"Didn't we have a luvverly time, the day we went to..."

"...Bangor Blackpool":

A group of Asian youths (Ed: No, not Chinese or Vietnamese…) taken on a day-trip to Blackpool to avoid becoming embroiled violence at an EDL march ended up knocking a man unconscious in a car park brawl.

Ahhh, yes. This is the story Edwin Greenwood linked to yesterday, and a reader (Paul) sent me via email. Now the 'Mail' has it.

The day-trip cost the public purse £2,113 and saw the group from the Tipton and Oldbury areas of the West Midands accompanied by a police officer and officials from the council.

And if you thought they were there to prevent trouble, think again:

The clash happened after the youths got off their coach and began chanting racist comments at Derek Brownhill, who had just got off a coach parked nearby.

The chants were heard by Mr Brownhill's pregnant partner and two young daughters, as well as a group of elderly people, the court was told.

In the ensuing confrontation Mr Brownhill was punched and hit with such force by Riad Hussain, 19, that both feet left the ground.

Wolverhampton Crown Court was told the blows left unconscious and with bruising and swelling to his face and head.

And while this was happening, where were their guardians? Off for a paddle?

The group then punched Hussain, from Oldbury, in the face to give him a bruise so they could try to claim that his actions were in self defence.

Smart little chaps, aren't they?

At the time of the violence, two of the gang were on bail for a hammer attack in Tipton, West Midlands, that took place three months before the Blackpool incident.

Just the sort of people to take to the seaside on the taxpayer's dime, I think you'll agree.

Judge Amjad Nawaz told them: 'There is nothing more disturbing than to have to sentence a dock full of young people just past their childhood years having engaged in offences of such severity that custodial sentences are inevitable.'

Yes, Amjad, I can see you're all broken up at the thought of it...

But what about these 'escorts'? Why are they not answering for this monumental clusterf**k?

The council said the trip to Blackpool had been organised with the support of police to help reduce tensions and deter teenagers who may have been at risk of getting involved in demonstrations in Dudley on the day.

The cost of the trip was met by the Government's Youth Justice Board.

It said although it had no plans to do anything similar in the future, it would have to consider removing young people from situations in an attempt to prevent them from getting into trouble.

And so once again, we see rewards given to those who threaten violence (and then carry it out regardless!), while those from really deprived areas who might benefit from it are ignored. What message does this send to them?

Derrick Campbell, boss of Race Equality Sandwell, told the Sun: 'I would not say the trip had failed. Its purpose was to keep them away from the march.

'If they got involved in something else in Blackpool, that's another matter.'

Why is a 'public servant' who comments to this effect still in a job?

I mean, I realise that coming from Sandwell, he can't be expected to know what 'success' even looks like, but even so...

But I keep coming back to those escorts. What the hell were they doing while all this was going on?

In addition, there were five youth workers and one police officer, who went on a voluntary basis.

So it's not as if there wasn't enough of them.

Chief Superintendent Mark Robinson, commander for Sandwell Police, said: 'A decision was taken by Safer Sandwell Partnership to take a number of youths away from the area, who had been identified as having the potential to get involved in any disorder that could occur as a result of the demonstrations.

'Whilst we feel that the decision to try and prevent any potential violence among local youths was the right one, clearly the events that followed were hugely disappointing.'

Clearly, the gift for understatement is common throughout Sandwell's public 'services'.