Always Playing The Victim Card...

Maz Saleem said of her father’s murder: “This was one of the biggest acts of terrorism on UK soil.”

Eh..? 

The murder of one elderly man (and yes, I'm sure it's devastating for his family) is bigger than the Hyde Park bombing, or 7/7, or Canary Wharf, or Warrington, or Borough Market, or...

I could go on. And on, and on...

“Yet to this day most people have no idea about this case. Whenever terror-related headlines reach our screens they are often about those who identify with the Muslim faith; rarely do we hear of the merciless violence of white supremacists who took my father’s life.”

Well, yes. That's true. Because they aren't as common as Muslim terrorist atrocities. 

“An important start would be for the official, legal recognition of Islamophobia to finally be adopted by our government. Ignoring Islamophobia as a category is disrespectful to all these brutal killings of Muslims, it weakens the justice for family members left mourning,” his daughter said.

Disrespect? What, like attempting to withdraw donations made to a murdered girl because she was the wrong flavour of Islam? And what will you do when the tag of 'Islamaphobia' is applied to one of these types of killing?

These people see themselves as perpetual victims, aided and abetted by progressive idiots in the media.  

Aren't You Forgetting The Damage To The Innocent..?

The film-maker Vanessa Engle calls it “vagina snap”: female-centred fluff that meets diversity targets, but is not the sort of documentary commissioners boast about, and certainly is not about to enter for awards submissions.

But don't they have their own awards for this sort of stuff anyway? 

...she has just found out that her 2019 film The $50 Million Art Swindle has been nominated for a Grierson award, the highest accolade in documentary film-making. This will be her eighth nomination, and yet Engle, who is 57, has never won a Grierson, or a Bafta for that matter.

“I will let you be the judge of whether it is right to be up for it eight times and never win it,” Engle observes.

So if I enter the London Marathon eight times (and never finish) they have to give me the medal? Cool! 

Why is this person getting a puff piece in the progressive press? Well, she's made a documentary about the effect of the disastrous Carl Beech case, and the effect it had on the victims.

No. Not those victims... 

When BBC Two approached Engle to make the film, she debated whether to say yes, fearful that publicising Beech’s lies more widely would cause people to feel sceptical when future survivors come forward with allegations of abuse.

“I didn’t want to tell the story of a liar at the expense of genuine victims of child sexual abuse,” she explains.

But she decided to go for it, first, to show the damage Beech had done to legitimate victim-survivors who might now struggle to have their stories taken seriously.

I think I see why you've not won anything. Try tweaking your moral compass a bit... 

The Usual Suspects Pt 8735941

The images of five suspects who are wanted over an 'abhorrent' homophobic attack in a KFC restaurant have been issued by police.

Tattooed skinhead right wingers, surely? After all, we are constantly told they are the great threat.

The first suspect is described as black, wearing a black beanie, grey tracksuit, with dark elbow patches and a gilet-type jacket.

The second suspect was a light-skinned black male with a 'chin strap' beard and of a tall muscular build.

The third male was black, wearing a hoodie with white scribbles on it.

Another suspect was seen wearing a dark navy tracksuit with multiple white stripes on the legs.

The fifth suspect was of larger build than the other men, with curly, short hair, green tracksuit trousers and a black puffa-style jacket.

Oh....

Pecking Order....

Michael O’Byrne, 52, was given a £600 fine yesterday for using racially aggravated threatening, abusive or insulting words towards a rival fan on November 28 before the match kicked off at the Amex Stadium.

The plasterer, of Farncombe Road, East Worthing, was heard by a police officer shouting “**** off you black ****” at the Palace fan, before he was arrested.

*gasps* Oh noes! Racism!

Brighton magistrates heard the comment was made after the Eagles fan said to O’Byrne: “get out the way you gay boy.”

Oh. Anti-gay slurs. *shrugs*

Before he was sentenced, O’Byrne, who said he has been watching football matches for 42 years, said: “all Brighton fans have had enough of homophobic attacks.

“I am sick of people saying to fans things like ‘I hope you die of Aids’.

“I am not a racist. I was approached by him and his first words to me were ‘Alright gay boy’.

“I still don’t know if he was arrested.”

You clearly have a losing hand in Victimhood Poker,chum. On this occasion at least.

On others, the police officer's hearing hasn't proven so deficient.

#FirstWorldFeministProblems

While most gamers are concerned with the tracking system (or lack thereof), battles, trading, and myriad other aspects, the feminist publication Jezebel has taken issue with the game’s lack of curly hair, of all things.

Oh, good grief..!

A new piece titled “The Invisible Girls of Pokemon Go” makes an attempt to imply that the game’s developers at Niantic are racist, or at the very least blind to “diversity,” for having limited options for skin tones and none for hair styles.

The article’s author complains that her children and their friends “could not create a realistic avatar for themselves,” as if anyone else is able to do so without issue.

Because that's the most important thing about a game. Clearly.

Given that every individual player in the game resembles a crude character done in the style of Japanese anime — without any of the flair found in Japanese media, it’s difficult to fault a small company operating on a limited budget like Niantic for not including more detailed customization options, especially when the present game is as barebones as it is.

It is for most people, yes, but these folks practice a lot, and they are good at it!

With any luck, Pokemon Go will eventually offer more support for character customization, but Niantic has far more pressing issues to deal with for the foreseeable future if they intend to make the game sustainable in the long run. Accusing the developers of erasing black girls betrays a sense of paranoia over developers who simply don’t have the time or resources to work on an element so far down their list of priorities.

They are pretty good at inculcating a sense of paranoia too. If only they put half as much effort into playing (and enjoying) games, they might be happier people...

A Clash Of Titans..

It's the NHS vs the cycling lobby. Yet another 'Can't they both lose..?' moment:

A top London hospital today sparked an angry row with cycling campaigners after launching an unprecedented campaign against a proposed bike lane on Westminster bridge.

Bosses at St Thomas’s hospital fear the design of the segregated lane - placing it between bus stops and the route to the hospital’s main entrance - will put patients at risk of colliding with cyclists.

 Ooh, the popcorn's going to be coming out for this one!

Similar “floating” bus stops have already caused a major headache at Elephant & Castle, where Transport for London officials have been patrolling daily to prevent passengers stepping into the path of cyclists.

What a fabulous job creation scheme!

But cycle campaigners say the “floating” designs are being used safely on the CS2 cycle superhighway near the Royal London hospital in Whitechapel, and avoid forcing cyclists to divert into moving traffic to pass bus stops.

So why aren't they having the same issue at Elephant & Castle? It's a puzzle.

And the big beasts are starting to get involved.

MP Kate Hoey, whose Vauxhall constituency includes the hospital, called on Mr Khan to intervene. She said: “TfL’s plans for so-called ‘floating’ bus stops are potentially dangerous.

"Every day thousands of patients – many of them elderly, pregnant or with sick children – use the bus stop outside St Thomas’. The present plans ignore this vulnerable population and I do not believe that adequate thought has been given to their needs.”

*munches popcorn* How will the cyclists respond?

But If You're Able Bodied, And The Dog's A Pet...?

Cumbria Constabulary have signed a new service level agreement (SLA) with the charity Guide Dogs in relation to investigating attacks on assistance dogs.

The force has worked closely with the charity in order to ensure that the correct processes are in place and a consistent approach is undertaken across the county.

The SLA follows a legislation introduced in May 2014 which offers greater protection to assistance dogs and their owners. The legislation states that it is an offence to be in charge of a dog that attacks an assistance dog, which is defined as any dog specially trained to assist a blind, deaf or disabled person.

Hmmm. So, since you're now getting a poorer service from the police, can you claim a reduction in your taxes?

If not...why not? Is it because there's no SLA for you to demand?

Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Steve Johnson said: “An attack on a guide dog can have long lasting effects on both the dog itself and its owner. The Constabulary is committed to supporting victims of crime, especially those who are vulnerable.

Aren't we all vulnerable to crime..?

Mark Burnett, Guide Dogs Mobility Team Manager North East and Cumbria, said: "Guide dog owners are less able to protect themselves. A sighted person will see potential danger and take evasive action, but a blind person is unable to do this."

So is an elderly person. Or a wheelchair user. Or a small child. Where's their protection?

Are they too second class citizens for Cumbria Police?

Police & Crime Commissioner Richard Rhodes said: “I welcome the introduction of this agreement, and the fact that assistance dogs and their owners are to receive greater protection.

This is an important step for those that rely on their dogs to go about their daily lives, and who would be greatly affected if any harm were to come to their dog.”

All you able-bodied grieving owners can just shut up - no SLA for you!

This stinks.

It Seems That ‘Damage To Community Relations’ Is Only Going To Spread…

…especially if you try to force people to get along:

Parents choosing to withdraw their children from a school trip to a mosque over fears they would witness “guns and violence” have been told by governors that any absences will not be approved, amid concerns over damage to community relations.

They aren't in the slightest bit concerned about any damage to the community in general – only to the ‘upset’ caused to one particular minority aspect

Mostofa Abdul Rahman, the education secretary of the Cornwall Islamic Community Centre, said that local Muslims had noticed a change in attitudes towards their faith in recent months.

Mosques in Cornwall have been defaced with graffiti and community members have become concerned about the amount of misinformation about Islam circulating among local people.

Ah, here comes the victim status, right on cue!

Mr Rahman, who helps teach children about Islam at his son’s school, welcomed teachers’ efforts to help pupils understand the religion.

“There are a lot of wrong ideas about Islam. It’s a much more peaceful religion but it’s being used politically in some areas, and that’s not Islam,” he said.

Ah, right. The ‘no true Scotsman’ defence. That’s not at all unconvincing, is it?

“The parents have to really learn a bit more about Islam themselves, from the right sources, before they make a decision. I have been trying all my life to clear this nonsense up.”

Yes, I remember you standing bravely in front of these misguided Muslims, telling them they are wrong about their religion:

Never mind ‘Where’s Wally?’, where’s Mostafa..?

In a statement Kat Smith, the chair of the governors at Lostwithiel school, said: “The visit to the mosque will provide an insight for pupils into the nature of British Islam, help them understand how Islam is presented in the media and that groups like Isis are not a true reflection of the Islam followed by the vast majority of Muslims in Britain.”

Really, Kat? You keep telling yourself that if you think it helps. It's getting kind of wearing, frankly. Because that 'small minority' doesn't seem all that small in other countries either:

The event had been condemned by critics as an attack on Islam, but the organizers insisted they were simply practicing free speech.

Luckily, this was Texas, where they are less keen to abase themselves before thuggery.

Those inside started to sing patriotic songs, including the national anthem and God Bless America, and said a prayer for the injured security guard after one woman pulled out an American flag form her bag.

Over here, she'd probably be arrested for  a public order offence...

A More Accurate Headline Would Be....

..."Parents of disabled boy criticise hospital for failure to provide exact type of special bed they believe their son needs", wouldn't it?

Because the eight-year-old thrashes around in his sleep, his parents, Lynne and Stephen Neatis, from Preston, requested a protective high-sided bed to lay him down in.

The hospital offered a regular bed or alternative specialist models with one-to-one nursing, but Cody’s parents say this was not safe enough.

Hmmm...

Q: When Is A Council Happy To Upset Travellers?

A: When the alternative is upsetting a Muslim…

Shadrack Smith was buried at the Lychgate Lane cemetery after a traditional Romany funeral on Friday .

His family brought three plots they picked which faced his home at Aston Firs - a tradition in Romany culture.

But since they purchased the plots the family of a Muslim man, who was already buried on the site, have objected to 89-year-old Mr Smith being buried next to him, despite the cemetery being billed as open to all faiths and denominations.

Well, surely the council told them to take the sex & travel option?

Tracey Smith, Shadrack’s daughter-in-law, said: “My mother-in-law chose the plot - she had her heart set on it.

“The grave was already being dug and bricked out when we had a call last Monday at 5.45pm from Julie Perrin at the parish council asking us if we could move plots.

“We said no - we bought the land and it was too late to find another plot.”

*gobsmacked*

Can anyone – anyone at all – explain to me the mindset of someone that blithely rings up a grieving family and expects them to comply with this outrageous request?

Nor is Julie Perrin the only cretin at this parish council. Someone else presumably came up with this bizarre ‘resolution’ attempt:

The Smith family said Burbage Parish Council, which runs the cemetery, asked if it could buy one of their empty plots in between the two graves to plant a hedge to separate the plots.

I…

I just…

Chairman of the parish council, Councillor Richard Flemming, said: “Burbage Parish Council provides an award-winning cemetery for the benefit of the whole community. The cemetery is multi-faith and non-denominational, providing a number of interment and memorial options in a peaceful, serene, picturesque environment.

“Unfortunately the parish council has recently received representation from two families regarding the allocation of adjacent grave plots within Burbage Cemetery.

“The parish council is sympathetic to the feelings of both families concerned and is committed to working with the relatives and the wider community to reach an amicable and acceptable solution.”

Well, it’s clear that we know what a winning hand in Victimhood Poker is now, at least if you play against Burbage Parish Council.

H/T: JihadWatch via Twitter

Clearly, It’s ‘Proportionate’ To Disadvantage The Children…

Five caravans turned up at Waterhall in Brighton and without full use of all the car parks the Sussex Cross Country meet scheduled for 600 children next Wednesday will be cancelled.

After a joint assessment by Sussex Police and Brighton and Hove City Council an eviction order was sought but three of the five families are not being evicted. The families told the Argus three women living there are pregnant.

So..?

… organiser Chris Jones, chairman of Brighton and Hove Schools Athletics Association and championship secretary for Sussex Schools Cross Country, did not think the parents would feel comfortable seeing children on a course near travellers.

He said: “We’re going ahead with the event but I’ll have to alter the track.

“I’m not going to deny 200 kids the opportunity to run and gain experience.

“But next week, I’ll need all of those car parks because there are 600 kids registered, so I would have to cancel.

“This is a designated sports area, not a travellers’ camping site.”

 Sadly, even 'the chiiiildreeeen!' don't have a winning hand when it comes to those Caravan Utilising Nomadic Travellers. At least, as far as the authorities are concerned.

Jason Tams, of Brighton Rugby Football Club, who play at Waterhall, fears fixtures could be cancelled and questioned the city’s travel liaison team’s decision, labelling them “too soft” .

Well, yes. Of course they are. They are there to make things easier for the parasites, not the host!

A spokeswoman said: “Police and council are aware of the sensitivity of the location of this encampment and the events due to take place.

“Careful consideration has been given to the full circumstances surrounding this encampment and the use of police powers has been reviewed in respect of the two extended families not currently exempt from eviction.

“The use of these powers has not been considered lawful or proportionate in these particular circumstances.”

Translation: "Kids? Let me check....nope, even with the 'obesity crisis', they don't have enough points to outweigh travellers. No, not even if some are black or disabled."

Victimhood Poker: Black Aces Trump Black Aces..?

Lily Hirsch defends rap music in CiF:

Rap is a musical art form – not sentences simply set to a backing track. Rappers, like poets and other musicians, choose words for their sound, as part of rhythmic schemes, to hit syllabic counts, for assonance, alliteration or consonance, and any of a number of other reasons beyond just dictionary definitions.

Funny. I don't remember anyone at the 'Guardian' advancing this argument when they were cheering the banning of 'homophobic lyrics' in Jamaican dancehall music.

It's almost as if they are all massive hypocrites, or something...

It’s Going To Get Precious Little Sympathy From Me Too…

The family were initially awarded £4000 after seeking action against Flamingo Land, but that decision was overturned at the Court of Appeal in London.

And the decision – that left the family just weeks from losing their home – received no sympathy from the amusement park, despite three of the four family members being severely disabled.

Hmmm, no, indeed. Possibly that’s because it didn’t deserve any?

The spokeswoman added: “The claimant holidayed here as a result of a charitable donation though originally requested personal reimbursement for the cost of his holiday.

"The claimant’s appeal costs were funded by the taxpayer and – in our opinion – should never have been allowed to progress to the Court of Appeal.”

Well, no. But he’s not learned anything from this, clearly:

Now he is hoping to embark on a disability awareness campaign to show the problems disabled people face from service providers “and the judiciary system”.

Double or quits!

H/T: @HolbornLolz via Twitter

Oh, They All Need Their Heads Examined..!

First, the whinging NHS staff climbing aboard the OUTRAGE! bus:

Horror attraction Farmaggedon has come under fire from two Merseyside health trusts who say they are “outraged” mental illness is being used as a form of entertainment.

The top boss of Mersey Care NHS Trust, chief executive Joe Rafferty, said they do not want to “spoil people’s enjoyment of Hallowe’en”, but said imagery that reinforces negative stereotypes of mental illness is not helping them fight stigma, and is actually hurting patients.

Scare parks like Farmaggedon, between Formby and Ormskirk, which offers an attraction called “Psychosis”, was among those highlighted for using imagery associated with mental health problems.

Secondly, the attraction owner, for this piece of ArtBollocks:

But Farmaggedon managing director Mark Edwards said: “Farmaggedon, although it could be described simply as a scare attraction, at the core it is a site-specific promenade piece of theatre and as such should be afforded the same artistic and creative freedom as any art form free from political or agenda-led interference.

“Farmaggedon simply reflects the horror genre in film/literature, theatre and television.”

Both make me want to scream...

Melody David Is Having A Bad Hair Day…

As a black woman with natural hair, I’ve come to expect fascination, ignorance and sometimes insensitivity about my appearance from people outside the black community. Comments such as “your hair is messy/crazy/wild today”, “you look like a sheep/brillo pad” and “your hair gets in the way” are frequently part of natural life.

Really? That sounds just…well, fake. Like so many of CiF columnists’ claimed experiences.

What I’m less ready to tolerate is criticism of natural hair from other black people.

Errr…

Sometimes the criticism is subtle, such as dirty looks in the street from other black girls wearing their hair in weaves. Other times it’s from those closer to home. I have friends whose family members have repeatedly asked: “what are you doing with your hair?”

Yup, me too, when I’ve tried something new with it. Would you prefer no-one notice?

A few weeks ago, while preparing for an important interview, a well-meaning black friend, advised me to straighten my hair, and another acquaintance recommended I “put it in a bun”. I was appalled. They failed to address any of my real concerns yet felt entitled to burden me with this “advice”. I went for the interview, feeling as if my hair was yet another thing counting against me.

These are not simple pieces of advice, such as we all get from friends & strangers alike. These are, apparently, ‘microaggressions’. If you’re self-absorbed & have a chip on your shoulder, anyway…

Since moving to Paris last autumn, though, I’ve noticed a stark difference in the attitude towards my hair. Nobody seems to care. And it’s relieving. No one pets my hair on the Metro, which has happened on the tube more times than I care to remember. More surprisingly, there is a distinct lack of hostility and commentary from other black people, whatever their hairstyle choice.

When I ask various black French people why other black people don’t critique my hair in Paris, the resounding reply is: “You’re black and your hair looks like what a black person’s hair should look like. What is there to say?” For them the in-fighting surrounding natural hair is pointless.

And the source of this miraculous lack of interest in trivialities?

Having said that, the reasons may not always be positive.

Oh, right. Perish the thought!

“Black people in Paris have bigger problems, such as their constantly questioned identity and racism,” says Alex, a 34-year-old artist. He’s right. The recent spike in support for fascist parties in France such as the Front National is much more of a concern, as is the high rate of unemployment which still disproportionately affects black people.

Gosh, you mean, faced with real issues of racism, ‘microaggressions’ don’t get a look in? Fancy!

A Loss Of Social Decency, Nell..?

Nell Frizzell has a problem with the Internet:

There is a rule when it comes to the internet: if you can think of it, then it probably already exists. There are thousands of strange and brilliant blogs and Facebook groups to prove the theory.

She then lists some of the ones she personally likes. They are OK, clearly. They don’t do much for me, but, well, horses for courses, and all that.

But there’s one she does have problems with:

… Women Who Eat On Tubes has 15,400 members and counting on Facebook. The David Bailey fan page has, by contrast, just 1,782.

So..?

For those of you who haven't seen this latest example of public transport trolling, allow me to explain.

Well, I don’t think you’re going to be very informative, since you clearly believe this to be ‘trolling’ and so haven’t the faintest clue about…well, anything .

Women Who Eat On Tubes is an open Facebook group where people post full-frontal pictures of women eating on the London underground. So far, so invasive.

Because scoffing a greasy dripping burger on public transport (or a box of fried chicken) isn't at all ‘invasive’ of others' personal space?

What tips the balance just that little bit further is that the photographers also upload the time the photo was taken, the food the woman was eating and the tube line that she was travelling on.

So..?

I have huge reservations about people taking photos of strangers on trains in the first place. Particularly when those people are made easily identifiable and the subject of anonymous, derisive, malicious humour. But this group sticks in my gullet for other reasons.

And, of course, it’s the ‘Is it ‘cos I is a woman?’ excuse:

Firstly, Women Who Eat On Tubes highlights, once again, that age-old, tiresome comparison between sex and food. I hate that plus-size models are so often photographed chewing on bloody steaks or drizzled in honey.

*sigh* Sometimes, Nell, a cigar is just a cigar…

I don't think we should follow Hungary's model and make it illegal to take a photograph without gaining the permission of everyone in frame…

Well, that would be unenforceable. Which is, I suspect, the only reason you aren't calling for it.

… but the trend towards photographing strangers feels like a loss of social decency. We are losing our grip on what it is to be human. We are forgetting that other people have feelings too.

Except those people who might object to you stuffing your face on public transport, I suppose?

Finally, as someone who relishes eating whatever I want, wherever I want, whenever I want, I hugely dislike the fact that women eating on the tube is even seen as noteworthy. To enjoy food alone and to eat without shame are vital parts of becoming self-sufficient. And self-sufficiency is the surest path to unshakable happiness.

Yes, people objecting to your gustatory habits are oppressing you! How dare they not celebrate your freedom to shove a kebab in your capacious maw on a packed Northern Line train!

So, what is the answer? Sophie Wilkinson, a journalist, discovered a photo of herself uploaded to Women Who Eat On Tubes last week. After emailing the photographer, complaining to Facebook and approaching Transport For London, Wilkinson's attempts to address the situation were frustrated by the fact that to take photos of strangers on the tube is not illegal.

So, there’s no answer. Other than to wait until you get home.

Oh, you could try a ‘sit in’ if you want, but you won’t affect anyone other than your fellow commuters who will just view you as even more of a nuisance than if you were shovelling fries into your mouth...

Update: The Facebook page has now been pulled. Are they happy now that the company has rolled over to appease them?

Speaking to the Standard later, Ms McKay said she was still planning to hold Monday's protest as she said the original group "reflected a wider issue".

She said: "I am really glad that it's been taken down. I am quite surprised. But I think it reflects a wider issue. There were still 20,000 people who loved that group. There is still a message to be sent out."

Clearly not. And they won’t be happy until they’ve punished the thoughtcrime of liking a Facebook page.

Or perhaps they’ll never be happy? They seem the types, after all…

KER…CHING!!

A vulnerable woman who had a sexual encounter with a Bromley police officer after being beaten up by her boyfriend is suing the Met Police.

Because, hey, the boyfriend’s not got any money. But the Met’s got lots – or rather, the taxpayer’s got lots!

The court heard how she was seeking £4,730 to £15,400, plus a further £11,000, if it is found that the claimant did not have a capacity to consent to the sexual activity.

Ruth Brander, for the woman, said: “The claimant claims damages, including aggravated and exemplary damages, in respect of misfeasance.”

She said the Met Police commissioner was liable after Formby “abused his position of trust as a police officer by engaging in sexual activity with her whilst he was on-duty as a uniformed police officer”.

There are no words…

Oh, wait! There are - 6600 of them.

"It is certainly not commonplace for a woman to throw herself at a man she has just met."

I don't think Judge Bailey moves in the same circles as women like this one, do you?

I Told You This Wouldn’t Stop, Didn’t I?

Residents in Bromsgrove and Rubery are being called to back a new campaign for a change in the law to protect police dogs on the front line.

Oh, really? How?

In the eyes of the law police dogs are considered as 'property' so anyone who attacked or killed one would only face a criminal damage charge - the same charge someone would receive for kicking a car.

Oh, wait. I see where this is going now.

Dave Hibbert, a West Midlands police puppy walker and the chairman of the Retired West Midlands Police Dog Benevolent Fund, has now launched an online Ministry of Justice petition. In total 100,000 signatures are needed before the matter can be taken to Parliament.

Mr Hibbert is calling for a change to the law so police dogs can be recognised as serving 'members' of the force, in the same way officers are.

Yes, it’s the demand for ‘first class status’ for service animals.

Your pet? Your neighbour’s farmyard animal? Second-class, and don’t you forget it!

Mr Hibbert said police dogs did a fantastic job protecting our communities on a daily basis.

"They are the first to be called in when dangerous situations occur and they often put themselves on the line to protect their fellow officers.

"One of my own puppies, police dog Usha, was once attacked with a glass bottle and there have been recent examples of other police dogs being assaulted by criminals too.

"There seems to be a growing trend of attacks on police dogs and horses and I feel now is the time to push for a law change recognising the sterling work police dogs do for their communities," he added.

Given the notorious laxness of the justice system when it comes to attacks on police officers, what real difference would this make? Other than to create yet another example of 'they are better than us' syndrome...

HOLD THE FRONT PAGE!!

A teenage girl said she was left feeling “upset” and “uncomfortable” by an assistant at a York shop.

Oh? How? Sleazy sales assistant make a pass?

Lucy, who is a lesbian and celebrated her 19th birthday on Monday, said: “I tend to buy male shoes because I have larger feet than a lot of girls and they are more comfortable.

“I haven’t had any problems with it before and went to the check-out, waited in line.

“When he saw me he asked if they were for me and then went on to say I shouldn’t be buying men’s shoes because I’m a girl, there was a girl’s section for a reason, and he made me feel really uncomfortable for buying something that I liked.”

Whereupon you shrugged it off as just one of those things and carried on with your day, yes?

Ha! Of course not…

Lucy, who is also her mother’s carer, and her friend left the store, but was so shocked by the attitude of the sales assistant that she burst into tears once she got outside.

Oh, man up, princess! Oh. Whoops.

Don’t cry…

Lucy’s mother, Emma, who has Fibromyalgia and was not in the store at the time, said: “She shouldn’t be made to feel bad because she likes them and they fit her better, but he made her feel small, stupid and very, very bad, and I have never had my daughter come out of a store in tears before.

“I phoned them for 20 minutes and I got no reply and I’m furious about this. My daughter is a lesbian and buys mens’ shoes because they suit her style.”

Yes, love, I think we got the message about her sexual preference, though why it should have any bearing on her shoe choice or on this incident, heaven only knows…

The store itself seems a bit baffled by the idea that a complainant will go straight to the papers, rather than to them.

A spokesman for the store, said: “I have not been made aware of any complaint but it may have been a light-hearted comment that has been taken the wrong way. If I was made aware of a member of staff upsetting a customer, the matter would be dealt with internally.”

Will that mollify her? Probably not…

Number 48792 On The List Of ‘Things The Guardian Cares About But No One Else Does’…

Women's prisons in England and Wales are undergoing an "epidemic of self-mutilation", with one in four female prisoners having self-harmed, according to a new Oxford University study.

*yawns*

Fazel said while self-harm was a substantial problem across the board, it was a particularly serious issue for women in prison who made up 5% of the prison population but accounted for half of all self-harm incidents: "Moreover, now we know the extent to which the risk of subsequent suicide in prisoners who self-harm is greater than the general prison population, suicide prevention initiatives should be changed to include a focus on prisoners who are self-harming, especially repeatedly," she added.

Naturally, this is grist to the mill for those who don’t believe in prison at all, and especially not for the wimminz…

Frances Crook of the Howard League for Penal Reform said the Lancet figures showed there was "an epidemic of self-mutilation by women in prison". She said it was another sign prisons were unable to cope and stressed the importance of a forthcoming public inquiry into the case of a 17-year-old in custody who nearly died because of repeated cutting and self-injury.

Prisons are ‘coping’ quite well, actually, Frances. If a few criminals can’t cope with the regime, well, they could always try not committing crime, couldn’t they?

"The vast majority of women are either remanded or have committed nonviolent offences and should be given a community sentence focused on the roots of their criminal behaviour," said Crook

"For those who require custody, small secure centres should be set up that help these women away from crime while keeping the public safe."

And if Frances gets her way with female offenders, it won’t be long before she’s finding excuses why men should be imprisoned either…