2019's VirtueSignalling Olympics - The Competition Hots Up!

Refugees were left with tales to tell after a walk on the wild side in Hay-on-Wye.

The Hay Theatre Group ensured the visitors enjoyed their trip to the border town's primary school when they put on a play.

There was also face-painting and craft workshops for the guests at the event organised by the Hay, Brecon and Talgarth Sanctuary for Refugees (HBTSR).

I wonder if this is a regular occurrence. Do they normally do this sort of thing for lonely pensioners or families caring for the disabled?

Supporters and the local community were again on hand to provide food and essentials, and visitors left with a boot-load of food and toiletries not only for themselves but also for the other refugees and asylum seekers served by Unity in Diversity and Swansea Asylum Seekers Support groups.

More fakecharities, no doubt!

One of the refugees said he was so amazed by the beauty of the countryside and the warm welcome received that, if it were possible in the future, he would move to Hay.

If they do, one wonders how long it will be before the Hereford Times has more vibrant and diverse news stories to report on than bingo, birdwatching and artisan bakeries...

H/T:@Fahrenheit211 via Gab

No, It's Not The Police Who Failed...

In the six years before Ms Gazzard's death, Maslin was arrested 23 times for a variety of offences, including domestic violence, criminal damage, possession of Class A drugs and theft.

He was also involved in 24 violent incidents - three involving Ms Gazzard, 12 involving one former partner, two involving another ex, three involving his mother and four against other unconnected people.

Police apologised after a homicide review revealed that numerous agencies knew about his violent history but didn't share information.

And would it have made the slightest bit of difference if they had? Because I think the answer's 'No'...

Many of his victims routinely refused to support action against him and this may have masked the number and the seriousness of his harassment, threats and violence towards them.

As long as some women are attracted to these types, like moths to an open flame, this will go on and on and on.

He Ran A What...?

*boggle*

My Geography Lessons Were Wrong...

...they taught me Africa was a lot further away than that!

Sunday Funnies...

Clearly, the US Postal Service was a great fan of 'Fahrenheit 451'...

Getting A Foot In The Door...

Sat in a studio at London College of Fashion, surrounded by faceless mannequins, bent coat-hangers and ripped fabric, Ammar Alsaker grins indefatigably as he recounts his journey from his home of Damascus to these most unlikely of surroundings.

He has a lot to grin about.

After enduring three years of conflict in Syria, he fled Damascus alone for London, a journey that took nine months and saw him negotiate with people-smugglers, pass through Lebanon, Turkey, Greece, Belgium, Spain and Scotland, and earn thousands of euro as a translator for the world’s media – all as a teenager.

How heartwarming. If you ignore the fact that he was breaking immigration laws.

Once he was granted refugee status, he continued to strive to realise his dreams, applying to universities and repeatedly turning up at Topshop HQ to demand the attention of its most senior executives so that he might land a role with the retailer.

Now 23, in the second year of his bachelor’s degree and working for Topshop, he is focused on his next challenge – to persuade the UK government to relax restrictive rules so he can reunite with his family – including the two-year-old brother he has never met.

I don't understand, what's stopping him? Have we confiscated his passport?

Alsaker hopes sharing his story might challenge negative stereotypes of asylum seekers and refugees and win support for calls to change immigration rules that only allow adult refugees to apply for their spouses or children under 18 to join them.

Ah. Silly me. He doesn't want to visit them. He wants them to come here. Permanently.

“Some might say ‘well, not all refugees have vision and goals,’” he says. “I just want to say that at the end of the day we are not copies of each other, we are different. People like me came here to be productive and benefit this country.”

By first breaking immigration laws, then demanding that we change our laws to benefit you. So we can get the fashion designers we clearly desperately need in the UK.

I don't see much benefit in that deal for me. Does anyone else?

Do You Have A Good View Up There On That Cross, Cressida?

“The events of that day stay with one; I think about it quite often,” she said. “It was a traumatic period. It was an awful time for so many people, obviously and most of all Jean Charles’s family, the people who were there when it happened, the firearms officers, the surveillance officers,” said Dick, the first woman to be appointed as commissioner of the Metropolitan police.

She added: “I was very conscious it was a hundred million times worse for other people than it was for me, but I was very high profile, quite rightly held to account.”

She was, of course, never once 'held to account'. In fact, the IPCC were specifically instructed not to hold her to account.

In a highly unusual move, the judge, Mr Justice Henriques, allowed the jury to insert a rider, or caveat, into the verdict stating that Cressida Dick, the commander in charge of the operation on the day, should not be held personally culpable for the events.

And that scuppered any chance of anyone else being held to account.

The IPCC said it had considered whether Dick was responsible for planning or management failures that led to the force's conviction, but found the jury's rider "unequivocal".

A spokesman said: "The IPCC cannot foresee any circumstances in which new evidence might emerge which would cause any disciplinary tribunal to disregard the jury's rider.

"The responsibilities of DAC Dick and Silver, Trojan 84 and Trojan 80 were intertwined. The IPCC cannot see how any disciplinary tribunal could conclude that although no personal blame is attached to DAC Dick, it could attach to the other three officers."

Her breathtaking arrogance isn't confined just to that, either.

During the interview, Dick, the first openly gay person to head the Met, said her sexuality was probably the “least interesting” aspect of her and that she was conscious of the fact she may make people view the force in a more progressive light.

Oh, they view the force in a very different light than they used to, you can be sure of that!

Mind How You Go, Sir!

Police sent a letter to a man reminding him to stick to the speed limit this year, despite the fact he is dead.

/facepalm

His daughter, Ruby Whitworth, posted an image of the letter on Twitter and said: “Thanks for your concern but you don’t need to worry about Stephen speeding anymore, he’s dead.”

Sussex Police responded, commenting on her post. A spokesman said: “Hi Ruby, we’d like to offer our sincerest condolences.

“This initiative was intended to keep the roads of Sussex as safe as possible.

“However, we fully realise in some cases this was inappropriate and we apologise for any distress caused by our letter.”

There must have been a few squeaky bums in Sussex Police HQ! Luckily for them, the relatives weren't about to demand their compo.

Ruby saw the funny side of the situation. She said: “Thank you, that’s very kind.

“Unlike some people, my mum and I found it hilarious.

“If he was alive it would have been completely appropriate for him.”

Others disagreed that warning people not to commit motoring offences by mailshot is ever appropriate, and as a taxpayer, I'd have to agree.

Dennis Hammond also took to social media to voice his opinion, tagging Sussex Police. He said: “With regards to your letter encouraging me to keep to the speed limit this year. Two things of note.

“One, you have not known me long enough to call me Dennis.

“Two, you have spelt licence wrong.”

ROFL!

Oh No, Whatever Will We Do?

Dv8 Sussex in Queen Square, Brighton, was given the lowest possible grade by inspectors in November.

College boss Dan Wallman said the report “triggered a process” whereby it has been immediately suspended from taking any more students.

He is now appealing for exstudents (sic) to come forward in support of the college to save it from collapse.

What sort of students?

Mr Wallman said: “We have a long track record of supporting some of the city’s most vulnerable young people to engage and achieve through creative education.

“If Dv8 were not to deliver in Sussex next year, there would be around 200 students having to find an alternative college in September to meet their needs.

“We do not feel that there is any like-for-like provision locally that offers something similar.”

Hmmm. What sort of courses?

Dv8 Sussex provides free training in music, fashion, digital media, event management and games development.

Meh! Future candidates for the 'B Ark'. It can go to the wall.

I Wonder Why They Are 'That Brazen'..?

PCSO Jude Parr, of the Pembrokeshire Rural Crime Team, said: “People have reported dogs as going missing, some of them have been quite odd circumstances.”

Shockingly, an attempt to steal a whippet in south Pembrokeshire was made while the owners were actually at home.

“We had a call south of the county last week where they actually had their dog, a male leaning over a gate had got a choker lead which he noosed the dog.”

Fortunately, that attempt failed, thanks to the quick-thinking owners and a well-trained dog.

“They [the owners] did a whistle and the dog, which was highly trained, got loose and the male ran off; that has raised concerns again that there is a market for dogs.

“They were in their own property and at home; how quick did that happen?

“If they are that brazen, we need to raise concerns.”

Could it possibly be that they are from a demographic which knows only too well that they are untouchable?