In todays news...

[Noggin]

Also - is there a new timescale for this -

"We were meant to have level boarding in the UK on 1 January 2020 under the Disability and Discrimination Act but government has kicked the can down the road."

[gremlin]

I was waiting at my local train station the other week. As an occasional user of trains, I don't have the mindset to rush on, so tend to hold back then get on when the silliness is done. So, train pulls in, and as I waited, a station member of staff appeared and set up a wheelchair ramp. The person for whom is was intended waited in her wheelchair, and was pushed on by her friend, which all took a few minutes and me waiting for the process to finish. Not an issue.

As the train pulled into London Bridge at the other end, I was surprised to see the wheelchair user get up out of it, fold it and as the train pulled in and the doors opened, walk off, carrying the wheelchair off onto the platform herself (not her friend, mind) and tell the member of staff that he wasn't needed but thanks anyway.

I was a bit...

[MingtheMerciless]

Bit of a non story here. She got the wrong train then moaned there was nobody to help her

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, the 11-time Paralympic gold medallist said she had initially booked assistance to help her off the 19:15 train from Leeds, but missed it and instead travelled on the 19:45.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq5dqxzggleo

Hmm...

She might have got on the wrong train BUT there still should be staff available to help, whether that is Station Staff or the train Guard/Onboard Supervisor.

FFS she was at Kings X at 1945hrs, why was there no platform staff about? The OBS/Guard should have called ahead to get them booked if she was an unexpected disabled traveller.

Disabled people get royally messed about by the TOC's and even if they book assistance it is very intermittently delivered (Southern I'm looking at you).

Also using X/Twitter is normally a good way of eliciting a response from the TOC.

[Yorick]

It made me giggle when she said she'd have to pull the emergency cord.

Yeah, as if

I'm gonna burn in hell

[gremlin]

Bit of a non story here. She got the wrong train then moaned there was nobody to help her

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, the 11-time Paralympic gold medallist said she had initially booked assistance to help her off the 19:15 train from Leeds, but missed it and instead travelled on the 19:45.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq5dqxzggleo

Hmm...

She might have got on the wrong train BUT there still should be staff available to help, whether that is Station Staff or the train Guard/Onboard Supervisor.

FFS she was at Kings X at 1945hrs, why was there no platform staff about? The OBS/Guard should have called ahead to get them booked if she was an unexpected disabled traveller.

Disabled people get royally messed about by the TOC's and even if they book assistance it is very intermittently delivered (Southern I'm looking at you).

Also using X/Twitter is normally a good way of eliciting a response from the TOC.

Are these the guards who are utterly indispensable in terms of customer safety and assistance and have been the cause of many industrial actions?

[demographic]

Also - is there a new timescale for this -

"We were meant to have level boarding in the UK on 1 January 2020 under the Disability and Discrimination Act but government has kicked the can down the road."

Being in a wheelchair and in a very difficult situation regarding transport and even public toilets is just a fall off a roof, slip off a ladder or cacking off a bike away for all of us.

I've seen enough of all of those bad situations to know just how fragile a good healthy life can be.
I've been lucky and still have all my fingers and toes, a good back and all despite the profoundly stupid shit I've done though my life. Just been jammy as fook I guess.

Plus, I kind of measure a country by how it treats it's least fortunate. Any good team can only work as well as their slowest member, look after them and everyone benefits.

[Mussels]

Bit of a non story here. She got the wrong train then moaned there was nobody to help her

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, the 11-time Paralympic gold medallist said she had initially booked assistance to help her off the 19:15 train from Leeds, but missed it and instead travelled on the 19:45.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq5dqxzggleo

Hmm...

I was on a train ages ago when a woman in a wheelchair couldn't get off as no staff had turned up with a ramp, she seemed resigned to not getting off. If the train company refused to let normal people off at a station there would be uproar. My instant reaction was to stop the doors closing until they found a ramp, I thought I'd get grief from other passengers but they helped me. I wouldn't put up with it so neither should she.

[Mussels]

This didn't take long, more corruption from police and CPS?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgdxq2l7kvo

Experts want inquiry delay over Letby evidence concerns

[Pirahna]

This didn't take long, more corruption from police and CPS?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgdxq2l7kvo

Experts want inquiry delay over Letby evidence concerns

I've read a few reviews of her case, one that stands out was a journalist that attended every day of the trial and was convinced she was innocent (I can't find a link to the story). Then there's the latest stuff where "Letby was alone on the ward" turns out she wasn't because of misreading the data from key card entry system and other nurses were there at the same time, but don't worry it wouldn't have affected the outcome of the trial. From my very limited knowledge of the case it doesn't look like she's been convicted beyond doubt.

[Buckaroo]

I was waiting at my local train station the other week. As an occasional user of trains, I don't have the mindset to rush on, so tend to hold back then get on when the silliness is done. So, train pulls in, and as I waited, a station member of staff appeared and set up a wheelchair ramp. The person for whom is was intended waited in her wheelchair, and was pushed on by her friend, which all took a few minutes and me waiting for the process to finish. Not an issue.

As the train pulled into London Bridge at the other end, I was surprised to see the wheelchair user get up out of it, fold it and as the train pulled in and the doors opened, walk off, carrying the wheelchair off onto the platform herself (not her friend, mind) and tell the member of staff that he wasn't needed but thanks anyway.

I was a bit...

Wasn't a short, fat bloke, glasses, string vest answers to the name 'Andy ' by any chance? I want that one........

[Count Steer]

This didn't take long, more corruption from police and CPS?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgdxq2l7kvo

Experts want inquiry delay over Letby evidence concerns

I've read a few reviews of her case, one that stands out was a journalist that attended every day of the trial and was convinced she was innocent (I can't find a link to the story). Then there's the latest stuff where "Letby was alone on the ward" turns out she wasn't because of misreading the data from key card entry system and other nurses were there at the same time, but don't worry it wouldn't have affected the outcome of the trial. From my very limited knowledge of the case it doesn't look like she's been convicted beyond doubt.

Private Eye are on the case* and, from what they're saying, her defence team were incompetent, didn't call their own expert witnesses, some of the experts called in by the prosecution have had their assessment subsequently questioned by others - the list goes on.

It all seems pretty circumstantial and there are enough questions to suggest the conviction is 'unsafe'.

I'm guessing (if such a thing is possible) a retrial is the minimum that's needed.

* the other bee in their bonnet is financial shenanigans at Humber/Tees-side - freeport/airport etc. Lord Ben Houchen and is dodgy chums may not be sleeping too soundly at the moment.

[gremlin]

'I stole to order' says prolific ex-shoplifter

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czdpvd41z7mo

Now, in preparation for me becoming the benevolent dictator of the entire world, with the exception of the Isle of Man, I want to run something past you all.

Ross, according to the news article, has been giving it a bit of five-fingered discount all his adult life, in order to feed his drug habit. I feel society and successive governments have failed him. Hence I propose that once my dictatorship is in place and the individuals found littering, puffing on a sickly smelling vape, riding e-bikes with those silly balaclavas and those who fail to indicate when turning left at roundabouts have been vaporised, I turn my attention to the likes of Ross....

Were he to be branded with a mark across his forehead, maybe a 'T' for thief, he would be instantly recognisable and shops could eject him as soon as he sets foot in the door. Thus he would be deprived of goods to sell to fund his habit and would be clean in no time, ready to take his place back in society, minus e-bikes and the like, naturally.

Thoughts?

[MrLongbeard]

Another nail in the coffin of the pub trade (potentially, maybe, perhaps)

https://news.sky.com/story/smoking-coul ... s-13205117

But more importantly, why is the dillon trying to spark up an already lit ciggie

[Yorick]

'I stole to order' says prolific ex-shoplifter

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czdpvd41z7mo

Now, in preparation for me becoming the benevolent dictator of the entire world, with the exception of the Isle of Man, I want to run something past you all.

Ross, according to the news article, has been giving it a bit of five-fingered discount all his adult life, in order to feed his drug habit. I feel society and successive governments have failed him. Hence I propose that once my dictatorship is in place and the individuals found littering, puffing on a sickly smelling vape, riding e-bikes with those silly balaclavas and those who fail to indicate when turning left at roundabouts have been vaporised, I turn my attention to the likes of Ross....

Were he to be branded with a mark across his forehead, maybe a 'T' for thief, he would be instantly recognisable and shops could eject him as soon as he sets foot in the door. Thus he would be deprived of goods to sell to fund his habit and would be clean in no time, ready to take his place back in society, minus e-bikes and the like, naturally.

Thoughts?

Do like the Arabs. Chop his right hand off.

[Horse]

Were he to be branded with a mark across his forehead, maybe a 'T' for thief, he would be instantly recognisable and shops could eject him as soon as he sets foot in the door. Thus he would be deprived of goods to sell to fund his habit and would be clean in no time, ready to take his place back in society, minus e-bikes and the like, naturally.

Thoughts?

You know those tags clothes shops use, that set off an alarm at the door?

Perhaps fit him with something similar for the way in, but with an 'active' element. Like a portcullis or cattle prod.

[MrLongbeard]

Were he to be branded with a mark across his forehead, maybe a 'T' for thief, he would be instantly recognisable and shops could eject him as soon as he sets foot in the door. Thus he would be deprived of goods to sell to fund his habit and would be clean in no time, ready to take his place back in society, minus e-bikes and the like, naturally.

Thoughts?

You know those tags clothes shops use, that set off an alarm at the door?

Perhaps fit him with something similar for the way in, but with an 'active' element. Like a portcullis or cattle prod.

or an exploding neck collar

[Rockburner]

'I stole to order' says prolific ex-shoplifter

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czdpvd41z7mo

Now, in preparation for me becoming the benevolent dictator of the entire world, with the exception of the Isle of Man, I want to run something past you all.

Ross, according to the news article, has been giving it a bit of five-fingered discount all his adult life, in order to feed his drug habit. I feel society and successive governments have failed him. Hence I propose that once my dictatorship is in place and the individuals found littering, puffing on a sickly smelling vape, riding e-bikes with those silly balaclavas and those who fail to indicate when turning left at roundabouts have been vaporised, I turn my attention to the likes of Ross....

Were he to be branded with a mark across his forehead, maybe a 'T' for thief, he would be instantly recognisable and shops could eject him as soon as he sets foot in the door. Thus he would be deprived of goods to sell to fund his habit and would be clean in no time, ready to take his place back in society, minus e-bikes and the like, naturally.

Thoughts?

He should be hired by a Loss-Prevention contracting firm. Like a "white-hat" hacker, let him put the skills to good use, demonstrating theft methods and teaching the security guards what to look for.

[Count Steer]

He thinks he's Olympic standard, but he's been nicked 16 times!

I wouldn't want to be judgemental - it sounds like he had a few problems.

'A psychiatric report read out at his most recent court appearance said he was "highly likely" to have ADHD which, along with along with a "severely traumatic" early childhood, led to addiction.'

[gremlin]

He thinks he's Olympic standard, but he's been nicked 16 times!

I wouldn't want to be judgemental - it sounds like he had a few problems.

'A psychiatric report read out at his most recent court appearance said he was "highly likely" to have ADHD which, along with along with a "severely traumatic" early childhood, led to addiction.'

Show me any defence solicitor that doesn't throw some form of mental illness in the mix in the hope of leniency.

[gremlin]

'I stole to order' says prolific ex-shoplifter

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czdpvd41z7mo

Now, in preparation for me becoming the benevolent dictator of the entire world, with the exception of the Isle of Man, I want to run something past you all.

Ross, according to the news article, has been giving it a bit of five-fingered discount all his adult life, in order to feed his drug habit. I feel society and successive governments have failed him. Hence I propose that once my dictatorship is in place and the individuals found littering, puffing on a sickly smelling vape, riding e-bikes with those silly balaclavas and those who fail to indicate when turning left at roundabouts have been vaporised, I turn my attention to the likes of Ross....

Were he to be branded with a mark across his forehead, maybe a 'T' for thief, he would be instantly recognisable and shops could eject him as soon as he sets foot in the door. Thus he would be deprived of goods to sell to fund his habit and would be clean in no time, ready to take his place back in society, minus e-bikes and the like, naturally.

Thoughts?

He should be hired by a Loss-Prevention contracting firm. Like a "white-hat" hacker, let him put the skills to good use, demonstrating theft methods and teaching the security guards what to look for.

Trouble is, they know what to look for, but are stymied by the Plod not being interested, the fact that the miscreant may be tooled up plus, they're like rats: get rid of one and another turns up in its place.

I actually think shopkeepers should be allowed to defend their shops/goods with reasonable force. Currently there's no downside to shoplifting.