Police seized three air weapons following complaints from neighbours.
Officers were called to Beresford Road, Southend, at about 2.15pm where some youngsters were shooting the BB guns in a back garden.
They said no offences had been committed, but still seized the weapons.And people wonder why I use the Twittertag #policeoutofcontrol..?
Sgt Rob Axe never thought of that one, did he? Just ignore the legality of the act and confiscate them anyway! I don't know what's worse, the fact that they did it or the fact that, in the comments, so many people seem to think there's nothing wrong with it.
Just as Mud In The Blood predicted, over the tragic death of an off-duty cop attempting to intervene in the Clacton shooting, Gadget's mob can't help themselves, alternately demanding weapons to prevent this ever happening again (ignoring the fact he was off-duty and so wouldn't have been carrying) and hurling invective at the politicians they hate because they express their sympathies (oh, but if they didn't, the shrieking would reach fever-pitch!).
They'd do better to ensure their own actions stand up to scrutiny, if they want to win back the trust of the public and their backing in their Anti-Winsor Crusade.
Because who are more people likely to come into contact with, and so see as the face of British Policing - the courage of a PC Dibell or the swaggering make-it-up-as-you-go-along of these unnamed PCs?
The police have not confiscated anything - they have stolen them, and complaints of theft should be laid. Be sure to include the local Chief Constable and Station Saargeant in the complaint, that normally gees them up.
ReplyDeleteI'd dearly love to know if this was another instance of PCSOs making up the law as they go along.
ReplyDeleteAny whispers?
Robert the Biker is right. It's perfectly leagal to shoot real air guns on your own property, never mind BB guns. I do it all the time.
ReplyDeleteThe cops had no right to confiscate the (toy) guns and should be stood up to.
XX Police seized three air weapons following complaints from neighbours. XX
ReplyDeleteRegardless of whether the police were wrong or right, (In this case they were BANG out of order, from what we have been allowed to read about it), here we see yet again, that the "Stasi informer model" is alive and well, and kicking up a great stink in Britain.
What a pity that uniformity is yet to make a celebrity appearance at this venue. As an occasional reader, I content myself with far less consistency and quality because your blog is free, JuliaM. And shame would fall upon myself, were I to expect something I hadn't paid for.
ReplyDeleteUnless the guns were seized and after they were checked, it was found no offences had taken place. Nothing else makes sense. Unfortunately press reporting is not what it was.
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ReplyDeleteXX blueknight said...
ReplyDeleteUnless the guns were seized and after they were checked, it was found no offences had taken place. XX
Whats to be checked? It does not take some wanker in the firearms department to tell you it's a toy, FFS!
"...complaints of theft should be laid."
ReplyDeleteThey shouldn't NEED to be laid - the police should see this (assuming accurate reporting by the 'Echo') as the PR disaster it is, and order their return.
"I'd dearly love to know if this was another instance of PCSOs making up the law as they go along."
I'm not sure they'd send PCSOs to this sort of thing, would they?
"Whats to be checked? It does not take some wanker in the firearms department to tell you it's a toy, FFS!"
These days, it probably does!
*sigh*
ReplyDeleteAt least they didnt get shot by some over zealous SO19 guy.
ReplyDeleteSo what were the Neighbours actually complaining about? There is not sufficient information in the article and i would believe sloppy journalism is more likely.
ReplyDeleteAs a Police Officer, i would not be concerned about kids palying in their back garden with bb guns. I used to as a kid with an air rifle.
I wouldn't 'seize' them if they weren't doing something wrong. If they were being irresponsible then i would suggest that the parents take them off them. Some Officers would ask the parents to voluntarily hand them over for destruction if they wished which would possibly explain the 'seized'.
It's the usual though. Police turn up and do nothing in this instance and the following week a kid shoots and hits someone in the eye. Then you would be highlighting that 'this' incident happened and the police did nothing...it could have been prevented..etc.
Shame they didn't print exactly why the neighbours complained.
^^Anon plod^^
ReplyDeleteAt a time of few prospects for someone with a single 'O' level in Basket Weaving, was pre-Winsor admission purely fortuitous or simply a last resort?
Left school at 16 with 6 O'levels...back in the day when they meant something. Mates stayed on and ended up going into University. I ended up going into the Forces and had some great adventures and challenges.
ReplyDeleteThen ended up joining the Police because i genuinely wanted to help people. Am not quite that bitter yet but i may end up basket weaving for a living as it will be infinitely better than dealing with some people out there.
Dealt with a 'banker' the other day. He was the epitome of 'success' as some might see, wealthy, big house, affluent, well-educated..etc. Trouble was, he was an absolute arse, smug, arrogant, selfish and thought he had the right to boss his neighbours about.
I will stay a lowly constable awaiting my cuts in pay....i will keep my morals thanks. I don't see the need to denigrate people for what profession they are, rather for who they are as a person.