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Police say Croydon getting safer despite 'litter attack'

3:16pm Saturday 19th July 2008

comment Comments (82)   Have your say »

By Daniel Knowles »

Croydon is "increasingly safer", senior police and the council say in a statement in the wake of attack on officers by a mob of youths.

In the joint statement, acting borough commander Adrian Roberts and council chief executive John Rouse said: "This incident occurred as a result of police officers carrying out normal patrols dealing with anti social behaviour to ensure that Croydon remains a safe destination for everyone.

"Police officers did respond very quickly and the incident was brought under control within minutes.

"The borough has become increasingly safer with an 18 per cent reduction in crime over the last three years.

"This has been achieved through robust policing and council action with the support of the community.

"It is deeply unfortunate that a small minority of people have sought to prevent the police carrying out their duties.

"This is a highly unusual incident but it will not deter us from taking action against anti social behaviour and low-level criminality.

"Over the school holidays we will continue to police the town centre firmly but fairly so that all can enjoy the activities on offer."

Two police officers were attacked near Woolworths and Burger King in North End, central Croydon, about 3pm on Wednesday after asking a teen girl to pick up some litter she had dropped.

She did so but immediately dropped it on the ground again.

They then separated the girl from a 15-year-old girl with her who was being noisy and uncooperative.

One officer, who has not been identified, told BBC London 94.9 it was after that point she jumped on him and started biting.

A group of about 30 people are reported to have formed around the officers.

He said: "Then my colleague got pulled to the ground by a group of young males, so we had to call for urgent assistance because you are fearing for your life."

Both he and his colleague are now on sick leave. The pair, aged 34 and 29, suffered bruising and knee injuries.

The 15-year-old girl was arrested at the scene on suspicion of assault. She has been bailed following further inquiries.

Yesterday morning police also arrested two men, aged 34 and 38 both from South Norwood, on suspicion of assault and violent disorder.

Anyone who saw what happened or has any information should phone 020 8649 0119 and ask for Sergeant George Shannon or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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terry, croydon says...
3:52pm Sat 19 Jul 08

please dont take us for idiots ive lived in croydon for 46 yrs and the place is rapidly going downhill the senior coppers and council leaders probably all live in the leafy part of croydon or outside the borough

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simon, croydon says...
4:00pm Sat 19 Jul 08

people dont even bother to report crime anymore me and my family have all been mugged in town centre and havent even bothered reporting it .i preffer to shop outside of croydon and talking to people most are giving croydon a miss because of all the idiots hanging about .

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Mike, Croydon says...
4:31pm Sat 19 Jul 08

terry wrote:
please dont take us for idiots ive lived in croydon for 46 yrs and the place is rapidly going downhill the senior coppers and council leaders probably all live in the leafy part of croydon or outside the borough
Ivory Towers! Nice post.
Not only that but they are Blind, Deaf and Dumb to.

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HolySmoke, Croydon says...
5:28pm Sat 19 Jul 08

The ONLY senior Policeman that I have heard the makes any sense to me is Alf Hitchcock, the only guy with any Common Sense, the rest seem to be slightly retarded, like their Polital Leaders. The Litter Incident shows that there is no respect for authority by alot of the McDonalds munching youth around the borough. If Plod walks around minding his own business then he´s not likely to get attacked, but these guys were PRO-ACTIVE, they approached the youths and demanded some action, LOOK at their response. BE MORE PRO-ACTIVE Adrian Roberts, dont shy away from the realities, these young scum deserve a good hiding.

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Concerned, london says...
6:44pm Sat 19 Jul 08

These police officers must think we are fools

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HolySmoke, Croydon says...
8:10pm Sat 19 Jul 08

Interesting when they talk about an 18%reduction in crime: How do they know when so many people dont BOTHER reporting a mugging or an assault to the Police; Good news for Police statistics, bad news for us.

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Phil, Croydon says...
8:29pm Sat 19 Jul 08

Creative Accounting. If they were going up, which they never seem to do by the way, HEADS would ROLL.

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ANNE GILES, SELSDON says...
10:40pm Sat 19 Jul 08

As usual, the negative comments from people who should know better. Supt. Adrian Roberts works extremely hard - it's a wonder he even has time to breathe, eat or sleep. When police state that crime rates have fallen, they are right. They mean OVERALL crime rates. Knife crime has gone up, but it is a nationwide thing and is being tackled. Wednesday's incident was a one-off. People forget the past. Years ago there were riots in Thornton Heath - I remember it well. What happened on Wednesday was an unruly mob, not a riot. When a few years ago a bunch of football hooligans started wrecking the place, they went to prison, and their lovely mothers started complaining that they were "just having fun" and shouldn't have been locked up. Police can never win. I report everything I see, wherever I am and police deal with it. A boy who vandalised my car on 24th May was arrested and on 1st July went to Court and was fined, with costs. Done and dusted. If people don't report things, police cannot build up a picture of where different types of crime is happening. Once they know that a particular area is targeted, they send more police there. It is vital that everyone reports crime when it happens. If you don't report it, nothing gets done.

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Gilly, ultimo says...
11:38pm Sat 19 Jul 08

Who bailed this brat? Let her sit in a cell for a week to get a taste of where her lifestyle will take her.

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Croyboy, says...
7:23am Sun 20 Jul 08

It's called being "in denial", isn't it?

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P, says...
11:27am Sun 20 Jul 08

That is the most pathetic thing Ive heard! Yes Croydon was "increasingly safer" about 5 years ago!!
Or do they mean its safer because in about a month no one has been stabbed to death?!

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Kes, Upper Norwood says...
1:40pm Sun 20 Jul 08

ANNE GILES wrote:
As usual, the negative comments from people who should know better. Supt. Adrian Roberts works extremely hard - it's a wonder he even has time to breathe, eat or sleep. When police state that crime rates have fallen, they are right. They mean OVERALL crime rates. Knife crime has gone up, but it is a nationwide thing and is being tackled. Wednesday's incident was a one-off. People forget the past. Years ago there were riots in Thornton Heath - I remember it well. What happened on Wednesday was an unruly mob, not a riot. When a few years ago a bunch of football hooligans started wrecking the place, they went to prison, and their lovely mothers started complaining that they were "just having fun" and shouldn't have been locked up. Police can never win. I report everything I see, wherever I am and police deal with it. A boy who vandalised my car on 24th May was arrested and on 1st July went to Court and was fined, with costs. Done and dusted. If people don't report things, police cannot build up a picture of where different types of crime is happening. Once they know that a particular area is targeted, they send more police there. It is vital that everyone reports crime when it happens. If you don't report it, nothing gets done.
Do you ever feel that your's is a voice in the wilderness, Anne?
Does it not occur to you that we do not believe 'official' figures anymore? Be they on crime, immigration, inflation, whatever. We just do not believe politicians, particularly those in charge at present.

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terry, says...
5:47pm Sun 20 Jul 08

youre the small minority annne you have no common sense at all most normal everyday coppers no whats going on get some sense anne because you are becoming a laughing stock on these forums

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cynic, croydon north says...
6:26pm Sun 20 Jul 08

Whilst we may have had a near riot in Thornton Heath, Football riot in Croydon and although this was not a riot it was a pack of feral youths and girls plus some adults(who should have known better)attacking two officers - there is still an undercurrent that something will kick off just at the drop of a hat/piece of litter that is the most worrying reality about this report.

I do agree that every crime albeit ma jor or minor should be reported ( not everyone is lucky to get a result) it does give the authorities a better indicator of what is going on in Croydon, by volume, and that impacts on the number of officers croydon is allocated - still not enough as croydon is still the most populated borough in London.

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Jock, London says...
9:36pm Sun 20 Jul 08

ANNE GILES wrote:
George - please stay in Scotland. Your racist comments are certainly not wanted here in Croydon. Carry on eating your haggis, please. Kes - your comment: \"Does it not occur to you that we do not believe \'official\' figures anymore?\" why are you using the word \"we\", when you should be using \"I\". You can\'t assume that everyone on this planet agrees with you. Most of us do believe the figures.
Amazing...You call George racist, and then you yourself make an inflammatory remark about my countrymen and the eating haggis.

Anyway, I'm sure George would much rather stay in Scotland, than live in the cesspit of Croydon.

The police themselves said all those involved were black, so I don't quite see how George is racist.

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Dave Ellis, surrey says...
9:39pm Sun 20 Jul 08

We lived in Croydon Borough for 10 yrs until 2006 when we felt we had to leave as the area was just not safe due to shootings,drugs mindless violence.Thats the reality i am sorry to say this like it or not.Most of our friends have done the same and moved out of Croydon.

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Pancho2, North of Croydon says...
7:41am Mon 21 Jul 08

The joint statment by the acting BC and the Chief Exec of Croydon is just another example of the powers that be and there mouthpeices are so out of touch with the reality of living or working in Croydon!!!!
Anyone who askes the question of there aquaintancies or friends?
How long have you lived in or worked in Croydon?
& regardless of the time scale is Croydon a better place NOW than when you first mooved here?(be it 6 months or 16+ years)
The answer in more than 96% of the cases will be NO with the rider that CRIME is on the top of there list of negative remarks.
One of the reasons the authorities are able to quote that crime is down is that they only now log crimes they consider match there own guidelines...and when the police respond hours after a report from a member of the public & asking if the criminals are still there they fail in the basic of good policing...respond to calls positivly and speedily!!!by not doing so they let us all down?
& council officers and acting BC should be less concerned at reponding with PR speak when they are called on to act on our behalf.

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Bob Peel, Croydon says...
8:02am Mon 21 Jul 08

Crime down in Croydon?

To tell the truth I've just seen another flight of pigs.

Supt. Adrian Roberts must think we're all stupid to believe his nonsense.

Supt. Adrian Roberts, your statement is LOB.

I';ll bet the Council Chief Executive doesn't even live in Croydon - who would on his salary; come to think of it who wants to now on any salary!

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ANNE GILES, SELSDON says...
10:19am Mon 21 Jul 08

Bob Peel - please don't criticise Adrian - he is a lovely bloke. I'll give you a kiss if you promise to stop.

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Trasie, mitcham says...
10:47am Mon 21 Jul 08

I think the biggest problem is not race it's poverty. The gap between rich and poor gets wider by the minute. As for the teenagers in this country give something do to other than walk the streets and it might all change. At the moment they (officienados) can make up any figure they like because no-one really knows the crime levels. But from being out on the street I can see it is getting worse. Government want to stops lining their pockets and do what they were elected to do.

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Trasie, Mitcham says...
11:26am Mon 21 Jul 08

When I first read this story this morning, there were 32 comments, then it went down to 30, now there are 20. Have they got mice at the Guardian?

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informer, surrey says...
11:39am Mon 21 Jul 08

If your comment starts with"I think the biggest problem is not race "Type dialog then your comment will remain.If it starts with "I think the biggest problem is race "Just omitting the word NOT then your comment will be removed. So much for open debate and free speech. This country is finish and sinking fast into a bit of despare.

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Trasie, mitcham says...
11:56am Mon 21 Jul 08

Thank you informer for the clarification, I was right then, they do have mice at the Guardian.

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ANNE GILES, SELSDON says...
12:12pm Mon 21 Jul 08

No - they don't have mice. They have excellent reporters. If you look at the rules below, you will find that anything abusive, unlawful or defamatory will be removed. One person on here had made some extremely racist comments. They were removed, quite rightly.

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Jock, London says...
12:16pm Mon 21 Jul 08

ANNE GILES wrote:
Bob Peel - please don't criticise Adrian - he is a lovely bloke. I'll give you a kiss if you promise to stop.
Keep going, Bob! Keep going!!

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Trasie, Mitcham says...
12:19pm Mon 21 Jul 08

That would include one of your comments as well Anne. And as Informer says there is no open debate or free speech. It's about political correctness which really isn't about free speech.

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Bob, Cheam says...
2:12pm Mon 21 Jul 08

When they say Croydon is "safe", are they perchance using late 80's terminology and do they want to add "wicked" to the statement as well?

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HolySmoke, Croydon says...
2:15pm Mon 21 Jul 08

Oooh! Anne thinks she so clever, all wrapped up in cotton wool and living in fairy wonderland. Just Vote BNP and get rid of Anne and the rest of the cloud cookoo land fools.


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HolySmoke, Croydon says...
2:29pm Mon 21 Jul 08

Just tell me people, Why is crime never up? The figures are doctored to not cause panic & alarm, it is a Political thing. Now were Teflon Anne with her racist Scottish jokes telling people to stay away and eat Haggis, you see how there is one rule for her and another for the rest. Just Vote BNP and balance the books these people have´nt got a Clue, its Frightening.


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Scoffer, Beckenham says...
3:26pm Mon 21 Jul 08

Please stop saying it's not race it's poverty!! most people realise that when the police attempt to stop black people on the street, other black hotheads move in to attack the police, it's been going on for the last thirty years as I can remember, and when people say they are moving to a 'better area' what they mean is a mostly a 'white area' Also, kid's running around with £100+ trainers on are not in the state of poverty!! stop being in denial, feral blacks are causing most of the problems in London and surrounding areas. Wannabe whites who mimic their masters also need a reality check, but with idiot parents who let them speak in black patois the only thing left to bring these idiots into line is a tough Government - we havn't got that with Labour or Tory - so please get used to moving to 'better areas' until there is none left!!

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Trasie, mitcham says...
4:02pm Mon 21 Jul 08

Most people who come to ~Britain ARE poor that's why they come. To work, to provide for their families, to live in peace, etc. The only trouble is once here the British government forgets about the British because they want Europe to believe we're doing the right thing. The EU even tells us how to punish people. Tell me why have we got to such a level. The ordinary British person doesn't like it so why is our government not listening. All the time we don't have a referendum on Europe, we don't have a say in our own Country.

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Mo, no where says...
4:13pm Mon 21 Jul 08

Anne if racist remarks get removed how come your still here , you have made the most and even on the CA site too..you will be reported now!

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anon, anon says...
4:16pm Mon 21 Jul 08

Jock wrote:
ANNE GILES wrote: George - please stay in Scotland. Your racist comments are certainly not wanted here in Croydon. Carry on eating your haggis, please. Kes - your comment: \"Does it not occur to you that we do not believe \'official\' figures anymore?\" why are you using the word \"we\", when you should be using \"I\". You can\'t assume that everyone on this planet agrees with you. Most of us do believe the figures.
Amazing...You call George racist, and then you yourself make an inflammatory remark about my countrymen and the eating haggis. Anyway, I'm sure George would much rather stay in Scotland, than live in the cesspit of Croydon. The police themselves said all those involved were black, so I don't quite see how George is racist.
read this then!

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Croyboy, says...
5:29pm Mon 21 Jul 08

Trasie wrote
When I first read this story this morning, there were 32 comments, then it went down to 30, now there are 20. Have they got mice at the Guardian?

No, it's called "censorship", Trasie. In the case of the Croydon Guardian it seems to be a system operated according to one's name. For example, if you have a name like - say "Giles" - then you can call other posters names like "racist" without any basis whatsoever, and your posts won't be taken down. However, if you point this out to the person concerned, and gently suggest they've spent too much time in the sun, or use their own form of words against them, then that's unacceptable, and you'll be censored.
Same golf club? A Freemason connection? Who knows!


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Jock, London says...
6:17pm Mon 21 Jul 08

anon wrote:
Jock wrote:
ANNE GILES wrote: George - please stay in Scotland. Your racist comments are certainly not wanted here in Croydon. Carry on eating your haggis, please. Kes - your comment: \"Does it not occur to you that we do not believe \'official\' figures anymore?\" why are you using the word \"we\", when you should be using \"I\". You can\'t assume that everyone on this planet agrees with you. Most of us do believe the figures.
Amazing...You call George racist, and then you yourself make an inflammatory remark about my countrymen and the eating haggis. Anyway, I'm sure George would much rather stay in Scotland, than live in the cesspit of Croydon. The police themselves said all those involved were black, so I don't quite see how George is racist.
read this then!
Read what??

Your comment would make more sense if I had any bloody clue about what you're trying say.

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Mo, No where says...
9:57pm Mon 21 Jul 08

Thankfully Anne thats only YOUR opinion and we all that means nothing to anyone else except you!! so its none of your business either!

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Errol barrington, Brixton says...
12:33am Tue 22 Jul 08

How dare a white policeman tell a black person to pick up litter. Thats so racially degrading. The police these days are so insensitive to the feelings of others. Did he not, at that moment, realise that he would awaken the slavery memories of the youths forefathers.
Naughty policeman. I'm sure he will apologise when he is feeling better.


Now the truth. Hang the scum that felt the need to assault the officers carrying out their lawful duties.

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HolySmoke, Croydon says...
5:11am Tue 22 Jul 08

Lots of people tell me to go and eat some more Argentine steakAnne remember, You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time.

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Bob Peel, Croydon, with lips moistened says...
8:12am Tue 22 Jul 08

Jock wrote:
ANNE GILES wrote:
Bob Peel - please don\'t criticise Adrian - he is a lovely bloke. I\'ll give you a kiss if you promise to stop.
Keep going, Bob! Keep going!!
Mr Peel is now very jealous and is banning me from the PC forthwith.

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Bob Peel, Croydon with lips still moist says...
8:14am Tue 22 Jul 08

Whoops! massive typo: Last should read

Mrs Peel is now very jealous and is banning me from the PC forthwith.

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anon, anon says...
8:59am Tue 22 Jul 08

Mrs Peel should look at the picture on the front , that would make her feel a lot better, the man/woman is not a threat thats for sure.

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Mike, Birmingham says...
10:39am Tue 22 Jul 08

Two policemen wrestling on the ground with a 15-year-old girl who did nothing more than drop a piece of paper? In normal circumstances those people who came to the girl’s aid would be called "have-a-go-heroes". But just because the attackers were wearing police uniforms, that makes a difference? Why?

I pay my taxes so that the police can wrestle with muggers, rapists and burglars, not 15-year-old girls just for dropping litter. This was a gross overreaction by the police and those thugs responsible should be dismissed.

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ANNE GILES, SELSDON says...
11:14am Tue 22 Jul 08

Mike - I would hate to walk through your front door, having to step over bits of paper, rubbish, etc. Is that really what it's like in Birmingham? No bins - just litter all over the streets? Not that we are ever likely to visit Birmingham. Can't understand the language.

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sarah, Croydon says...
11:26am Tue 22 Jul 08

Would these police have asked an 18 year old to pick up their litter. My son is now 15, but looks older, when he was 12 / 13 he was regularly stopped and searched by the police and at the time he complained that they were picked on and the older children, who were more likely to be carrying something, were never searched. Now my son is older and bigger he hasn't been searched for ages. This kind of discrimination at such an early age has lead to lack of respect of the police and it's their own doing!

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Bob Peel, Croydon says...
12:20pm Tue 22 Jul 08

Mike wrote:
Two policemen wrestling on the ground with a 15-year-old girl who did nothing more than drop a piece of paper? In normal circumstances those people who came to the girl’s aid would be called \"have-a-go-heroes\". But just because the attackers were wearing police uniforms, that makes a difference? Why?

I pay my taxes so that the police can wrestle with muggers, rapists and burglars, not 15-year-old girls just for dropping litter. This was a gross overreaction by the police and those thugs responsible should be dismissed.
Mike you weren't an eyewitness and I suspect that everyone posting here, including myself, wasn't either.

You have no idea what has occured but the two words 'Public Order' spring to mind here.

It is apparent the 15yo thought she was above the law as did the others who became involved.

Then there is the case of assault and wounding of the respective officers.

If I had been there I would have gone to the aid of the officers.

People who help others perpetrate offences, especially against police, are not 'have a go heroes,' they are scum.

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Scoffer, Beckenham says...
12:52pm Tue 22 Jul 08

I think Mike from Birmingham has a point though... it's a lowering standards that has become the norm for certain people...i.e. throwing takeaway rubbish at the feet of the police as if to say, 'what are you going to do about it ?' until we can educate the mike's of Birmingham that this kind of behaviour is wrong, then it will always be an uphill struggle against the scum of society. In the same way some people shrugged their shoulders and didn't bother getting car insurance, they are now screaming the police should be out catching muggers instead of driving off with their cars to the crusher ! scoff scoff

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yoo hoo, haaaa haaaa says...
1:08pm Tue 22 Jul 08

No she is making racist comments about Birmingham...what is it with this woman/man
aaarrrrgggg she is a liability

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sylvia, Birmingham says...
1:33pm Tue 22 Jul 08

ANNE GILES wrote:
Mike - I would hate to walk through your front door, having to step over bits of paper, rubbish, etc. Is that really what it's like in Birmingham? No bins - just litter all over the streets? Not that we are ever likely to visit Birmingham. Can't understand the language.
see what we all mean about this woman

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carly, london says...
1:44pm Tue 22 Jul 08

You lot make me laugh. This is post for opinions & when people make em, you slag them off for not agreeing with them.
I don't always agree with Anne & maybe she likes to put her opinion on everything but it's not harming you is it?
If Anne thinks the sun shines out the police's bum, then let her. You lot slagging her off aint gona make her change her mind.
I'm not surprised she's turned to making comment like above, I would too if people kept starting on me. I think she has kept it quite mild mannered personally.
Just leave Anne be & discuss the actual issue, not slate each other for not agreeing. That's what these posts are for, not everyone will agree with each other

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ANNE GILES, SELSDON says...
1:58pm Tue 22 Jul 08

Thank you Carly. You are such a lovely person.

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Mike, Birmingham says...
2:35pm Tue 22 Jul 08

Scoffer, I didn’t say that dropping litter wasn’t wrong - which of course it is - but that the police overreacted. That kind of reaction should be reserved for subduing violent and dangerous criminals, not schoolgirls who drop litter.

The police in this country are out of control because they have been given far too much power. They have become drunk on that power and it is now time to reign them in and to remind them that they are the public’s servants, not their masters.

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colonal k, Croydon says...
2:48pm Tue 22 Jul 08

Bob Peel wrote:
Crime down in Croydon? To tell the truth I've just seen another flight of pigs. Supt. Adrian Roberts must think we're all stupid to believe his nonsense. Supt. Adrian Roberts, your statement is LOB. I';ll bet the Council Chief Executive doesn't even live in Croydon - who would on his salary; come to think of it who wants to now on any salary!
By the way the Chief Exec of Croydon Council lives in South Norwood

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HolySmoke, Croydon says...
2:50pm Tue 22 Jul 08

Mike wrote:
Two policemen wrestling on the ground with a 15-year-old girl who did nothing more than drop a piece of paper? In normal circumstances those people who came to the girl’s aid would be called "have-a-go-heroes". But just because the attackers were wearing police uniforms, that makes a difference? Why? I pay my taxes so that the police can wrestle with muggers, rapists and burglars, not 15-year-old girls just for dropping litter. This was a gross overreaction by the police and those thugs responsible should be dismissed.
Once again a fascination insight into the world of the ignoramus.



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HolySmoke, Croydon says...
2:53pm Tue 22 Jul 08

Mike wrote:
Scoffer, I didn’t say that dropping litter wasn’t wrong - which of course it is - but that the police overreacted. That kind of reaction should be reserved for subduing violent and dangerous criminals, not schoolgirls who drop litter. The police in this country are out of control because they have been given far too much power. They have become drunk on that power and it is now time to reign them in and to remind them that they are the public’s servants, not their masters.
Were you there Mike?

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Trasie, mitcham says...
3:11pm Tue 22 Jul 08

Oh, Mike, you're a comedian. The police have too much power, where to do live, up there on Mars with the clangers and soup dragon. The point I think is that the girl was asked to pick up her litter which she did and then it appears thought it was funny to deliberately drop it again. Whether you like it or not that is disrespectful not only to the policeman who asked her but also to the community as a whole. Why shouldn't she pick up her rubbish. Would she be allowed to throw her rubbish in the living room at home, I think not.

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HolySmoke, Croydon says...
3:28pm Tue 22 Jul 08

We need MORE Police with more powers patroling the problems areas of Croydon, SIMPLE as that and IF the criminals don´t like it, then we get even tougher with them and Stamp Out these BirdBrains that think the world owes them a living. Sadly the Police are Social Workers aswell as there seems to be no-one else, the Government has´nt got a CLUE and the Courts are a waste of Space.



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Scoffer, Beckenham says...
3:36pm Tue 22 Jul 08

Mike, I don't mind you being 'anti police' it was probably what caused the 'incident' in Croydon in the first place...you know how it is, some cocky anti-authority schoolgirl with her mates delibrately throws takeaway rubbish at the feet of patrolling officers after being told to pick up the rubbish in the first place...the cops either ignore it and walk away, leaving them open to criticism, or they do the correct thing and pull-up the cocky so and so...this results in more 'anti-police' 'anti-authority' types joining in some afternoon recreational fun at having a pop at the cops...who are now outnumbered and being attacked.

Forget 'schoolgirls' and 'litter' it could have been anything... like a schoolboy being stopped by the police who is carrying a gun or a knife ? and don't tell me that's immpossible because it's happening in London as we speak... I can't see for a second where the police overreacted to this incident, they were jumped by people who simply don't like the police or anyone who dares challenges them about their obscene behaviour in public. Let the cops do their jobs and let's stop defending those who get out of bed on the wrong side everyday !

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Mike, Birmingham says...
4:10pm Tue 22 Jul 08

Disrespectful to the police, Trasie? So do you think respect should be automatic? I certainly don’t; I think it should be earned, and the British police seldom even come close to earning it. Public confidence in the police is at an all time low in this country, and there is a reason for that.

Yes, they are very good at catching people driving marginally over the speed limit, and arresting pensioners for "terrorism" when all the pensioner really did was heckle a politician (remember Walter Wolfgang?), arresting a young woman just for paying tribute to fallen soldiers in Iraq by reading out their names (Maya Evans), summoning up no fewer than 78 officers just to remove a single harmless protester (Brian Haw) at a cost to the taxpayer of £28,000, then lying by claiming it was only £7,000, murdering a young Brazilian then lying about him vaulting over a ticket barrier and wearing a padded jacket, and finally altering their own police logs to cover up their crimes, and of course bravely tackling young schoolgirls. But when it comes to catching real criminals, their record in recent years is a national disgrace.

Violent crime is out of control in this country and we need a return to real policing if we are going to defeat it. But that can only be achieved with real police officers, and they are almost an extinct species, as the incident in Croydon illustrates.

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Mike, Birmingham says...
4:24pm Tue 22 Jul 08

Scoffer, I'll tell you what the police should have done. They should have shamed the young girl by picking up her litter for her and putting it in a waste bin. That would have cost them nothing, solved the problem of the litter, given the girl something to think about, earned the respect of the community, and avoided the riot.

But they didn't do that because their egos wouldn't allow it. They had to make a show of their power and authority.

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ANNE GILES, SELSDON says...
4:30pm Tue 22 Jul 08

If they had done that, the girl would have won. You have obviously not experienced bad policing. When I was mugged in Argentina, police told me there was no need to go to court, as they would hose him down and beat him up. They then came to see me to tell me I owed them a favour. At the age of 13 my father found a sick cat in our front garden and he paid the local bobby to come and "deal" with it. I then had to stand and watch while it had its brains bashed to pieces. Don't call English police bad. They are not.