke City and Port Vale football clubs are playing is evidence of that. in fact, stoke has often been described not just as chav central, but a place that could only be improved by use of a cruise missile.

in other words, not a nice place to be.
and yet
last week, i was involved in a very well publicised protest by gay students against the discriminatory policies of national blood service. a group of young gay people, at a demo, in the heart of stoke. has all the ingredients for a disaster. no problems whatsoever...

the constant news reports of such incidents do nothing to say that crime is on the rise. statistically speaking its not. both Home Office figures based on police reports AND independant crime figures published by the British Crime Survey based on victimisation surveys shows that overall, crime is falling.
as a criminologist, my own opinion is the only think thats really increasing, is not youth crime, is not youth delinquency, but media reporting of it. over the last couple of years, the trend seems to be to sensationalise events that previously wouldn't merit it, to stir up public opinion... with the biggest culprits being the Sun and the Daily Mail.

it goes without saying, such events are deplorable, despicable and attrocious. but, they are not evidence society is falling apart, or that the criminal justice system is failing. they are simply being reported far far more than they ever used to be.

Blair famously said, tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime. he's spectacularly failed to do both. but with an emphasis on ASBOs (Anti-Social Behavior Orders), tougher sentencing, mandatory minimums and criminilisation the government are, in particular, failing to address the causes of youth/teenage crime, and the suggested solutions to it.
i wouldn't go as far as to say we need to "love" our yobbish youths, as Cameron seems to be saying, but he is certainly right in his criticisim that criminilising youth behavior is not the answer, addressing it is. its a long proven criminological fact that a the two main causes of youth crime are boredom and gang association. groups of teens loiter in the streets, doing precisely the things that gain them asbos, or becoming increasing inventive in their search for fun and thrills that they break the law (because lets be honest, law breaking can be exhilarating), and yet youth projects are being closed down through lack of funds, lack of resources and lack of volunteers, the later in particular caused by the fact that anyone with the slightest contact with a child these days is vetted like they are being asked to work for an ultra secret branch of the security services, and subject to intense scrutiny, making people disinclined to volunteer.

leading criminologists in journals, books, and in response to home office consultation papers have been saying the same thing now for decades. and have been ignored for just as long.

britain has the worst youth in europe the BBC recently reported. the governments answer seems to be to lock more of them away (withoutr providing more places in custody to do this!). the stupidity of this approach seems lost on a great many people however.

[Stalins Ghost]

Stoke! The festering heart of... wait, no its not that bad

Its funny to note that everyone tends to think that certain towns gain certain reputations - e.g. Nottingham is the "capital of gun crime in the UK", yet I know two people from Nottingham who say they've never encountered anything. As a once Nottingham resident myself, my Mom apparently used to sell insurance to people back in the days of scraping money together (i.e. student days!) till 11 at night. Hell, thats probably very stupid in the best of cities, but its not something you'd likely do in the UK gun crime capital.

My thoughts are that its certain areas that give cause for bad reputation - like in Reading I know a few spots that you just simply don't venture near. Unless you don't value your life. Really, yob culture is a complex issue, and one that I really don't feel has got any better under the Blairite regime.

[carl-the-conqueror]

the only way too stop this is to allow police officers to carry these



bring back this



and make jails that look like this now



into this



not all this lovey-dovey nonsense.