"Where were you when the world stopped turning?"

I'll certainly never forget...

Let's Spin The Wheel Of Racism...

....and it's....wait for it...

...water supplies! 

No, no, not in Africa (where there must be a standpipe on every square mile of bush by now). Would you believe, the US?

The overwhelming majority of people – more than 150,000 – in the predominantly Black city have now lost access to safe running water. The situation has raised questions about the impact of underinvestment since white families abandoned the city en masse.

See, if only the whites would stay (and pay for everything), it'd be OK! 

Activists say race may be a factor.

Of course they do... 

“At the root of this crisis is systemic racism, and the local and state governments’ intentional negligence to redirect infrastructure funds that could have helped solve this issue years ago,” said the group Black Voters Matter on Thursday.

Maybe ask why the white population has emigrated to other states en masse instead? Nah. That might prompt awkward answers... 

Between 1980 and 2000, Jackson changed from a majority-white population to a majority-black population. Thousands of white people left the city in the decades after the US supreme court forced public schools and facilities to desegregate, gutting Jackson’s tax base and reducing investment in infrastructure.

But don't worry! If that state's population refuses to pay, the whole of the US will pay instead! 

The Mississippi governor, Tate Reeves, on Tuesday sent a request to Joe Biden for federal assistance to deal with the problem. Biden soon after approved a measure to have the emergency response arm of the federal government step in and provide assistance. The US government will pay for 75% of the costs of dealing with and fixing the water treatment problem for the next 90 days.

The US government doesn't have any money, of course. The bill for this will be presented to the long-suffering US taxpayer instead. 

The involvement of the state and federal governments has led to optimism that the issues will finally be addressed.

Really? I'm pretty sure Ronald Reagan had some words of wisdom to suit this situation, didn't he? 

There Will Be No Accountability Until Heads Roll...

Claire did not know what to do, to say, to think. What she does remember was that the police officers were kind.

One of them assured her that, whatever else she was facing, she need not worry about the legal process.

‘He said a man had tried to do a U-turn and gone straight into David. It was a clear-cut case of dangerous driving and there were witnesses. Justice would be done.

‘At least that was one thing I did not have to worry about.’

But you were wrong. He might have been kind, but the rest of his farce weren't. 

At Cambridge Crown Court, pensioner William Curtis, 88, was found guilty of causing death by careless driving.

No, I know what you're thinking - 'But the police did their jobs! Why are you complaining?'  

It was no thanks to Bedfordshire Police. Despite the assurances of that first officer, the force initially refused to bring charges against Curtis, suggesting to Claire that her husband had been partly to blame for the accident. This was simply not true, and was indeed challenged by the coroner at David’s inquest.

Claire, now 68, has spent the past four years challenging officers, all the way up to and including Chief Constable Garry Forsyth, and enlisting the help of her local MP.

Why? Laziness? No. Corruption. What else can you call this?

Claire discovered that the pensioner the police seemed unwilling to blame was the grandfather of a civilian police employee.

And incredibly, lying to the real victim.  

I remember asking them, tongue-in-cheek, if the old man was related, because I couldn’t see another explanation. I was told: “No, no, absolutely not.”

‘But he was, and it was subsequently confirmed that his granddaughter had emailed officers working on the case for information, and her husband had sat in on his interview.’

How are they not facing more than simply public opprobium in a national newspaper?

 I thought you chaps were interested in this sort of thing..?

The Chief Constable’s statement on the sorry affair acknowledges that Claire succeeded where his officers had failed.

‘The failings in the investigation . . . undoubtedly compounded the pain, suffering and grief that Mr Fudge’s wife and family have had to endure since his death, and I am genuinely sorry,’ he said.

‘If it had not been for their relentless campaigning there is real potential this would have slipped by and justice would have been missed. I’m so pleased that didn’t happen. We have reimbursed the cost of their private investigation, which played a key role in the matter being re-opened.’

You pay back the money and think that's the end of it? What about those officers who handled the case? 

Yet no one has been disciplined for the police failings. Claire says one of the officers involved has been promoted. Given that this whole case was about accountability, that rankles.

As you would expect.  

H/T: SadButMadLad via Twitter 

"Once, Twice, Three Times A Failure..."

....but don't worry, Commodores, medals for all, anyway!

'If the police had done their duty, we wouldn't be here today and I wouldn't have been stabbed.

'They should've been on his door in seconds.

'They waited once, twice, three times and still they did nothing.'

Even the jury looked askance at this blatent failure: 

In an extraordinary move, the jury at Hove Trial Centre wrote to the judge after convicting Bhatti to express their concerns about the police response and investigation.

Judge Henson QC said she shared their concerns and added: 'These are concerns which need to be addressed by the police and what lessons can be learned going forward.'

So, cops, what lessons did you learn? 

Chief Superintendent Howard Hodges said: 'This was an unprovoked and vicious attack on two members of the public in the street and we commend them for supporting this investigation and for their bravery.

'Two unarmed officers in separate vehicles were first on scene....

Oh, well, if they were unarmed what could the public expect them to do? They were unarmed, after all. Right? I mean, the Chief Super said so... 

...and maintained sight of the individual while awaiting firearms officers to arrive, in line with national College of Policing guidance.

'However, as the risk of immediate danger increased, the two officers on scene moved to detain the man themselves with the use of Tasers.'

Oooh, looks like he lied. They weren't unarmed after all!  

PC Ryan Oakley and Sergeant James Arrol-Barker were the first officers on the scene. In recognition of their bravery, the two officers were named as the South East regional winners of the 2022 Police Federation Bravery Awards for their actions in detaining the armed suspect.

A nice gesture would be for them to hand those awards publically to those members of the public who tackled the nutter. And an even nicer gesture would be for Priti Patel to announce an investigation into why a Chief Super is lying to the press. 

From The 'No Shit, Sherlock!' Archives...

Wow, that taxpayer money spent on supercomputers was well spent, wasn't it?

Research found that summer-like weather patterns will also lead to warmer and drier autumns from the mid-2020s.

The same 'research' that told us all to plant Mediterranean gardens five years ago, before the wettest summer we ever had? 

H/T: IanJ via email

Thanks For The Service, Ma'am...

We will never see your like again. And England is all the poorer for it..

Reunited at last...

Why Did Anyone Bother Enhancing The DDA..?

“I have been told there were people sat on the dog and trying to get it off Izzy. The dog had its jaws locked on mum’s dog and there was no getting it off until a lad who was washing a car got his jet wash hose onto the dog and then it let go.”

William was told Izzy had been taken to the vets. When he arrived he found his mother covered in the blood of their family pet and told their pet had died as a result of the attack.

And did the police act? Reader, you know the answer, don't you? 

He said: “We were told it was not a criminal offence what happened to Izzy. The dog had got hold of mum's dog and its jaw had locked and now we are waiting to hear from the police.”

The neighbours aren't happy, as well they might not be: 

A neighbour who saw Izzy’s owner on the floor grief stricken is worried for other animals and children on the street. The neighbour has claimed this is not the first time the animal has bitten other dogs.

Julie Chandler, 58 from Hardwicke said: “I am an animal lover and I do not want to think of an animal being put down but I am aware the dog has bitten other dogs before and we are concerned for children in the area. I know there has been a petition raised because there is a dangerous dog living on our street.”

What do the lazy incompetents in blue serge have to say for themselves this time? 

A Gloucestershire Police spokesperson said: “The man in charge of the dog was issued with an interim Dog Behavioural Contract pending possible court proceedings in relation to the dog being dangerously out of control. Any court proceedings would be in line with the Jack Russell owner’s wishes and the circumstances mean it would be on the basis of a civil complaint under section 2 of the Dogs Act 1871.”

1871..?!? Aren't you aware it's now 2022 and the DDA was specifically beefed up because the police whined they needed stronger powers? 

Doesn't anyone in any of the farces have to know the law anymore? 

The Animal Isn't Seen On Camera...

...oh wait, I was wrong, here it is:

After speaking to bosses at the delivery company, Mrs Ferraby has praised them for acting so quickly and sacking the driver the next day.

Good, let's hope every other delivery company has this image up on its wall to ensure this creature doesn't get hired by them. 

A spokesperson from Evri said: 'We have apologised to Mrs Ferraby and provided a gesture of goodwill.

'This was highly unacceptable behaviour and we can confirm the courier will no longer deliver on behalf of Evri.'

Let's hope he's named and shamed by the public. 

Rewatchable TV September: Firefly

Another sadly short-run show, Joss Whedon's 'Firefly' was a revelation. Space cowboys? Civil war references? Libertarians in space? What are they smoking in Hollywood? 

But stellar casting, an awesome blend of gritty realism and stunning visuals, a haunting theme and tight scripting made it a surprise hit, though not with short-sighted studio executives or tv schedulers, who did their level best to shoot it in both legs before it had even got off the starting blocks.

 

If you've never tried it, or it's glorious 'sequel', the big-screen 'Serenity', now's the time.

Hey, You're Right, In A Way...

Last night, amid all the politics, there was some other news. Armed cops ventilated a chap who'd lead them on a chase in Stretham. 

And the BBC news reports were filled with the usual suspects bewailing the actions and demanding 'justice' for a man 'about to be a father'. Although as is often the case, 'had sired a child' is far more accurate a description of his domestic affairs.

And in one sense, this moron is right. Because, just like Mark Duggan, it quickly transpired that this 'so funny, super-kind, always happy' chap is....just another criminal: 

Not that that will matter to the usual suspects as they start to rabble-rouse - I expect there'll be the usual 'march for justice' when the rain stops.

H/T: Herb Brubanter via Twitter