An axeman went on the rampage, trashing his neighbours homes and cars before holding the weapon to one woman’s throat.And did they phone the police? Well, what else are you supposed to do?
Residents, living in the street where six houses and ten vehicles were damaged, told how they feared for their lives as the axeman went from home to home as they cowered inside.
Brave resident Dennis Stacey, fed up at the police reponse, confronted the axeman in a bid to get him to stop. His home and van were also later trashed.Take your time, guys. It’s only a nutter with an axe, after all. It’s not someone making racial remarks on Twitter…
Armed police eventually arrived and shot the man with rubber bullets from a baton gun before arresting him.
Update: I know, it's Billericay, not actually Southend but it was in the 'Echo'!
10 comments:
OK Julia I will bite.....
Firstly the length of time for a police response-we only have the witnesses word that it took ages.I know from bitter experience that when you are under attack seconds seem like hours.
Secondly-I don't work anywhere near this area so I have no idea how many police officers there were on duty that day,or what they were dealing with.Nor do you,and neither does the paper.
Thirdly-perhaps police were nearby but were told to hang back until an armed unit attended?Perhaps if the units were all given tasers then they could have dealt without waiting?I can't remember if you are pro or anti us having tasers.Which way is the wind blowing today?
OK chaps that's my tuppence worth on this story.I assume MTG/Ciaran etc will be crawling out from under their rocks to disagree with me.Some of their points might even be relevant!I live in hope.
Police. Nearly as convenient as the improvised bag you can make from two split ones.
Whilst I'll acknowledge all that jaded said is probably true, the real issue is that the tools to allow us, average law-abiding citisens, to defend ourselves have been taken away with the full involvement and assistance of the police.
It's all well and good to say 'arm the police' when, as jaded has pointed out, there aren't enough to be able to be there when you need them. Well why can't we arm ourselves? Oh yes! I forgot, we aren't to be trusted, only police, politicians and celebrities get that option.
Look at the US, with state after state enacting shall-issue concealed carry permits - the crime rates are plummeting. There a frail grandmother could have defended herself against a hulking axe-weilder, here she's dead. But then when did either the politicians or the senior police (notice the specific qualifier jaded ;-) care about us mere citisens?
The police can never be there on time, and that's not a criticism, that's recognition of a reality. The police are there to catch a culprit after the fact (a fact legally acknowledge in the US).
So the real culprits? The judiciary for offering pathetic punishments with no deterrence effect (and probably for letting him out too soon, as it's almost guaranteed he has prior) and the politicians for removing both our right and ability to defend ourselves.
Just my opinion YMMV
Some good points Able but i'm not even sure about police being routinely armed with guns.There's no way the public are going to be allowed,rightly or wrongly, it's not going to happen.
I do think we should get taser and prob will soon.Lots of the counties have them and the world keeps turning.
Regarding my screen-name,well it does sum up my feelings most of the time about my job.
PS I am also a citizen!
Have you noticed how Jaded gnaws at any blog which dares to criticise police? She is to them as Eelworm is to garden bulbs in February.
Rock lifted.
"Perhaps if the units were all given tasers then they could have dealt without waiting?"
I'm pretty sure if a man was waving an axe around, it's be time for REAL GUNS, not taser?
"... the real issue is that the tools to allow us, average law-abiding citisens, to defend ourselves have been taken away with the full involvement and assistance of the police."
THIS! In CAPS!
"I do think we should get taser and prob will soon.Lots of the counties have them and the world keeps turning."
We'll see. I don't think so.
"Regarding my screen-name,well it does sum up my feelings most of the time about my job."
So do yourself a favour.
I use "Jaded" as it's short and catchy.
I was going to use "I work hard but get criticised either way by armchair generals who have no clue what the real world is about", but it's a bit of a mouthful.
And should we get a 'Mumbai' style attack....what are the unarmed cops ad PCSO's going to do about it?
Never mind, there will be much gnashing of teeth, soul-searching and a big report that says whilst it is a terrible tragedy....we won't let terrorists change our way of life. Our way of life being that we are at the mercy of thugs due to an overly liberal elite.
The police are there to assist, but they ain't supermen with magical powers. Join the Special Constabularly and then you can moan at yourself for not responding quickly or adequately enough...!!!
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