Why Are You 'Shocked', David Potts?

Today David Potts, leader of the Conservative group on South Tyneside Council, who led the efforts to have the travellers removed from the site, said he was shocked by the shooting.

'We hear about these things happening in London and our major cities, but this is an otherwise quiet and peaceful village.

Well, yes. I'm sure it used to be.

But then, in 2007, you had a group take over the land, clear all the trees (tree preservation order regardless), set up fencing and ignore an enforcement notice to move on. Then an inspector at a public inquiry in 2008 granted permission for the travellers to remain on the site until March 2011.

Tell me, David, if they can blithly ignore planning and local authority law and face no consequences, why should they obey any of our other laws?