Not so common sense

Positive discrimination, Gender Quotas versus Free Choice. Borgen

2012-02-13T14:16:00.115Z

Photo from Danish BBC 4 series "BORGEN"

"The possibility for rich relationships exists all around you - you simply have to open your eyes, open your mouth and, most importantly, open your heart," (Cheryl Richardson)

During the past 6 weeks, I have been almost glued to BBC TV FOUR during Saturday Nights. Once again the Scandinavian production company that brought us "The Killing" and "Wallander", produced another absorbing series. The focus this time was on a Danish Prime Ministerial Candidate who had to make some very tough choices.
Topical? It certainly was.
Spellbinding and attention getting? Yes to both of those too.
I think that it likely started debates on many family sofas about subjects such as women and men's roles, House husbands, Marriage, the role of a family, Legislated Gender Equality and whether we can "HAVE IT ALL" and are we willing to pay the price? For I have found that for every choice that we make, we also have to give something up.

In the recently televised drama BORGEN, BIRGITTE, the female central character did achieve her goal of being Prime Minister, although she encountered intense difficulties, in being able to share her role and responsibilities, or compromise her principals, in any way.
Eventually, we the viewers had ringside seats to watch Birgitte (incredibly portrayed by Sidse Babette Knudson), becoming unable to step back from her official role, or enjoy time away from the leadership, as the marriage and family life disintegrated..
It was almost as though she was at war with herself, as her gentle inner self, gave way to someone who became extremely focused on her job and tended to disregard her former consideration of others.

She literally gave everything at the office and came home depleted of energy and interest in her two children or the impact that it was having on her husband.
Dramatically, faced with a choice, she sacrificed her private life and her husband in the final episode.

I wonder how many women, like me, were yelling "NO...NO...NO!, at the screen as she and Phillip, her former college lecturer husband agreed to divorce.
All of the Scandinavian countries are considered very progressive when it comes to Equality issues. I believe that there are quotas governing the number of women who should be sitting on the Boards of Companies there.

A February 9 Daily Telegraph article reports that the current Conservative Prime Minister, David Cameron is in favour of emulating some of Scandinavian gender equality programs and policies to help stimulate the economy by ".....increasing the number of women on the boards of British Companies.
I should mention that the above mentioned Feb 9 article, very well written by JILL KIRBY, points out that Prime Minister Cameron fails to note that "..... America leads the way in promoting women to the boardroom because the U.S. has one of the lowest levels of labour regulation of any Western economy..."
The Telegraph goes on to report in an February 10 article that a former Labour Cabinet Minister, Harriet Harman, commented that "feminised management teams would have avoided the financial crash..."

I am one of those people who do not believe that you can or should legislate human attitudes or behaviours.
I guess that I am a fan of Laizzez faire and minimum legislation where people and Economies, find their own levels and people make their own choices, with little Government interference.
If I succeed in a career I want it to be by my own merits, not because I am a woman who ticks some Politicians box.

Photo by ALAMY , from 10 Feb DailyTelegraph article 2012

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Highway Robbery?

2012-02-13T13:44:00.001Z

"Avoid the crowd. Do your own thinking. Be the chess player not the Chess Piece." (Ralph Charell).

An English (un-manned) Speed camera

A young family man was speaking with me, this past weekend. He was telling me about his problem and why he felt that he had to make a decision that he did not want to take.
The problem that he wanted to discuss was this.....
He had been returning from work on the previous Friday evening, after working a little later than usual. The time was a just after the "normal" business rush hour. As he left the Mersey Tunnel toll booths, he accelerated slightly as he climbed the slight incline , to get to his exit lane.
Apparently the speed limit in that area is 30 mph. Unknown to him there was an unmarked Undercover Police car parked and stationery by the side of the road, doing an undercover operation.
The Police Officer pulled him over and informed him that he had been doing 35mph in a 30 mph zone.
The man was given what is known as a Fixed penalty notice (a FPN). This speeding ticket carries a penalty of £60 and three points on your driving license.
You then have to attend at a nearby Police Station, (Within a specified short time) and produce both your plastic photo type driving license and the separate full page of paper which is mailed to you when you get your driving licence.
I listened to the circumstances that he explained to me.
He did not know that the car parked by the road was a Police Car, or that the man in it was a Police Officer.
The man explained that he had to accelerate in order to proceed up the hill and reach his turn off lane. Apparently this action only took about one or two minutes, before he then dropped his speed and merged with traffic.
He explained that he could ill afford to fight the Penalty ticket cost and that his take home daily pay was £60.

The man was telling me that if he quickly paid the fine and did not dispute the ticket, the fine would reduce to £30.
However if he notified the Police that he intended to go to a Magistrates Court and offer reasons why he did not think that he was guilty of speeding, he would have to pay a higher amount and pay court costs.

I could see and hear that he was in the middle of a real dilemma, where his conscience told him to fight and tell the truth and circumstances to the court and the harsh reality that he was the main bread winner and had a young family who was economically dependent on him.

What do you think...Is it fair...Would you contest the ticket?
Is this a modern highwayman, (your money or your life DICK TURPIN), situation or not?

Here is the ACPO, (Association of Chief Police Officers) speed enforcement guidelines chart.

SPEED LIMIT....20mph......Minimum speed for a speeding ticket... 25mph. Minimum speed for prosecution....35mph

SPEED Limit..... 30mph..... Minimum speed for a speeding ticket... 35mph. Minimum speed for prosecution....50mph

SPEED Limit....40mph..... Minimum speed for a speeding ticket....46mph. Minimum speed for prosecution......66mph

SPEED Limit...50mph..... Minimum speed for a speeding ticket....57mph....Minimum speed for prosecution....76mph

SPEED Limit....60mph.... Minimum speed for a speeding ticket....68mph....Minimum speed for prosecution ...86mph

SPEED Limit...70mph.....Minimum speed for a speeding ticket....79mph...Minimum speed for prosecution .... 96mph

The man with the fixed penalty notice asked me what I would do in his position. I replied that I would prefer to go before a traffic court or magistrate and fight the ticket. Unfortunately he said that he could not risk having to pay court costs as well as the £60. My advice on this occasion was free. Although he agreed with me....He made the decision based on his own current economic necessity.

P.S. I have received four traffic tickets in my life. One was in Australia, (which I paid because I was 20 miles over the speed limit.)
The second two were in the U.S. (One was when I was on a Freeway, where I was 10 miles over the speed limit and received a verbal warning. The other occasion was when my new car's speedometer was broken and I was given a speeding ticket. ( I challenged the ticket in court and the case was dismissed, with no costs.)
The last occasion was in Canada, again on a free-way, when I was pushed into the car ahead by a driver behind me, when I was stopped because of a road traffic accident ahead of me. A Traffic Policeman gave me a ticket for following too close. I took it to Court and the Police Officer who had issued the ticket failed to appear...The case was dismissed and again I paid no court costs.

I choose NOT to drive in England. As I find that traffic laws are very inconsistent, with little room for officer's discretion.

A Father's presence is an important part of Parenting

2012-02-05T13:55:00.117Z

Fathers and the Law (GETTY IMAGES) from 5 Feb Daily Telegraph article

"What is done to children, they will do to Society," (Dr Karl Menninger)

According to some news reports the U.K. Government is at long last going to review legal access and possibly improve custody rights for divorced and separated fathers.
The Politicians and London law makers are also examining what can be done to ensure that grandparents are not left out of the Divorce, separation access process and contact arrangements.

For far too long the whole divorce process has frequently been an acrimonious one, where both parties hire their own lawyers, seemingly with the purpose of the divorce outcome creating a "loser" and a "winner".
In other words a "worthy" parent and an "unworthy" one.
Naturally with this process the parent that has been determined to be the "Worthy" one, (Frequently the woman), gains physical custody of the children, while the Father has to be content with a limited visitation right.

Divorce, separation and their aftermath is all to frequently a horrendous and damaging situation, which is a severe and sharp contrast to what started out with smiles, love, commitment and promises to each other and a shower of confetti.

Since I returned to live in England I have followed with admiration the tenacity of one group of crusading fathers named "FATHERS FOR JUSTICE". This group of men have been willing to stand up in public, climb onto rooftops and often face arrest, in order to bring to the public's attention, how Fathers are often almost "surgically" removed from their children's lives after a divorce.

I have seen instances where issues such as missing or a reduced support payment, is seen as a reason to deny, cut off access or blacken the father's reputation and image.
Do such actions do harm to the children of the marriage? I tend to think that they do inflict some emotional or developmental damage.

I think that it is time for the whole divorce and separation process to be removed from an adversarial court system, that administers a cold "one size fits all" type of justice and looks, with some feeling and understanding at what is best for all parties. The system should also acknowledge the important role that many Fathers can and do have in their children's lives and the fact that some Fathers are just as capable of being the primary care giver as the Mother.
Society and children may both benefit.
I will watch with great interest to see what changes the Justice Minister actually achieves.

I note that a U.K. Charity called "THE WAVE TRUST" has also recently featured a comment section on LINKED IN on the subject of how important the influence of a Father is, in the raising and development of a child.
Maybe take a look and add a comment?

Sometimes conversations should not only be about the Weather... the time to influence fatal decisions may be a brief & narrow window. (A MALE Gender gap)

2012-02-02T09:28:00.007Z

"Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much your care". (Theodore Roosevelt)

Precarious Moment or Crisis Symbol

For the past few days , we have been shivering and wrapping up more warmly than during a "normal" U.K. winter. You may wonder why I say that? It is because the U.K. and some other Norther European countries have been held in the grip of a bitterly cold weather front which drifted in from Russia.
Weather forecasters daily show us satellite generated charts of a slightly warmer Atlantic front, battling for supremacy, against a seemingly powerful Baltic system.
This Border less weather system symbolises, to me, one of the facts of life, that we cannot currently control.

However, when it comes to the topic of Emotions and Personal feelings, some of these deep seated feelings, should be openly discussed, so that we may be able to bring about open discussions & positive and productive conversations.

Two tragic events, both Suicides of young males, and three Newspaper features on the topic of "Suicide rates on the rise" (The Guardian January 2012), have once again brought the subject to my attention during the last few days of January. One of the young men was a Student of 24, whose girlfriend had just ended their relationship.

One 28 January 2012, article states that....."The number of suicides in the U.K. has risen sharply since the recession began... rising from 5,377 deaths in 2007 to 5,706 in 2008....THREE TIMES AS MANY MEN AS WOMEN KILL THEMSELVES."
Another timely and important article published in THE GUARDIAN of 17 January with the title.." WE TELL BOYS NOT TO CRY, THEN WONDER ABOUT MALE SUICIDE..."
In this article, former footballer DEAN WINDASS, reveals that he had attempted suicide twice recently and goes on to say..."Everyone thinks that Dean Windass is a laugh and a joke and a kid...blah..blah..blah, and got loads of money and his wife and kids are lovely....But that's all a mask. I was in pieces, I couldn't stop drinking or crying....

There seems to be far more willingness and attention paid to women's feelings, fears or issues. Women also seem to have an easier time forming close and supportive networks of friends who are willing to listen to their emotions and experiences.
Somehow, a man who wants to talk about how he feels, seems to be regarded as an "oddball" and someone to be avoided or offered to come out for a drink, "That will cheer you up?"

What kind of feelings an possibly be going through someones head at the time that they might be considering killing themselves. Here are a few possible ones.

Overwhelming feelings and fear of loss.
(Triggers and fears could be economic loss, job loss or relationship loss, or even something as common as turning 40.)
Stress
People will be better off without me or do not need me any more.
I cannot see any other way out.
I don't think that I can cope with all that is expected of me.
I cannot stand the internal pain any more and want it to end
No-one wants to listen to me or understand how I am feeling

COMMON FACTORS PRIOR TO THE SUICIDE
The use of alcohol prior to committing suicide is a common factor, (alcohol is frequently used to "numb" or dull feelings that the person wishes to extinguish. Although Alcohol also has a documented depressive affect.)
A recent row or a threatened/ actual break-up in a relationship often emerges during evidence presented during inquests.

Even if you think that the person who is saying or texting to you, words like..."I am thinking or have thought about killing myself," doesn't mean what he is saying...or is not the suicide "type" or would never kill themselves because he loves his wife and children....Please break through your own discomfort zone and ASK. Did you mean it when you said you wanted to Kill yourself? Have you planned how to do it and when and how?

By showing that you are willing to ask such questions, you may be one of the keys to talking, listening to words that need to be expressed. Turning down the burner...Lessening the pain.... and maybe...Just maybe...being an instrument for one less suicide.
In saying those words and showing a willingness to listen to words and feelings, tat are not about the weather, the children or other so called "safe" subjects, someone may step back from a precipice.
DARE TO SHOW YOU CARE BY BREAKING THE DISCOMFORT BARRIER, REALLY TALKING AND LISTENING AND THEN FOLLOWING THROUGH WITH ENSURING APPROPRIATE MENTAL OR MEDICAL HEALTH SERVICES ARE IN PLACE.

The C.A.L.M. (Campaign against living miserably) website is thecalmzone.net
the C.A.L.M. Helpline is 0808 802 5858 (within London) or 0800 585858 (Outside London)

P.S. On the subject of conversations, particularly English ones...In a recent news interview, Russian born Composer and Symphony Conductor, Vasily Petrenko, who currently lives and works in our area of England, commented about the different styles and content of conversations.
I quote an excerpt of what he said....."..Here people usually say something different to what they mean, even from the very beginning of the conversation. In Russia if you asked someone "How are you?", you would get all their problems, starting from three generations before."....

Threats are often NOT the VISIBLE ones, but modern UNSEEN Enemies that can cause major problems

2012-01-27T11:10:00.004Z

Illustration from Daily Telegraph article "Spies behind your screen".

" We must gather wisdom, while we are not required to use it; when the time for use arrives, the time for harvest is over." (HANS GROSSE)

Last evening my husband and I spent a very enjoyable early evening treat savouring a meal at a City Mexican Restaurant, talking with our Waiter, (who came from Hungary) and then visiting one of the nearby modern cinemas within the same complex.

Our choice of movie, last night was set in Sweden..."THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO". The complex plot and acting was excellent and very absorbing. The cast was also a good one.
However one of the many riveting elements of the story, was the use of computer hacking and the ability to access and manipulate, supposedly secure, computer data, without detection.
That concept was an extremely scary one and I recalled how I had read an article in one of my favourite Daily Newspapers, "The Telegraph", on a very similar subject in November of 2011. The name of that article was "The Spies behind your screen."
This morning I scrambled through a pile of assorted papers, piled up on my desk, among my "Must read this Pile," and uncovered the lengthy article that I was looking for and settled down to read it.

The article, that I highlighted starts out describing a "hacker", or rather one of a group of very accomplished Hackers, who have developed a system called RCS (remote Control System), that can silently and secretly "invade a digital device" and find there way around any current computer protection devices. Their RCS process can, according to the article enter and disrupt the function and operation of any modern industrial system, where a computer or digital process is involved. It appears that this could be anything from a water supply, railway or even the National Grid or Nuclear Power Stations. Encryption or sophisticated software are no match for it, apparently.
Fortunately the man named in this article, as David Vincenzetti, (According to the Telegraph report), is on the side of the "Good guys" and is running a respectable business helping to prevent and intercept people who do not have his ethical standards and values.
However he and his young colleagues, do serve as a powerful warning of what can happen, if other similar talented groups, without ethics or controls are capable of.
Various Governments both here in the U.K. and in the U.S. have issued press releases telling of attempts to infiltrate or cause a system and Central Control Units into "meltdown, shut-down or overload", have emerged from a myriad of sources, in recent years.

This kind of invisible enemy, may appear faceless and sitting in a chair in an unknown location, while they attempt to undermine a country's vital infrastructures.

Tanks, Fighter jets, Aircraft carriers and conventional weaponry are obviously, not the required tools to fight this particular battle. Although the goal of this Cyber Crime "war" is a similar one to conventional warfare...CONTROL.

Two paragraphs from a January 26 Daily Telegraph article, (from Kamal Ahmed reporting from Davos)....
sums up the problem...."recent attacks have shown an incredible resourcefulness and ability on the part of the criminals and even the most cyber-savvy organisations have found themselves exposed and ill-prepared. The cyber threat is very real and businesses need to allocate proportionate time and resources...Cyber Crime was highlighted in the recent WEF Risks report. It said with so many businesses relying on Cloud computing and secure I.T. systems, there was an increasing vulnerability to on-line attacks."

One of the books that I am currently reading is a topical one by ROBERT HARRIS. Its title is "THE FEAR INDEX."
I agree with the cover of the book, which lists it as an "Intelligent thriller". It is about a wealthy visionary modern day scientist and businessman, whose secure and protected world is breached and the consequences, both in his personal and business life.
The story is absorbing, well researched, credible and thought provoking.
The book is timely and provides a very good "read"....I recommend it.
.

Deadly Assumptions, assessments, broken lines of communication, Relationship Violence.

2012-01-19T22:09:00.396Z

U.K. NATIONAL DOMESTIC ABUSE 24 HOUR HELPLINE 0808 2000 247
IF YOUR LIFE IS UNDER THREAT OR AT IMMINENT RISK, DIAL 999, FOR A POLICE RESPONSE. (I ADVISE THAT YOU HAVE A PERSONAL COPY OF ANY NON MOLESTATION ORDER IN YOUR POSSESSION, TO REFER TO & PASS ON PRECISE WORDING TO THE CALL TAKER)

KATE MOTT Murder and Her Killer. (Photos.Daily Telegraph article and Press Association)

"Be the change you want to see in the world" (Mahatma Ghandi)

A woman in her mid thirties was Strangled and murdered, about this time last year. She had been raped and strangled. Her body was found in her car on January 21, 2011.
She was married, the mother of two young children, a Nurse and she was planning to divorce her husband, who was also a nurse. His name is Brent Mott and he was convicted of her murder, in August 2010.
The dead woman's name was Kate Mott. Her estranged husband , was known to be, a very controlling, volatile and abusive man, who she was in fear of.
Because of this fear and a pattern of harassment against her, she had applied for and gained , through the Courts, what is known in England as a "non molestation order" against her husband .

Kate Mott was likely confident that if she was harassed and threatened by her estranged husband, that she could rely on a swift Police response, which would protect her life and provide safety.
However, according to the IPCC (the official independent body that examines complaints against English Police Forces)s.... Mrs. Mott experienced Police....." Failings at every stage."
The IPCC and other reports outline events,.... The non Molestation order was granted and obtained on November 9, 2009....with the Police receiving a copy of that order shortly after it was granted....important information was not logged by the Police. The court order was not entered onto the Police system, (when it was received by them). Which lead to..... The criminal enforcement powers of the order not being understood or acted upon. The name of Mrs. Mott's husband was not logged, by the people who took her call for assistance regarding the harassment , (Her call was made on 15 December 2009). A pattern of mis-communication, misunderstanding and failings followed, with no appointment being made to meet with Mrs. Mott. (A follow up telephone call was apparently made by a Police Officer, who advised her to take notes of conversations with her husband and informed her to contact her solicitor for assistance.)

This particular case touched me for several reasons, one of which is that I know just how dangerous and difficult it is for women, (and some men), to leave abusive /violent relationships.
I am well aware that roughly, the one year period of time after leaving a relationship, is the most risky and dangerous time, (for both men and women), and that relationship violence accounts for a significant number of Police Calls for service.
I am also very aware that although Restraining orders, Non Molestation Orders, No contact orders and Peace Bonds are very useful tools, they cannot absolutely ensure a person's safety.
A victim is most likely to be murdered in their own home than anywhere else.
Strangulation and stabbings are often the chosen method of murder, if the victim and the offender have had some form of relationship with one another. (Both methods are very painful and very personal and up close, method of killing. They often are a slow and prolonged method of being killed.)
I have learned many things from many people, in my thirty years of working with people in Crisis and Emergency Services.
Just one of those things is..... that what can go wrong...will occasionally actually fail or go wrong.
I also know only too well, that you are far more likely to be attacked or murdered by some who that you know.
There are warning signs and RED FLAGS, which should alert Police and anyone who acts as an advocate for Victims.
One case that I will always remember is that of a young woman, who was also a married mother, with a verbally and physically abusive husband. He had always been very jealous of any friends who had contact with his wife. (One RED FLAG for violence or attempted Murder)
When this young woman filed for divorce she also had obtained a restraining order, with a clause, ( she kept a copy in her possession, as well as the Police and Government Registry), that made the husband arrestable if he breached that order.
He did indeed breach that order, about a month after it was granted by the court. The victim did call the Police after hearing him breaking into the house, one evening, when she was stepping out of the shower. He managed to stab her once, (with only the shower curtain to protect her), before the Police arrested him.
He, the offender, was convicted and served several years in jail.

But one day, my pager went off. The victim of the stabbing had been driving down a freeway ramp, near to her home, about three years after his sentence. To her horror, she recognised one of the men who was working as part of a team of offenders, clearing up roadside litter.....It was the offender. Somehow, Someone in the probation department had not checked the location of that work order and joined up the dots!!! I advised our Radio Control Room and the Watch Commander in charge. The convicted man was quickly arrested and the relevant Prison Officer notified.

A major part of my Police based job, was to make sure that the dots did indeed join up, make sure that the pager was on and that someone would always answer and respond.
Procedures and protocols, do, sometimes fail .
The only sure defence against such system failures is to have people who CARE about the job they do. To stay informed and educated about changes.....To genuinely care about other people, who place their trust in them and to try and ensure continuity and proper communication, between people.
FOOTNOTES

Many or most U.K. Police Forces also have Family safety Units, which specialise in Domestic Abuse Services. (These specialist units are often found under the banner of Community Safety Units, (Frequently located in a separate building from Main Police Forces buildings).
Their advertised. hours are from Monday to Friday. Telephone advice and contact is commonly within "normal working hours, ( 9:00 to 1700 hours.) Only a few sites give an after hours number. Some FSU sites do not advertise the NATIONAL DOMESTIC 24 HOUR, ABUSE ADVICE LINE. (0808 2000 247)
CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT THE MAJORITY OF DOMESTIC ABUSE/VIOLENCE OCCURS AFTER REGULAR WORKING HOURS. I SUGGEST THAT A 24 HOUR NATIONAL NUMBER BE BETTER ADVERTISED ON ALL FSU SITES

N.B....Breaches of Non Molestation orders are criminal offences and arrestable under Section 1 of the D.V.C.V.A. (Domestic Violence Crime and Victims Act 2004), when the older Family Law Act , Section 42A (1996), was amended to make such breaches criminal not civil.
It is also of importance to note that she should have been doubly protected from Harassment under another Act ....the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.

I feel that I must question the training that is given to the Police Officers and Control Room Staff, involved in this case in at least two areas.....Firstly, ignorance or lack of understanding of current laws, including important public protective statutes, (such as the D.V.C.V.A,) and criminal breaches/ powers of arrest.
Most importantly though, from the number of cases that I am reading about, lately...I am very concerned about the assessment and communication abilities of some of the people who are first responders...As illustrated in this particular incident and other similar recent cases. Finally the ability to care and identify with the feelings and fears of people who call them for Help.

In 2003 I worked as an adviser to a House of Commons sub committee that was reviewing and preparing to put into legislation the U.K. Domestic Violence Crime and Victim's Act

Walking paths and routes that people have walked, centuries ago.

2012-01-14T14:32:00.069Z

Finder Ken Wallace with Roman Helmet (Photo Guardian , by Frank Baron)

I read an incredible and fascinating story in the January 11 edition of the Guardian, of how an uninspiring clump of mud on a Leicestershire hillside yielded corroded metal fragments, which proved to be a Roman Helmet.

The fragments of the decorated silver over iron were discovered by a retired teacher and amateur archaeologist (Ken Wallace), who is a member of the Hallaton Fieldwork.
Fortunately Ken Wallace and members of the group have patiently and carefully learned the important historical value of some of the objects that they uncover and when to bring in experts from the British Museum and University Archaeology Departments.

After much time (amounting to years) the pieces were painstakingly pieced together to reveal the decorative helmet, seen in the picture, at the start of this.

Why did this Guardian article strike such a chord with me? It was partially because as a young early teenage girl, my parents moved to, what was then a fairly quiet rural area, in Cheshire. My father and a builder friend designed and built a home for the family, on land which had not previously been developed. (Or so we thought.)

The new house was successfully completed without many delays or hitches, (apart for the extra wait entailed from having to use green roof tiles).

However when it came to digging out the soil to lay forms for a driveway, we suddenly one day unearthed a Roman well, pottery and coins.
We contacted Archaeologists in nearby Chester and work had to be stopped while everything was carefully excavated and catalogued. I watched in wonder and fascination and for a while, as the research team worked..... I was convinced that I wanted to be an archaeologist.....That ambition only lasted until I found out the number of Science subjects required to enter that discipline. I have to admit that the idea of kneeling in cold and often muddy dirt for long periods, was also not an attractive to My young mind.

By the way, the road that we lived on was just off Chester Road that ran in between Altrincham, Chester, (known as DEVA VICTRIX) and Northwich (CONDATE). The Romans had a large encampment for about for over three centuries at Chester, with settlements in both Altrincham and Northwich. Chester Road was one of their major travel routes.

Another very interesting find was unearthed close to the River Thames in London very recently. It was a Roman coin, known as a "brothel token".

Brothel token. Photo from Guardian article and Museum of London.

"We are not makers of history. We are made by history." (Martin Luther King)

The path of non violence,determination and committment

2012-01-08T12:52:00.161Z

"Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul..." (Samuel Ullman)

Three people from three different countries and backgrounds, who have dedicated a large majority of their adult lives to different endeavours, have moved to the forefront of public attention during the last six months, because of their continuous hard work and outcomes..

What these three women have in common is that only in the last six months have these hard working human beings lived to see the fruits and acknowledgement of their patient hard work.

Two of them gained a considerable measure of success during the first Month, of 2012.
One of them has spent most of her life in the U.K.
One comes from France and the other fragile looking, but strong, softly spoken lady comes from Burma
( now known as Myanmar).
All of them have spent a huge amount of energy and sacrificed much, for their individual causes or beliefs.
Despite not being part of the celebrity or reality show culture, or exposing large areas of shapely legs or ample cleavage, they have largely achieved their place in history and newspaper coverage with perseverance, dedication to their beliefs, hard work, consideration of others, consistency and the overwhelming desire to make the world a better and safer place.

Yes, this group of three are all women, noticeably feminine, (but not feminists), and in my opinion, very worthy of the description of " ROLE MODELS".

Christine LaGarde at G20 Summit (Agence France-Press Getty Images Nov 2011)

Christine Legard is a lady who has made her mark, without using "positive discrimination" or her gender, in predominately male fields in both the United States, her native France and is now the head of the International Monetary Fund. Christine Legard maintains her sense of humour, multilingualism and excellent communication and listening skills to build bridges between world economic leaders. It seems that the current IMF boss is also very coordinated and a good swimmer as she was formerly a member of the French synchronised swimming team.
Christine Legard appears to be much admired, accepted and trusted to help steer today's troubled economies into calmer waters.

Doreen Lawrence, (mother of Stephen Lawrence)

Since the murder of her son, Stephen at a London bus stop 18 years ago, Doreen has never ceased in her commitment to bring those responsible to Judgement. She has never swerved in her mission, even though she has faced opposition and non cooperation from many agencies who were supposed to support her. For almost twenty years she has put her own personal ambitions on hold, while she fought at times her almost solitary fight. What she has achieved is nothing short of remarkable. Just two weeks ago, two of those involved in the stabbing death of her her young son have been convicted and sentenced, using modern DNA blood spot analysis. Plus the largest Police Force in the U.K. has completely changed its approach to race hate murders and has re-opened the case to identify and prosecute others who were involved in the murder. As Doreen Lawrence recently stated, her success will not bring her son back, but it will bring some closure and hope for other victims of similar crimes. She has brought about important changes in the Police.

The third lady, who I have long admired, has lived most of her life in Myanmar (formerly Burma). How would you categorise Ang San Suu Kyi?
I imagine that she can be best described as a Political activist, who has a deep and unswerving love for her country, freedom , human rights and a strong dedication to democracy. For over a decade years she has faced imprisonment, house arrest and even death for her beliefs and never seems to have wavered.
She has known much personal tragedy in her life and has borne it with quiet dignity and dedication to the her beliefs.
In 1991 she was awarded the Nobel Peace prize.
Despite having been looked upon as an enemy and threat, to the ruling Government of her country, for so many years and kept under house arrest...Just this week the tide of public support has brought about freedom for the quiet slim lady in demure and colourful dresses.
It was announced today that she has been approved as a Political candidate in a April 2012 by-election in Yangon.

Aung San Suu Kyi (photo REUTERS and Voice of America)

Christmas and New Year. A time of Peace, togetherness and Violence.

2012-01-03T12:42:00.004Z

"It's choice...not chance...that determines your destiny..." (Jean Nidetch)

Christmas and New Year period 2011.... has been a time where the U.K. has seemingly, entered into a period of extended suspended animation.
Under " Normal" circumstances not much happens, work wise, between Christmas and New Year, because of parties, preparations for festivities and travel. Agencies and businesses tend to give their employees two weeks off. Many support agency doors remain shut and locked, or services maintain only a skeleton staff, (with only a need to know access number. Data and background information safely protected.)

However, this situation has been further extended by the additional Bank holidays created by Christmas occurring on two weekends, this year.

Most likely a number of families have enjoyed the enforced, extra time together, But for other families that have garnered the headlines, it has been an extremely violent and deadly one.
News Reports today commented that 24 people have met a sudden and violent end to their lives during this 2 week holiday season.
Some have been stranger to stranger killings, such as the 20 year old, foreign born, promising, post graduate Lancaster University male student who was murdered on a visit to the streets of Manchester and the sudden attack on another young male who was murdered at a shoe sale on Oxford Street, London.
Both deaths seemingly happened randomly, without motive or prior warning.

But then the family related killings, increased the murder numbers and drew yet more, dark clouds over, what turned out to be an already existing season of storms.

Four people found dead in County Durham shooting. Daily Telegraph photo

Today's headlines, like the reports of several other family relationship killings, have focused on the sites of the killings in such "nice quiet neighbourhoods."
The method of the violence, whether it was guns or knives, was once again put into sharp focus ....as well as the age and occupation of the victims.
While the Police focused on the necessary Forensics, investigation, maintaining continuity of evidence and neighbourhood reassurance.
Very little is being said about the emotions and mental state of the perpetrators and the aftermath for surviving relatives and friends.
Although, the perpetrator of the County Durham murders, had reportedly suffered from depression and spoken of self harm some time previously
(While similar recent family Murders, such as the murder/suicide by former Police Inspector Toby Day, were carried out with a knife, the County Durham Taxi driver committed his murders with Guns.)

Many of us who work or have worked in the Emergency Services and either chose, or are assigned to work during the Holiday Season, know only too well, how extended family gatherings can help provide the catalyst for increased tensions and volatile emotions. It is often a time of looking backwards and looking forward, which brings about reflection, with accompanying feelings of loss and fears for the future. While Police deal, mainly with the Black and white case facts, secondary response workers deal with all the other shades,colours, mental states and emotions that are included within the particular crime spectrum.

It is little wonder that several large Police Forces have had attached, (in house units), that work alongside them and within them and have the expertise and response readily available, throughout regular times and holidays.
I will mention just a few of Vancouver Police Community Response Team Cars....CAR 86- Child Protection....CAR 87- Mental Health....The Former Car 278- Now Yankee 10- Youth Probation
and forgetting the former Car Y177...Now Yankee 20 - High Risk Youth/ Street Youth Intervention Team.

Can such Police based resources, assessments and records help in the intervention and possible prevention of such tragedies? I tend to think so. They are often used and valued as an available, experienced and known, "in house" trusted resource, whose expertise, continuity and background knowledge can help fill in the gaps, for Police.....when a subject's name and address appears on a dispatch screen or radio.
(These services have existed and been in place for about 30 years.)

I know about the value of those services, because for ten years I was one of those 24/7 " in house" responders, who helped bridge the gap and provide continuity, support, and information for Police and the Public.

Transitions, Trends, Careers, Job changes and Opportunities

2012-01-01T16:49:00.248Z

"You just can't beat the person who never gives up..." (Babe Ruth)

The main queries and questions that I am being asked, at the moment are mainly about anxieties and concerns surrounding changes and proposed changes that are impacting peoples lives.

Often the manner and timing of these changes are unknown, are hidden or not quickly disclosed, to the worker involved.
This lack of information is increasing individual fears, impacting general working relationships, decreasing output and increasing general tension
Some requests for guidance are coming from young people. who are facing a turning point in their lives, such as graduation or a twenty first birthday.
Such milestones often prompt an evaluation of circumstances and where people stand on their career or individual life paths. Of course, the start of New Year also is a factor.

The hardest journey to take is the one to get to know ourselves,....our own individual strengths and weaknesses.
Far too often we allow ourselves to focus on our perceived weaknesses and what we feel we cannot do, rather than focusing on what we can do.
All of us have our own individual gifts and talents, that are different and unique to us.

It is easy to become discouraged by negative newspaper headlines about unemployment figures, businesses closing and the current, (almost border less), economic and other crises. But it is also important to realise that every crisis or downturn also presents opportunities, as well.

If you look beyond news headlines and quickly review other headlines, you may be able to see opportunities for new directions, further education, knowledge and job opportunities.

Resources management is a popular and important area of focus. Storage and transportation of Natural resources creates a demand for piping designers, welders and storage tanks. Such jobs can be found all across the world. Maybe consider widening your geographical job horizons, learn another language and gain experience plus confidence beyond your local comfort zone?

Accountancy is another broad and expanding field. Projects that fight and detect money laundering and Organised Crime, create a demand for Accountancy skills and knowledge.

Terrorism and Counter terrorism frequently hits the headlines. While many Police Forces have stopped hiring recruits for Police Forces at least one Police Force is in the middle of active hiring, It is the Civil Nuclear Constabulary. (www.cnc.jobs)

Despite negative news about Banking, some Building Societies, (savings and Loans and Credit Unions) are indeed hiring staff and offering training. You may not see advertisements in newspapers, but visit their websites instead. Good communication and people skills are very much in demand.

Maybe you are thinking about further learning, University or more training?
I would suggest exploring Science and Engineering, there is beginning to be a real demand in those fields. Again add a Language to boost your opportunities and potential.
Do not ignore the possibility of obtaining training through one of the Armed Forces.
(I discovered when skimming through a new book, titled " ATROCITOLOGY, by Matthew White), that I purchased for my husband, ....that during times of conflict, it is safer to be in the army than to be a civilian. To quote from the book"....Soldiers are protected by thousands of armed men and they get the first choice of food and medical care..."

But to return to the subject of learning and expanding horizons....
Have you ever though about learning Mandarin or languages, other than the standard European ones?

Are you a Sudoko enthusiast? MI5 was recently looking for code breakers!

Good Luck.
Opportunities await for people you are willing to think outside the box.

"Do something. If it works do more of it. If it doesn't, do something else..." (F.D.R)

New Year Wishes 2012

2011-12-31T22:20:00.003Z

Good wishes for a Happy New Year.
HAPPY HOGMANAY. Bliadhna Mhath Ur

Hogmanay Concert in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle

Every man dies, not everyone really lives...(William Wallace, Scottish Patriot )

Where I am, we are poised to enter another New Year in less than two hours. We have a traditional piece of coal, at the ready, for the traditional " First Footing"......Here are my New Year wishes....

I wish for more Peace and less War.
I wish for more smiles and laughter and less tears.
I wish for more Trust and less suspicion.
I wish for more honesty and straight talking and less Political Correctness
I wish for more friends and less enemies.
I wish for more talking and listening and less Tweeting and Texting
I wish for less "sound bites and slogans" and more real conversation
I wish for more health and less disease
I wish for more faith, inner peace, belief and spirituality, and less Agnosticism and Atheism.
I wish for more Inspirational Leaders and Mentors and fewer Systems and Policy Managers

Finally...I want you to be concerned about your next door neighbour...Do you know your next door neighbour?

The last line was not composed by me, but are the wise Words of Mother Theresa

The day after Christmas; a windy but mild Boxing day

2011-12-29T17:32:00.193Z

Grounded Seagulls, sheltering by the breakwater, waiting for the High Winds to pass

Stormy Seas New Brighton Dec 26 2011

The familiar,distant hum of traffic has been muted for the the start of the Christmas Season.
Christmas Day dawned with mild temperatures and gentle winds from the South. Christmas Eve had heralded the start of the mild weather.
Traffic slowly abandoned the streets of towns and Cities. Cars remained parked in driveways. Businesses closed early. No ships came into and out of the River and into Liverpool Bay.
It was if we were all waiting for something or someone.

Although, this year, unlike Christmas 2010, was not to be frosty, snowy or white.
We were well prepared for the weather, this year, with an ample supply of coal and logs, (for our living room fireplace) and two sets of ice grips that fit any style and size of shoe. My husband had also purchased a new set of winter tyres, in anticipation of a winter like we had last year.
Christmas Day proved to be the lull before the Boxing Day Gale Force Winds.
My sister told me, on Christmas Evening, that a huge wave had just been sighted off the West Coast of Ireland. Almost Hurricane Force winds were heading our way.

What we did need, instead of ice grips.... was a storm proof umbrella,..... one that does not turn itself inside out during strong wind gusts. One of those umbrellas is on my "to do" list, but I somehow forget about it when the wind dies away. (Since the U.K. is a small island its weather patterns are extremely changeable.)

Although our street has been very quiet this past week with very few people venturing out. It seemed that a neighbour's front door, which has a polished brass letter box, kept up a regular flapping in the wind as though it was in the middle of an animated conversation. Next door to that house the green bin, obviously understood the letter boxes chatter and responded by noisily tipping over on its side and moving closer !

By mid morning, on Boxing Day, the winds had died down a little and patches of blue sky appeared., My husband and I, braved the winds, put a camera in our pockets and set off for a brisk walk towards Liverpool Bay...about a mile or so away.
We encountered smiling dog owners, walking their dogs, along the way. Some of the dogs were also dressed in different coloured and patterned coats, as though they too were eager to show off their Christmas outfits.

We stopped along the way to talk to a solitary fisherman, who was fishing for Cod, that swim into the river from the Irish sea, during winter. While we were talking with him, he caught a very young cod, which he released saying to the Fish..."There you go...Come back with your grandmother!"

After a few minutes of brisk walking, we soon felt a healthy warm glow, which often comes from walking by the sea, with the wind in your face.

Never the less we quickened our pace. So, when we came to the top of a small hill and saw that the new cinema complex on the sea front now also boasted a STARBUCKS. We swiftly walked towards it ....eager for the sensation and simple joy of cradling an eggnog latte between our hands and savouring its familiar rich creamy flavour. Through the cafes large windows, we sighed and settled back into armchairs, to watch the tumbling , turning, white capped waves dancing their wintry tarantellas outside.
In the plaza beside Starbucks we saw children of all ages trying out their new gifts, with Mums and Dad happily snapping photos and storing memories for the future Some young people had two wheel scooters, some had three wheeled, flexible ones, with rear brakes.

One blond little girl, (aged about three) was trying out her driving skills, in a bright pink motorised car. She quickly mastered what the accelerator was for and kept on excitedly pressing it....The small electric motor hummed in response and the toy car increased its speed. Unfortunately, she kept taking her hands off the steering wheel and laughing, as soon as she saw that people were looking at her. Her Father had to keep pulling her back onto the pavement as she could not seem to understand why the car kept bumping into the low wooden fence that bordered the bushes.

The little girls lack of coordination brought back memories of the first time that my driving instructor, told me to do several things at once...Depress the clutch, check the mirror, put the car in gear, signal and then slowly release the clutch while gently pressing the accelerator...I well recall how impossible I thought it was to do all those things at once.

Yes, Christmas is all about children, simple joy in life and being thankful for ALL the gifts that we have been given. So many come without any price tag, either.

Marooned in a light house by high tides.

Liverpool Bay off shore wind farm on Stormy Boxing day

Looking back, old cultures and beliefs Practices old and New. Solar and earth Forces

2011-12-21T11:12:00.173Z

"You cannot control the wind, But you can adjust your Sails.." (Old Yiddish Proverb)

Today is the day of Winter Solstice. A very real day to celebrate Light and Hope, whether you are a Christian or part of a traditional Druid, Pagan or other old world culture.
Although it is the time of the shortest day, it also marks the point when the sun starts to give us an extra few minutes of daylight, each day.

No wonder so many ancient cultures as well as modern ones with ancient roots celebrate the Solstice and its symbolism.
So many of the Northern Hemispheres Ancient Stone Circles and Monuments were specially positioned to incorporate the rays of the sun during Solstice.

Winter Solstice celebrants converge on Stonehenge (BBC Photo)

It is also a day to acknowledge that Natural Forces near and far influence our weather, lives and winds. The Jet Stream above us and the oceans Gulf Streams are large influences. The sun, its intense Solar Flares and its position in relation to us, helps to define our seasons, the length of our day, our temperature and can profoundly influence our communications and climates.
We must not forget EL NINO, another influential ocean current, which although it does not appear every year, never the less has a profound effect on ocean currents, the biosphere, ocean temperatures, the ocean habitat and fishing. It impacts the Pacific and the countries that border it. Because it tends to appear around Christmas, South American Fisherman have given it the name " El Nino" or the Christ child.

Ancient cultures and religions almost unanimously acknowledge the earth, moon, stars, sun and the earth in their festivals and pay homage to forces beyond themselves.

With the coming or Advent of Christ and Christianity.....Over a period of time, The ancient Yuletide became synonymous with Christmas. In many Northern and Scandinavian cultures, along with Christmas Cakes you will still also find cakes known as Yule Logs.

Volcanoes and fault lines, other very prominent and active natural forces, particularly those around the Pacific ring of Fire, were long considered sacred by people of that area.
Their powerful forces still show no respect for man and his structures. Still to this day...they show us that we are not as powerful as we like to think we are. The people of Christchurch have felt and seen what earthquakes can do to a city and their own lives.

Photo from BBC article. Original Source Google and U.S. Geological Survey

Inebriated people in Business Suits, Christmas Spirits of the harmful kind.

2011-12-16T13:40:00.161Z

Early Evening Christmas City Centre Markets 2011

"LIFE IS PARTLY WHAT YOU MAKE IT, AND PARTLY BY THE FRIENDS WE CHOOSE",(Tennessee Williams).

Along with many other people and families, we were standing at a City Centre bus stop around the dinner hour last evening, to return home after Christmas shopping.
The location was a normally quiet city side street, with a selection of three and four star restaurants scattered around , intermingled with law offices, banks and other financial institutions. Obviously, judging by the type of clothing being worn by people passing us by, Business parties had been taking place or were continuing at the nearby restaurants and pubs.
What made this wait at the bus stop more unusual than normal was the behaviour of the groups of people who were passing by us. They seemed oblivious to our presence. This resulted in our small queue of people deciding to step back and lean against one of the restaurants walls, in order to get out of the way of the large groups of Christmas Revellers. (Who seemed to have considerable difficulty in walking straight.)

You might assume on reading this that these people, were in their twenties or late teens. But they were not. Most of them were in their upper forties and fifties. Predominately male and wearing smart dark coloured business suits. At one stage a group of about six of them stopped and stood in front of us, while one placed a call on his mobile phone, in order to find a member of their missing group.

The time was just prior to seven o'clock in the evening

The following morning, (Friday), as I was making breakfast, I listened to a BBC morning radio breakfast discussion show on Radio 5 live, (from London). It was about the pressure that is placed on ambulances at this time of year and the cost was estimated at £250 per call.
The evening of the Friday before Christmas is the busiest one for Paramedics, A and E departments, Police and ambulance crews.
The Friday before Christmas, hundreds of people young and old, pour onto the streets of Cities and Towns all over the U.K, on their way home from pre Christmas parties.
Many of the Christmas revellers will not remember anything about the evening. Some are so drunk that they cannot walk and lie collapsed or vomiting, on pavements or are held upright by friends. A large number have to be transported to Hospital Emergency room for treatment. Each year the situation repeats itself and the numbers are getting larger.

The Radio Show host and one or two of the callers suggested that one way to stop this excessive drinking and the following strain on Emergency services, would be to charge around £50 for each time an ambulance is called to someone who has collapsed due to excessive drinking.
But then there was at lest One caller to the Radio Show gave his opinion saying...." Well, that's what the Ambulance people are paid for. To take care of people. Our taxes pay for it."

Sunday Mirror photo December 18 newspaper

When I moved back to the U.K., I initially worked on contract with a Violence against women charity, (this was about 8 years ago). It was common to find that many of the assaults and abuse occurred after one or both of the partners had used alcohol. (Although alcohol may not be the cause of violence it frequently aids in facilitating violence and victimisation.)
Shortly after I had started my work there, I was asked by one of the other women, if I wanted to join the rest of the staff in going for drinks after work. It sounded like harmless fun, and I was toying with saying YES, until one of the other female staff added..."We usually see who can get drunk first."
I politely declined the invitation.

Alcohol consumption and its misuse is a massive problem in the U.K. The long term repercussions on the health of those who habitually drink excessively, are worrying. The immediate impact, costs and time expended by emergency services is hard to sustain.
One solution is indeed to charge a user fee, for emergency medical aid, for those who choose to drink too much.
Faced with an immediate cost and personal payment consequence, might bring about behavioural change?
Or are the behaviours and social habits already too embedded within more than one generation?
A Daily Telegraph article published on 16 December bears the headline ," BRITONS 'drunk in three quarters of Facebook photos"

Daily Telegraph image from article

Another mass killer. With a slightly different profile and country

2011-12-14T12:00:00.113Z

Map of Liege Town Square (from BBC News site)

The latest mass killing, which took place in a picturesque Liege town square, (where a popular Christmas market is located), was committed by a man with a Police and Prison record, (according to news reports).

Unlike other previous mass killers, who tended to be solitary types; Nordine Amrani, reportedly, did not live alone, but had a girlfriend.
Also unlike previous 2011 mass killers, such as the Norwegian killer, Anders Breivik ,
Belgian Nordine Amrani was known to Belgian Police and had a criminal record including Drugs, Weapons and Assault charges.
Now it has also emerged, that he had killed a woman (who had been employed as a house cleaner in his neighbourhood), earlier in the day. Her killing took place prior to him setting out on his deadly rooftop grenade and gun attack in downturn Liege. (He had reportedly shot her in the head and left her body in his garage amidst his weapons and drugs.)

After the attack on the innocent people in the square, Nordine Armani, then, committed suicide.

Amrani's life ended, without an obvious explanation for why he chose to kill people, who had no connection to him,....adults and young children who were going about their daily lives in the centre of the town.

Jared Loughner, (Age 22), the Tucson Arizona killer who launched an attack which severely injured Gabrielle Gifford, killed and injured several other members of the public who, simply, came to hear the Congresswoman speak. He lived to face a trial and was found to be mentally unstable.

Anders Brievik, also faced trial and was found to be criminally insane, radically right wing, with a profound hatred of Muslims and immigrants.

At times like this I wonder what enables people to cross the line, with such seeming ease, from anger to such
violent action?

Post Script to this post...
A U.K. Daily Telegraph article sheds some light on Nordine Amrani's state of mind...."his lawyer, (Jean-Francois Dister), was quoted in the news article as saying that his client had told him, (during phone calls, in the preceding days to the gun and grenade attacks), that he feared being returned to prison and that he was very worried about being jailed again...."
The news article goes on to say that he had been summoned to appear before police, on the day of the killings, to answer questions about the presence of his car, near to a crime scene.
I imagine, with the preceding scenario, that the killers prevailing emotions, would be acute fear, feelings of losing control and an irrational anger against the world?

I do not see how anybody, even the Police, could have predicted or prevented his actions. From what little I have read... his fatal decisions may have been made very suddenly, as he was likely not to trust anyone enough to confide in them?

I will close this blog with the words of Mahatma Gandhi...
" I object to Violence, because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary. The evil it does is permanent.."

Shame, Anger, Despair and possible Revenge? Another tragedy for the family of a man in Blue.

2011-12-10T01:10:00.086Z

The Day family home (Photo from Yorkshire Post)

Late yesterday afternoon... the news broke that a 37 year old former Police Inspector had stabbed and killed his wife and their seven year old daughter. at their home. He had also seriously injured his two older children. One of them had escaped the carnage and run to a nearby school to seek help.
Toby Day had then stabbed himself to death.

As might be expected, neighbours shortly, spoke to reporters about their shock and horror of what had happened on their nice quiet street. They spoke of Mr. Day of being a family and Community man who was seen jogging with his dog and helping to coach youth soccer teams. He was spoken of as a devoted husband and father.
But also as a man who considered that being a cop was a 24/7 job, ...one where he never considered himself off duty.
The former Leicestershire Police Inspector had received several awards in the past that attest to how well he carried on his work.

The events that lead up to this stabbing tragedy, slowly emerged during the evening and the following day, and have been gained from diverse newspaper reports across the U.K. and other countries, including countries as far away as Australia.

These news sources reported that.....After an Internal Police Enquiry, Inspector Toby Day had been confronted with evidence that he had mis-used Police Data Sources for his own purposes. Which brought into question his ethics and integrity. He was then reportedly fired from his 16 year career on the first of December.
He further told that the subject of his removal from his job would be introduced at the next Leicestershire Police Authority Meeting, (likely in mid December), where the matter would become Public, (due to Public Interest).

I have to ask why would someone who knew that U.K. Police Forces act extremely harshly against anyone who breaches data protection systems, take such a known risk, by crossing that line?
One answer quickly emerged when...One or two people intimated to news sources, that he suspected that his wife had fairly recently started an affair with another man. A name was apparently even suggested to him.

He foolishly, (knowing the Police's hypersensitivity to accessing data that is not connected to an authorised file search), likely conducted a search for details on his wife's lover.
I should point out that such searches are tracked and logged.
(I know that happens because a Police training officer, who was using a U.K. Police Computer to demonstrate how the system worked to me and entered a search subject. Within a few hours the reason for his search was queried by some official at Police headquarters. The Police Sgt was then cautioned against that type of unauthorised usage by the person at Police headquarters.)

Can any worried husband or wife , honestly say that given the circumstances, he or she, would not be tempted to do the same, as Toby Day, if they, also, had similar access to information?

He would likely have tried to cover his tracks, possibly by lying. Which would then explain the integrity accusation.
Whatever the sequence of events...He probably confronted his wife about the information that his unauthorised search turned up. According to some sources, the wife, (who formally worked for the Police), reportedly, then went and reported this data breach to his Employer.
The chain of events which culminated in the termination of his employment swiftly followed.

NOW....IF THE PRECEDING SCENARIO IS INDEED ACCURATE.........Then the emotions that overtook this former admired Inspector must have been overwhelming, .....likely blotting out all normal logic and reason. He must have felt that his life was spiralling out of control.
His career was gone, the respect that he had worked so hard to earn was also shortly to be gone. Without his Police Salary and benefits, his savings would quickly be depleted. Probably his wife would leave him and take custody of the children and he would undoubtedly lose his home, too. What more was there to lose?

He may have felt that he had brought public disgrace on his family and that they would all face a bleak future.
There is also the possibility that swirling among all of the other emotions was the deadly motivating force of REVENGE.

Possibly the scheduled January full inquest will provide some answers as to How and Why this family tragedy unfolded and so many of his previously cherished family were killed by him, prior to taking his own life.

However as someone who has spent a large section of my life working within Police Environments, riding in Patrol Cars with Police Officers, some of whom, who were experiencing marital and other personal crises and hearing what they were feeling. (The nature of Police work and its irregular, often unsociable schedules, take a documented toll on relationships and the life of Police officers themselves. Maintaining control in their lives is often a constant battle.)
I have come to the conclusion that the commanding officers who made the decision to take the swift course of actions, that they decided to take against this Inspector, MUST also be culpable in the subsequent deaths of his wife Samantha , their youngest child, the serious injury of two other children and his own suicide.

Surely his superior officers must have known the character traits and Personality of Toby Day, his pride in his role in the Community, his devotion to being a 24/7 Police Officer, his likely state of mind in believing that his wife had betrayed him and his likely response if he felt that he was losing control of that was important to him?

If they did not know that, or did not think of possible outcomes of their extreme and swift punitive actions then I would have to call it CULPABLE IGNORANCE.
Yes, Toby Day breached known Data Protection rules. But what haunts my thoughts is ...how that breach of the rules was handled and what degree of thought went into the potential emotional impact and reactions of the man who committed the offence? The price was a massive one.

Former Leicestershire Police Inspector Toby Day (Photo Scottish Daily Record)

"Man does not weave the web of life. He is merely a strand of it. Whatever he does to the Web, he does to himself....(Chief Seattle, Chief of the Suquamis).

"He had everything going for him". Then Suicide. Why ?

2011-12-04T17:32:00.291Z

Photo from TIME magazine . Tributes from fans to Robert Enke , November 2009

A well known and admired British (Welsh born), Football Player and young manager, was found dead in the early hours of one recent November morning.
Gary Speed was only 43. He lived in a large expensive house, in beautiful grounds, with a lovely blond wife and two sons . As the news reports said..."He had a great future and he had everything going for him."
Despite all of this...it was not a natural or accidental death, but was recorded by a Chester area Coroner as a suicide by hanging.

As is frequently the case...it was his wife who found his body. He was in their garage. His wife and two young sons are left to grieve and wonder why. Outwardly he seemed fine and "NORMAL", (whatever normal actually is?) He gave no visible sign or remembered clue, that anything was bothering him and was pictured smiling and posing with a fan, only hours before. Was that smile intended to hide what he had decided to do?
What was going through his mind?
The family, the public and fans who looked up to him and admired him looking for answers But sadly in cases of suicides, there are so many questions without answers.

Suicides. especially male suicides, are often sudden. Only a few males leave a warning trail, where clues can be followed.

From my experience....Males tend to use more lethal means to kill themselves, such as hanging and guns, (or the more recent method... "suicide by cop", where the subject creates a situation where the Police are forced to shoot him.)
Men often go off to a secluded spot such as a woodland, where there are few people around, who might int erupt them.. A garage or large garden shed, is one of the most frequent locations for a male suicide. They will often wait until everybody is out or have gone to bed before killing themselves. The act may be sudden but the thought process is most often lengthy.
Once the plan is made and the time and method chosen, they may appear cheerful. Their solution and end is in their control.

Some people such as Robert Enke the German goal keeper was known to suffer from depression. He had sought treatment for it, but was reportedly anxious and fearful that if that fact became public, he may lose the respect of the public and the career that he loved.
Robert Enke met his death in November 2009 in front of an Express train.

In the wake of these two recent suicides the Football Associations are bringing Mental Health and Depression into the light of day, as it needs to be talked about, not left hidden.
Academics, particularly in North America have long studied suicides in suicidal ideation to unlock some of the taboos and mysteries that prevent us talking about a subject that impacts so many people young and old.

There are a few risk factors/predictors that academic studies and those who work in the field of Crisis Intervention have discovered.

1: Someone in the family has committed suicide or attempted to in the past. Or... An admired role model has killed himself

2: If the person who commits suicide is an adolescent or teenager, friends, members of the social group and fellow pupils. tend to also be at risk,(similar to a contagion?)

3: Members of the helping of the helping professions, (such as Doctors, Dentists, Firemen and Police) especially those who use alcohol, prescription or recreational drugs, to numb and normalise hurt and stress are in a higher risk group than some other professions. (They are frequently viewed as strong and invincible role models both by the public and often by themselves).

4: People, (young and old), who are at a transition point in their lives.....Job or career change....Children are turning into teenagers and do not seem to need their parents as much....Separation or impending divorce, A milestone such as turning 40 or 50. An impending disability or chronic injury. Fear of failure or loss of Public image.
(It seems that being famous and a role model can also be a deadly and destructive force.)

I have often heard mental health professionals say that depression, (especially acute situational depression, is anger turned inwards.

Iceland Volcano tremors, Mayan Prediction changed, GCHQ Code recruiting puzzle

2011-12-03T12:21:00.092Z

Comalcalco Peru ( ALAMY and Daily Telegraph)

I will start this first December weekend with some good news....

Scientists have announced that despite many rumours the end of the world is not near. A report in the Daily Telegraph reveals that the recent decoding of an ancient Mayan tablet, with specific references to a 2012 date, may simply denote a transition to a new era and NOT a possible end of the world, as others have previously interpreted it....

However, to balance this good news.... yet another Iceland Volcano is threatening to blow its top. This particular one is big, with the name of KATLA. Apparently, it only erupts about every 80 years. The last time that it blew its massive top was in 1918. (It has a crater with a diameter of 6.2 miles and a huge caldera). This previous eruption caused massive flooding and damage. But likely caused no disruption to air travel, as I do not believe there were many aircraft flying in 1918!
However, when KATLA does erupt, Air travel will definitely be impacted....Although geologists have reportedly registered 500 tremors from KATLA in the last month, precisely when she will erupt is uncertain.(BBC NEWS Sources)

Source : Icelandic Met Office

In reference to my previous post, the following may also be considered good news, by some members of the public..
Jeremy Clarkson has left the U.K. and jetted of to China... So BBC Viewers will now have to find something newer to complain about. You may recall his remarks on having strikers killed, (over 20,000 complaints had been logged, at last count), Twitterers too, will have to find something new to tweet about. (According to BBC News Reports).

I do not know which category to place this last news report, that was taken from the Independent newspaper of December 2. A Branch of a U.K. Intelligence agency placed the code puzzler, shown below in several U.K. newspapers, last month and challenged applicants to crack the code. The agency anticipated that potential code breakers would need quite some time to de-cypher the code and made allowances for that on the "Countdown clock", (bottom left).
I think that GCHQ underestimated the abilities of modern day code breakers and hackers as THE INDEPENDENT announced in its newspaper article that the code had been successfully deciphered
"... Within hours of going on line...." (The deadline had been set for midnight on December 11.)
This may be good news for the future sleuths that GCHQ wishes to hire. But bad news for the confidence in the integrity of Cyber security

Code and Countdown clock

Personal opinions and tongue in cheek? Better not say what you think in England!

2011-12-01T13:14:00.006Z

Jeremy Clarkson, image from Jeremy Clarkson website

" Intelligent people know others, enlightened people know themselves. You can conquer others with power. But it takes true strength to conquer yourself..." PHILOSOPHER Lao Tsu

On a popular early evening show on BBC ONE T.V. last evening, the ONE SHOW announced the presence of a popular and frequently outspoken guest JEREMY CLARKSON. The date of the broadcast was 30/11/2011, which coincided with a National strike and Marches of Public Sector workers. protesting proposed Pension changes. (Still being negotiated.)

In the opening introduction of the show. the two presenters remarked that their first guest was someone who was not noted for being discrete and diplomatic in his opinions. (Which was of course is one of the reasons why Jeremy Clarkson was invited to appear on the show...ratings?)
Incidentally in advertising the show on the show's website Jeremy Clarkson was advertised as "MOTOR MOUTH."

Jeremy Clarkson did not disappoint or fail to live up to his reputation for honest talking and openly, vigorously voiced his opinion on the strikers...Stating live on air...."I think that they should all be taken out and shot...!"

I, as a mature viewer, was not in the least offended by his remarks and took the remarks in the way that they were intended. Mr. Clarkson, I am sure that his views reflected a very large proportion of the general Public. Yes, it was an overstatement and flamboyant. ...Yes, It definitely garnered attention and inflamed opinions; but he was being and doing what he has been made famous for, being outspoken, derogatory, controversial, openly insulting and outspoken.
However, I should emphasise that Jeremy Clarkson is a popular figure, broadcaster and author for those precise qualities.
In my opinion he is like a necessary breath of fresh air in a world of political correctness gone mad.

Such character traits such as those exhibited by Jeremy Clarkson are increasingly rare in the U.K. ...
Even though this country used to be prized for its honesty, free speech, quirky characteristics and eccentricity.

What happened after and during the show was apparently, a flurry of public complaints to the BBC and a large number of comments via TWITTER , about Mr. Clarkson's statement.
Reportedly some people even suggested that his remarks constituted a "HATE" crime against Union participants ...Nurses, Teachers and other public workers. A case of LETS PLAY THE MOTHERHOOD AND APPLE PIE CARD?
(It should be noted that the ONE SHOW's previous nights guest was ALEX SALMOND, (Scotland's First Minister), who is also noted for his straight talking and controversial policies).

Of course, the increasingly Politically Correct, BBC last night, immediately issued an Apology for the viewers who may have been offended.
Today it printed and published a Public apology for the remarks of Jeremy Clarkson.
One opposition (LABOUR) M.P. is quoted, today, as saying " No-one wants these strikes but most of today's strikers are Mums, not militants.....Clarkson should apologise ,and the Prime Minister should make clear that he disassociates himself from the distasteful remarks, uttered by one of his friends"

Towards the end of this BBC News article, three short paragraphs are printed saying..."Tens of thousands of people joined rallies around the U.K. Wednesday, (30/11/2011), as a public sector strike over pensions disrupted schools, hospitals and other services...About two thirds of state schools shut and thousands of hospital operations were postponed, as unions estimated up to two million people went on strike.
Unions oppose plans to make members pay more and work longer to earn pensions."

Personally, as someone who was born in England and who lived there until I was twenty, when I left to live and work abroad...I now barely recognise the tolerant, friendly, straight talking country that I knew.

There is no longer a "Speakers Corner" , where people could freely express their opinions, no matter how extreme, (without inference, apart from heckling) in Hyde Park. I have experienced and witnessed an almost complete intolerance of opinions that differ from the mainstream, often leading to punitive action processes. (Since I moved back to live and work in England ten years ago.)

I am sad to say that the U.K. now has the most CCTV cameras per population and seems to me to be the most Politically correct country in the Western world.

The U.K. is also in the middle of a full blown recession where everyone should be willing to pitch in and accept some sacrifices for us to survive as a nation.

I believe that If you are not helping to solve the problem...then you are part of the problem.

Jeremy Clarkson publicly expressing his opinion....is not the issue. Nor is he the problem.

Selfish, self absorbed and greedy people, who want to create more and more restrictive laws to stifle fundamental freedoms and create disruption and chaos, are a much greater threat to our society. Possibly even Treasonous? But that is my own personal opinion!

I regret to say that George Orwell's "1984" scenario seems to be very much alive, well and thriving in the Britain of 2011.

P.S. The head of one of the Major Unions, UNISON, has just today stated that he is seeking "Urgent Legal Advice" as to whether Mr. Clarkson's remarks constitute a "HATE CRIME" and whether the Police should be informed. He also called for Jeremy Clarkson to be fired by the BBC, which carries his program.
I rest my case!

Reactions and non Reactions. Public Fear of engagement? Good Samaritan Law

2011-11-26T23:31:00.087Z

Any regular follower of my blog will likely be aware that one of my favourite modes of transport is the train.
Last night's journey home from another Northern city provided an interesting study into different reactions to an unexpected obstacle.
The first leg of our journey home was relatively uneventful and relaxing. However, on the return journey we encountered a curious social study in peoples reaction to an unexpected obstacle.

The situation occurred when we had to change trains in PRESTON on our return journey. Several passengers and their luggage waited to board the train as it stopped at the railway station platform. I was about sixth or seventh in a line of people as we formed an orderly line to pass through the door and down the narrow walkway between the pairs of bench type seats.

Normally such a queue moves fairly rapidly as passengers locate a vacant seat and place their luggage in an overhead rack. This time it was different. I did not, initially, see what was causing the line up to move so slowly until I got into the actual carriage. I , then, saw about four people ahead of me trying to squeeze past a male passenger, who was slumped down in his seat, at an angle, which left his head sticking out into the aisle of the carriage.
He was obviously either deeply asleep, or semi conscious. or very drunk. (I observed that his chest was rising and falling rhythmically, as he breathed and that his skin colour was a healthy shade of pink.)
However, no matter what the reason was , his head was blocking almost half of the trains passageway and he was clearly unresponsive to what was going on around him.

What I found very strange was that no-one attempted to speak with him or move his head out of the way.

When it came to my turn to pass by him...I simply placed my hands hand firmly but gently under his lower neck, supported his chin and moved his upper body back into the middle if the seat.

While I was doing that a male voice, coming from a seat or two ahead of him loudly said...."You better put the arm of the seat down, luv, or he will fall out again."
Nobody else said a word.

Later in our journey, when we were approaching WIGAN, one of the train conductors came up to the man and tried to wake him by gently shaking him and saying..."We are nearly at Wigan. Didn't you want to get off there?" Despite saying that to him several times, along with a gentle shaking....the man remained unresponsive. Another railway employee arrived...saw what was happening and as the train was pulling into Wigan railway station, called a British Transport Police Officer who was standing on the platform.

The tall young police officer entered the carriage, look at the sleeping man and also tried to wake him up. He then also tried telling him several times that the train had arrived in Wigan and said that this was were he should get off. Again there was no response.
The train conductor,then, told the Police Officer that the man had boarded the train in Blackpool and his ticket showed that his destination was Wigan.
The conductor went on to say that the man had failed to wake up, the first time that the train had reached Wigan and so had remained on the train when it returned to Blackpool.
Obviously this second return to Wigan was to be his last Free ride!

Both the conductor and the Police Officer were still trying to wake the man up. The Police Officer was clearly running out of patience as the train had been stopped at the Wigan platform for about five minutes.
The Police Officer obviously decided to try and appeal to the man's conscience and sense of social responsibility, and said to him, in a loud but polite voice...." SIR, WE HAVE REACHED WIGAN, YOUR DESTINATION. YOU NEED TO GET OFF HERE. YOU ARE MAKING THE TRAIN LATE. COME ON. PEOPLE ARE WAITING FOR THE TRAIN TO CONTINUE THE JOURNEY..."
(I should note that during this very polite attempt at conversation with the inebriated man, I was saying out loud..."WHY NOT START LISTING LOCAL FOOTBALL TEAMS TO HIM? THAT WILL BE MORE LIKELY TO BRING A RESPONSE." I often find that any mention of football, brings an outpouring of formally suppressed emotion!)

But seeing and hearing no response, from the seemingly dormant man,.... the Police Officer and the conductor, lifted the man onto his feet and assisted him into the passageway. His legs kept collapsing under him and I think, from the noises that I heard, after the man left the train seat, the man, crumpled to the floor a couple of times on his way out of the train.

As the train pulled out of the station, I saw the man semi upright, sitting unsteadily on a bench on the station platform, with one Police Officer sitting on either side of him.

My mind flashed back to a few years ago, when I worked part time on call as a Police Prison Matron, and I recalled the number of drunken people that I have guarded and tried to have conversations with.
Not very many of those conversations made any sense, but some were interesting, some were worrying and bore no relationship to sober conversations on their release, some hours later..
(One of the reasons that drunken people are brought into Police Custody,in Canada, is that they are likely to harm themselves or be harmed, if they are left in the street. Several of the people who I have guarded in Police Custody had expressed a wish to kill themselves or someone else, while they were under the influence of alcohol. Being in custody thereby ensured that they were safe and under observation. An assessment of their Mental State was then made when they were sober.)

North America and even China has Good Samaritan laws.
Do we need one in the U.K.?
I think that we do.
Unlike Canada, I do not believe that it is a criminal and arrestable offence to be "DRUNK IN A PUBLIC PLACE," in England.

An earlier form of transportation, Albert Dock, Liverpool.

Stress and Work can be double edged swords, that can knock you down or force change

2011-11-20T13:54:00.008Z

Grey day in the city

"People will try and rain on your parade because they have no parade of their own..." (Jeffrey Gitomer)

The past five years have brought about many changes, particularly in the workplace. Some changes are good and necessary but many are negative.
One example is that it is now rare to find an employee centred workplace environment.
This is particularly applicable in large companies, public institutions and many Public Services.
Here are some of the casualties .....Gone are the employer sponsored , (Perks), such as funded Christmas parties, canteens, Company days out and tea breaks, where a tea trolley was brought up the aisle to your desk.

Somehow, Statistics and performance tables now rule the modern work environment.
However, this measurement of "success" has brought with it......
Workplace related stress, bullying, and employee "sick days".
All of which are becoming more and more commonplace and have , (according to news headlines and magazine articles),been acknowledged as a National and International Economic issue and problem.
Mental Health and Peace of mind seem to be suffering as reportedly, Record numbers of prescriptions are written every year for antidepressants in the U.K.

I cannot exactly recall the precise timing of when employees started to view work as a "job" and not something to be enjoyed, but rather endured.
But I do remember the decade in which fellow workers started quoting the years, weeks and days until they could retire.

Where the conditions that brought about the change created by the remote and frequently not seen, type of boss, who frequently rules by internal memos?
Possibly, part of the responsibility be laid at the feet of post war affluence and money. A sort of.... "he who dies with the biggest bank account wins", goal and point of view?

Coincidentally...one of the current , (Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Spacey), films playing in cinemas is, entitled..." Horrible Bosses", in which three employees plot to murder their bosses?
I assume that this film is a comedy and is not intended to be taken too seriously?
(I note that there have been increasing numbers of reported cases of Workplace Violence and shootings, during the preceding three or four years, especially in the U.S..)

However, not all Stress is bad, as it can provide a productive impetus and prompt, for people to make a change.
Several people who I know and have met, during the past five years, have taken the risk, walked away from a stressful work environment and formed or joined a small new business, that builds on their own personal standards, customer care and business experience.

Although such ventures will not be without their own kind of stress and risk, such choices may return some sense of personal control to the worker and bring less internal conflicts.

If enough people chose the above career change route, or take early retirement, the impact of their loss may eventually filter up to the higher echelon bosses.
Possibly, the realisation will dawn, that large corporate businesses are losing valuable principled and knowledgeable employees that will eventually impact their own results and bonuses tables.
I know that I am an optimist and reality tells me that this process will take a considerable amount of time. Although, I am convinced that it will eventually happen.
I will close with a quotation from...
Samuel Johnson...." Things don't go wrong and break your heart so you can become bitter and give up, they happen to break you down and build you up , so that you can be all that you were intended to be."

Dedicated to all my risk taking and talented entrepreneur friends , small businesses and considerate bosses.

Jail has two purposes. One is often left unspoken and ignored....Rehabilitation

2011-11-13T14:12:00.138Z

" The purpose of life, after all, is to live it, to taste experiences to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear, for newer and richer experiences....(Eleanor Roosevelt)

My husband and I stayed up later than usual, on one recent weekend evening.
After just a few minutes of watching and listening, we both agreed that it was a good decision.
For, following the Ten o'clock news, Channel 4 (U.K.) , screened an absorbing and fascinating program about a U.S. (Indiana),Women's prison, where carefully screened pregnant prisoners apply for the limited number of places in a small Mothers and Babies Unit. It has only 10 available places

The social experiment may be considered high risk and running against the popular purely punitive purpose of prison, but it also may prove to be a long term high gain.
Only time will tell, when long term outcomes can be measured.

In recent years, "Lock them up and through away the key attitudes," towards criminality have prevailed and become vote getter's for Politicians on both sides of the Atlantic.

Justice (Photo, Police Oracle)

There have even been several broadcast speeches and support in some sections of the British Press, in the past few months, for the reinstatement of the death penalty.
Something that I completely oppose.

What seems to have been forgotten or ignored in the debate into punishment and imprisonment... is how and when to intervene in breaking the seemingly endless cycle of criminality.
I have always believed that one of the purposes of committing someone, (who been convicted of a criminal act), to jail, is that a good proportion of that time should be used to look at the causes and events in the criminals life that were factors in the criminal act and then introduce rehabilitation to help prevent and stop the revolving door that leads to re-offending.

You would think that, we the public.should be eager and willing to take a small risk to bring about a WIN/Win outcome, if at all possible?
Or is old fashioned Revenge and an eye for an eye, now part and parcel of what used to be called Justice?

Leaving that aside, the concept and experiment of allowing non violent short term selected pregnant prisoners to keep their babies in a supportive prison unit, rather than forcibly separating the new mothers from their babies, within 24 hours of birth is part of a rehabilitation and reducing recidivism program.
Yes, the young Mothers are supervised and monitored closely. They are allowed time to bond and care for their babies.
The documentary that we viewed, showed not just a softening in the attitudes of the female prisoners, but a positive difference in the relationship between the prisoners and their male and female wardens.

Academics such as Joseph Carlson, a criminal justice Professor at the university of Nebraska recently completed a 10 year study and now believes that this method may indeed be a WIN/WIN situation for both the mothers and babies.
He is quoted in the article "Bringing up Baby in the Big House", as saying "......such programs can possibly stop the generational cycle of crime in which the children of inmates become criminals themselves...." He goes on to say..." our goal is that the child will feel loved, the mother will stay out of prison herself and thus will hopefully strive to keep the child out of prison..."
Joseph Carlson's Ten year research report was released in 2009.

Not only do such programs hold the promise of reducing further crimes and fostering the rehabilitation of offenders, they may also save Government Prisons budgets in the long term.

The estimated annual cost of keeping prisoners in jail is estimated to be around $31,000. (Annual yearly jail costs in the U.K. average a similar total of £32,000).
Preliminary results of Carlson's study published in the Corrections Compendium shows that women who completed the mother and baby program showed a lower level of re offending and parole violations than those who had not been part of the program.

By the way, the Mothers and Baby Unit is funded by a Grant and private donations, not from Public Tax monies. If you would like to donate W.T.H.I.T.V. (TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA) published the telephone contact number as (317) 244 3387.
**************************
Footnote...Some of the Information for this article was gleaned from "Bringing up Baby in the Big House", by Suzanne Smalley, 2009 and "Prison Nurseries cut female inmates' risk of re-offending", (written by Erin Jordan, Jan 2011)

Never mind Tiger kidnappings, now there is "Lamb napping",BAAAD!

2011-11-05T20:35:00.050Z

For over a two years now, thieves have been targeting sheep and lambs, particularly those that are grazing in pastures in fairly remote rural locations.

The thefst have occurred in locations as diverse as the North of Scotland to Devon and Cornwall.
Although livestock theft in Winter 2010 included Ducks
Crimes such as these are not restricted to the U.K., I hear, as the market value of livestock has risen along with the costs of raising and keeping them.

I was wondering about the unusual colour of some sheep that I saw in a farmer's field, a few months ago in Ayrshire. Now I have an answer.
In an attempt to counter this crime trend, some farmers have resorted to using harmless dyes to colour the animals fleece.
The most recent reported theft took place in Southern Scotland, where thieves were reported to have taken over 130 lambs worth approximately £13,000 from two fields in a small rural area near Lockerbie.

Dumfries and Galloway Police are investigating and asking for information about suspicious vehicles noted in the area of the thefts.

Post Script
Earlier this year, I received notifications from various sources, that Tasers or Stun Guns were now being acquired and increasingly used by U.K. criminals to commit crimes. I hope that they are not using them on the sheep!

Tiger kidnapping?

2011-10-25T14:38:00.165+01:00

"Before you can learn a new way of doing things, you have to first unlearn the old way.
So beginnings depend on endings." (Rick Maurer)

A 1970's news photo of kidnap victim Patty Hearst

I realised that the term " TIGER Kidnapping" had reached the mainstream, when the term casually,"popped up", in a conversation between primary characters, during the final episode of " THE BODY FARM", (BBC 1 TV October 2011).

I have noted that a few, former, now retired, Police Officers, list under the knowledge and expertise sections of their Curriculum Vitae (or Resume),....... Knowledge and experience of TIGER Kidnapping techniques.

Firstly, precisely what is "TIGER KIDNAPPING?

Both the Word English dictionary and Collins English Dictionary provide similar definitions.
I will quote the definition given by the Collins English Dictionary...
" A KIDNAPPING IN WHICH ONE OR MORE HOSTAGES ARE TAKEN, TO COERCE ANOTHER PERSON, OFTEN A RELATIVE, INTO ASSISTING IN A CRIME..."

One of the most recent memorable robberies that involved the kidnapping of a Kent (U.K),Security Depot Manager occurred in February 2006, when two offenders masquerading as Police Officers fooled the manager into stopping his car and getting into the robbers car.
Meanwhile two other members of the group , also pretending to be police officers, attended at the Depot managers home and persuaded his wife and young son to accompany them.
The Manager was then informed that his wife and son would be harmed unless he cooperated and helps them.

BBC reports indicated that at least six men were involved in the plot, ( targeting the Securitas Depot). and its loss of more than £53million . After a lengthy investigation they have now been charged and convicted.

In February 2009 the family of a Bank of Ireland employee were held hostage as the Bank employee was forced to assist a gang in the theft of 7 Million Euros from one of the Bank of Ireland's Dublin branches.

GARDA (Police) outside bank employee's home (Photo RTE NEWS)

Is Tiger kidnapping a new technique?
Or is it a criminal adaptation and response to bypass modern & enhanced security barriers?

"Regular" Hostage taking to gain something that an offenders or offenders wants is certainly not new.
20th century history provides many examples. Some of the more famous and well covered ones include TERRY WAITE in Beirut & INGRID BETTANCOURT in Columbia.

However an usual and complex kidnapping occurred when newspaper heiress Patty Hearst was kidnapped from her Berkeley California flat in 1974, by several members of the S.L.A., (a violent left wing, predominately female, anti capitalist group).
Despite the families wealth no money ransom demand was made, although some accounts tell of demands for food banks.
Some form of mind control was used during her imprisonment and time with the radical group, where she bonded with her captors and apparently agreed and participated ,willingly, with their plan to commit an armed bank robbery. (A bonding with captors carries the title Stockholm Syndrome).
This kidnapping provides a unique twist to "Tiger kidnapping" in which the former victim shortly appeared to share the beliefs of the extremist group and adopted the views, mantra and role of an anti society criminal and offender.

But to return to the modern form and term TIGER KIDNAPPING. How can people gain prevention expertise or more simply reduce the risks of being used as a targeted victim?
Fairly simply, I think by observing and applying the variable part of the Crime Triangle. The triangle consists of an offender...an intended victim...and the OPPORTUNITY.
It is through observance and surveillance of our personal and business patterns, behaviors and habits, that the crime plan is formulated.
That is the Opportunity and that is the part that we have the most control over.
Anyone who is interested in the subject of surveillance and human habits,should take a look at the patterns that exist in your own neighborhood, street or businesses.

As one of my trainers once told me, some considerable time ago....."The primary advantage that the criminal has over the good guy, is that he has a well thought out plan, the victim or target frequently does not."

I would expect that someone who possesses expertise in the area of Tiger Kidnapping would have an extensive knowledge of the processes & dynamics involved in Stalking/ Covert Surveillance, Victim and offender profiling and a background in the Psychology of Critical Incidents could prove extremely valuable.
Anyone who has served in units known as V.I.P. protection will likely also possess very useful skills and have fine honed observance.

I agree with the model that Violence is infectious. Project Ceasefire

2011-10-19T11:50:00.096+01:00

" Be a good listener. Your ears will never get you into trouble..." (Frank Tyger)

Over the past ten years or so, I have increasingly noticed that people of both sexes are more apt to use violence as a viable solution to their problems. I find this trend, (if indeed it is one), very worrying

It is obvious that Violence observes no Borders. Violence observes no boundaries, natural or artificial, as it infects so many different Countries. It does seem to be deadly and growing epidemic, which shows no regard for its victims.
I list below some recent individual acts of Violence
Just this past week there have been reports, (in the Seattle Times), of a Woman attempting to decapitate her husband with a chainsaw in Everett, (Washington State).

Moving up the coast to British Columbia, The Province newspaper headline...."Murder Plot against ex-husband spurred by anger over lengthy custody battle," told of a Surrey, B.C. woman "conspiring with two men to have him murdered."

Here in England we currently have a report of a former Police Officer (male), killing his police officer partner and hiding her body in a nearby woodland. It has been reported that there had been some marital problems and that he had started a new business, after leaving the Police....(They had two young children, together under the age of five.)

Closer to home, our local newspaper, (THE LIVERPOOL ECHO), published a "MERSEYSIDE Shooting MAP 2011."
There is a disturbing number of blue tags, showing the number and location of gun shootings. A large majority of the victims and offenders are under the age of 25. Police state that they believe that many are targeted , (not random), shootings and gang related

I do not think that any of the events were triggered by extreme poverty and the current economic downturn, but other precipitating factors or triggers seemed to make using Violence an acceptable route to settle scores or resolve problems.
I recall seeing a similar map, of shooting incidents across the Greater Vancouver District in 2010, often these incidents involve gang reprisals or are about territory.
Many such acts of Violence are group based and fueled by group dynamics.
For over 30 years psychologists such as California's Phillip Zimbardo have studied the affect of group thinking, where semi organised groups of people will perform acts of violence on others, which they would not carry out and perform without the presence and approval of a group.

A recent article in the U.K.OBSERVER, on the subject of the 2011 Riots (dated 14/08/11) .....Cognitive Psychologist Aaron Beck ...."describes this phenomenon as "groupness" a collective, communal group-think-motivated violence." He goes on to say that...." at its most innocuous we see it played out in the boos, cheers and movements of a crowd at a sporting event..... Beck describes the synchrony as "EMOTIONAL CONTAGION."

Epidemiologist GARY SLUTKIN, The writer of the Observer article "Lessons from America: how to stop the spread of gang violence in the U.K." and founder of "CEASEFIRE" describes in his article how violence is like a disease....He states that "Ceasefire" uses disease control methods to stop the transmission of violence from person to person.

A number of prominent and educated people are listening to this message, including Prime Minister David Cameron and notably Strathclyde Police and their groundbreaking Violence Reduction Unit.
It is a revolutionary approach, which challenges many older more traditional models Policing models.
But after almost five years ,so far, Strathclyde Police can proudly say that this new approach seems to be working, thanks to the VRU and people like Karen McCluskey, John Carnochan and Strathclyde Police Chief Constable Stephen House.

July 2011 Guardian Photo (Glasgow Gang Project Article)
Hopefully, other Police Forces will also have the courage to embrace the change and incorporate it into their approach.