This is the face of 21st Century Britain

This vile scumbag is typical of many teenagers and adults who infest the streets of the UK.

It is reported that he was personally responsible for 40% of crime in his town until his father reported him for damaging the family home.

Sadly, this type of vermin are common in the UK.

Most days of the week I see these types of people damaging property, physically attacking passers by, urinating in public, intimidating & shouting abuse at anyone they feel 'deserves' it.

On public transport they damage infrastructure, assault passengers & staff, play loud 'chav' music on their cheap mobile phones.

In their homes they play music to all hours irrespective on how many times they've been warned by the police or local authorities.

I grew up in one of the (officially) most deprived parts of the UK during the 80's/early 90's. Times were tough, unemployment was high & crime was endemic. Rarely did it include unprovoked aggression or rampant destruction of property.

The scale of this behaviour is worrying - now many parents and children are as bad each other - they've behaved this way unchecked so its natural their offspring follow in their parents footsteps.

What do we get in return? ASBO's and community service.

It would be a joke - if it was funny.

I don't claim to have the answers. How exactly do you deal with a sub working class feral group of people?

For starters, perhaps if the police didn't humour them as much as they do (friendly chats, on street warnings), maybe if the courts started handing out real sentences (not just a slap on the wrist) so that both deterrent and punishment can be understood by these people? How about people (usually people who don't have to live in areas infested by these vermin) stop making excuses for unacceptable behaviour?

We also have to enquire as to why we tend to be paying benefits to these workshy yobs. There is a job out there for every able bodied person. No excuse for not paying their own way.

Its time for a REAL CRACKDOWN on these people. They ruin the lives of countless honest hard working people.

More can be done - why do we accept that it isn't already happening?

This post is probably an extensive rant rather than a well formed arguement but I'm pig sick of these bastards!

Al-Qaeda condemns UK

That right-on paragon of virtue Ayman al-Zawahiri has released an audio tape condemning the UK for honouring Salman Rushdie.

I have already passed comment on this blog but do feel its worth reminding him of a couple of key points:

1). Not being a British citizen it is absolutely none of his business.
2). Not everyone in this country supports this particular honour (or the system in general).
3). Rushdie is a no-mark, a nothing, an inconsequential hack about whom most of us couldn't care less.

That said, I take issue with his threats. Who the hell does he think he is dictating to us?

Being a religious nutter does not give him carte blanche to discuss internal decisions of a sovereign nation - in the same way that other fanatics had no right whatsoever to harass and intimidate the Danes over cartoons posted in their newspaper.

Of course, the Foreign Office have spoken for 'us' -

The government has already made clear that Rushdie's honour was not intended as an insult to Islam or the Prophet Muhammad

Not sure what offends me most, Zawahiri's comments or the limp wristed response from the Foreign Office. Personally, I'd have requested they tell him to rot in hell.

Update on the Cannabis Granny

Back in March it was announced that Milecastle Housing were taking cannabis granny Patricia Tabram to court in order to evict her should she use, cultivate or deal the drug from their rented property.

Mercifully, a judge has decided that there will be an order but only to prevent Mrs Tabram if she cultivates or supplies the drug. This means she will be able to continue to use cannabis on the premises and can only be sanctioned by the police.

More

As an aside, It would appear that Milecastle Housing are paying attention to the negative publicity on this subject.

On the day of the judgement (Friday) I recieved the following hit to the previous entry -

Referring Link http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=cannabis granny milecastle&meta=
Host Name mail.milecastlehousing.co.uk
IP Address 84.12.252.114
Country United Kingdom
Region England
City London


So, If you're reading this Milecastle, leave the old dear alone. She's doing harm to no-one. If the state is so backwards as to not supply appropriate pain relief to those who need it, it isn't your place to operate as an moral guardian.

Alan Johnston Freed

BBC:

BBC correspondent Alan Johnston has been released by kidnappers in Gaza after nearly four months in captivity.

He said it was "fantastic" to be free after an "appalling experience". Mr Johnston, 45, was seen leaving a Gaza City building accompanied by armed men.

He said he had been unable to see the sun for three months, and was once chained for 24 hours.

Fantastic news for a change!

Welcome back Alan!

President Bush: Serious abuse of Power

US President George Bush has commuted the sentence imposed on former Chief of Staff for Dick Cheney.

Scooter Libby was convicted this year and sentenced to 30 months in prison with two years probation.

Bush has now formally commuted the sentence.

At the time of his convction, Juror Denis Collins said -

"said he and fellow jurors found that passing judgement on Libby was 'unpleasant.' But in the final analysis, he said jurors found Libby's story just too hard to believe: 'We're not saying we didn't think Mr. Libby was guilty of the things we found him guilty of, but it seemed like ... he was the fall guy'. Collins said the jury believed Libby was 'tasked by the vice president to go and talk to reporters.

If nothing else, doesn't this indicate Bush and Cheney know they have something to hide? This isn't one for conspiracy theorists, its one for Congress. They should impeach Bush and Cheney now.

Quote of the day

There is currently a documentary on ITV about the departure of Tony Blair.

Talking to people in a soup kitchen, one of those 'benefiting' from his social reforms -

I voted Labour - until i was made homeless

Not a hint of bitterness, cynicism or anger.

Hmm. The true intellect of a Labour voter.