Don’t Fight the Dispersal Order in Forest Fields

On the Indymedia website there is information about a local fight against a Dispersal Order in Forest Fields.

“A dispersal order will be in place in Forest Fields from Saturday 16th April until 5th Oct 2011. There has been concern from some local residents about what the implications of this will be…information about the dispersal orders on lamposts has been graffitied and a poster campaign against the order has begun.”

“This will allow Police and CPO’s the power to disperse groups of 2 or more people should they have reason to believe that their behaviour has resulted or is likely to result in any member of the public being intimidated, harassed alarmed or distressed.”

I have heard a number of people fighting this order put their view point across and I think they are seriously misguided. I can understand fully the complaint one person raised that dispersal orders will affect property prices. But many of the complaints are from idealists who think that the police shouldn’t be dispersing groups of young people who are just hanging about.

As one comment on the Indymedia website says “what to do about gangs of kids that are threatening people, breaking stuff, and making a total pain of themselves.”

I have spoken to people who are victims of the behaviour that this dispersal order aims to tackle. The people I have spoken to are more vulnerable such as elderly and disabled people. It is easy for young fit people to dismiss the affect intimidation has on the lives of many vulnerable people.

http://nottingham.indymedia.org.uk/articles/1129

http://nottingham.indymedia.org.uk/articles/1760

http://nottingham.indymedia.org.uk/articles/1120

Deeply depressing

Before I came to Nottingham, I had never encountered individuals who thought that mindless acts of vandalism were somehow “sticking it to the system”. Below is an extract from a posting on indymedia ,of someone who thinks exactly that.

“On Tuesday and Thursday this week we took a night walk through the city. Filled with disgust at society as we see it, we struck rapidly and repeatedly against various symbols of capitalist culture. 

Cameras pointing into the streets were smashed with rocks. S.U.V’s and sports cars had their tires slashed and paint stripped. Cash machines were covered in paint.

 We know these acts are small, we know that they will not bring capitalism and it’s abuses down, but we see them as part of a larger struggle. A struggle in which all individuals are able to strike back against state and capitalism’s vicious oppression. We make gestures like this to make it known that there are some who are burning with hatered for the system in it’s entirity.”

Follow the link below to read more.

http://nottingham.indymedia.org.uk/articles/933

In solidarity with prisoners

Sometimes things happen that really shock and perplex me. On the website Indymedia, an anonymous poster “boasted” that he damaged cars and the Nottingham’s probation service office.  He has claimed that he did this in solidarity with prisoners!

Of course all he has really done is massively inconvenience staff and cause taxpayers money to be used to carry out repairs. Below are details of  this vandalism.

“Four of it’s vehicles had their paint stripped, tiers slashed and locks glued shut. All the doors to the building were also glued.

This was just a gesture, a middle finger flicked up at the prison system. To that system we say Fuck your attempts to control our lives, fuck you for imprisoning our comrades, and fuck your surviellence because we will not be stopped from having these moments.

These moments where the industrial prison complex, the culture of domination and capitalism can not stop us from responding with anger and disgust at the world that has been created.

This action is done in solidarity with all prisoners.”

Follow the link below to read more.

http://nottingham.indymedia.org.uk/articles/915

Vandalism of Conservative Party office’s

Indymedia reports that:

“Damage was done to the Conservative Party Nottingham Office last night….Some windows had been smashed along the wall in King Edward Street and there were some painted messages including “Fight the cuts” and “Tory Scum”.”

Okay you might not agree with the Government, or with the cuts being made; but this is still vandalism. Although it was interesting that some readers of the Evening Post seemed to think that taxpayers will pay for the repairs – when of course they don’t.

Follow the link below to read more.

http://nottingham.indymedia.org.uk/articles/677

Police watchdog ends close scrutiny

The Nottingham Post reports today that:

“A Government watchdog has today ended its close scrutiny of Notts Police after the force made significant improvements in cutting crime over the last year…

Zoë Billingham, HMI for Nottinghamshire, said Notts Police’s performance had been a “real concern” 12 months ago but that it had made “impressive improvements” during that time to address concerns.”

Interestingly an early version of this story quoted Jon Collins admitting that 2003 was a low point in terms of crime; but that things have got better. I didn’t save it unfortunately and it has now disappeared.

But it was significant that Councillor Jon Collins had finally admitted that there was a real problem with crime in Nottingham.

Follow teh link below to read more.

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/news/Watchdog-lifts-intense-scrutiny-Notts-Police/article-2908382-detail/article.html

Allegations about consultant paid £1,000 a day

Notts Police Authority have allegedly being misusing money by paying out large amounts for a consultant, as reported in the Nottingham Post.

“A POLICE consultant is to stand down before an inquiry is completed on why her job was created.

Jaki Lowe was an interim director of human resources working on a plan to shave £1.2m, or 17.5 per cent, from Notts Police‘s spending on staff over the next three years.

Anonymous letters sent to Notts Police Authority and the Post expressed doubts over the need for her post, and claimed it was costing £1,000 a day.

In response to the letters, chairman of Notts Police Authority Councillor Jon Collins, requested another police force look into the allegations in the anonymous letters….But Ms Lowe has now stepped down before the inquiry was completed..

The investigation will continue but it has not been revealed when it will finish.”

Follow the link below to read more.

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/news/Police-HR-consultant-centre-probe-end-role/article-2840051-detail/article.html

Police performance

Anecdotally, I would say that Nottingham police have got better over the last 10 years at responding to crimes reported by the public. But it is clear that they don’t always get it right, as one reader of the Nottingham Post notes.

“No sign of them when my laptop was stolen earlier this year until they contacted me months later to conduct a ‘survey’ to ask how well they dealt with the incident.

Utterly useless and disinterested local police force – to the extent that if an incident happened outside my front door, i wouldn’t even bother reporting it…”

Follow the link below to read the original post.

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/news/NG1-postcode-crimes-likely-solved/article-2835584-detail/article.html

A tale of police skiving

I have just been reading the Nottingham Post and came across a worrying anecdote.

“A few years ago i was assaulted in nottingham city centre and sought the help of two police officers in a patrol car driving very slowly along the side of the council house. I tried to wave them down, they continued to drive, and eventually only stopped when i stood in front of their vehicle. they refused to lsiten to me and then told me to F off or i would be arrested.

after pointing out the group of men who had attacked me waiting nearby i told them i would rather be arrested than beaten to a pulp at which point they both got out of the car, threw me on the bonnet, cuffed me, pushed me into the back of the car. drove around the corner, took off the cuffs and threw me back out of the car onto the ground and drove off.

I was very angry and upset and went immediately to central police station and demanded to see an inspector to amke a complaint.

the complaint was investigated and i was told by the investigating officer from sherwood lodge that the officers were logged as being in the stanns/carlton area at the time and had gone to get an eyefull of the totty. they ignored me because it would have identified that they were in the wrong place.

Oh and suprise of suprises i was told it was not in the public interest for the investigation to be taken further.”

Follow the link below to read the original post.

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/news/Notts-Rescue-Service-cut-sixth-following-Government-cuts/article-2819315-detail/article.html

Guarded crime scene blunder

The Nottingham Post reports a serious assault in Market Square.

“A MAN was in a critical condition in hospital last night following an assault in the city centre…A police cordon was set up outside NatWest bank and across the tram lines at around 11.45am and remained in place for much of yesterday…

Four police officers and two police community support officers guarded the scene, and trams were currently unable to use the section of track.”

I am assuming that the 6 people guarding the scene of crime, did so in order to preserve any  evidence that could later be used to secure a conviction. If the reader below is correct, unfortunately they were wasting their time.

2I was in Market Square at 6.00a.m. Sunday and the cleaning team where (sic) up and down the exact area where the alleged crime took place with machinery and steam cleaners they left it spotless I was watching them going up and down for ages.”

To read more follow the link below.

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/news/Tram-tracks-cordoned-city-centre/article-2819204-detail/article.html

Memories of Colin Gunn

On the Left Lion website, a reader has posted the following comment about Colin Gunn.                                                                        

                                                                                                                                       “with colin it was 50/50 if you were in the pub with him one minute he would buy the whole pub a drink or put money behind the bar,then the next day he would be screaming” wtf are you looking at”

                                                                                                                                       one of his lads once threatend to burn my house down for not driving through the estate fast enough,braggin about who they were and so i should know what they do,never happend and that was 6 years ago,,

                                                                                                                                  then i was approched by one of them driving his 4by4 for wearing my high viz jacket outside the grove in daybrook,the pratt even asked me if i was a copper then proceeded to ask me who’s veihcle he was driving,”well thats colins jeep,and your not colin”i replied,he got out and started walking towards me so i walked towards him,he did no more,turned round,got back in and drove off saying i was a deadman,that was 5/6 years ago n i’m still here

                                                                                                                                   they did put a lot out to extend the myth of theyer supremecy over people that didnt actually happen.or made empty threats just to scare people,the amount of guys ive heard over the years saying “my uncle is colin gunn “is laughable”.”

                                                                                                                              Follow the link below to read more.

http://www.leftlion.co.uk/articles.cfm/id/2429