Essex Police pass Huhne file to CPS

Swapping keys to swap points

In these strapped-for-cash days the police don't like to be seen wasting public money, or at least that is the stated opinion of chief constables. So it is interesting to hear that Essex Police have passed their files on the Chris Huhne speeding case to the CPS. They wouldn't have done this unless they thought there was some chance of a pending prosecution. This points business in the motoring world is open to abuse. It's not as though it's an unheard of thing. I have no clue as to what happened in this case involving a spat between Chris Huhne and his wife. Huhne says he is pearly white in all respects. His ex-wife has had her share of muttering time.

I reckon the CPS is mulling over the prospect of a court hearing where judge and jury get to see two former married partners basically blaming the other. If it does come to court all concerned will have to have the patience of a saint. But it all boils down to which one is believable.

However, casting aside the prosecuting side of points abuse, it does seem that the habit of swapping points is prevalent in Britain. Last year Direct Line Insurance noted that 660,000 motorists admit to penalty points swapping. And that's only those who say so. What about the secretive lot that won't tell?

Driving a car should be a responsible activity. Yet people from all walks of life think that this sort of crime is perfectly acceptable. Most likely they are the ones calling for rioters and looters to be jailed instantly by the courts. I'm waiting to hear the rioters and looters call for points swappers to be likewise incarcerated!

Read More

G4S sacks pair who tagged offender's false leg

Putting a sock in a security system

This story sounds bizarre. Private security firm G4S has sacked two members of staff who tagged a man's false leg allowing him to remove it and break a court-imposed curfew. The security company claims that the two operatives failed to follow procedure. Apparently, if they had done they would have spotted his false leg. But nowhere can I find if the proper procedure is actually applying the electronic tag to bare flesh. If this is the case the two are obviously bang to rights for procedural failure.

However, as is so often the case, the pair have been sacked for a "serious disciplinary offence". I read of such cases and many times think it is more about causing embarrassment to a particular business rather than actually doing something against procedure. Now in this case I wonder whether the bare flesh test is ALWAYS carried out. What if a criminal with two normal legs was tagged over his socks. Does this happen? It may do. A picture from the BBC East Midlands Today site shows a tag being fitted over a sock.

G4 Security doesn't have a very good track record in tagging. East Midlands Today did an undercover report in March 2007 in their Inside Out series. G4 was suitably sensitive about the whole thing but eventually gave written answers to questions raised.

Is this the first case of a false leg getting tagged by G4? No, it isn't! They got a tag on a dummy leg in 2009. Group 4 launched a probe when told about it. A spokeswoman said, "We conduct our monitoring operation under rigorous procedures which include carrying out an assessment of the leg that is being tagged. It would appear that in this instance the procedure has not been followed." So, what exactly is the procedure? Unless bare flesh is examined for tagging purposes, the old sock trick will get G4 everytime.

My guess all this is about them fearing the loss of a lucrative contract rather than anything else. I bet a lot of corner cutting goes on which is why we are constantly hearing tales about these lapses at G4. But I think it is a bit rich to blame the troops. As in Afghanistan, it's the bloody officers and chiefs in charge that try to hide behind "procedures". Truthfulness may serve us better on all counts.

Read More

Rebels no more! Libya has a new government

The BBC keeps talking of rebels as if the new authorities in Libya will be stamped with this monicker for ever. As if to say they will have rebel ambassadors, rebel ministers and rebel anything else. It must be something to be labelled a rebel just because you want to be free of a crazed dictator. I'd call it fighting for freedom but then one man's freedom fighter is another man's rebel.

Great joy and happiness in Libya

And what are we to make of Captain (jumped up colonel) Gaddafi? He seems to have been like all dictators before him. A nasty two-faced piece of works. Looting in Libya has been thankfully uncommon. Some Gaddafi hirelings looted homes, but generally such stuff is rare. Except in his fortified compound. There the invading troops of the liberating Libyan forces found all manner of tatty tot and cheap imitation rubbish. His golf buggy was paraded around, his wife's knickers were revealed as well as his own choice of underwear. He apparently had a stash of Sex In The City tapes. Was he watching these tapes as he garbled a radio message to his "followers"? The whole sorry episode is an unedifying stain on humanity. To think that such a man could be tolerated in the world for 42 years. Unbelievable!

Now he wants to chat to the new rulers about something. Quite rightly they tell him to surrender. What would he have to offer them in dialogue anyway? Best he comes out of his hidey-hole and face the music. But that may be difficult. Gaddafi may have been an officer but he is certainly no gentleman!

Read More

Syria's Assad says his house will not fall

Another cocky bugger buggering up his country!

President Bashar al-Assad has said his government is in no danger of falling, despite months of protests. As Mandy Rice-Davies famously said, during a famous trial, concerning remarks made by a peer of the realm, "Well, he would, wouldn't he?". Assad says a lot of things like he's keen on multi-party democracy and political solutions. But reality is that he's seen as a liar and a cheat when it comes to the real changes required.

Assad keeps saying that his security forces have stopped behaving badly. Yet Youtube footage tells a different story. Pressure is mounting against him but it's too much just words and not deeds. A good outcome in Libya will show him that freedom means peace and justice. A good outcome in Libya may change the weak minds of those like the International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell who gave on Newsnight last night the best Humpty Dumpty reasoning for not upsetting the tyrant. I have little regard for Assad. He needs a good shoving and the shoving should start PDQ!

Read More

Gaddafi ready to face the final curtain?

A cocky bugger spotted in Tripoli

The end game is on in Tripoli, even if the main actors are playing in different theatres with different scripts. We had the wrong information about Saif Gaddafi, and all sorts of stories are emanating  from the city. However, it does seem to be all over for the self-styled colonel even if he doesn't see it that way. He has three options left. Face a summary executon, give himself up to the new rulers for trial in Tripoli or being tried at the International Court in The Hague.

Another wretched dictator is overthrown. The next move is on that tyrant in Syria. But he won't be shifted with the help of Britain. The British government sees Bashar al-Assad, the murderous leader of Syria, as different clay. Pity. I would have hoped that all the rhetoric about democracy and freedom would spill over into Syria. British speak with forked tongue! The Arab Spring is not seen as equal to all Arabs.

Britain has always claimed to have "interests". Surely in the 21st century we should be true to our word at last. David Cameron speaks smoothly about Libya. How about a bit of consistency and meting out the same treatment to Assad?

Read More

Mouse grounds SAS plane in Stockholm

A mouse lived in an aeroplane in old Stockholm town
An aeroplane with a mouse in and he wasn't grousin'
He sang every morning, "How lucky I am,
Living in an aeroplane in old Stockholm town!"

Chorus:
I saw a mouse!
Where?
There on the plane!
Where on the plane?
Right there!
A little mouse with clogs on
Well I declare!
Going clip-clippety-clop down the plane
Oh yeah

Read More

News of the World perjurers and hackers to be outed

Coulson and Goodman - who's telling the truth?

As the dust settles on the streets of London and other cities following the rampaging and violence of last week, attention is now turned to the crooks and deviants of society in other echelons of society. Britain's so-called broken society must include a few of the phone hackers and cheapskate journalists that have been declared "openly discussing" illegal activities in the editorial offices of News Corporation's red top rags.

Clive Goodman, convicted phone hacker of the Murdoch empire, now tells a juicy story that could implicate Andy Coulson in the ongoing scandal. Coulson has said on oath that he knew nothing about such wrongdoing. If he is found to be telling an untruth, then it is inconceivable that he would not get arrested on perjury charges.

I cannot understand why the Prime Minister is so besotted with Coulson. None of these journos appears transparent. In fact all involved are tainted it seems. Cleaning up Britain must include using some of those Clapham brooms and brushes on this lot of society breakers.

Read More

Queen gets her Canadian forces back

Prince Charles - C-in-C of Black Watch Canada

In 1968 the Canadian armed forces were restructured or moved about in some official re-organisation. The title Royal was dropped. Now it has been decided to restore the Royal Canadian Navy and the Royal Canadian Air Force to their former status. The army is a different matter. Made up of regiments the armies of the British Empire were never royal. Some regiments were or were loyal to the king, or a prince, or a duke or a county. They all came together as The Army.

The Canadian Army is back in style rather than the more obliquely named Land Force Command. No doubt regiments will take a proper role such as Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry and The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada. I think Canada's marching in the right direction.

Read More

Rick Perry sneers at Obama's lack of military experience

Praying for victory Rick Perry style

Rick Perry is a Texan to the core. Fifth generation. With that sort of heritage he is probably related to Stephen F Austin, the Father of Texas. But Austin was a Texan of a different sort. Secretary of State for the Republic of Texas, albeit for a short time, he died uttering these words, "The independence of Texas is recognized! Don't you see it in the papers?..." Had the republic succeeded, today Rick Perry's ambitions in Washington could be as Ambassador for Texas. But that's all history and conjecture.

Mr Perry is up and running for president - of the United States. And he is coming out hard with the rhetoric of a rattle snake. So Rick Perry served in the USAAF as a pilot and got to be a captain. All very good, but does that make him better than the current president. Hardly. It's a cheap shot to suggest that those with no experience of serving in the military are inadequately placed to serve as president. It's a bit below the belt to suggest such a thing. It also suggests a "touch of the white feather". He says, alluding to Obama, "Experience matters. Having walked in a person’s shoes, having done what these men and women in the military are doing matters to them,” Perry said. “I don’t want somebody sitting in the front-left seat of the airliner who just got their pilots license."

People say nasty things. Harry Truman was muttered about because he was "a haberdasher's son". Elliot Richardson was considered "far too patrician to be president". Ronald Reagan was described as being a "B-movie actor" in such a way as to make him out to be inferior. Rick Perry can join the sniders and snigglers if he wants to. With an evangelical zeal! But if he wants to be president let the people of America choose him on his merits and not on his ability to score cheap points.

An independent Texas is still remembered in London through photos and cuisine.

Read More

Michele Bachmann leads Ron Paul by an eyelash

Waving to adoring supporters

Congresswoman Michele Bachmann has come out on top in the Iowa Straw Poll, although those voting only totaled 16,000 odd. Maybe they used short straws. I've just been watching Mrs Bachmann on TV. She's not my type, in rather the same way as Sarah Palin is not. It's all alabaster skinned neatness, glossed lips spouting words to the effect that God got her to where she is. Well, He gave her a close call. And who is to say that Ron Paul doesn't have God on his side. Thaddeus McCotter got 35 votes and, being named after an Apostle, did remarkably well. St.Thaddeus is the patron saint of desperate cases and lost causes.

I take my hat off to the American democratic system and the chattering classes that spread themselves into studios across the land. Currently a section of this lot are in Ames, Iowa. One character suggested that the top tier candidates were Bachmann, Perry and Romney. Ron Paul got elbowed out of the conversation. I'm watching these partisan pundits with their sleazy language and loose grip on the facts. For their edification Ron Paul came second. He nearly beat Mrs Bachmann. Ron Paul is a top tier candidate - PERIOD!!!

As the election caravan chunters around the nation, some surprises will undoubtedly occur. Newt Gingrinch may come to seize the moment. Who knows? Anyway, with Tim Pawlenty out of the running, the race is now firmly out of the blocks with two front runners sharing over 50% of the Republican constituency. Ron Paul is going to attract far more support over the next few months. Hope is has enough hot dogs to go round.

1. Michele Bachmann - 28.55% 4823 votes
2. Ron Paul - 27.65% 4671 votes
3. Tim Pawlenty - 13.58% 2293 votes
4. Rick Santorum - 9.81% 1657 votes
5. Herman Cain - 8.62% 1456 votes
6. Rick Perry (write-in) - 4.25% 718 votes
7. Mitt Romney - 3.36% 567 votes
8. Newt Gingrich - 2.28% 385 votes
9. Jon Huntsman - 0.41% 69 votes
10.Thaddeus McCotter - 0.21% 35 votes

Read More

George Osborne's "going forward"!

I heard George Osborne give a good interview on the Today programme this morning. Agreed with it all until he ended it with the ridiculous expression "going forward". Who started this and will it end? It seems those in front of a microphone feel less important if they don't say it. As Joyce Grenfell might say, "Not now George!".

Read More

Fake Apple stores shake China to the core

Laid back approach to Apple store faking

China may be good at knocking out the goods at a fast pace with the help of a compliant workforce but it draws the line at knocking them off. After all, the People's Republic has a brand to protect - "Made in China". So it comes as no surprise to hear that the Pekingese sniffer dogs have uncovered 22 fake Apple stores all looking like the real deal but not so good as to fool the officials of the popular realm.

If faking an Apple store is possible, even if not undetectable, can others be faked. I suppose they could be. We have fake merchandise from cigarettes to exotic perfumes. As the fakers get more real it seems the dividing line between the real stuff and the other is getting thinner. This is not a new problem. Alchemists have been around for centuries. They've just moved into the next market that takes their fancy.

Rather like the rioters, fakers and copiers are selfish greedy types. They put minimum effort into maximum gain. But the world is rather confused. People in the West expect "Made in China" to appear on things they buy, as if the manufacturing world has been out with a commercial prostitute. It's not what they would hope for, but it's what they've come to accept.

So I think there's no longer a proper respect for brand names as the Victorians led us to hold. We now question motives and discount quality in favour of price. Britain lives in a world of buying under ripe fruit, flimsy clothing, MDF furniture and having to do self-service rather than being served. If you are served it's "you awlright, mate?" and an inability to communicate in a retail setting. Supermarkets see nothing wrong in putting their copycat brands next to the original that they obviously admire as the market leader.

It is a confusing world. Maybe the Chinese Apple fakers thought they were doing nothing wrong as so much is fake today and a bit more might help the world go round better. Who knows. But for 22 fake Apple stores they've been peeled, cored and had their pips tweaked Chinese mandarin style.

Read More

Where do evicted council tenants go?

Wandsworth Council is trying to evict a woman whose son was involved in the recent riots. If they are successful, what do they propose doing with the woman, assuming her son is in jail? Pay expensive bed and breakfast rates or lead her to the local soup kitchen? Or maybe run her out of town? Cllr Ravi Govindia, leader of the council, is pandering to the cries of the mob. He has yet to give a reasoned answer as to what he thinks should happen to this woman.

I get the impression it is just another kneejerk reaction. The reality of the situation is that the rioters were only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to anti-social behaviour. Given half a chance many more would have joined in picking up the spoils. On a spectrum of conscious pricking far more than a couple of thousand have difficulty feeling the sharpest pin.

We will only crack this bolshy retarded thinking if we meet it head on. The general gist is that most feel they have nothing to lose. Ed Miliband says its the "me first" society to blame. He's right. At least he's now aware that his participation in the New Labour scam was problematic even if he doesn't denounce it completely.

Chucking rioters' mothers out of council accommodation is only going to give ammunition to those with a propensity to cause trouble. Mr Govindia thinks he's doing a fine thing. I'm not so sure.

Read More

France bans short-selling on bank stocks

Making a fast buck out of others misery

France has decided to act against the speculators and ban short-selling on shares in their banks. Societe Generale suffered from the actions of these spivs when ill-founded rumours swept the stock exchanges of the world. It should be that a company is valued by its performance, by the profits it makes on generating good business. These speculators care neither for good performance or sudden disaster. They just bet on whether the share price will fall. Of course, that's helped if they can oil the rumour mill. I'm glad the French government has acted. These leaches are like ticket touts or gambling den bosses. Not much help to society. They just help themselves. I'm drifting off in a direction but that's probably a bit mean. These speculators don't normally move out of their seats, so can't cause direct mayhem.

Italy, Spain and Belgium have joined the French in a ban. But the sad thing is it's only for a couple of weeks. When they lift the ban the speculators will be back on form. And Societe Generale will be back defending themselves. Chief executive Frederic Oudea said the speculation about his bank was "absolutely rubbish". He went on to say, "People are scared, so the tiniest information touches off irrational fears. To our clients, we have to tell them that these rumours are baseless and that they can have confidence in Societe Generale."

I'm in favour of free enterprise and entrepreneurial activity. Basically, be rewarded for taking risks, working hard and contributing to society. The short-sellers are only in it for themselves. They are gamblers. It's the nasty side of capitalism. We could do with a permanent ban.

Read More

Petition seeking rioters to lose benefits passes 100,000

The anti-rioter benefit snatching e-petition is over the 100,000 mark. Somehow I feel that homeless penniless rioters are going to be a hell of a lot more dangerous. If they think they have nothing to lose now, they will definitely have nothing to lose in that state. The word mindless comes to mind.

Read More

Is Bill Bratton to be the new Metropolitan Police chief?

Will Bill Bratton be the new broom for London?

There is some speculation that Bill Bratton, former Los Angeles Police Chief and scourge of gangs in New Yok City will become Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police. The Los Angeles Times thinks it may be so as does ABC News, which notes that Theresa May may not be doing her job in a manner conducive to David Cameron's liking. Apparently she is determined to hold the line that only British citizens can have the job. But police officers do not swear allegiance, just that they will uphold laws and offer no favours. I can't see that this would be an impediment for Mr.Bratton. We are told that the best person for the job is good enough for businesses, where several have foreigners at the helm. If Mr.Britton can clear things up, why not? He seems to have stiff bristles in his broom!

Read More

Gang cultures, greedy cultures - snouts make way for fists!

Greed on the run - moral compass sends them in wrong direction

I'm glad David Cameron gave a measured response to the riots in England when he addressed the House of Commons. It was a fair and balanced report on what the government tends to do. However, I feel he is shying away from the real cancer in our society. It is that of greed and selfishness. Ed Miliband touched on it when he almost admitted that governments had turned a blind eye to society's ills. He was right to say we need the people affected to have their say at an inquiry. No good getting quango queens to spout out their rhetoric. They've had their chance. And if we are getting to hear from those affected by the riots let's hear from the rioters. Gang leaders will surely have something to say. Let's leave no stone unturned.

All kinds of stones. Corporate tax dodgers. Cheating bankers. Right down to the benefit fraudsters and the illegal people traffickers. Scammers and schemers all to be included. Max Hastings puts it well in his Daily Mail article -

"If you live a normal life of absolute futility, which we can assume most of this week’s rioters do, excitement of any kind is welcome. The people who wrecked swathes of property, burned vehicles and terrorised communities have no moral compass to make them susceptible to guilt or shame. Most have no jobs to go to or exams they might pass. They know no family role models, for most live in homes in which the father is unemployed, or from which he has decamped.They are illiterate and innumerate, beyond maybe some dexterity with computer games and BlackBerries. They are essentially wild beasts. I use that phrase advisedly, because it seems appropriate to young people bereft of the discipline that might make them employable; of the conscience that distinguishes between right and wrong. They respond only to instinctive animal impulses — to eat and drink, have sex, seize or destroy the accessible property of others."

Some life, eh? And it's mainly down to wishy-washy liberal thinking. Of course, there's nothing so illiberal as a liberal. If one has no moral backbone one is just a moral weakling. It's not as though we didn't know these youngsters existed. We have far too many coarse and vulgar people who find it extremely easy to abuse those perceived to have just a modicum of authority. The buses all say they will not tolerate abuse, so with the trains, planes, government institutions, schools and hospitals. So it must follow that abuse is generally expected by all in authority. We have barely clothed young women drinking alcohol to excess. Young men urinate in the streets as "decent" people walk by on the other side. No, we knew it was likely to happen. We just turn our heads and look away.

Human nature tends to the corrupt rather than the good. That's because temptation is a very strong influence on us all. I get tempted. If I had a shop that was being raided I might be tempted to cause the attackers harm. I get tempted by far less trivial things, like taking an extra cake from the tin. But the reasoning in my head tells me both would probably not make me any happier.

This year has seen the culmination of the MPs expenses scandal, the ongoing phone-hacking scandal, the bankers' bonus scandal and many others. The Arabs have a marvellous saying, that a fish rots from the head down. It won't be the gang leaders putting the country to rights. It must be the MPs, corporate excutives and leaders in general. Shape up, set an example and get things moving with ingetrity, honesty and a transparent lack of greed.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2024284/UK-riots-2011-Liberal-dogma-spawned-generation-brutalised-youths.html#ixzz1Uj5txZBN

Read More

Sense of proportion over riots in England

Mayhem on the streets of England's cities

Maybe I was too quick to judge David Cameron. I've just had lunch so maybe my sugar levels were out of whack and I was not prepared to give the benefit of the doubt or whatever. But I still think talk of fightbacks is not good. If he is thinking of getting to grips with the moral bankruptcy in Britain I'll give him my backing. However, this is no back to basics business. It must be a proper understanding that greed and lack of integrity have been dominating factors in British life for far too long. We have greedy people in all walks of life. We have liars, cheats and thieves, many of whom have been running the country in past times. Little wonder the "mindless" rioters see their chance. Are corporate tax dodgers any better for Britain than hooded rioters?

If we are all in this together, then it includes the wretched rioters as well. Just locking them up in Wandsworth Jail isn't going to help. That place is deemed low on the list for rehabilitation skills. David Cameron says, "There are pockets of our society that are not just broken, but are frankly sick. It is a complete lack of responsibility in parts of our society, people allowed to feel the world owes them something, that their rights outweigh their responsibilities and their actions do not have consequences. Well, they do have consequences." With that I agree. However, sickness needs curing. Many would favour euthanasia as a cure, but those are just heat-of-the-moment sentiments. Responsibilities, YES. Positive actions, YES. But a definite NO to combative talk leading nowhere.

I'm shifting gear nicely now in my sixties. I don't want to go into my seventies and eighties and still see society with those pockets of deprivation as a growing cancer in our midst. Way back in the seventies I canvassed for the Conservatives in the Birmingham Ladywood by-election (1977). Promises from all the candidates including our own John Quentin Davies who seemed utterly detached from the squalor around him. Probably he's now better off with ermine and his New Labour friends. Somehow I found myself with him in the stairwell of a depressing tower block of council flats canvassing grumpy disillusioned Brummies. Only their votes were sought, not their opinions. However, I ventured along a high balcony walkway and came across a young black boy. His eyes showed signs of weariness but his hopes and aspirations were crystal clear. He wanted to do good at school and leave the area. He was the complete opposite of mindless. He was bright and clever but stuck in a so-called deprived area. I sometimes wonder how it all worked out for him.

It's all very well talking of robust action but we need positive action. These riots didn't really surprise me. Maybe in their intensity but not in their happening. The only people who can create positive change by making the laws work are politicians. Let them all come together on this and cure those parts that are "frankly sick".

Read More

David Cameron takes leave of his senses

Listen up! The Big Society needs fighters to fight back

I've just seen that David Cameron says "we needed a fight back and a fight back is under way". So it's a punch up on the streets is it? What kind of leadership is that? We need cool calm heads to restore order. This is just provocative words. It's the kind of stuff the cretinous Sarah Palin might say at one of her mad hatter's tea parties.

And we've got police chiefs sounding like Wyatt Earp. None of this will do much good. What these gangs have done is to instill fear. Late yesterday afternoon a rumour went round that Solihull was a target. "It kicks off at six!" a Morrisons staff member told me. This was in neighbouring Shirley. She told me the Small Heath branch had closed. Management were keeping staff alerted. I'd tried going to Aldi. Shut and lifeless. Staff gone home in fear. Same at Lloyds Bank, where a hastily scribbled note said they had closed due to "unforeseen circumstances". A bit like the credit crunch. Iceland was closed. People were hurrying home. This is real urban terrorism, I thought.

I walked past Stratstone. All their cars removed from the forecourt. Looked liked they had gone in a flash. Sainsbury's was open but not many in there. How many other towns on the borders of our cities were similarly affected? No mention of them in the news.

Instead of fighting in Afghanistan on a hopeless mission of trying to recreate that society how about trying to restore our own society? David Cameron thinks a fight back is needed. Do I take it the Big Society just imploded?

Read More

"They're feral rats!" says London riot store victim

Dramatic images as parts of London burn

Feral rats are running amok in London. We used to have just rats. Now the rats have come out and appear completely undomesticated to run around looting, laughing and leering at all around them. Actually, I think the store owner was wrong to call them rats. No rat rampages in such an anti-social manner. Rats have common purpose, female rats have huge maternal instincts. You'd have to if your home was a sewer. These human looters have little or no respect for others. Just selfish greed.

I've been away in France. One day was spent in Disneyland Paris. Two things struck me. The place has virtually nothing to do with Paris and when there you might as well be in another world. Basically, Fantasyland. I enjoyed it hugely. Whatever ever else is happening in the world, Walt Disney's world of wonder is a perfect place to forget your troubles. Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay my, oh my what a wonderful day! Then it's back home to find out that Birmingham had the hottest day of the year at 30°C or 86°F, whichever you prefer. And riots in the streets!

Anarchy on the streets of the major cities of England. Just England, note. This seems to be a problem for the people of England to sort out. On the one hand David Cameron says it is all mindless criminality and on the other Ken Livingstone, grand newt keeper of London, says it's down to "Coalition Cuts". In my mind neither really addresses the problem. Unless the prime minister is going to build new prisons the justice system will not be able to cope. Ken Livingstone needs to look in a mirror and ask himself why the Labour Party has spent so much money trying to bribe these youngster with benefits and bogus youth schemes. And I bet none of them vote (if they could)!

We have gang culture in all major cities of England. The gangs have leaders. Drug dealing and thievery play a major part. It's no good asking the parents what they are doing. They're loafing indoors whilst their barely literate teenagers roam the streets. They didn't start this last Saturday, it's been going on for decades. Politicians have spouted weasel words but the truth is society is not cohesive, it is not together. Youths smoke pot openly on the streets of Birmingham and other West Midlands towns. They even smoke pot on buses! It's utter defiance. Nobody bothers. Tell a policeman and you get shrug of the shoulders.

Those caught, arrested and stuffed into police cells for this rioting should rightly face jail time. However, that's not really going to help solve the problem. Short term, we need to save the nursery and primary school kids from descending into street gang life. Then we need to eradicate the gangs. I've always believed travel expands the mind. Let them use some time seeing how others live in the world. The one thing these youngsters are not is mindless. It's just that their minds are set on destruction through some form of tribal heroism.

I think instead of benefits and all the rest, they should be given Lord Sugar style tasks in how to improve society. A sort of poacher turned gamekeeper type of operation. After all, they've got some idea at organising a street riot, so how about organising something that helps society. If the Big Society means anything, David Cameron could do no worse than get the gang leaders into shape. Of course, not before they've taken their punishment.

I'm fed up with seeing youngsters wandering the streets. As each year goes by the gangs get more menacing. A new direction is needed. The rioters are not going to pay as one person fatuously commented. It's all of us through sky-rocketing insurance premiums and more borrowed government money. I dread to think what the final bill will be. Burnt out stores, police overtime, 24-hour court administration, lost business.........the list goes on. Literally, a complete waste of money. Or printed money. We're supposed to be putting our nation's house in order. Let's do it!

Read More