Riots

[eighthobstruction]

My first recommendation to the Home Affairs Committee, would be that in riot situations, far from carrying CS gas , pepper spray and Tazer....THE POLICE SHOULD CARRY SMALL FIRE EXTINGUISHERS.....

[eighthobstruction]

Very interesting what would be the result if the same thing happened in urban USA....with all those guns about, and the psychopathic/ homicidal youth ready to use them....

[Serial_Apologist]

It was interesting 2 weeks ago to see the responses to the riots relayed to a British TV reporter (CH4 IIRC) by black youth in Detroit and 'Frisco. To a man (sic) they were astonished to hear of people on this side of the Pond looting for fashion goods, and rather seeing themselves as battling on an issue of race, as opposed to consumer materialism.

[amateur51]

Clap Hands, Here Comes Casey!

http://www.cypnow.co.uk/Youth_Justice/article/1090150/blairs-respect-tsar-takes-riots-role/

[amateur51]

Some revealing data on those who were arrested as a result of the recent riots in England

"The most comprehensive statistics published so far on the August riots in England show that those who took part were poorer, younger and of lower educational achievement than average."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15426720

[amateur51]

Although the methodology looks to be decidedly dodgy, if we accept the overall implication of the impact of cuts on the lives of young people, this report/article may have something important to say.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/mar/14/councils-cut-youth-services?CMP=EMCSOCEML657

As an old head on wise shoulders () I'd add that this is certainly not new - Youth Services both voluntary sector and atatutorily-provided are always amongst the first things to be cut ... and frequently the most heavily too

As you sow, so shall you reap

[Serial_Apologist]

Although the methodology looks to be decidedly dodgy, if we accept the overall implication of the impact of cuts on the lives of young people, this report/article may have something important to say.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/mar/14/councils-cut-youth-services?CMP=EMCSOCEML657

As an old head on wise shoulders () I'd add that this is certainly not new - Youth Services both voluntary sector and atatutorily-provided are always amongst the first things to be cut ... and frequently the most heavily too

As you sow, so shall you reap

Water cannon, CS gas.... and it's hardly even started yet.

[amateur51]

Water cannon, CS gas.... and it's hardly even started yet.

As if through a fog, I heard something about water cannon being available to all police forces or was it local authorities (but presumably only if they pray first ) on the radio this morning, S_A

[Mr Pee]

As if through a fog, I heard something about water cannon being available to all police forces or was it local authorities (but presumably only if they pray first ) on the radio this morning, S_A

I think water cannon are an excellent idea. They clear the yobs off the streets, without causing any serious harm. They work in other countries. Why not here?

The only problem that I see is that the South East is about to enter a hosepipe ban. Will water cannon be exempt??

[Serial_Apologist]

I think water cannon are an excellent idea. They clear the yobs off the streets, without causing any serious harm. They work in other countries. Why not here?

The only problem that I see is that the South East is about to enter a hosepipe ban. Will water cannon be exempt??

At full thrust, a jet from a water cannon can knock you off your feet or into any nearby solid object such as a wall or lamp post. Once emitted, the jet is not easy to target since the water obliterates all view of those it is or is not intended to hit... stress on the "not intended" bit. Passing pensioners and parents with small children caught will be told either that they should have used their common sense and avoided being in the vicinity of trouble, or that unsuspecting victims were an unfortunate but unavoidable collateral statistic.

[Mr Pee]

Passing pensioners and parents with small children caught will be told either that they should have used their common sense and avoided being in the vicinity of trouble, or that unsuspecting victims were an unfortunate but unavoidable collateral statistic.

Well, that sounds fair enough. Why would a pensioner or parent with a small child have been anywhere near the rioting that occured last summer? By the time water cannon would have been called out, anybody in the vicinity would have had ample opportunity to make themselves scarce. And if they didn't- well, more fool them.

[Serial_Apologist]

Why would a pensioner or parent with a small child have been anywhere near the rioting that occured last summer?

By the time you reach pensionable age and beyond - which btw I hope and trust you do, Mr Pee - you will know the answer to that one, in the same way you will know why pedestrian-controlled traffic lights are specially timed to leave you stranded halfway across as the traffic moves off.

[amateur51]

By the time you reach pensionable age and beyond - which btw I hope and trust you do, Mr Pee - you will know the answer to that one, in the same way you will know why pedestrian-controlled traffic lights are specially timed to leave you stranded halfway across as the traffic moves off.

[John Wright]

By the time you reach pensionable age and beyond - which btw I hope and trust you do, Mr Pee - you will know the answer to that one, in the same way you will know why pedestrian-controlled traffic lights are specially timed to leave you stranded halfway across as the traffic moves off.

I was in Coventry city centre this week - they have REMOVED several sets of traffic lights, and put down squares of red bricks. Nobody has right of way. That's right, nobody.

You just have to be vigilant, drive or walk slowly, while trying to make eye contact with a possible collisionee.

Have I invented a word?

[Mr Pee]

I was in Coventry city centre this week - they have REMOVED several sets of traffic lights, and put down squares of red bricks. Nobody has right of way. That's right, nobody.

You just have to be vigilant, drive or walk slowly, while trying to make eye contact with a possible collisionee.

Have I invented a word?

You may well have done!

As to the main thrust of your post, I presume that Coventry City Council subscribe to the school of thought which says that removing road markings, traffic lights, etc., means that all road users take more notice of what's going on around them, and are therefore more alert, rather than simply assuming that because they have the right of way, they can go. And I think that makes a lot of sense.