We’re Missing Two Words…

 

…those being ‘getting caught’. 

But he says news of the event only came out 15 months later, and so that  limited the damage to trust in government.

How low do you think that trust is now..? 

Will They Never Learn..?

Wait, what..?

Err...

H/T: Ian J via email

It's That Royal 'We' Again...

Sarah Wilson thinks the pandemic was a great thing:

Do you remember what we did? We stopped consuming. And we really rather loved it.

Really? I thought there'd been an immediate run on Amazon and eBay and Just Eat. Not to mention online entertainment, or does it not count if pixels are flowing into the house rather than parcels..? 

In April discretionary spending dropped by 30% in Australia. In early May 52% of us told the researchers behind the BCG’s Global Consumer Sentiment survey that we planned to “reduce spending on luxury products even after the crisis is over”. We told others that, post-pandemic, we’d focus spending on meaningful, simple experiences with each other and buy less stuff.

Yeah, yeah. 'We' tell ourselves every year we'll give Veganuary a shot too, yet the ramainder shelf in supermarkets stays packed with unbought PlantChef and Wicked ready meals...  

But it didn’t stick. And this truth has been hammered home as we start the new year. By early June we were spending like mad people, back to pre-pandemic levels. Consumer confidence reports released on 12 January showed spending on goods went up 13.3% year on year, and consumer confidence was at a 13-month high.

Whoever thought we wouldn't? 

It’s 2021; can we call it as it is? Drop the C-bomb? We were hoping to be freed from capitalism.

Who's 'we'? Clearly, 'we' weren't! 

To my mind, we become so trapped in the cult that we struggle to imagine how to release ourselves, or a better world beyond it. But we are going to have to.

Oh? Really? 

It’s worth casting our mind back to early Covid and the hope, lightness and connection we felt as we go forward into the abject uncertainty of 2021. Because, and here’s the Great Revelation in it all, that was us. That was who we are.

It appears it was who circumstance forced us to be, temporarily. But now we're back, baby! 

Professional Liberal Progressives Rejecting Abortion?

What gives..?

He adds: “We don’t judge people who have an abortion, but I’d very much like people to know that there are an awful lot of positives to be had.”

The midwife told her that, in the previous year, only two people she had seen had carried on with their pregnancies after the diagnosis. “People clearly don’t feel supported from the outset. There must be so many people who are unsure and not given any information. All we were given was a phone number.”

“You think you’re writing into a void, but along will come an email from someone on a maternity ward, saying, ‘My baby’s next to me, I’ve just had a diagnosis and I’ve found your blog – thank you, thank you, thank you.’ Or someone says, ‘I’ve decided to keep my baby after seeing Natty.’ And then I think, I’ve got to keep going.”

Emma says, “If someone asks me, I’ll tell them what happened and why I did it – I did what’s right for me. It’s unbelievably sensitive and no one should push their opinions on other people. I feel I’m up for extreme scrutiny and judgment, yet those people haven’t been in my shoes.”

Wonder no more.

Jane Fisher of Arc says that for women who speak up about terminating a Down’s pregnancy, “the vitriol and hate mail are mind-boggling”.

*rolls eyes*

So, Sussex Police, Tell Me Again…

…how you want to prevent people uploading footage and images to social media to ensure you keep control of ‘distressing information’..?

Sussex Police Assistant Chief Constable Steve Barry said it now appears “increasingly likely” the death toll from the worst airshow disaster in 60 years will remain at 11.

Yes, this is the force that last week – several hours before the social media horse had left the stable, of course – was trying to prevent people from uploading images and video of the crash to prevent ‘distress and worry’ to relatives who might not have been contacted by the police yet.

Yet had no apparent problem speculating in the media about the possibility of the death toll increasing to 20 when the fuselage was removed, a speculation that they’ve now had to correct given that they didn’t find any additional remains.

I guess relatives of the missing wouldn’t find that public speculation, given it’s official imprimatur, ‘distressing’ at all, oh, dear me, no.

‘The Guardian’ Reaches Peak ‘Do As I Say, Not As I Do’…

Julie Bindel on her love of…rap music?!?

The truth is that, if feminists – especially those of us who prioritise the campaign to end male violence against women – restricted themselves to entertainment that was perfectly non-sexist, perfectly pure, we would be pretty miserable (Ed: Nope, I’m not going there..!), and have very little to watch or listen to. No football, because of the machismo and sexist chants. A ban on books and TV programmes that are based on violence against women. I would need to throw away all my crime novels, and never watch The Killing again.

Translation: “Principles are boring! I wantz ma tunes*! And never to be criticised!”

As a feminist, under the system of patriarchy, to live a life without contradiction means I would have to wall myself off from the wider world of music, film and literature, something I’m not prepared to do. Life as an activist could be unremittingly hard if you chose to forego such genuine pleasures.

You want us all to forego them, though…

I deflect my guilt by telling myself that I prioritise effecting real and sustainable change for women, because while I may occasionally listen to a sexist song, or watch a film which is miles from passing the Bechdel test, as a feminist activist I never, ever take time off.

You tell yourself whatever you feel you have to, sweetie…

*If rap could be said to be tuneful

DAWSNAWD* Again…

As the row over the decision to axe Burger King from a Southampton hospital rumbles on, the Daily Echo went to test how healthy the alternatives are.

Heh! *settles in with popcorn*

On close inspection, we discovered a range of healthy meals on offer, including chicken pasta, vegetarian stroganoff and a wrap and burrito counter. There is also a dedicated salad bar with nutritional information around each ingredient, plus a fresh fruit and yoghurt counter throughout the day.

Bosses also provide comment slips for customers to feed back information, with a display board indicating what changes have been made as a result.

So, all hunky dory?

But while Burger King provides a calorie breakdown for all of the items on its menu, it was difficult to find the same level of detail in Spice of Life. For example, there did not appear to be anything informing customers of how many calories were in the main meals on the menu and staff were unable to tell us when asked.

SNORK!

And although there were plenty of healthy options, pizza was also on offer alongside plenty of sugary drinks, crisps, confectionery and a traditional ‘fry-up’ breakfast.

Now, yes, I know, there's nothing 'unhealthy' about either, and calorie breakdowns are a nonsense, but hey, it's nice to see them hoist by that petard they force on everyone else, isn't it?

Southampton Healthwatch, which represents patients’ views in the city, has backed the plans to axe Burger King, while Hampshire GP and television presenter Dr Hilary Jones also supported the move as a way to reduce obesity. The full details of the plans have yet to be released, leaving it unclear whether another food outlet or shop will replace Burger King, if the unit will disappear altogether or if it will be used for another purpose.

So, patients are really, really keen to get rid of Burger King, are they? Or just maybe, that group doesn't represent patient's views at all.

Which is more likely, I wonder?

*Do As We Say, Not As We Do

The Explanation Is…

…”Because, as a public sector worker, I’m simply better than you.”

One parent, who did not wish to be named, said the head's leave was "absolutely disgusting".

"I've been fined twice for taking my children out of school and I put in a request to take them out next year and it's been refused," she said.

"I think she should either give us an explanation why she is taking time off.... or at least grant people holiday to do it themselves."

No explanation will be forthcoming, proles. In fact, how very dare you question your betters?

Chair of governors, Kevin Hunter, said Mrs Winder was "devoted, well-liked, extremely hardworking and effective".

"She made what we have judged to be a request for a week off during term time for personal reasons which we have judged appropriate," he said.

But then what else could be expected from the folks that scream merry hell about ‘vital education’ when you take your children out of school, yet see nothing wrong with going on strike at the drop of a hat?

Mary Dejevsky Can’t Handle Choice...

Mary Dejevsky describes a supermarket visit I really don’t recognise…

There is a secret to shopping at Tesco. If you have lost hope of ever finding any of those convenient trundle baskets; if you have time to cruise the aisles several times and prise open half a dozen misted cool cabinets, and if you are happy to be diverted by Sky News as you dither about which till has the longest wait, then every now and again you will get lucky. You might even arrive home with something tolerable for supper. The secret lies in low expectations.

Ah. Clearly, that’s where I’m going wrong: my expectations are simply that they sell me stuff at prices I want to buy, when I want to buy it.

They seem to always meet them, too.

To many shoppers – and I exclude here members of the chattering classes, who were always rather sniffy about Tesco – the company’s decline has been evident for some time, at least for the two years that its market share has been falling. Shouty price wars concealed price rises.

The shopping experience – too few staff, inadequate hygiene, those self-service tills – left much to be desired.

Perhaps viewing shopping as ‘an experience’ rather than as a necessary act to get foodstuffs is where you’re going wrong, Mary?

Anecdotally, it was obvious that many people shopped at Tesco for want of an alternative.

I have lots of alternatives. Lidl, Morrisons, Aldi, Sainsbury, Marks & Spencer and Waitrose are all within a 25 minute drive.

But I still shop at Tesco quite a bit.

The problem for Tesco was that, where there was an alternative, its customers chose it, for all that it had a Teutonic tinge. Price was one consideration, but only one. In my experience, Aldi and Lidl offer a less frenetic atmosphere.

A more limited selection saves you time.

Yes, that’s what I want when I go shopping, too – anti-choice. “No,” I cry, “Don’t give me too many options, I’m just a simple person, I want to have fewer decisions to make! The bog-standard fish fingers will do!”

Bring back the 50s, eh, Mary? You would have loved the Soviet Union.

All Britain’s big four supermarkets, not just Tesco, but Sainsbury’s Morrisons and Asda, have been losing market share. There are perils in massive expansion (yes, even for the upmarket, and so far resilient, Waitrose). And the pattern of British food shopping is changing: a few big shopping trips are being replaced with more smaller excursions, with a greater emphasis on quality. To blame Aldi and Lidl for the troubles of Tesco and others is to let complacent British supermarkets off the hook. The Germans deserve to be praised for offering a superior package, not stigmatised for their nationality.

Amazing, the depths of self-hatred of the progressives even extends to our national supermarkets…

You Just Can’t Win, Can You?

In Australia, Verity Firth & Rebecca Huntley think you must sacrifice your child’s educational success to the socialist agenda to keep the dream of state schooling alive:

If anxious parents take their kids out of the local school, it starts to do worse, forcing more worried families to depart. New families then bypass the local school altogether, either sending their children to an out of area government school or to non-government options. But, the local school will only improve if these families stay and new families join the school. There is some recognition among the public that with parents pulling their kids out of the public system, that system suffers. If enough parents persisted with the public system to improve it, then the benefits would flow.

Meanwhile, in England, Michele Hanson will treat your decision to use state schooling with contempt, as a mere publicity stunt:

The Goves have got their daughter into Grey Coat Hospital School. First choice on their list. What do they want? Praise? … Give me strength. Grey Coat is the highest performing and most over-subscribed state school in Westminster (1,036 applicants for 150 places). It is religiously selective and single-sex and the Fair Admissions Campaign, which opposes faith-based selection, says the school is one of the least socially inclusive in the country.

Make up your minds!

H&S – The Perfect Get Out Clause!

So...you want to cut down a tree, but there's one of those pesky tree preservation orders on it.

What to do?

Cllr Colin Jamieson, head of the planning committee at Christchurch said on Friday morning: "My committee put TPOs on the trees and it is clear that something has gone on in the meantime.

"I will be looking into what's happened."

He said he was "concerned" about the developments.

 Well, I'm glad he didn't claim to be surprised...

Neil Farmer, Strategic Director at Christchurch Borough Council, said: “We were contacted by the developer at the Cornfactor site last night as he was concerned about the state of two more trees whose roots had been uncovered close to the boundary of the development.

"Our tree officer went down to inspect the site at first light this morning and saw that the trees were indeed in a dangerous state.

"From a health and safety standpoint, the tree officer recommended felling the trees and I accepted this was necessary.

 How very convenient. And it's such a good excuse it can be used again and again and...

Residents and councillors have expressed their outrage after the two original trees in Druitt Gardens, protected by tree preservation orders, were cut down this week.

A community campaign, backed by more than 450 people in Christchurch, won over councillors earlier this year when members voted to save the Druitt Gardens trees after developers of the adjacent Cornfactor site had proposed felling seven trees. Their application was refused and tree preservation orders placed on the trees.

But on Wednesday, after an excavation ditch was dug along the boundary on the site, severing three roots, the trees were cut down by the council, who deemed them “unsafe”.

Ooopsie! I 'accidentally' cut the roots. My bad!

In their original statement, the council declined to mention the ditch which had been dug, saying the trees were a “danger to the public” and blamed the “extreme weather conditions” for the felling.

But after enquiries from the Daily Echo they re-issued a second response.

Well, I bet it'll quickly become the first response for all councils now. After all, it works...

I’m Not Sure ‘Instructive’ Was The Word I’d Have Used…

As Michelle Obama prepares to host her 50th birthday party later this month, the type of celebration she has chosen is generating some confusion in the US press.

Those lucky enough to have received an invitation have been advised to "wear comfortable shoes, eat before you come, and practise your dance moves", according to the Chicago Tribune.

The chutzpah of the woman knows no bounds...

Lizzie Post – who has credentials as both the great-great-granddaughter of Emily Post and co-author of Great Get-Togethers: Casual Gatherings and Elegant Parties at Home – told the Washington Post that she would have worded the invitation differently.

"My advice to people would be not to put 'eat before you come' on an invite. And this is not a specific etiquette thing. To me it just sounds so instructive."

Well, that's one word for it...

Welcome To The Modern World Of Churnalism!

Bridget Christie can’t cope with conflicting information:

I'm not reading any more of these contradictory studies. Weren't we all told by a different study that it was better for our children to mix with other children? If children aren't supposed to be in nursery, according to this study, and not be at home because of that other study, is there a third option that's being kept secret by the super-rich?

Join the club, Bridget! Might I suggest you do what all the sensible people do and just ignore them all?

But of course, the inclusion of the term ‘super rich’ is a clue to her real agenda, which is not simply to despair at the never-ending stream of churnalism poured forth, but to have a pop at the perennial ‘Guardian’ favourite – ‘inequality’.

Childcare providers reject these findings. Anand Shukla, of the Family and Childcare Trust, said: "Research shows children who attend nursery are better prepared for school and have better social skills such as co-operation with peers." Plus, their parents drink less Oxford Landing because they haven't got them all day. So – and I'm no Oxford academic so bear with me – from what I can work out, we shouldn't put our children into nurseries because they will have emotional and behavioural problems, but we shouldn't stay at home with them either. If we could also try not to be poor, stressed out or have any mental health problems ourselves, that would be great.

Or, if you’re not prepared to put up with the stresses and strains of family life, not have any kids? Just a thought…

Elizabeth Truss, the education and childcare minister, said that large numbers of children in childcare were "running around" with "no sense of purpose". Should a child have a sense of purpose? I'm 42 and I haven't got one.

Well, clearly. We can tell, because you're writing for 'The Guardian'...

Because I Want To Have My Cake And Eat It Too…

Brodie Donegan suffered a terrible tragedy, there’s no question of that.

But her proposed new law is a breathtaking example of cognitive dissonance and sheer, naked demand for her rules to be applied only in the circumstances that favour her...

Two things happened this year. The initial bill was introduced into parliament – without any consultation with me or my family – by reverend Fred Nile. We are pro-choice, and did not want any law to possibly infringe on women’s rights. So my partner and I worked decided to work with our local MP, Chris Spence, to write a law we could support. Zoe’s law is that law.

If you’re wondering how any such law could possibly hope to straddle the finer nuances likely to affect this sort of case, well, wonder no more. It doesn’t even bother:

Many of the hypothetical scenarios floating around by women's lobbies being worried about Zoe's law being a threat to abortion rights are simply not true. Zoe's law would not affect a women’s right to choose to end her pregnancy. It would not affect any actions taken by a disabled mother or underage mother. It would not affect the sale nor use of the abortion pill RU486. It cannot, in any shape or form, charge the mother. It exempts anything done by the mother or with her consent. Even if a mother committed a crime which as a result would harm her baby, she would still not be charged. It also exempts medical procedures and medical professionals assisting a pregnant woman.

In other words, it's a bill that seeks to codify into the law the idea that an unborn child is some kind of 'Schroedinger's Baby' - a formless clump of cells when it suits the mother to demand to be rid of it, and yet simultaneously a fully formed person with rights when the mother doesn't.

What's that..? The father?

*baffled*

Me neither...

Zoe's law works well with existing legislation, and I believe it would help give victims closure and also ensure the offender takes responsibility for their actions.

Unless the offender is the mother. Then, all bets are off.

It is, it must be said, a view shared by many, of which this is but one example:

Kevyn Yong 13 September 2013 9:18am

I personally support Zoe's Law. A fetus should be classified alive from the moment of conception. That fateful day, Zoe was walking with Ms Donegan, although not alongside her. They were hit by an inconsiderate driver under the influence of drugs. While Ms Donegan escaped with a couple of physical injuries, Zoe had lost her life. I feel that whether or not harming the fetus should be considered an offence should depend on whether the harm caused to the fetus was done with or without THE CONSENT OF THE MOTHER. If there is anyone who should decide if a fetus be born into this world, it's the fetus' mother. If the mother seeks abortion, she has given consent for the fetus to be "harmed". The mother should thus be unpunished. However should the mother wish to conceive her child and harm is caused to the fetus, he who has caused harm to the fetus should be punished.

Could there be a better example of the selfish, irresponsible generation the progressives have created than this naked demand for Humpty-Dumpty's rules for words to be applied to the  mechanics of life?

"Remember, Only Highly Trained Professionals Should Be Allowed Firearms..."

"...because we're trained to evaluate the situation with a clear head and react appropriately, with judgement and after assessment, not just believe what we're told by panicky members of the public and blaze away at shadows."

What...?

Malcolm McHaffie, deputy head of CPS Special Crime Division, said: "On the basis of the evidence provided, including CCTV footage and police log record, I have determined that no charges should be brought against the officer.

"The circumstances are unusual because the officer was acting on the basis of erroneous reports from members of the public that the victim was carrying a samurai sword."

No-one's really complaining that a taser-equipped officer was despatched, Mr McHaffie. That's only to be expected in these times, where samurai swords are strangely popular amongst the underclass.

But on arriving, where was that cool assessment of the situation we are always told only highly-trained police officers possess?

Where was the realisation that this was no inner city yob or gang member about to get his revenge on for some slight, but in fact a blind man with a white stick?!

"The officer has been informed by the police control room that they had received reports that a man was walking around the streets of Chorley carrying a sword.

"It appears the reflective nature of the stick used as a walking aid by the victim, who is partially sighted, led members of the public to mistake it for a weapon. The officer, who was acting on this misinformation, made the same mistake."

So, in effect, despite all the training he's supposedly had, he's really no better than any member of the public? And is clearly expected to behave no smarter?

Hmmm. In that case, where's MY taser? I'm just as equipped to wield one, aren't I?

Mr McHaffie said he had considered all the evidence in the case and there was insufficient evidence to prove the policeman had not been mistaken.

No-one really doubts that. The point is: with his training, he shouldn't have been...

Can We Leave WRAP On The Side Of Our Plates?

Perhaps a directive to MPs telling them that they should give less money to this unnecessary and wasteful quango would be a good start?

The WRAP recommendations on chips were greeted with hostility by the restaurant trade, which said it was impossible for waiters to tell customers to order short portions, because the customers would think the restaurant was trying to short-change them and diners would resent the implication that they were too fat.

It's not that WRAP are unaware of this little fly in the ointment, mind you:

...the document, Understanding Out Of Home Consumer Food Waste, warned: 'Any messages or communication initiatives developed need to be stealthy and subtle, as diners do not want to be told what to do when out enjoying themselves nor do they want to think about food waste when eating out.'

But then, when you're paid handsomely for the pleasure of telling everyone else what to do, I suppose you get used to it...

Nor is it the only barmy suggestion:

Stealth menu suggestions made by the WRAP research include portion sizes marked by three chillies...

Already a recognised symbol for how hot a dish is!

...by numbers of scoops, by different sized plates, or by a three bear system in which different-scale meals would be called mummy bear, baby bear and daddy bear.

*speechless*

The former £80 a year quango is under a bit of a cloud:

Its budget is now down to £30million and has been under review in the early months of this year.

There's a good saving to be had there, Cameron. Why not take it?

Call A Whole Fleet Of Whaaaaambulances….

‘Frank’ an anonymous social worker, gets a column in ‘CiF’ to bleat about his job and how the politicians are ruining it:

In my nearly 30 years of practice as a social worker, I can say that the situation on the ground for social workers is worse than it has ever been.

Oh, here we go, hankies at the ready…

Social workers dedicate their lives to preventing the abuse of children, and sometimes, sadly, this is not possible. Child protection is an extremely complicated process – not only does it require very finely tuned and skilled decisions to be made, they have to be made within a detailed legislative framework. Contrary to the portrayal of social work in EastEnders, social workers do not simply pop by and check that everything is all right within a household, and whisk a child away at the drop of a hat if it isn't.

And some would say that that’s part of the problem. If there’s a more dysfunctional family than the one prortayed in ‘Eastenders’ I’d hate to see it. The poor (fictional) sprog would stand a better chance if it were raised by wolves…

Social workers spend the majority of their time navigating laborious and unwieldy data-collection systems… Most people would be astonished to see the amount of paperwork and form-filling we do.

Not really, no. They passed ‘astonishment’ long ago when looking at the police service’s paperwork burden.

And what caused both of these? Well, you seem to have hit the nail on the head, inadvertently:

Social work often feels like a virtual computer game where you have to complete stage 1 to move to stage 2. You are no longer able to use your own professional judgment.

That’s because so many of you have been found to have none!

You've ignored obvious cases of cruelty, either because you gave too much credence to ‘cultural issues’ or because you were incompetent or lazy. You've persecuted the innocent while ignoring the evil. The ‘unnecessary form filling’ that you complain about is part of your job because you are granted enormous power, and you must be accountable for its use.

Just like the police.

What’s the alternative?

The police probably hold more information pertinent to child protection than any other agency as they attend more out-of-hours incidents concerning a family, but their information sharing can be patchy. Police can be reluctant to share information concerning children for a number of reasons: criminal proceedings may be ongoing, they may have "soft" evidence garnered from intelligence rather than hard facts, there may be a surveillance operation under way.

And note, this is all one way. Do YOU share information with the police?

Or do you hide it from them, as you do when you are seeking to foster damaged children?

Cases such as Rochdale show what can happen when police and social services do not properly share information about children.

No, cases such as Rochdale show what happens when everyone’s too deathly afraid of ‘cultural issues’ and stirring up the Muslim 'community' to intervene. It has nothing to do with information sharing at all.

While I welcome attention being focused on tackling problems within our child protection system, the impetus for change will lead to little positive improvement if social workers who act day to day to protect children and help improve their lives are not listened to.

But we've listened to you. You've whined that you think it’s ‘unfair’ that you should be held accountable when you foul up. You've shown little shame when caught bang to rights, simply returning again and again to argue that, despite a child dying, you’re the ‘victim’ here.

We've listened. We just reject what you have to say.

Open Mouth, Insert Foot

A Southampton peer has sparked anger by suggesting retired people do community work in return for their pensions.

I think you've got that the wrong way wrong, chum. The pensions are a 'reward' for their work. Just like your stonking great civil service pension is a 'reward' for your w...

Oh. I  see.

Lord Bichard, who was educated at King Edward VI Grammar School in Southampton, said "imaginative" ideas were needed to avoid older people becoming "a burden on the state".

It takes some imagination to grasp quite how Bichard himself isn't a burden on the state. I don't think I've quite managed it yet...

During a meeting of a committee investigating the impact of the ageing society, he said: "Are there ways in which we could use incentives to encourage older people, if not to be in full time work, to be making a contribution?

"It is quite possible, for example, to envisage a world where civil society is making a greater contribution to the care of the very old, and older people who are not very old could be making a useful contribution to civil society in that respect, if they were given some incentive or some recognition for doing so."

We could make them peers of the realm, I suppose?

He added: "Are we using all of the incentives at our disposal to encourage older people not just to be a negative burden on the state but actually be a positive part of society?"

Soylent Green, anyone..?

Joan Smith’s Most Stupid Statement (Yet)?

According to Policy Exchange, people don't have a "right" to live in expensive places – unless they're rich, of course.

I… I just don’t even know where to start…

One of the things I like most about the area of London where I now live is that it has what's known as "mixed" housing. Even so, class prejudice runs deep: a cop once asked if I'd had any problems with the council flats across the road, adding primly that he'd had to speak to some of the tenants about "inappropriate behaviour".

It’s now ‘class prejudice’ to expect council house tenants to abide by decent standards of behaviour? To not engage in the sort of behaviour that brings the police to your door?

Gosh, All Those Police Campaigns About Leaving Valuables In Cars, And Then This?

Lucas Cebataviciute was seen on CCTV taking the items from the vehicle in Normacot on February 8.

Prosecutor Clair Moss yesterday told North Staffordshire magistrates that the 20-year-old defendant said he had been to a friend's house and when he walked past the Fiat Punto he saw it was not locked.

He took a bag from the front seat and then returned for the sat nav, which he sold for £70 at a takeaway.

It was a police car...