Bloody Thatcher Again, She's Responsible For Everything!

One area which has suffered some of the of the most high profile dog attacks in recent years is Gwent.

Yes indeed, Wales is a hotbed of dangerous dog breeding, but why? 

Although at first glance you would not know the tragedies had taken place at all as grannies piled into the community centre to enjoy some day time bingo while the local chippy was still doing a roaring trade with happy school children. But ask about dangerous dogs on the streets of Penyrhoel and the memories of Jack and Shirley are never far from the surface and everyone is united in their determination to crack down on dangerous dogs in the area.

Well, maybe not everyone.... 

“In all honesty I will say there is very high percentage of people doing this who are unemployed, and not because they are lazy but because they have no opportunities there is no work for them and the pits have closed down so they turn to things like this.

Damn you, Thatcher! All those poor miners thrown out of work, and having to breed dangerous dogs just to keep body and soul together... 

“Unemployment has played an awfully big role in people breeding these dogs, not just Bullies, because it is not regulated like it should be anybody can breed a dog so maybe it should licenced (sic) if that was possible.”

It is possible, but I don't see why the elderly chap down the road who walks his retired greyhound should be put to more trouble and expense so some chav can own a thing that looks like it's just been decanted from Henry Wu's vats. 

You Have A Strange Definition Of 'As Little As Possible'...

Ministers have been strongly criticised ... for rejecting calls from bereaved families, senior police officers and a coroner to put extra controls on shotguns in response to the Plymouth mass shooting.

By whom..?

...by anti-gun campaigners...

Oh. Of course.  

The campaign group the Gun Control Network said: “The government response would be shocking if it wasn’t so predictable. They have shown once again that they will always prioritise the interests of shooters over public safety. They have sent a message of business as usual to shooters and done as little as possible to upset them.”

Is that true? Reader, what do you think?

Philp announced that the government will provide £500,000 in funding to support the development and rollout of a national training package produced by the College of Policing and the National Police Chiefs’ Council.

“In due course, this training will become mandatory for police firearms licensing teams,” he said.

He also launched a consultation on a series of possible new measures, including giving police the right to undertake searches and seize shotguns without a warrant, shortening the firearms certificate renewal period from five years, and tightening the rules around referees for licence applications.

None of that is 'as little as possible', is it? 

Time To Play 'Guess The Headline' Once Again...

Well, what could it be? Climbing them? Carving their names in the trunks? 

It can't be being injured by falling coconuts, after all, not in Devon's climate!

I...

Well, I can say I wasn't expecting that.

According to Plymouth Live, the council insists that the work was necessary in order to tackle anti-social behaviour. A council spokesperson said: “The area around the Belvedere shelter has suffered from growing anti-social behaviour, with council officers regularly having to clean up sex and drug paraphernalia.”

Which 'council officers'..? Because if it's the street cleaners or parks staff, some might say that it's their job... 

The spokesperson said: “We will be replacing them with planting that has improved biodiversity benefits and provides a better home to bees and bugs.”

And discourages public sex? Hmmm. Nettles?

The residents aren't convinced: 

The person, who called the palms “stunning”, said the removal of shrubs would merely relocate anti-social behaviour elsewhere and said: “Those causing the problems will simply move elsewhere.

The problem needs to be addressed at root cause level, not moved on.

“These palms were stunning. Adding to biodiversity for sure plus, as all island and seaside people know, they are the best at dissipating wind. The sound of the wind in palm leaves is unique and was something to be enjoyed by all.”

Quite! But not enjoyed in that fashion...

H/T: Ian J via email

And They Are Right To Be Worried...

Schools admit they are extremely worried about the copycat protests that have erupted in the last two weeks, typically sparked by videos shared on TikTok with many thousands of views. But what has shocked many leaders most is the number of parents on social media applauding pupils taking part.

Because this isn't just a case of don't-care, my-child-can-do-no-wrong chav parents. Far from it.

Sam Strickland, principal of Duston school, an academy in Northampton that teaches children aged four to 19, told the Observer: “Some parents have been arguing that it is an infringement of human rights for schools to restrict toilet use during lessons. That’s ludicrous.”

Is it? I suspect if the local 'refugee' centre told its inhabitants they could only use the toilets at certain times you'd be pretty vocal about it at cocktail parties with your fellow teaching heads... 

He argues that parents are “legitimising” demonstrations that could quickly get out of hand and become a serious risk to young people’s safety, by openly questioning the fairness of school rules and the authority of teachers.

You really believe you shouldn't be subject to questions on those issues, do you? 

Chris Stokes, principal of Farnley Academy in Leeds, wrote to parents on 24 February condemning a protest at his school that morning over locked toilets during lessons. A parent told the local newspaper the school was infringing young people’s human rights. Others backed her up on social media.

But Stokes said in his letter that the decision to lock toilets had followed “two very serious safeguarding events”. He wrote: “It was a necessary decision to keep all pupils safe.”

Because collective punishment is the easy way out, rather than dealing with those who break the rules. As expected.  

More Vegan Cats....

It will fall to their generation to attempt to clear up the plastic waste with which we have polluted the oceans.

But the future is in safe hands if nine-year-old Ella McEwan and her sister Caitlin, seven, are anything to go by.

Do they plan to be inventors or refuse collectors when they grow up?

After learning at school how rubbish is endangering sea life, the eco-aware pair from Southampton set up an online petition for fast food giants to stop putting plastic toys in children’s meal boxes.

Ah, no, silly me. They plan to grow up to be smug collective punishment advocates. Probably something they learned at home.

Or...was it?

‘The girls have had lots of lessons about protecting the environment and they were quite worried about it,’ said their mother Rachael, 49.

When I went to school at the age of seven and nine, I had 'lots of lessons' about French, German, English, English Literature, history, geography....

‘Ella came home after they’d seen a short film about plastics in the sea. They were talking about turtles with plastic bags round their necks, and that really upset the children.

‘They noticed the toys they got in the kids’ meal boxes weren’t great, they didn’t really want them, and a lot of the time they were plastic, wrapped in plastic,’ their mother said.

‘We started giving them back unopened and then, because they know about petitions, we talked about starting one and they were keen.’

And now I'm wondering who exactly is driving this..?

"Run Silent, Sarge, Run Silent!"

While the Croydon MPS Twitter account referred to the park as being Melfort Park, more than one person responded on social media to point out it is actually called Thornton Heath Recreation Ground.

This included former Croydon councillor Timothy Godfrey, who tweeted: "Do you mean Thornton Heath Recreation Ground? Does this include closure of the public footpath?"

He also asked if the closure order will be invalid if police have incorrectly named the area.

Mr Godfrey has not received a response on Twitter.

Twitter. It's Kryptonite to our boys in blue, isn't it?

Remember The Conservative Party...?

...whatever happened to them?

I can't count all the ways this is likely to backfire. Seriously, are there no grownups in charge any more?

Exercises In Futility....

Dogs could be banned from Canvey seafront under proposals being considered by Castle Point Council.

Currently, dogs can go into certain areas of the beach during specific times so long as they are under the control of the owner and dog mess is cleared up. However, Castle Point Council is considering banning canines from the seafront during the summer months, due to growing concerns about the amount of dog mess left behind.

Colin Letchford, who regularly volunteers with Friends of Concord Beach to clean the area, said: “I enquired with the council on how many people had been fined for dog fouling and they said none. I don’t want to see more regulations for people to ignore.”

Oh, don't be silly Colin, of course they'll....

Wait.

Parents who take their child out of school in Southend to go on holiday are not being fined, figures have revealed.

Essex County Council fined 3,165 parents in 2016/17 for taking their children on term-time holidays, up from 1,850 in 2015/16.

However, in comparison Southend Council issued no fines whatsoever last year and only 43 the year before.

Ah.

Futile Gestures Part 24257851

South Essex College bosses have banned all staff and students from bringing in sport cap bottles...in a bid to...

Oh, I can't wait...!

...stop acid attacks.

Huh? So...has there been some at this college?

A spokesman told the Echo the decision was not prompted by any incidents at the college.

Ah. OK. Well, guess it can't hurt to be proactive.

He said: “There’s no hidden element behind our new policy. “As the weekend’s events in Stratford show, these attacks are unfortunately becoming all too common. We’ve put this in place as a purely preventative measure, we will continue to make sure the safety of our students, staff and visitors remains our top priority.

“We have more than 10,000 students, and up to 1,000 staff members, across all three of our campuses.”

Well, good job you didn't just take a knee-jerk over reaction that even they could see thr...

Oh, wait. You did!

Molly McTigue, 17, from Little Wakering, who is studying Media Make Up at the college, said: “I got told off for bringing a Lucozade bottle into class on Wednesday. I didn’t know why.

“I suppose it’s good because they’re trying to prevent acid attacks, but I don’t think it will make any difference because they will find other ways of doing it.”

Incredibly, they seem smarter than their educators already.

"...you just don't expect it to happen in your town."

I can't think why. All the hallmarks are pretty familiar.

For instance, type of 'pet':

American bulldogs are strong, stocky dogs, which have been kept as pets in the UK and around the world for centuries.

A male dog weighs about 45 kilograms when fully grown, and lives for between 10 and 15 years if healthy.

American bulldogs are not on the government's banned dogs list, which is made up of four breeds of dog which it is illegal to own or sell. They are often confused with pit bull terriers, which are on the banned list.

Conditions in which it was kept:

The dog is believed to have been kept in a wooden outhouse at the side of the property, which was yesterday being examined by forensic officers.

Neighbour Scott Nowell, 19, who called the police after realising what had happened, said: ‘They have only had the dog about a week because we heard it barking.’

And type of owner:

Jade Dunne, 29, who lives in the house is understood to have been arrested for allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control and remains in police custody.

She is believed to have four children, including one young son around the same age as Dexter, who was heard screaming by neighbours during the horrific attack.

The demand for collective punishment, because a chihuahua owned by a 70 year old lady or a collie owned by a working farmer is exactly the same as a four-legged status dog/weapon kept by a chav:

The Labour MP Barry Sheerman, who represents Huddersfield, called for a new system of dog licensing...

...

He said: “These two deaths in four days mean we have got to seriously look at the evidence of a proper licensing system for dogs. Other parts of the world do it so much better than us.”

...

“My son recently homed two kittens from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. There was a rigorous interview, a rigorous check on background and a home visit. Why can’t we have a dog licence system of that quality up and down the country?”

It could have been any one of the 356 posts I've written on this subject (minus - so far! - the police or local council indifference), couldn't it?

And Their Scissors, And Screwdrivers, And....?

Gulsen Alkan said she felt let down by the authorities after she discovered how Trevor Joyce was free to kill art dealer Justin Skrebowski in Poundland last December.

Yup, there's little doubt about this, frankly.  I'm not sure why the immediate answer is to make shopper's and shopkeeper's lives that bit harder, though?

The random attack shocked the community, and sparked an appeal spearheaded by Ms Alkan to get shops to lock up their knives.

Maybe a campaign to force the authorities to be held to account would have been more sensible, but what do I know?

"It Takes A Village To Raise ... Allegations Of Child Abuse"

Research commissioned by the Department for Education found that one in three individuals who have suspected a child they know is being abused did nothing to act on their suspicions. Fear of having misread a situation, potentially ruining someone’s life by wrongly tarnishing them with such a serious accusation, is cited as the biggest factor which deters reporting suspected crimes.

And no wonder, as a glance at Anna Raccoon's or Moor Larkin's blogs could tell you.

Of course, no decision to report abuse will ever be easy. The sense of the magnitude of the accusation, and the awareness of the extreme repercussions for all involved, can be overwhelming. However, the seriousness of child abuse should mean that the question of whether to report should not be a question at all. We all have a duty to report our fears, despite our concerns that they may be unfounded.

"Never fear, citizen! The office of Witchfinder General is known for its compassion and professionalism, so report that old lady with the black cat when your cow's gone barren in confidence. It's your civic duty!"

Putting responsibility on victims to report sex crimes, and therefore the responsibility to prevent abuse, perpetuates victim-blaming attitudes; it reflects the belief that the onus is always on the victim to stop their abuser by speaking out, rather than on society to protect its citizens in the first place and to be receptive to signs of abuse when they occur. It absolves wider society of responsibility, in failing to acknowledge that child abuse is a far-reaching and important social issue. Instead, we are encouraged to think about abuse in terms of isolated events and disconnected individuals.

"Only 'society' has a responsibility, never the individual!"

If we are serious about eradicating abuse, collective cultural responsibility is just as important as individual victim empowerment.

"Forward, citizens! Forward together, as one, into our glorious collective future!"

This broadcast has been brought to you by The People's Republic Of Islington.

No, We Will Not Curtail Our Choices To Make Your Job Easier!

Police officers have urged ministers to call time on 24-hour licensing , after three-quarters of police officers and 50% of ambulance staff told a survey they had been injured while handling drink-related violence.

A survey run by the emergency services?

Respondents to the survey by the Institute of Alcohol Studies…

Ah. I guess we (the taxpaying majority) can safely ignore it, then.

… said there was a culture of fear among emergency service workers about being attacked when dealing with alcohol-related incidents.

Part of the job. Like fishing dead bodies out of rivers and being in the front lines of riots.

Suck it up! You aren’t a conscript, you’re a volunteer, and if you failed to realise the job had less savoury aspects to it, well, more fool you!

The move had changed policing forever, a sergeant told the survey. The majority of police time was now spent “dealing with the fallout from the night time economy,” he said. “No longer are we able to patrol residential areas to catch burglars etc.”

Wait a minute, I thought you were bleating about not doing that due to those awful Tory cuts? Now it’s because you’re too busy with drunks?

Make up your damned minds!

Katherine Brown, the director of the Institute of Alcohol Studies, said: “Our report shows how alcohol takes up a disproportionate share of emergency service time, costing taxpayers billions of pounds each year.

…

Brown said: “Police officers we spoke to would far rather be dealing with burglaries than Friday night drunks. We call on the government to better support our emergency services and implement policies to ease this burden, such as minimum unit pricing for alcohol.”

OK, 1) that cost is more than offset by the billions of pounds taken in alcohol taxes, and 2) the EU has already ruled that minimum pricing is a no-go, you collective punishment-loving moron!

Not that the police need to rely on convenient third parties to demand collective punishment – they are pretty hand at initiating it:

Police in London are urging shopkeepers to refuse to sell eggs and flour to under-16s in the run-up to Halloween in case they use them to target the homes of elderly and vulnerable residents.

They might want to make bloody pancakes, or be buying shopping for someone else, though? What sort of idiot demands that they be inconvenienced anyway?

Oh. Of course. A Labour Party idiot:

Labour councillor for King's Cross Jonathan Simpson dismissed suggestions the initiative is an overreaction.

"The police don't send out letters lightly," he said. "I don't have a problem with it. It may inconvenience some young people but it is probably a week or so and I would rather that than have a vulnerable or elderly resident attacked.

"I wouldn't want an elderly or vulnerable resident to be faced being pelted in a violent way at any time of year. It is a way of preventing that."

Another way of preventing that would be to round up all the elderly and vulnerable and lock them up for a fortnight. Why not try this? What’s that? They have rights? Why, yes. Now you get it…

And I’m sick and tired of the only answer to police issues being collective punishment.

Enough! No more. If your ‘solution’ to a crime problem unfairly impinges on the rights of others top go about their lives unhindered and unobstructed, then you haven’t thought it out.

And we pay you to do that. So off you go, and come back with a better solution.

The Unenforceable In Full Pursuit Of The Unspeakable…

Car cruisers will be banned from Southend after the courts granted an injunction against them.

If you’re wondering ‘How..?’, given that car cruises are usually no more than young folk in nice cars driving up and down, well, take heart. You aren’t alone.

The injunction obtained from the High Court forbids any car-cruise events from happening anywhere in the Borough until September 2016. However, the authority admits it is still working with Essex Police to draw up plans on how to enforce the injunction.

Well, quite! If everyone who owns a particular car or type of car WhatsApps their chums & says ‘Fancy a drive to the seaside and back?’ is that illegal?

If Mr & Mrs Average are out for a pootle down to Thorpe Bay in their vintage Jag, do they risk Essex Police zooming up behind them, lights flashing, because that’s the fifth vintage Jag in a row that’s passed their waiting patrol car?

It followed the furore after a ‘static’ car meet up earlier this month, that saw hundreds of vehicle enthusiasts descend on Western Esplande. However, a small number of them were doing ‘burnouts’ and driving recklesssly during the event.

Then why not arrest that ‘small number’ for the offences they committed, and leave everyone else alone?

Independent Martin Terry, who is responsible for transport at the authority, said: “I’m very pleased that we have successfully obtained this order, which will enable us to take tough action against any groups who comes to our town with the intention of driving recklessly.”

“Anyone who organises such an event now does so at their own peril and we will not be shy in bringing the full force of the law to bear.”

“At the same time I’m kindly asking the public to be vigilant and report any incidents to the police if you see them occurring.”

God, if anyone thought that electing independents would get you a different type of politician than the overbearing, NuPuritan prodnoses of the main parties, then Martin Terry is here to prove you wrong, isn’t he?

”Beat the clock, you gotta beat the clock…”

Notorious spots used for sexual encounters on the A40 could have restrictions imposed to limit parking to 30 minutes.

The measures for two laybys at Forest Hill, between Oxford and Wheatley, have been proposed by Oxfordshire County Council in cooperation with Thames Valley Police.

That sounds more than enough time to me..!

But there are concerns it could prevent lorry drivers using the stops legitimately for breaks.

…

Under European Union rules, drivers must take a break, or multiple breaks, amounting to 45 minutes after no more than four hours and 30 minutes on the road.

Oops!

In his report to county council transport boss David Nimmo Smith, Mr Kemp said he had listened to the parish council’s concerns but still recommended the 30-minute limit.

He added: “While the regulations covering drivers’ hours do require a break of 45 minutes, this does not have to be in a single block.”

Maybe not, but why on earth should the people not causing a problem be further inconvenienced?

Mr Bingham, the FTA’s head of roads policy, said: “There is a limit on how long lorry drivers can be on the road before they are required to take a break, so it is not reasonable to keep shunting people along to other stops.

“It seems like someone has created a rule here that is going to punish people who have not committed a sin.”

Well, yeah. Ain’t it always the way? All because no-one wants to do the job of identifying and summonsing these people.

Say…if they can’t be arsed to do that, how are they going to find the time to enforce the new limit?

The county council report said that the new parking rules would be enforced by Thames Valley Police. But force spokeswoman Charlotte Redman declined to comment further.

Ah. Thought so.

Oh, But I Think You Are…

Mel Wakeman, senior lecturer in applied physiology at Birmingham City University, said yesterday: “Hungry Horse obviously have no conscience and no doubt both their wallet and the size of their customers will be getting fatter by the week.

“To me, this is simply ludicrous and irresponsible. I am no killjoy…”

Hey, if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, etc…

“Why can’t they include on the menu what the customer would need to do to burn all those calories off? ”

Because there’s no room, given all the demands from the other obesity crisis squawkers to include the calorie count & the allergens, perhaps?

And if we are going to start demanding information regarding potential consequences be included, what disclaimer shall we have put on any degree course you might teach, eh?

The pub chain defended it's creation and called the dish "bizarre but brilliant".

It looks revolting to me, and I’m a committed carnivore, but each to their own, and since they aren't forcing anyone to eat it, what business is it of some clown at a third rate ex-polytechnic?

Why, Yes, Let's Demand Something That Had No Connection With This Tragedy...

...it's clearly The Modern Way:

The tragedy – in the Clubmoor area of Liverpool – has led to the Clarke family calling for tougher dog control laws to be brought in, with muzzles on all dogs in public, and under-18s barred from walking dogs.

So, 'the tragedy' was caused by an under 18 year old walking an unmuzzled dog in public?

Why, no. Why ever would you think that?

Kenny said: “We are not dog haters, we love dogs - I’ve been around them my whole life.

“It is a case of owners taking more responsibility.

“Every human being is different and so are dogs. They all have different personalities and are capable of reacting.

“If dogs were muzzled in public then the number of attacks would fall.

“It needs to start now before someone else become a victim.”

Kenny, this case is awful, but just why you think forcing Mrs Miggins to muzzle her 2lb Pomeranian when she walks it down the road to get her morning newspaper is the answer to stopping men like your brother from being mauled to death in their own back garden by his neighbour's uncontrollable half-starved 180lb killing machine, I've no idea.

I hesitate to suggest that it's because you're from Liverpool. Has anyone got a better suggestion?

Oh, Yes, Let’s Go Forgo Medical Advancements…

…purely for the sake of those who are backward. Yes, that’s really what Rajendra Kale is suggesting:

When I wrote the editorial “‘It’s a girl!’ – could be a death sentence” in the Canadian Medical Association Journal in 2012 it caused a media uproar. This was expected given that the piece touched on issues such as abortion, women’s rights, foetal rights, and ethnicity.

He was swiftly replaced at the helm of the Canadian equivalent of the BMJ. And he’s clearly learnt his lesson. More genuflecting towards backwards cultures is required:

The solution I proposed caused further debate. I suggested that the sex of the foetus should be disclosed to all women after 30 weeks of pregnancy, when an abortion is practically impossible. The sex of the foetus is medically irrelevant, except in rare instances of genetic disorders linked to X chromosomes. So why should healthcare professionals be obliged to disclose medically irrelevant information that has reduced the number of women by millions?

Because it’s not the information that’s doing it. It’s people. And if Unity's sums are correct, it's not even all that many people, either.

Let’s be honest here. Mrs Smith is not going to suddenly decide on a termination if it’s not a boy. Mrs Patel might. Why on earth withhold the information from Mrs Smith as a result? Yet that’s what he’s suggesting.

Because anything else is just too hard and difficult to carry out, and risks ‘upsetting’ people. Doctors should never have to do that, I guess.

Arguably the sex of the foetus should be withheld only from those women who are at high risk of aborting female foetuses, but how can one identify these women? Having separate disclosure rules for women who belong to certain ethnic minorities would attract accusations of discrimination.

So, their paler sisters should just take one for the team! Give up the idea that medical advancement is here for all, if one other person misuses it, then we’ll take it away.

You can’t have nice things, Mrs Smith!

Mothers want to know the sex of their baby as soon as possible out of curiosity and because it helps them to plan for its arrival. If they wait till 30 weeks they could save the lives of girls who would otherwise be aborted and still have enough time to decorate the nursery in pink or blue. Dealing with the heightened curiosity of waiting for 30 weeks is a small price to pay for helping to save millions of women globally.

But you aren't paying it, are you, Rajendra? You’re expected all these other women to pay it, just so your fellow doctors don’t have to have an uncomfortable conversation. You want these other women to take the pressure off you by giving up an advancement.

And that’s not right.

Why So Shocked?

McDonald's in Sidcup caused outrage among fast food loving youngsters when it …

Oooh!

… posted a sign announcing they would not be served after 7pm.

Eh..?

Two signs stating "No youths will be served after 7pm" were posted in the High Street branch this week in a bid to prevent anti-social behaviour.

However, the signs were swiftly removed after News Shopper got in contact with the restaurant's head office.

Ah. I see. Some poor beleaguered shop manager tried to resolve the issue the only way he knows how - with a bit of collective punishment, like everyone else - and it backfired.

A McDonald’s spokeswoman said: "I can confirm that there is no age restriction policy in place at the McDonald’s restaurant on Sidcup High Street.

On Saturday evening, the restaurant experienced problems with a group of individuals causing sustained disruption to the restaurant, affecting fellow customers and employees.

"As a result, following consultation with local police, the restaurant management took urgent steps to try and prevent repeat anti-social behaviour.

"The wording of the initial signage displayed in the restaurant was incorrect and we apologise for any confusion caused."

Rather than 'consult with local police', why not simply point out that you pay business rates? And that the little scrotes' lives should be made hell until they get the message?

TANSTAAFV*

All under-fives could get free vitamins under plans being considered by the government — but Bolton health chiefs are one step ahead in the fight to tackle the rise of rickets.

Yes. Rickets. Really!

The number of people being treated for rickets has doubled in the town over the past two years, according to figures released in April.

A lack of exposure to sunlight is being blamed for the resurgence of the disease, which was virtually wiped out in the Western world in the 1940s.

Now, England's chief medical officer — Professor Dame Sally Davies — has asked the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to review whether all children should receive drops or tablets containing vitamins A, C and D.

Yes, because, of course, giving all children vitamins is clearly the done thing to do. We can’t single out those who might actually need them, because...

…

Well, why not?

A council spokesman said: “We are committed to giving every child in Bolton the best start in life and are always looking at ways we can improve everyone’s health.

“The Healthy Start programme offers families on low incomes the opportunity to benefit from free milk, fresh or frozen fruit and veg, and vitamins, including vitamin D.

“In Bolton we are enhancing this programme by offering the Healthy Start vitamins free to families with young children who might not qualify for the Healthy Start programme but who are at risk of vitamin D deficiency.

“We are also working with local pharmacies to promote the benefits of taking vitamin D supplements during winter, particularly for those groups of people who might be at risk.”

Without, of course, drawing any attention to those who ‘might be at risk’…

*There Ain’t No Such Thing As A Free Vitamin