Tweet Of The Month

Another bumper crop (summer always seems to provide one):

 

Post Title Of The Month

Bucko on the media's favourite phrase...

Quote Of The Month

Tim Worstall takes the 'Guardian' to task for starting but not finishing:

"This request for people to write in has been up for well over two weeks now. Still front page on one version of the paper. The follow up article composed of the people who wrote in has not appeared as yet."

Post Of The Month

Some good news about recovery for the owner of 'Head Rambles' and I'm sure you'll join me in wishing him a continued recovery...

Another Lockdown Era Benefit Is Stripped Away...

It's not just working from home....

A Croydon school’s decision to reverse a policy allowing pupils to wear PE kit to school rather than getting changed before the lesson has drawn the anger of parents and students, who argue “mental health will suffer as a result”.

What?

Parents with children at Woodcote High School believe the school’s decision will disproportionately impact SEND children and those who don’t want to get changed in front of their peers.

One parent, Rebecca Guildford, told the local democracy reporting service (LDRS), the new policy will make students’ differences “blindly obvious,” and could negatively impact their mental health.

The former policy, which stipulated that students get dressed in their PE kits at home rather than in the school changing rooms, was launched during the pandemic due to concerns over social distancing.

And why, if it was popular, and it was, a referendum carried out was overwhelmingly in favour of continuing, is it being reversed now? 

The school’s reason for the update was reportedly due to a continuing trend of children coming in the wrong PE kit, which the school said it could not control under the current policy.

Ah. Lack of 'control'. Is it me, or do schools increasingly want to control the little things because they are totally unable to control the larger things, like school violence? 

We're Not Going To Eat The Insects, So We're Certainly Not Going To Eat This!

George Monbiot declares war on farming, again...

Moral suasion – seeking to convince people to switch to a plant-based diet for ethical reasons – is going nowhere: globally, meat-eating continues to rise while the percentage of vegans remains in low single figures in all but a few countries. I’ve long been convinced that the only effective strategy is to produce alternative products that are in effect indistinguishable from meat, dairy and eggs, but are cheaper and healthier. Around the world, scientists and startups are working on it.

Give it up, George! We aren't going to go vegan, not for our 'health', nor for 'the environment' either. It's a lost cause, stop flogging that dead horse and consider BBQing it instead. 

There is a wide range of developing technologies, which are often misleadingly reduced to “lab-grown meat” or “cell-cultured meat”. What these terms originally meant was growing whole cuts in a bioreactor on a collagen scaffold.

Sounds delightful, does it not? I prefer mine grown on a bone scaffold - in other words, on an animal.  

After initial enthusiasm, I came to see this as a dead end: it is simply too complicated and too expensive. Now the terms are often used to cover all new alternatives, including far simpler and cheaper technologies such as brewing microbes. Such new-protein technologies are the leading threat to the global livestock industry, because they could be used to replace animal sources for everything from cheese and ice-cream to sausages, burgers, eggs, fish and steak, as well as creating a vast new range of foods we cannot yet imagine.

And don't need to... 

Last spring Solar Foods, the company in whose lab I first ate a pancake made from bacterial protein, opened its first factory, near Helsinki. The transition to such new-protein sources could be as profound in its impacts as the shift from hunter-gathering to agriculture. If done right, it could massively reduce demand for land and farm chemicals.

If you doubt the potential of these technologies, you have only to look at the effort deployed by meat corporations and their tame politicians to shut them down. At the behest of livestock lobby groups, lab-grown meat has been banned in Florida, Alabama, Italy and Hungary. Politicians in France, Romania and other US states are seeking to follow suit.

Good for them! But of course, action that in any other arena would be taken as 'big government protecting our health' is here presented as 'government in thrall to Big Meat'. A conspiracy theory, in other words. 

Now, according to Greenpeace’s investigative outlet, Unearthed, a new campaign funded by the livestock industry and fronted by a former meat executive is pressing for an EU-wide ban. As the far-right Hungarian government has the presidency of the European Council, the campaign could succeed. The UK government’s support for new proteins is a very rare benefit of Brexit.

Ah, another thing the mythical 'far Right' are being blamed for... 

We should recognise self-serving corporate propaganda when we see it, confront protectionism and neophobia, and support the technologies that could be our last, best hope of averting environmental catastrophe.

We do recognise 'self-serving propaganda' when we see it George, it's why no-one ever takes your advice. 

Complicated Lives...

The family of a woman and her three children who were killed in a house fire in Bradford have spoken of their “profound loss”. Bryonie Gawith, 29, died along with Denisty, nine, Oscar, five, and 22-month-old Aubree after a fire at their home at about 2am on Wednesday.

Wow, those are some impressive chavnames there. Or the mother can't spell. Is this another case of the sire deciding to rid himself of his future child support obligations? 

Gawith was estranged from Birtle, with the 34-year-old on remand in custody after being charged with strangling the mother-of-three and stealing her phone at her home on 27 July. The 34-year-old has previously indicated that he would plead not guilty to the offences. He is next due to appear in court on Tuesday. Birtle is not being treated as a suspect in the house fire.

Oh! That's unusual. Who is the suspect then? 

West Yorkshire police said the incident on Wednesday is believed to be “domestic related” and confirmed a 39-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder is in a critical condition in hospital. He is the ex-partner of a woman who was visiting the family.

So unlike the home life of our own dear Queen... 

It 'Sends A Message' All Right...

...the message being 'there can be no consequences whatsoever for this behaviour' even when you're caught:

A teacher who was investigated by police for potentially grooming a young student by buying her clothes and giving her hundreds of pounds has avoided being banned from the profession. A misconduct hearing into Guy Hewett’s actions ruled that details of his actions being published online by the watchdog would be “sufficient” enough and “send a message about his behaviour”.

He's done this despite being warned, doesn't that make him more of a risk? 

It was also revealed Mr Hewett’s actions took place despite him receiving a written warning from the school not to contact any students by email, message or social media.

As a result, Mr Hewett was arrested by police, which led to a disciplinary hearing by the school a month later.

And the police investigation? 

A week later the police concluded its investigation with no further action taken...

*sighs* 

Mr Hewett’s health condition is mentioned in the report but redacted due to privacy reasons. It was suggested by the panel whatever this condition was, there was a “clear causal link” between his health and the behaviours demonstrated.

What sort of 'health condition' causes you to behave like this?  

What Fresh Hell Is This?

I had to do 'Mansfield Park' for A level, and I loathed it with a passion. What a 'de-colonised' version would be like I can't even imagine...

When 'Micro-Aggressions' Have A Macro-Effect...

 I'm going to regret this, I know, but....OK. Give me an example:

This year, I did a couple of stints in the Middle East anchoring a sports programme. It wasn’t my “main” sport, but I had an analyst with me to do the deep dive into its intricacies and what was happening on the field. I needed to know enough to tee him up to get the best out of him, but crucially I can hold a broadcast together; following a running order, taking cues from the gallery and knowing what kind of questions to ask the analyst. A couple of days before flying out, I had a call from the producer to talk through what would happen when I got out there. The producer and I had a chat about how the programmes would look and how much specialist knowledge I’d need. “Oh,” he said, dismissively, seemingly almost surprised by my question. “Don’t worry about that. The channel don’t care if you don’t know what you’re talking about, as long as you look glamorous.”

This kind of thing, of course, is nothing new. But the fact it still happens in 2024 is exhausting.

No love, deep sea longline fishing is 'exhausting'. Coal mining is 'exhausting'. Ice road trucking is 'exhausting'. You're a talking head reading someone else's words for far more money than such a job deserves in a just world.

At the start of one of my recent shifts, I was busy writing my scripts before going on air when someone from a different programme approached the bank of desks where I was working alongside a few others. He addressed the space generally. “Hello”, he said. “I’m looking for your sports presenter. I suppose he’s in the studio, is he?”

I swivelled round in my chair. “No,” I said. “She is here.” It felt like a mic drop moment, and the guy was visibly embarrassed. His question as to the presenter’s whereabouts was innocuous, but it got my back up because these assumptions (even if they’re subconscious) that I’m taking a man’s job away from him are constant.

Maybe that's simply your imagination in overdrive, perhaps because it's not being stretched by your current job?

So Why Don't Social Services Take This View?

RSPCA actually do a proper job for once, attending a report of animal cruelty:

At a sentencing hearing earlier this month, Leeds magistrates were told that an RSPCA inspector visited Edward's house on February 5 last year after the charity was contacted by someone with concerns about the kitten's welfare.

She had a badly broken back leg, and had received no veterinary care.  

A police officer then attended the practice and took Evie into possession under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.Magistrates handed Edwards an indefinite ban on keeping animals and £400 in costs after he pleaded guilty to one animal welfare charge.

Good!  

In mitigation, the court heard Edwards, now of Barton Terrace, Leeds, had not been "malicious" or "vindictive" but he accepted he had caused Evie to suffer and should have done more, although his drug addiction meant he was unable to look after himself, let alone an animal.

Sensible outlook! But social services would happily let him look after children, if he were to have any. In what universe does that make sense? 

The New 'Oooh, Me Back!' Has Been Discovered...

One in five patients registered to a pair of GP surgeries in the north of England have long Covid, according to a report that lays bare stark regional inequalities. The north-west of England had higher than average numbers of people reporting long Covid symptoms, with just over one in 20 people (5.5%), followed by the north-east and Yorkshire (5.1%).

The report also found the prevalence of long Covid among the most deprived areas of England was 6.3%, almost double the rate in the least deprived areas.

What a shocker, eh, Reader?  

Dr Stephanie Scott, the lead author of the report and senior lecturer in public health at Newcastle University, said: “Long Covid is a complex condition that goes beyond physical and mental symptoms, affecting other parts of people’s lives including their sense of self and professional identity. This can then lead to experiences of social isolation.

“Currently, there is little evidence-based treatment for long Covid and the health system focuses on symptom management. This needs to change. Our research has offered a glimpse into the reality of what it is like to live with this often-debilitating condition and the knock-on effects it has on people’s personal and professional lives.

“I hope that the evidence presented in this report cuts through to policymakers and gets the attention it deserves so more research into long Covid is funded, and so measures can be put into place which enables employers to better support their workforce with long Covid.”

Sounds a lot like 'Gissa job!' to me, Stephanie... 

Facts Or Feelings?

Is there any evidence of this 'trauma'?

Rob DesRoches, founder of Forest Gayte Pride, said the organisation would work with Newham Council to repair or replace the flags, adding: "We feel that people have been traumatised by the repeated vandalism, which needs to be sorted out now. The healing process needs to take place."

That's a 'no' then. I assume. I mean, it's not like the BBC can be bothered to send down any reporters to stop a few people and ask them. I mean, they might say anything. Better to just regurgitate a press release from an activist group as if it was Holy Writ.

What do the police say?

Det Insp James Rush said the force was keeping an "open mind" as to whether the latest report of vandalism was actually an attempt to "cover up the previous defacement".

I'm no detective, James, but if so, wouldn't they have used rainbow paint?  

Mr DesRoches said the organisation would work with the council to expedite repairing or replacing the flags.

Does that mean you're going to pick up a paintbrush yourself, Rob? I suspect it doesn't. 

More Revolving Door Justice?

People jailed for taking part in the violent disorder after the Southport stabbing attack could be released early, Downing Street has said. Police on Friday said 302 people had been charged with offences including theft, antisocial behaviour and “spreading online hate” since the incident on 29 July and said there would be more to come.

Ha ha ha ha! Once again, you couldn't make it up! I wonder if the Starmbanfuhrer knew this when he was pontificating? 

However, since the Labour government changed the law to allow some criminals to leave prison early because of the prison overcrowding crisis, No 10 has said rioters will not be excluded from this, so they will be able to leave after serving 40% of their sentence.

Through gritted teeth, no doubt. What a disaster this government is already. And I hope that's not going to send me to prison. 

When asked whether rioters could be excluded from the scheme, a No 10 spokesperson said: “There’s no specific exclusion for the rioters, the scheme is as previously set out by the justice secretary.

“Also, we’re very clear that those who are convicted of serious violence and serve sentences of four years and over, or a terrorism offence, will be excluded.”

Is that why the police are keen to specify that every new outrage is 'not terrorist related' now, even before they've had time to even book the suspect into custody, never mind question them? 

The home secretary, Yvette Cooper, has condemned “senior politicians and pundits who sought to undermine the legitimacy and authority of the police”, without naming anyone. Writing in the Telegraph, Cooper said she hoped to work with police “rather than just blaming them from afar, to tackle problems and raise standards”, in an apparent criticism of those who had claimed the UK had “two-tier policing”.

Changed her tune, hasn't she? Because 'blaming police from afar' was SOP when she was in opposition. 

If Only PC Rain Had Turned Up...

...and not WPC Glamour Shot:

The 90 arrests made so far are for the following offences: four sexual offences, 10 assaults on emergency workers, 18 possessions of an offensive weapon, eight possessions of class A drugs, 13 possessions of class B drugs, five possessions of other drugs, four possessions of nitrous oxide, eight possessions of drugs with intent to supply, one theft, six assaults, four robberies, one public order offence and eight 'other offences'.

And it was only Day One. 

Some Brits Might...

...for the freedom they no longer have here in the UK! 

Brutal...

...but spot on from Matt, as usual.

Sunday Funnies...

I guess we shouldn't have been surprised they'd let men beat up women in the boxing...

Well, You Wanted Diversity...

...so much so you held a festival for it! So why surprised when diversity showed up? 

A knifeman has left several people dead after stabbing random passersby in the neck in a horrific 'terror attack' at a diversity festival in Germany. Three people died and four were left seriously injured after the knife attack, with armed police swarming the streets of Solingen.

Any idea which particular flavour of diversity is responsible?  

No arrests have been made as of yet, with the suspect said to be on the run and a situation centre set up in Café Kersting following the savage rampage. Police said they have no idea what the attacker looks like but warned of future danger.

Go on, have a guess! I'm betting he doesn't look like this: 

 

Police are said to be classifying it as a terrorist attack, according to Bild. Germany's armed special police officers have been deployed to assist at the scene.

Let's hope they do better this time.  

They Never Learn...

Chavs who love dangerous dogs, I mean...

Wright told police after he got back to the house: 'It was utter carnage.' Megan Horner, prosecuting, said: 'There had been concerns because of the number of dogs at the property although he claimed they were not aggressive.

'There was also a treadmill in the front room and Mr Wright said he used that when he could not be bothered to walk the dogs.

'It was clear in the main that the dogs were well looked after and in relatively good condition but there were concerns some of them did not have ready access to water.

'It was clear these three dogs that died had suffered and their needs were not being met. With that amount of dogs there should have been extra resources and extra space.

'There had been a deliberate disregard for their welfare and this offence is only aggravated by his previous conviction.'

He was banned from owning dogs for five years back in 2014. It clearly wasn't enough, as he then amassed 23 of the damn things as soon as that restriction was up. One wonders how he could afford so many...

It was discovered earlier this year that Wright has been helping re-home banned XL bullies in Scotland after the animals were banned in England unless owners were given an exemption. He was pictured posing with heavily-muscled XL bully- type breeds with names like Godzilla, Konvict and King Slayer.

Ah! One hope HMRC are wagging their tails and straining at the leash to get at his tax returns. 

Judge Daniel Prowse sentenced Wright to eight months on each cruelty charge to run concurrently but suspended the sentence for 15 months. But he warned him he would decided at a later date whether to grant a prosecution request that he be banned from keeping dogs and cats.

What does it take to get a lifetime ban? 

Now Who's 'Spreading Disinformation to Manipulate The Public'...

The police, believe it or not! 

Haven't they heard the Starmbanfuhrer isn't down with that sort of thing? Or is it only when the public do it?

 

Image manipulation done with all the professionalism we expect from our police farces, I see...

I Can't Keep Up With Them....

 ...fatal dog maulings, that is. 

Police were last night urgently hunting up to three bulldog-like dogs suspected of mauling their owner’s brother to death. Officers were called to Hereford Close in Rubery, West Mids, in the early hours of Wednesday after receiving reports of dogs on the loose - and an awful smell coming from one garden.

A 33-year-old man, named locally as Niko, was found dead in the back garden of a property, where he had been looking after the dogs for his brother.

Looking after these murder mutts is a risky business, just yesterday we had the awful story of a man whose kind heart led him to a horrible death in the jaws of an XL bully he'd voliunteered to look after, and now this.

West Midlands Police initially said two dogs were seized at the scene and two further dogs may have also been at the address at the time and could now be at large in the area. But in a later statement, Insp Leanne Chapman said there were ‘definitely’ two dogs yet to be found and ‘potentially’ three dogs.

‘They may be together or they may be separated,’ she said, adding that the man in the house had been found with ‘bite injuries’.None of the dogs involved are believed to be a banned breed such as an XL Bully, but are thought to be similar American Bulldog types.

Maybe it's time they were added to the list then. But back to the bad smell. 

Neighbour Charlene Newman, 40, told the Mail she had called the police after smelling a foul stench coming from the garden. She said: ‘It was a really bad smell. Like something rotting and it was coming from the bottom of the hedge in the back garden. I didn’t see a body but then the police came and put up a tent while they recovered it.‘

So just how long had he been dead? 

And when reading this, the place name rang a bell. And here's why. It will be karma if these beasts were responsible for that, won't it, Reader?

They No Longer Want Your Goodwill, And That’s The Real Danger

A phone is reported stolen in London every six minutes. And last Thursday night, mine became one of them. Seamlessly taken from my pocket on Charing Cross Road without me realising, before it was switched off — and pinged on Find My iPhone a couple of hours later on the A12 in Ilford.

'Welcome to London' indeed! 

My first response was to ask the manager of the pub next to where it happened if anything had been handed in — or if they had CCTV. He simply replied: “Nah mate, happens outside all the time. They take them and run straight to the Tube or jump on a bus. And the police do nothing. It’s gone.”

Surely not? 

He was right. After hearing the experiences of friends and people I’d met through previous reporting on this, getting my phone stolen in London at some point felt like a statistical inevitability.

Within 48 hours of reporting it via 101, the Met closed the case with no investigation or attempt by any officer to contact me. Like many Londoners, my phone is the most expensive thing I own. That it can be taken from me with no attempt to retrieve it at all is deeply troubling.

I'm afraid it's just inevitable, when no-one is holding the police to account for their failures.  

I’m aware it’s difficult to trace a phone once it’s been switched off — but other victims report telling the police exactly where it is on Find My iPhone and they still do nothing. The main use it seems of reporting a phone stolen is to get a crime number which can then be used to make an insurance claim. I didn’t have insurance — but I have now bought it for my replacement phone. But this cycle just encourages phone theft. If victims have insurance, they get a new phone anyway and there’s no pressure for the police to investigate. So thieves know the police simply won’t bother to find them and keep stealing, effectively decriminalising phone theft.

Indeed so!  

As someone who isn’t particularly trusting in the police, their refusal to even attempt to find such an important item hardly fills me with goodwill. Like assurances that police will attend every burglary, making victims of crime at least feel listened to feels like an easy win in rebuilding that trust.

Your mistake is assuming that that's important to them, You should join Twitter and see what they say about that, anonymously.  

Our 'Professional' Police Farce...

A widower has been mauled to death by an XL Bully dog his family said he was looking after for a friend.

Specialist officers shot the animal dead after the horror attack on David Daintree, 53, at his home on Tuesday evening.

When this story first broke, police assumed it was his own dog and confidently stated that in news reports.

 

I hope the family sue them for this disinformation and the anguish it's caused them. 

She insisted her father didn’t own the dog but had simply offered to look after it for a friend temporarily. ‘He was the sort of person that couldn’t say no to anything,’ she said.

So the next time you read a police report in the news, and assume that it's accurate, just think about this case, will you? 

More Pointless Grandstanding From The Coroner Service...

The hearing, at Surrey Coroner’s Court, was told the chartered accountant had consulted an online GP and, between 2019 and 2021, was prescribed a ‘significant amount’ of anti-anxiety drug propranolol without the knowledge of his family doctor.

Senior Coroner Richard Travers also heard that, in 2016 Mr Pattison had alleged to police that his wife had assaulted him. However, no consideration was given as to whether this was evidence of domestic or coercive controlling behaviour towards her, nor was the incident brought to the attention of the Licensing Officer when Mr Pattison applied for his shotgun certificate to be renewed.

He complains of assault, and the assumption the police should take is that he's at fault of something else? Do we need a 'I Believe Him' movement?

Mr Travers has now issued two prevention of future deaths notices to Stephen Parkinson, the Director of Public Prosecutions, and to Graham Wareham, chief executive of Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, saying there is ‘a risk other deaths will continue to exist in the future unless action is taken.’

Pretty specific cirumstances, though. They only apply to licensed shotgun holders.  

The coroner identified three concerns.

Oh, go on then... 

Firstly that ‘an applicant for a shotgun certificate was able to obtain medication from an on-line doctor without the knowledge of their GP,’ meaning a licensing authority ‘might’ grant a shotgun certificate to an applicant who has a relevant previous medical history about which they were unaware.

What do you suggest, Dickie boy, a full audit of someone's online history before granting a license? A bit unnessessarily intrusive, don't you think? 

Secondly, by consulting an on-line doctor, ‘it is possible for an applicant for a shotgun certificate to avoid the current safeguards relating to full disclosure of their previous and current medical history, and thirdly, Mr Travers said, ‘consideration should be given as to how a licensing authority can obtain full and accurate disclosure of an applicant’s history of coercive controlling behaviour towards others.’

Oh, and the police to conduct themselves so as to treat alleged victims as alleged perpetrators, but only if they are dealing with a man. Well, can't see that opening a can of worms.  

Were They White Stilettoes?

British Transport Police are appealing for information on two people after two men were hit in the head with shoes and attacked.

In Essex? Oo-er! Those things can be deadly!  

At around 11.50pm on Saturday July 27, two men boarded a train from Leigh heading towards Stanford-Le-Hope railway station where they left the service. After arriving at the platform, at around 12.05am, the two men were approached by a man who attacked them. Then, a woman who had also been on the train took off her heeled shoes and began hitting the two men in the head.

Any description? Well, even better - crystal clear CCTV! 

The old 'Echo' commentariat is still on form:

 

Of course! 

And No-One Noticed?

Tens of thousands of rail passengers who were prosecuted and fined for alleged fare evasion after set to be refunded after a judge ruled their convictions were void. Seven train companies, including Northern Rail and Greater Anglia, could face paying out millions of pounds to people who they privately prosecuted for travelling without a ticket.

How did this happen? Well, Reader, would you believe, stunning incompetence in the British justice system?  

The railway firms had brought prosecutions against its passengers using the controversial Single Justice Procedure (SJP), despite not being permitted to do so.

And...no-one said 'Wait, hang on a minute..?' at all.  

The SJP was set up in 2015 to allow magistrates to decide on minor offences, such as using a television without a licence or driving without car insurance, without defendants going to court. Rail companies were permitted to use the SJP in 2016 to privately prosecute fare evaders, but many have been brought under the Regulation of Railways Act 1889, which is not allowed under the procedure.

Tom Franklin, the chief executive of the Magistrates' Association, called for reform of the SJP and said 'serious questions' had been raised by the case.

About the competence of magistrates? Yes. Yes, it certainly does.  

A Government spokesperson said: 'We acknowledge the Chief Magistrate's judgment and welcome the apology from train operators. While fare evasion should be tackled, the right process should be followed at all times.

'The people affected will be directly contacted in due course to resolve the cases in accordance with the judgment.'

And you aren't worried that the magistrates you employ are morons?  

The Changing Definition Of 'Vulnerable'...

A 16-year-old boy has been charged with murder in relation to the death of a "vulnerable" man whose home was allegedly attacked with fireworks.

Robert Price, 76, died from inhalation of fumes, and burns, following a fire at a house in Dagenham, in east London, at around 5.40pm on 27 July.

This isn't the first such case. Of course, despite the victim being deemed 'vulnerable', the justice system goes all out to protect the perpetrators.

He is the second youth charged in connection with Mr Price's death. Neither of them can be named for legal reasons. A 17-year-old appeared at the Old Bailey on Friday, also charged with murder and arson with intent to endanger life.

Hopefully if convicted, they will be named.  

The 17-year-old defendant was not accused of throwing a firework himself during the alleged attack but the prosecution claimed he was part of the group.

Another 'joint enterprise' case that the 'Guardian' will no doubt claim is unjust. 

The Met's Detective Chief Inspector Phil Clarke, the senior investigating officer on the case, said: "I would like to reassure the community that while the investigation remains ongoing, police are not seeking to identify any further people in connection with the fatal fire on Oval Road North.

"I also ask that the privacy of Mr Price's family is respected."

Do you ever check that the community feels reassured? Or do you just make a meaningless statement because it's excpected of you..? 

One Of Those Immigrant Doctors We Are Told Are Needed....

...to prop up the NHS:

Dr Gurkirit Kalkat, 58, called the patient in for an appointment at Thames View Medical Centre in Dagenham, Essex, only to throw himself against the door and begin hitting himself in the chest so he could give a false report to the police. The bewildered patient sat in a chair and looked on as Kalkat shouted: 'Stop hitting me, Ow! This is violence, you're attacking me!', before pressing a panic button to call for help.

Whereupon a receptionist who came to his aid promptly claimed that she had witnessed the assault that never was. 

Police officers were called and took the innocent patient home in handcuffs but the investigation was dropped when Kalkat refused to proceed with a prosecution.

Hand on, why wasn't the doctor and receptionist arrested for wasting police time? 

Inquiries revealed that Kalkat wanted the patient, who had drug issues, struck off the books at his surgery as it was due to be rebranded under a merger with another doctor's practice.

He lied to the patient about having terminal blood cancer to encourage him to register with another GP and even paid out more than £40,000 of his own money to fund rehabilitation treatment. Kalkat was unable to explain why he was paying for the patients treatment out of his own pocket.

Good grief! Even if the actual legal system is seemingly OK with this behaviour, the medical profession had no choice but to deal with it: 

At the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service in Manchester Kalkat of Loughton, Essex was suspended from medical practice for 12 months after he was found guilty of serious professional misconduct. He denied wrongdoing.

That's all? His license should be revoked at the very least!  

Kalkat declined to attend the MPTS hearing and instead filed written submissions via a lawyer claiming it was not 'safe' enough to appear in person due to Patient A's 'volatile' behaviour. The receptionist who was alleged to have witnessed the incident was said to have been 'unavailable or unable' to make a formal statement.

How is neither of them in the dock of a real court? 

If You Build It....They Might Not Come!

A box which appeared in the Chantry Centre months ago, but has remained empty, could finally be put to use. The large black box, outside Boots, has been vacant for months, but was initially installed to be used as a customer service point.

Before they realised that 'customer service' wasn't something they wanted to spend money on?  

This plan was not progressed with and questions have been raised about what it will be used for. 

 Answers on a postcard...

A council spokesperson said: “The pod was initially installed in the Chantry Centre to be used as customer service point. The pod has since attracted interest in being let out and documentation is currently being agreed between legal teams to progress this.

Giant aquarium? 

H/T: IanJ via email 

Surely A Bigger Danger...

...would have been capsizing?

Oh, my mistake. Turns out it was a real whale! 

Being On The Way To A British Bank Holiday...

...it's not likely to be an issue for too much longer.

But Matt's spot on about our politica 'leaders', as usual.

Sunday Funnies...

I have to admit, I prefer Ultravox's 'Vienna', and that didn't take ages to be a hit...

Really? It Makes Me Feel Utter Despair...

...when I hear politicians talking about lifting the two-child limit, it makes me feel excited and hopeful.

I suppose it takes a particular mindset to celebrate the forthcoming opportunity to profit from others' hard work. I'm glad I don't have it. 

Even without the limit, we would only be living just a little bit better. The price of everything – gas, electricity, water, council tax – keeps going up, so things would still be very hard. Surviving is so difficult. I wish someone in power would assess the current price of everything and think about how much families actually need to not only get by, but to live on.

I wish that someone would remember that those 'hardworking families who want to live and not just get by' will instead be further impoverished by being taxed to support the feckless like you...

I did used to get some financial support from my children’s father, but that’s all stopped now. My relationship with him was very abusive, and I don’t want to ask him for anything now, as he always expects something in return. For the past 16 years, he and I were on and off – and there were arguments, fights and violence. We’ve separated now, and I’m trying to do what’s right for me and the kids.

You had three kids with him despite all that, and now you want the taxpayer to pay for them? GTFO!

Why can't the 'Guardian' ever find a genuinely deserving case to champion? 

You Held Power For 14 Years...

...so why didn't you hold one?

Sir John Hayes, a former Tory security minister, said the PM needed to tackle the issue head on by setting out how he intends to stop small boat Channel crossings while also reducing net legal migration from the 685,000 it hit last year. He said: 'There's been too much immigration in this country for too long and a huge proportion of the population knows that. So there are underlying tensions, fears and problems. And now that the thuggery and crime seems to have abated, we need to have a measured national conversation about that and I'm amazed that that's not recognised by the Government.'

It clearly wasn't recognised by yours, was it? All we got from you was a ridiculous attempt to enrich an African nation at the British taxpayer's expense. 

It emerged this week that 4,000 small boat migrants have reached Britain since Labour came to power and scrapped the Rwanda deportation scheme. The figures appear to show that former PM Rishi Sunak was right when he claimed that migrants were 'queueing up' in Calais waiting for a Labour government to scrap the Tories' flagship immigration policy.

I very much doubt the sort of people coming across the channel in small boats are keen UK politics watchers. 

Last night Sir Keir chaired his third COBRA meeting of the week, where he reportedly told officials the country needs to remain on 'high alert'.

But not for small boat illegals, I guess... 

After Scotland Yard launched a series of dawn raids yesterday morning, chief Sir Mark Rowley said: 'What I want to make really clear is those we've arrested aren't protesters, patriots or decent citizens. They're thugs and criminals.'

And Labour Party councillors, don't forget!  

Should Have Been A Bit More Philosophical About It, Then...

Michael O’Neill, defending, told the court: ‘He is clearly an intelligent man.

‘I am instructed to move for bail. He is a man without any previous convictions and studies philosophy at university.’

Probably shouldn't have lost his temper at missing his train and shoved a woman onto the tracks then, should he?

Sheriff McCormick said: ‘You pushed a railway worker on to tracks at Queen Street station during a busy commuting time.

‘Standing the gravity and nature of the offence, it is unlikely there will be an alternative to custody.’

Why are you even looking for one? You should be looking at how you can recommend deportation back to the States.

She told him that the train had gone and he shouted: “Don’t you come near me, you made me miss my train.

“Don’t look at me you scumbag c***.”

Not the sort of foreign student we need more of here. What could have prompted such a vicious assault? Is there a clue in other, earlier news reports? 

A woman has been accused of pushing a railway worker on to train tracks.

Cheyenne Naeb, 26, allegedly assaulted the woman at Glasgow’s Queen Street station on February 1, 2023.

Court papers state Naeb, of Dundee, initially behaved in a threatening or abusive manner 

It is claimed that she shouted, swore and acted in aggressive manner. 

A mistaken report? Or another loco transgender suspect?

Not 'The Usual Suspects'!

Three men have appeared in court accused of drugs and modern slavery charges after they allegedly forced two boys to work for them.

I know what you're thinking, it's those Caravan Utilising Nomadic Travellers again. But Reader, you'd be wrong!  

Qaiser Mahmood, 40, Husnain Mahmood, 36, and Zerkerman Mahmood, 31, are said to have forced the two 'vulnerable' youths to carry out tasks, which included carrying out criminal damage and 'retaining drugs and bullets'. The court heard how all the defendants were linked to the two youngsters who worked in a shop for Qaiser Mahmood.

Qaiser Mahmood and Husnain Mahmood are both accused of supplying cannabis and cocaine and two counts of requiring a person to perform forced or compulsory labour. Zerkerman Mahmood is also accused of supplying cannabis and cocaine and two counts of requiring a person to perform forced or compulsory labour.

This country just gets better and better, doesn't it? 

A Bit Selective, Isn’t It?

Sadiq Khan, the divisive Mayor of London, is claiming the recent unrest frightened him.

“What’s heartbreaking to me is my children’s generation had never experienced what I had,” he said. “And they, for the first time, were scared. I thought I’d be the last generation to be scared, simply for who I am. And it breaks my heart.”

Have you not asked any of your children's Jewish friends how they felt about the marches by Palestine protestors you've allowed, nay encouraged, on every weekend in London then?

“It’s difficult to explain the ripples when you’ve been targeted because of your religion or colour of your skin and you can’t change either of those things. And whether you’re seeing physical acts of violence taking place in the north-west or the north-east, you feel it in London.”

How must they feel about the ones that happen a little closer to London then? 

The scenes of anti-fascist demonstrators filling the streets in London on Wednesday night were a “source of pride”, he said.

Well, not entirely, Khan, not for Labour or Amnesty International!

One politician Khan is prepared to attack directly is Robert Jenrick, the former immigration minister who is a frontrunner for the Conservative leadership. Jenrick said on Tuesday that he was angered with the policing of pro-Gaza demonstrations and questioned why protesters shouting Allahu Akbar – which means God is Great –were not arrested.

“I think somebody who aspires to be the leader of the Conservative party, who must, by extension, aspire to be the prime minister, should understand some of the basics about one of the major religions of the globe, one of the major religions of our country,” Khan said. “His remarks are so offensive, so hurtful, so dangerous. It’s akin to somebody saying we should outlaw the word hallelujah. Just think about the ridiculousness of saying that.” 

Maybe we would do, if it had been the last thing victims heard before bombings and massacres by fanatic Christisan terrorists? 

Bit Of A Misleading Headline…

How 'cherished' are they? Well...

Mrs Cowdrey said: “This is a real area of concern for our residents. Both sites are public spaces which should be used for public benefit. The local residents association believe they should be put back to public use. Particularly the old Hinguar school playing field which has been locked for many years and we have been trying to get more information about the covenant placed on this land.”

Hmmm. 

The Home Office...Powerless Against Fiction

A six-year-old girl had her passport application rejected ahead of a dream holiday to Disneyland because she is named after a Game of Thrones character.

Whut? 

Khaleesi Holloway's mother, Lucy, had to halt plans for the £2,000 trip after she was told her daughter's name broke trademark rules. The Passport Office said they were unable to issue a passport unless Warner Brothers agreed because it owned the trademark for the name Khaleesi. Officials told Lucy to contact the American film and entertainment studio to get permission to use it.

I can only imagine how Warner Brothers would have answered that call!  

However the Home Office, which runs the Passport Office, has since confirmed that a mistake had been made and that the application is now being processed.

Is every single branch of the civil service now incapable of organising a fuck in a brothel? 

Solicitors advised Lucy that although Warner Brothers own a trademark for Game of Thrones, it is for goods and services not a person's name.

Officials from the Passport Office later called Lucy to apologise, saying that the guidance staff had been given only applies to people changing their names.

So the guidance is STILL wrong!  

Only In Brighton

 

How drunk do you have to be? And the Civil Service thinks it's got problems! 

Something Starmer Should Take Note Of…

President Nicolás Maduro said he had ordered a 10-day block on access to X in Venezuela, accusing the owner, Elon Musk, of using the social network to promote hatred after the country’s disputed presidential election. Associated Press (AP) journalists in Caracas found that by Thursday night posts had stopped loading on X on two private telephone services and the state-owned Movilnet.

Another thin-skinned socialist dictator who hates the very thought that ordinary people have an outlet? 

Electoral authorities declared Maduro the winner but had yet to produce voting tallies. The opposition claims to have collected records from more than 80% of the 30,000 electronic voting machines nationwide showing the winner was its candidate, Edmundo González. Musk used the social network to accuse the self-proclaimed socialist leader of a “great electoral fraud”.

“Shame on the dictator Maduro,” Musk said in a post on Monday.

It seems Musk is the only one speaking truth to power these days. No wonder those with reason to have a guilty conscience and who are precariously clinging to power are frothing about it, eh, Kier? 

Does The Name Refer To The Fact You Might Need One?

A man has been left with “life-changing” injuries after a plate was thrown at his head in a pub.

Yikes! 

Det Con Emma Taylor said: “We believe that prior to the assault, the victim had been involved in a disagreement with the suspect around her feeding pizza to a dog belonging to another member of the public.

“The dog was a cane corso and we are keen to speak with the owner of this dog, who we believe can assist with our investigation.

“The victim sustained serious cuts to his head which required gluing at hospital and was also verbally abused, with the suspect reportedly shouting homophobic abuse.”

Sounds like a lovely place, with thugs with big dogs drinking there... 

The suspect is described by police as a white woman in her late 20s with brown hair.

Oh! 

Huw Edwards Should Have Indulged Himself In Scotland...

A former Stirlingshire councillor has been handed a community payback order after being caught with sexual abuse images of children on his phone. Ewan Dillon, who formerly represented Labour for Bridge of Allan and Dunblane was ordered to complete 270 hours of unpaid work and placed on supervision for two years.

*blinks* Not very serious category, then? 

Reports show the 21-year-old admitted to downloading images on his phone of girls aged between five and ten being raped.

FFS! 

He was given his community payback order on Wednesday 31 July, and had his name added to the sex offenders register for five years.

I'm sure after 5 years he'll be safe and no longer a predator... 

Helen Nisbet, Procurator Fiscal for Tayside, Central & Fife, said: “Ewan Dillon pleaded guilty to and has now been sentenced for possessing horrendous images of child abuse.

“These are not victimless crimes. They perpetuate the humiliation and devastation suffered by child victims of sexual abuse and are an affront to society.

"We will always treat these crimes seriously."

Good god, Helen, I'd hate to see how you'd treat them leniently? Give him the keys to the town, perhaps? 

After being arrested and cautioned, he said: “All I want to say on the record is that it’s an accident.

“It’s a link, something has been downloaded, or sent to me, and I’ve deleted it. The fact of the matter is that it has been on my phone at one point but I deleted it.”

The fact of the matter is that you've got away almost scotfree for something that should have earned you jail time. 

H/T: Wommando via Twitter 

Surf's Up!

But...you might want to give it a miss...

Surfers against Sewage reported that storm sewage had been discharged from a sewer overflow at Shore Road, near Sandbanks Beach, within the past 48 hours.

Sandbanks, of all places!  

A Wessex Water spokesperson said: “Our licensed storm overflow operated automatically, releasing mostly rainwater into the sea to protect properties from flooding.

“Despite their minimal environmental impact, overflows are outdated. So we’re investing £3 million every month to help reduce how often they operate and we’re planning to invest significantly more between 2025 and 2030, subject to regulatory approval.”

Not because you're being hammered by your customers who don't want to swim in sewage, then? 

H/T: Ian J via email

It's A Great Film!

So who on earth do Sky Movies think it's discriminating against? Nerds?

Subtitles Would Help With That, I Think!

Never change, 'Mail'...

Sunday Funnies...

We dodged a bullet when these never got made...

Will The Aussies Take This Lying Down?

All public servants in NSW who currently work from home will be made to return to the office as businesses continue to struggle across Sydney's CBD. Premier Chris Minns announced that anyone employed by the government who is still working from home will be made to return to the office from Tuesday.

Or will they bring in flasks of coffee and make their own sandwiches and say 'Your move, Chris me ol' cobber'..?

Executive director of Business Sydney, Paul Nicolaou, celebrated the news. 'This is fantastic news and great leadership by the Premier,' he said.'Employers are telling Business Sydney we have to get really serious about getting the CBD back to its pre-Covid footing. 'The city needs more foot traffic hence more workers back to the city to support the hundreds of businesses and enterprises that depend on them.'

Yet another one who believes that if the demand changes, the change should be cancelled. Don't we call that 'entitlement'? 

H/T: John B via Twitter

Yes, I’m Sure It’s Concern For The Police Resourcing That’s Driving This...

...and not at all your fears that another of your low IQ councillors will shoot their mouth off on camera, go viral and have to be suspended and charged by the CPS.

Addressing Jones in court, deputy senior district judge Tan Ikram said: 'It is alleged that using a microphone you addressed a crowd at an anti-fascist protest.

'Talking about others you described as "disgusting Nazi fascists", you said "we need to cut their throats and get rid of them".

'The Crown says that those words were capable of encouraging others to commit acts of serious violence, and further that you believed that your words would encourage violence against others.'

No fast-track justice for him, though, since he didn't enter a plea.

Ahead of the councillor's appearance in court, Jaswant Narwal, chief crown prosecutor for north London, reminded the public not to prejudice court proceedings.

Ms Narwal added: 'We remind all concerned that criminal proceedings are active and that he has the right to a fair trial.

'It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.'

No word on what, if anything, is being done to trace the women cheering him on, including the one in the Amnesty International tabard. Or the one who turned out to be yet another Left wing rabble rouser.   

Fallout...

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has called for the resignation of Helen Pitcher, chairman of the CCRC, over the case of Andrew Malkinson, who spent 17 years in jail for a rape he did not commit. An investigation into the CCRC's role by Chris Henley KC found it had missed several opportunities to refer the case to appeal. Malkinson, who was released only as a result of forensic tests by campaigners, said on proving his innocence: 'I'm not the only one.'

And so, as a result of the peculiar drive to demand a retrial on behalf of Lucy Letby, one of those others - which I've long believed was indeed deserving of a referral - is getting a turn in the spotlight: 

The New Yorker, which has also raised questions about the safety of nurse Lucy Letby's conviction for murdering seven babies, has been investigating the Bamber case since last October. It has focused on claims that Essex Police lied about evidence, altered witness statements, passed evidence to a third party, withheld and concealed evidence and tampered with a crime scene after the murders at the family's farm near Maldon, Essex.

Which to anyone who has read anything about the case isn't new evidence, it's just evidence that's been ignored up until now, to protect the reputation of the Essex Police... 

The police argued that Bamber must have carried out the murders because the gun had been fitted with a silencer, which made it too long for her to be physically able to shoot herself, but ballistics experts have subsequently cast doubt on whether the rifle was fitted with a silencer. Police also said if she had gone on a rampage her feet would have been covered in blood and that this was not the case. But a picture of her feet obtained by Bamber's lawyers shows bloodstains.

Bamber's lawyers also unearthed a police phone log of a call on the night of the killings from Nevill. The log, entitled 'daughter gone berserk', noted Mr Bamber had said his daughter had stolen one of his guns and gone 'berserk'. A bloodstained Bible, found by Sheila's side and open at pages containing Psalms 51-55 – on the struggle between good and evil – was never forensically examined or produced at trial, despite requests from Bamber's solicitor.

There surely must be enough to finally get the case reopened.  

A spokesman for Bamber's campaign said the New Yorker investigation highlighted a key issue raised in the report on CCRC failings in the Malkinson case – 'a refusal to carry out any investigations into submissions that are presented to them'. They added: 'The CCRC have had Jeremy Bamber's latest submissions since March 2021 and… they have not investigated any of the key exculpatory issues they contain, which demonstrate Jeremy Bamber's innocence.'

Here's hoping. And after this, Michael Stone.  

That Doesn’t Leave Much Else, Does It?

Police have today confirmed (Sunday) that there have been no updates since a container carrying organs was reportedly found four days ago in Sutton.

No, Reader, not the musical instruments...

Officers say the content in the container was described to either belong to a human or an animal.

Well, the detective powers of our police farces never cease to amaze me.... 

These Dogs And Criminality Go Together...

Police said in a statement: “Officers were deployed to the scene and detained a man on suspicion of burglary, attempted burglary and possession of a Class A drug before transferring him into Derbyshire Police’s custody.

“Two dogs present in the property, believed to be an unregistered XL Bully and a pit bull type crossbreed, were displaying aggressive behaviour and could not be safely contained or seized.

“Due to the heightened risk of harm as a result of the level of aggression from both animals, a decision was made to humanely destroy them at the scene.”

Well done cops! For once, the taxpayer isn't on the hook for kennel costs, and no kennelmaid is at risk of being mauled until some bewigged moron can drag himself to the bench to order their destruction. They won't make another family's trip to the shops a living nightmare now.   

Of course, over on Facebook, the pitnutters are boo-hooing over the 'unnecessary deaths' of the maulers, some wondering why the neighbours weren't able to take them in (of course the police refused, idiots, when they seize an illegal weapon they don't just turn it over to any Tom Dick or Harry!).

And complaining the cops made a mess of the shooting (Well, it was Yorkshire armed plod and dogs are a smaller target than horses).

They needed Limehouse cop - he made a much better job of it. I await the inevitable doggy chavshrine...

H/T: Sam Browfan via Twitter

The Ones That Didn't Happen...

Holding placards saying “refugees welcome” and “reject racism, try therapy”, people took to the streets in towns and cities nine days after the country was shaken by the fatal stabbing of three girls in Merseyside and the rioting that followed.

Imagine the sort of mindset needed to produce a reaction like that to a horiffic crime? 

Lawyers’ offices shut down, high street shops were boarded up, GP practices closed early and MPs were told to consider working from home as 41 of the 43 local police force areas in England and Wales braced for potential disorder. About 6,000 riot-trained officers were drafted in to tackle the expected rallies and an estimated 30 counter-protests after immigration law firms and refugee centres were listed as potential targets in a far-right chat group on the encrypted messaging app Telegram.

And they were all played for absolute suckers!  

But by 9pm few far-right protesters were seen at the alleged targeted sites, although counter-protesters remained on the streets. Despite the fears of violence and disorder scarring Britain on a scale not seen since the 2011 riots, in the end counter protestors outnumbered those supporting the far right led protests. In some places counter protestors found that no one else on the other side had turned up.

My Facebook was full of reports rumours that 'EDL youths' with baseball bats on mopeds were roaming the area. That turned out to be a load of bollocks as well, so what next for the immigrant supporters? 

Bottles were thrown at police and objects dragged into the road after around 50 people gathered in the south London borough - but officers said it was 'pure anti-social behaviour' not linked to the protests.

Smaller groups of anti-racism protesters were gathered in backstreets in Sheffield, away from the main counter-demo.

One woman, whose face was obscured, said: ‘We’ve done a good job of scaring them away.’

Ah. Declare victory anyway. What losers. And speaking of losers...

Earlier Nick Lowles, a long standing expert on the British far right, and who now leads Hope Not Hate, told the Guardian that he was sceptical there would be widespread trouble on Wednesday evening.

The expectation was triggered by a list of targets found on social media. Lowles, speaking before this evening said: “I think it’s a hoax, designed to spread fear and panic.”

Well, if anyone should know about 'hoaxes designed to spread panic' it's you, Nick.

Streaming TV: The Umbrella Academy (NetFlix)

A show based on comics I never read, and with a seriously odd premise, when this popped up I was somewhat dubious. It had alternate realities (which I love) and time paradoxes (which I don't!). 

The initial episode was pretty confusing, but I stuck with it, and I'n really glad I did. That dance sequence to 'Footloose' was the high point, without a doubt.

Somebody Didn’t Like Dags…

A dog was run over and killed by a car on seafront lawns.Sussex Police have seized the car involved and are investigating.

Inspector Alexandra Bailey said: “We understand the significant distress this incident has caused to the dog’s owners – and the wider public – and our enquiries to identify the driver of the vehicle are ongoing.

“We know there were a large number of people in the area around that time, and we’re urging anyone who can assist in our investigation to please come forward."

The car, which has been seized, was unregistered and uninsured and the driver is yet to be traced.

I can't help but think if you look behind you, you might find a clue or two...

 

I Think You Should Look Up The Word ‘Gourmand’…

...I'm pretty sure it doesn't mean what you seem to think it means: 

I don’t want to undermine my international standing as a gourmand (you are, after all, looking at the woman who once ate the entire Bella Italia Valentine’s Day menu on her own, in a single sitting) but I think I may be giving up on so-called “adult food”.

Huh? 

It probably says something about my life, in terms of nutrition, shopping and planning, but this week I have eaten: three packets of Pom-Bear crisps, a bowl of Coco Pops, two Bear yoyo bars, a Petits Filous yoghurt and an ice lolly in the shape of a rocket. They were all absolutely delicious.

Well, you do you, Nell...