Fuel Theft Is Latest Crime Trend

Motorists whose cars refuse to start this Christmas could be victims of the latest austerity trend – fuel and catalytic converter theft.

Insurers and car rescue services are reporting a small but rising number of thefts, predominantly from commercial vehicles but increasingly from domestic cars. The AA says its officers are being called out about once a week to cars that have been damaged during a fuel theft, while police in North Lincolnshire have warned motorists to keep their vehicles secure after a spate of thefts in December.

In some areas of the country, motorists have been advised to get their catalytic converters marked to prevent thieves from selling the items on to scrap dealers.

Thieves steal fuel by cutting through fuel lines, smashing open fuel caps, removing petrol tanks or, in some cases, drilling into the fuel tanks and pumping out the contents. Big cars, such as people carriers and 4x4s, are particularly vulnerable because they are higher off the ground, giving easier access, and they have bigger fuel tanks.

Joe Hind – not his real name – from north London discovered his fuel had been stolen when he took his car, a 10-year-old people carrier, into the garage to have it checked because of a persistent smell of petrol.

"I had been smelling petrol for a couple of weeks, and the garage said the car was likely to need a new fuel tank. But when they looked at it, they found someone had tampered with the fuel lines, pulling them out to get at the fuel but not reinserting them properly," he said. "The garage said the petrol was unlikely to have ignited, but it's still worrying. It's even possible they did this more than once."

Martin Smith, technical claims manager for insurance company Aviva, said the theft of fuel was a "reaction to high fuel prices and the economic downturn". But he added that most people would not claim for the cost of repairs, because these were lower than or close to the value of the excess on their insurance policy.

Miranda Schunke, spokeswoman for recovery service Green Flag, said: "We were called out to a number of incidents earlier in the year, where the fuel lines had been cut. From our experience, the driver is unaware initially they have been involved in a fuel theft. Customers generally ring the call centre to say 'I have a fuel leak,' or 'I have run out of petrol."

Ms Schunke said most incidents involved the fuel line being cut or the petrol cap being prised off, and that older vehicles with a key-opened fuel cap were most at risk. "Drilling into the fuel tank is another potential access point but is very dangerous and could cause an explosion from one spark," she added.

Red diesel – fuel sold to farms that carries a lower tax duty than standard fuel – and domestic heating oil, another form of diesel, are also sometimes stolen for use in cars.

Figures collated by NFU Mutual, an insurer specialising in farm insurance, show the value of claims for heating oil theft increased by 153% in the first six months of 2011 compared with the same period in 2010. The east of England was the worst affected region.

Costs were partly due to an increase in the number of crimes, which doubled in the first six months of this year, but also due to the cost of cleaning up any environmental damage caused by thieves.

The most expensive claim dealt with by NFU Mutual this year for clean-up costs as a result of a damaged tank following an oil theft was over £30,000.

Will Howell, spokesman for the insurer, said that red diesel is sometimes mixed with heating oil and engine oil to disguise the dye, to prevent detection during spot checks by the police and Revenue & Customs.

Catalytic converters are stolen because they contain precious metals – platinum, palladium and rhodium – which can be recycled. The AA says it has seen an increase in thefts since the beginning of the credit crunch in 2008, when prices for precious metals started spiralling.

The catalytic converter was stolen from Jane Green's Land Rover Freelander while it was standing in a car park near her workplace in Wolverhampton. She said: "When I got back to my car, the police had left a note on the windscreen telling me not to turn the car on but to call them as soon as possible. I did and was told a witness had seen a man with a drill around my car."

Ms Green's catalytic converter had been removed with a saw and drill, causing damage that cost £900 to repair.

Aviva's Mr Smith advises that car owners should ideally use garages, or if that is not possible, park in busy, well-lit locations to deter thieves from tampering with their vehicles.

Article courtesy of: Guardian Unlimited and www.policeoracle.com

Christmas Greetings and New Year Good Wishes

I would like to wish all my readers & bloggers everywhere a peaceful Christmas and a joyful New Year

May we all find peace and forgiveness in our hearts for troubles that may have happened during 2011, and may Christmas and 2012 bring you and your family all of our Great Creator’s blessings you so richly deserve.

Cancer: Lifestyle Changes Could Prevent 40% Of Tumours Each Year

Making small lifestyle changes could dramatically reduce people's risk of cancer, according to new research.

Scientists found that four in 10 cancers could be prevented if people change their daily habits, with smoking, obesity, diet and alcohol the main contributors to the disease.

The findings by Cancer Research UK, which are based on 2010 figures, said that around 134,000 cancers diagnosed in Britain last year were attributable to lifestyle and environmental factors.

The study, which analysed hundreds of cases, calculated that 40% of cancers in men and 45% in women could have been averted, with smoking the biggest contributor, responsible for an estimated 61,000 diagnoses.

Poor diet is also a major contributor, with a lack of fruit and vegetables, as well as too much salt and red meat responsible for around 30,000 cases each year. According to the study, weight caused 17,000 cases a year, with bowel cancer the main type arising from obesity.

Alcohol led to 12,500 cases a year, particularly breast, mouth, throat and bowel cancers. Other contributing factors include sun exposure, occupational hazards, infections, hormone replacement therapy and not breast-feeding.

The study, published in the British Journal of Cancer, is likely to increase pressure on the government to do more to tackle the problems of obesity, binge drinking and smoking.

"If we could prevent 134,000 cancers every year this would lead to enormous savings in health costs, so there is a credible case to be made for more resources in prevention," said Dr Harpal Kumar, chief executive of Cancer Research UK.

Sir Richard Thompson, president of the Royal College of Physicians, called the figures a “wake-up call to the government”.

“The rising incidence of preventable cancers shows that the 'carrot' approach of voluntary agreements with industry is not enough to prompt healthy behaviours, and needs to be replaced by the 'stick' approach of legislative solutions, which includes increasing the price and reducing the availability of alcohol," he said.

Speaking to Sky News, Health Secretary Andrew Lansley‪, said: "What Cancer Research UK have quite rightly drawn attention to is that many cancers are preventable. For example, if people simply quit smoking - that is the largest and entirely preventable cause of cancers.”

Lansley said that the study is not a reflection on the quality of care being provided to cancer patients in the National Health Service.

Article courtesy of The Huffington Post & AOL.

Don't Mess With The Best Because The Best Don't Mess !

After being married for 40 years, I took a careful look at my wife one day and said, “Forty years ago we had a cheap house, a junk car, slept on a sofa bed and watched a 10-inch black and white TV, but I got to sleep every night with a hot 23-year-old girl.

Now ... I have a £500,000.00 home, a £35,000.00 car, a nice big bed and a large screen TV, but I’m sleeping with a 63-year-old woman. It seems to me that you're not holding up your side of things."

My wife is a very reasonable woman. She told me to go out and find a hot 23-year-old girl and she would make sure that I would once again be living in a cheap house, driving a junk car, sleeping on a sofa bed and watching a 10-inch black and white TV !!!!!!!!

Aren't older women great? They really know how to solve an old guy's problems !!!!!

How To Deal With A Snotty Receptionist !

An older gentleman had an appointment to see the urologist who shared offices with several other doctors. The waiting room was filled with patients.. As he approached the receptionist's desk, he noticed that the receptionist was a large unfriendly woman who looked like a Sumo wrestler. He gave her his name.


In a very loud voice, the receptionist said, "YES, I HAVE YOUR NAME HERE; YOU WANT TO SEE THE DOCTOR ABOUT IMPOTENCE, RIGHT?"

All the patients in the waiting room snapped their heads around to look at the very embarrassed man. He recovered quickly, and in an equally loud voice replied, 'NO, I'VE COME TO INQUIRE ABOUT A SEX CHANGE OPERATION, BUT I DON'T WANT THE SAME DOCTOR THAT DID YOURS.'

The room erupted in applause !!!!!!!!!!!

DON'T MESS WITH OLD FOLKS !!!!!!!!!

Driver's Miraculous Escape

A Chinese driver escaped with barely a scratch after hundreds of steel bars crashed through the windscreen of his car.

Yang Junsheng, 24, ducked as the bars shot towards him and incredibly they all missed him.

He was left in shock - but with only a few scratches to his left cheek, following the accident in Taizhou, Zhejianag Province.

Yang admitted that the accident happened as he was trying to drive away from a police officer as the car was unregistered.

He smashed into a pick-up truck carrying a load of steel bars which were sent flying through his windscreen.

"My mind was very clear at that second, and I immediately dived down onto the passenger seat," Yang said.

"I heard an explosion and when the car stopped I couldn't move because the car was full of metal bars. They were everywhere."

He went to hospital for a check up but doctors said he had no injuries at all, apart from his scratches.

"It's pure magic that he could survive this," said one police officer. "When I saw the car I thought the driver had to be dead."

Article courtesy of ANANOVA and www.policeoracle.com

Bishop Tells St Paul's Protesters To Leave

The Bishop of London has said it is time for anti-capitalist protesters camped outside St Paul's Cathedral to leave.

It is 11 days since the 'Occupy' campaigners set up their tents and forced the cathedral to shut, costing it thousands of pounds a day in lost revenue.

“The time has come for the protesters to leave, before the camp's presence threatens to eclipse entirely the issues that it was set up to address.”
The Rt. Rev'd Dr.Richard Chartres (pictured), the third most senior cleric in the Church of England, said in a statement: "This demonstration has undoubtedly raised a number of very important questions.

"The St Paul's Institute has itself focused on the issue of executive pay and I am involved in ongoing discussions with City leaders about improving shareholder influence on excessive remuneration.

"Nevertheless, the time has come for the protesters to leave, before the camp's presence threatens to eclipse entirely the issues that it was set up to address."

His comments came as the protest organisers denied suggestions that 90% of the tents are being left unoccupied overnight.

In a statement, Occupy London Stock Exchange said: "This is simply not the case. We try to keep vacancy to a minimum and operate a sign in/sign out system to help ensure this happens.

"When someone knows they will not be staying overnight, they offer their tent to someone else.

"We are ordinary people with jobs and families. We are occupying in order to register our objection to being shut out of the political process.

"The fact that we are camping out here shows how seriously we take our right to participate and be heard."

Police used infra-red imaging to establish how many of the tents were being slept in at night.

St Paul's is losing an estimated £20K a day after being forced to close over health and safety concerns about the camp on its doorstep.

Businesses in the area have also been suffering but the demonstrators say they have no intention of leaving for some time.

Article courtesy of ANANOVA and www.policeoracle.com

Priests In Pyjamas Sit On Burglar

A burglar was nabbed in a scene that could have come straight out of TV's Father Ted – as three Catholic priests sat on him in their pyjamas.

Police were confronted by the unholy sight when they raced to the 2am break-in at a presbytery.

“Jimmy played a lot of rugby when he was younger – and floored him with a flying tackle. The chap was trying to break free and escape.”
The thug woke one of the clerics after spotting an open window and shimmying up a drainpipe into his room.

Father Jimmy Shiel, 67, leapt out of bed and chased him into a corridor – banging on housemates' doors.

He then bravely rugby-tackled the intruder – who battled desperately to get away in Dunstable, Beds.

But by then Father Kieran Magovern, 66, and Father Chacko Panathara, 61 – also in their jim-jams – had dashed to the aid of their fellow parish priest.

Father Magovern grinned yesterday: "Jimmy played a lot of rugby when he was younger – and floored him with a flying tackle. The chap was trying to break free and escape.

"But with the three of us on top of him he was going nowhere. I had my knee in his back. I rang 999 and told the police what was happening."

The trio continued to pin the burglar down until officers arrived at the presbytery next to the town's St Mary's Church – and hauled the offender away to pay for his sins.

Hours later on Sunday, the priests went about their normal church duties – with early morning mass, baptisms and meetings with parents of children preparing for their first communions.

The man, aged 28, was remanded in custody by a judge at Luton Magistrates' Court.

Article courtesy of www.policeoracle.com and

A Doctor's Remedy For A Speedy Recovery !

With thanks to my longstanding Internet friend Dean Eddy of Murphys, California, for sharing this amusing scenario with me ! I am glad I am not her hubby !!!!!!!LOL!!!!!

Cruise to Egypt & The Holy Land

On September 12th I was fortunate enough to fly over to Turkey to embark on the Thomson cruise ship Celebration at Marmaris for a cruise to Egypt, The Holy Land & Cyprus.

Our first port of call was Alexandria where I was able to join an excursion to visit the War Cemetery at El Alamein. Whilst there I managed to locate the grave of a friend's relative and placed a couple of tributes from family members against the headstone.

He was Sergeant Albert John Coombes, affectionately known as Jackie, aged 20, from Plymouth, Devon, UK. He was a rear gunner in a Wellington bomber which was brought down by German anti-aircraft fire. He bailed out but sadly his parachute failed to open. A truly emotional experience considering I was the first person to pay homage on behalf of the family to his grave since the airman was laid to rest on October 6th. 1942 following the ferocious, but successful battle led by Field Marshall Montgomery to repel the Axis forces.

I also visited the War Museum and saw many of the armaments recovered from the desert battle. I must congratulate the British War Graves Commission for maintaining the cemetery in such immaculate condition honouring in perpetuity almost 8,000 Allied service personnel who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the defence of freedom and democracy which we enjoy to this very day.

My next port of call was Port Said from where I travelled down to Cairo and visited the Egyption National Museum where I saw the artefacts from the tomb of King Tutankhamun including the Golden Mask. I also saw the mummified bodies of ancient royals including Ramisees II and other Pharoahs, Kings & Queens. After the museum I visited the pyramids and Sphinx at Giza. A truly memorable experience which has given me the desire to learn much more of this ancient civilisation.

My next port of call was to Ashdod in Israel from where I travelled to Jerusalem and visited many of the Holy sites including the Western (or Wailing) Wall, the garden of Gethsemane, the Mount of Olives,the Dome of The Rock or Temple Mount, the Via Dolorosa and the 14 Stations of the Cross leading up to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre at Calvary where Jesus Christ was crucified and three days later resurrected. I also visited the Church of the Nativity at Bethlehem in Palestine where Jesus Christ was born. This was a return visit for me as I had previously undertaken a pilgrimage to The Holy Land in 1996 and it was spiritually very uplifting for me to be back in the birthplace of Christianity, the faith of which I am so proud to profess.

After The Holy Land we sailed to Larnaca in Cyprus and finally to Alanya in Turkey before returning to Marmaris for disembarkation.

A tiring but extremely informative holiday which I would recommend to anyone interested in the history of civilisation as we perceive it today.

Finally, I would like to pay a huge tribute to the officers and crew of the Thomson Celebration. Their service throughout the cruise was fantastic. The cuisine was superb and the nightly Broadway style shows were magnificent. Special thanks to Ruli & Benny, both highly efficient waiters from Indonesia and also to Joel, a very cheerful barman in Horizons Bar, whom I had met on a previous cruise. He hails from the Phillipines. Congratulations and many thanks for a truly wonderful cruise.

Remember 9/11

Never Again May Evil Prevail

Lest We Forget. Tenth Anniversary Commemoration

Commons Select Committee announce inquiry into policing large-scale disorder

The Home Affairs Committee is holding an inquiry into the lessons that may be learned from the wide-scale rioting and looting by predominantly young people in London, Birmingham, Bristol, Nottingham, Liverpool, Manchester and other cities in August 2011.

In particular, the Committee is interested in:

Police relations with the communities where violence took place before the riots, including similarities with and differences from previous public disorder events:
The role of social media in spreading disorder and in the response to it;
The role of organised groups in promoting disorder;
The role of the IPCC, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary, and ACPO/NPIA public order guidance;
The techniques used by the police to quell the rioting, including: a) Decisions taken over the deployment of police officers (availability of officers, response times), b) The use of standard techniques: containment, dispersal, specialist public order officers, dogs, horses, c) The deployment of non-standard techniques: armoured police cars, baton rounds, water cannon, curfews
Variations in the responses of different police forces;
Lessons to be learned from the police response to previous public disorder incidents;
Training of officers to deal with riots;
Whether there were any constraints on the police such as limited resources or powers;
Whether there should be any changes to the legislation regulating normal policing processes during times of major disorder;
Whether the age of many of the rioters constrained the police in their use of anti-riot technique;
The application of the Riot (Damages) Act 1886; and
To revisit relevant recommendations made in previous Home Affairs Committee reports into Policing the G20 protests and Knife crime, and other relevant recommendations, to assess if they have been implemented by successive governments.

Call for evidence:-

Organisations and individuals interested in making written submissions are invited to do so by Friday 9 September 2011. Submissions must be no longer than 2,500 words.

Oral evidence sessions will be held: further announcements will be made in due course.

Committee Chairman Rt Hon Keith Vaz MP said:

"The Committee will begin an inquiry with a view to try and find out why these terrible sets of events have occurred and what steps will be taken to prevent this happening again.

Given that these matters are still ongoing it is important to give the police all the resources and powers they need. It is also clear that high police visibility has made a huge difference. The Committee hopes to be able to produce an informed response to enable Parliament to decide what further changes to law it requires. We will be meeting with Acting Commissioner Godwin at Scotland Yard next week".

Guidance on submitting evidence to the Home Affairs Committee Inquiry: Policing large-scale disorder: Lessons from the disturbances of August 2011.

Written evidence should if possible be in Word or rich text format—not PDF format—and sent by e-mail to:-

homeaffcom@parliament.uk

The use of colour and expensive-to-print material, e.g. photographs, should be avoided. The body of the e-mail must include a contact name, telephone number and postal address. The e-mail should also make clear who the submission is from.

Submissions must address the terms of reference. They should be in the format of a self-contained memorandum. Paragraphs should be numbered for ease of reference, and the document must include an executive summary.


Image: Courtesy of iStockphoto

Article courtesy of www.parliament.uk (Also my thanks to Steve Bennett of The Thin Blue Line Blog for bringing this to my attention)

A Very Useful Badge

The other day I needed to go to the local NHS (National Health Service) hospital but not wanting to sit there for 4 hours, I put on my blue jacket and pinned on a plastic ID card that I had made off the Internet onto the front of my jacket..

When I went into the hospital, I noticed that 3/4 of the people got up and left. I guess they decided that they weren't that sick after all. Cut at least 3 hours off my waiting time. Here’s the patch.

Feel free to use it the next time you're in need of quicker emergency service!



It also works at all supermarkets. It saves me hours.

At the Laundry, three minutes after entering, I had my choice of any machine, most still running!

Don't try it at McDonald's though...... The whole staff disappeared and I never got my order !!!!!

Also.......... never wear it while trying to get a taxi !!

My thanks to a former colleague of mine, Jim Doney, for sending me this humorous little gem.

DOGS IN AN ENGLISH PUB

You will like this video about three German Shepherds in a British pub. You will smile at the antics of the bartender....watch to the end. Hilarious! It has been viewed by one and three quarter million people on YouTube! You can click to delete the adverts but will have to put up with the Dutch subtitles.

'Emotional' Pc tells of injured dog

A police officer has said seeing his working dog suffer a fractured skull after being struck by a brick during the riots in Tottenham was like seeing his "best friend and closest colleague" injured.

Constable Phil Wells said it was "very emotional" when three-year-old German shepherd Obi was struck by a missile on Tottenham High Road last Saturday.

He said: "Obi is trained in public order, and that may be dispersing a crowd or pushing them back. We were on a stationary point when we came under heavy bombardment. There were lots of missiles coming at us, bottles, bricks, petrol bombs, street furniture, too many to count and one hit Obi on the top of the head."

He continued: "Initially he was a bit shocked but I gave him a checkover and tried to avoid any further injuries and after the initial shock he seemed fine so we carried on for another couple of hours.

"Afterwards he was assessed and and was showing signs he needed veterinary help. He was lethargic and was bleeding from the left nostril which could be a sign of head trauma so he was taken to the vets and assessed and the vet was not happy about the impact he had had so he was transferred to the Royal Veterinary School in Cambridge for a CT scan.

"That showed he had a fractured skull above the left eye socket."

Obi has lived in Surrey with Constable Wells, his wife Laura and children Abigail, seven, and Thomas, three, since he was eight weeks old and is seen as one of the family.

The officer said: "Although he is not a pet - he is a working dog - when he is at home it is family time and he is part of our family. To see your best friend and work colleague get injured while at work is difficult but he is getting a lot support from everyone and he will be back fighting fit.

"He is my best friend and to see him get injured, to see him on a theatre table and you're not sure what has happened and you're not sure if it's touch and go, of course it is very emotional."

Constable Wells said all of the eight dogs in his unit on Tottenham High Road on Saturday suffered cut pads on their paws from the broken glass and debris on the street and some suffered cuts and broken teeth. He added: "I have never experienced stuff coming at us from all sides like that before."

Article courtesy of AOL News.

The Tickle Me Elmo Toy Factory

There is a factory in Essex which makes the Tickle Me Elmo toys. The toy laughs when you tickle it under the arms.

Well, Shelley is hired at The Tickle Me Elmo factory and she reports for her first day promptly at 8:00 am.

The next day at 8:45 am there is a knock at the Personnel Manager's door. The Foreman throws open the door and begins to rant about the new employee.

He complains that she is incredibly slow and the whole line is backing up, putting the entire production line behind schedule.

The Personnel Manager decides he should see this for himself, so the 2 men march down to the factory floor. When they get there the line is so backed up that there are Tickle Me Elmo's all over the factory floor and they're really beginning to pile up.

At the end of the line stands Shelley surrounded by mountains of Tickle Me Elmo's. She has a roll of plush Red fabric and a huge bag of small marbles.

The 2 men watch in amazement as she cuts a little piece of fabric, wraps it around two marbles and begins to carefully sew the little package between Elmo's legs.

The Personnel Manager bursts into laughter. After several minutes of hysterics he pulls himself together and approaches Shelley.

'I'm sorry,' he says to her, barely able to keep a straight face, 'but I think you misunderstood the instructions I gave you yesterday...'

'Your job is to give Elmo two test tickles!

The Thin Blue Line

I recommend you take a look at the following items on this brilliant blog by Steve Bennett, a retired West Midlands Police Officer:-

http://thinbluelineuk.blogspot.com

Time to bring back national service? http://thinbluelineuk.blogspot.com/2011/08/is-it-time-to-bring-back-national.html



A SPOILED GENERATION IS SPOILING OUR SOCIETY http://thinbluelineuk.blogspot.com/2011/08/dr-aric-sigman-we-make-no-apology-for.html

NB. Copy & paste the links into your browser

Dolly Wallies !

A police officer smashed a car window to save a "baby" left in the motor on a sweltering day - only to find it was a realistic doll.

Chanel Cristofis, five, left the doll called Sam in her dad Anastasi's Vauxhall Zafira when he dropped her off at school.

He then went to work at the fish and chip shop he owns.

But a passer-by in the chippie car park spotted the eerily lifelike £100 Reborn doll and called the police in Worksop, Notts. U.K.

Amid fears the "child" could die in the heat, officers broke into the car before realising their mistake.

Anastasi, 37, said: "I couldn't believe it when the police turned up holding the doll and told me what had happened. The officer told me not to leave it in the car again."

The detail-packed dolls are a hit with little girls. Artists work painstakingly to make them look like real babies - even giving them birthmarks and tiny veins.

Chanel's mum Victoria, 25, said: "She is inseparable from this doll but it has caused all sorts of problems.

"A woman in a supermarket saw Chanel shaking it and was horrified. She asked what sort of mother I thought I was to allow my baby to be treated like that. I can see why the police did it. If it had been real, everyone would be thanking them."

Police are to pay for more than £200 damage done to the car. Sgt Robert Holmes said: "The call was made in good faith. Drivers need to think about what they leave on view in their cars."

Article courtesy of The Sun & www.policeoracle.com

Officers Prepare To Remember The Fallen

Police Officers from around the country are preparing to remember comrades who have made the ultimate sacrifice on duty at the forthcoming National Police Memorial Day.

The annual event – which is in its eighth year – is being held at the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow on September 25 and is an opportunity to reflect the courage and commitment of the fallen.

The occasion is also a time for family members to remember their lost loved ones.

This year's congregation, which is expected to number some 2,000, is also set to include senior political figures as well as every chief constable in the UK.

Always dignified and sensitive, the service evokes a mixture of emotions, from sadness of loss to immense pride at the valour and ultimate sacrifice of fallen officers.

National Police Memorial Day was founded in 2004 by Sgt Joe Holness and is annually rotated around the UK. Last year's event was held in Northern Ireland (pictured above).

Attendees at the service in Belfast included Northern Ireland Justice Minister David Ford, Home Secretary Theresa May and PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott.

Article Courtesy of: Cliff Caswell - www.policeoracle.com

My Condolences to the People of Norway

Following the terrible news of the atrocities committed in Norway this past weekend I wish to extend my deepest sympathies to the families, friends and all the citizens of Norway at this time of extreme grief and distress. I am deeply saddened at the extent of the massacre of all those lovely young people. I watched the account on television by one of the survivors, Adrian Pracon, and was greatly impressed by his stoicism in the face of such a terrible experience.

How someone could become so crazed, evil and warped to perpetrate such a horrific crime is beyond human comprehension. I hope it will serve to help the people of Norway to know that many people in other nations feel for them greatly at this sad time and will be remembering them in thoughts and prayers in the coming days and weeks.

Extract From Max Hastings On The Phone Hacking Scandal

Latest article http://thinbluelineuk.blogspot.com/2011/07/if-power-corrupts-and-absolute-power.html

EXTRACT . . . .

Quote from Max Hastings: “When the dust settles from the phone-hacking row, the most serious reputational damage will almost certainly prove to have been sustained by the police. The public is justly cynical about Britain’s media underworld. People may be disgusted by the revelations of the past fortnight, but I doubt they are shocked.

The police, however, are a different kettle of fish. We need to believe that Britain’s law enforcers are honest and efficient. Yet this saga deals a body-blow to any such presumptions.

Whatever the findings of the judicial inquiry into phone-hacking and bribery, we can already see that some of Britain’s most senior officers had close and almost certainly improper relations with News International”.

Article courtesy of Steve Bennett. Retired West Midlands Police Officer. I recommend a visit to this truly excellent blog:-

http://thinbluelineuk.blogspot.com

Massive Impact Of Police Bail Ruling

Senior ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officers) have urgently been considering the way forward after a court ruling effectively restricted length of time suspects can be released on police bail.

The ruling, which involved a case from Greater Manchester Police, means that officers can effectively no longer freeze the time a suspect is held without charge when they are bailed.

This could potentially mean that officers must conclude their initial investigation and reach the point of charge within a maximum time of 96 hours from the point of arrest. However, officers could theoretically re-arrest a suspect.

During a question-and-answer session during an event hosted by the think-tank Reform, Home Secretary Theresa May said the issue had caused "great concern".
about the matter and would not rule out considering the introduction of emergency legislation.

The situation arose following a GMP murder investigation, when the extension of a warrant for further detention of a suspect under Section 44 of PACE (Police & Criminal Evidence Act) was refused by City of Salford JPs.

The Force had sought an application for a judicial review of the decision, which was dismissed by Mr Justice McCombe during a hearing at the High Court in May. GMP is now seeking leave to appeal to the Supreme Court.

Force spokesman ACC Terry Sweeney said that all staff are aware of the ruling and what the impact was likely to be on their day-to-day duties. He added: "This is an unprecedented police issue, the full implications of which are being assessed.

"This ruling affects how police forces nationally deal with people in custody and we have made an application to the Supreme Court to appeal it.

"We are working closely with various agencies and I want to reassure the public it will not affect the way we police Greater Manchester or services we provide."

Assistant Chief Constable Andy Adams, ACPO Lead for Custody, shared the concerns of his colleague.

He added: "As it stands, this ruling has a profound impact on how PACE has been interpreted and used during the last 25 years. This issue needs clarification so all those involved in the administration of justice can be clear about the impact and consequences.

"We are working in partnership with colleagues across the criminal justice system and have commissioned a QC to advise on the ruling and its impact on policing.

"The decision in this case has the potential for a wide reaching impact and ACPO has significant concerns as to the effect it will have on policing."

Article courtesy of www.policeoracle.com

'Drug Driving' Being Highlighted By Roadside Kits

Police will soon be equipped with 'drugalysers' as part of a major clampdown on drug-driving.

It is believed that people getting behind the wheel after taking cannabis, cocaine or ecstasy is a widespread problem, but the offence is currently difficult to detect.


The fact only 253 people were prosecuted for drug-driving in 2008, compared with 73,000 for drink-driving, is thought to be down to the lack of an effective roadside test.

“Drug-drivers put the lives of responsible motorists at risk and we are determined to ensure the police have everything they need to tackle this menace”

That will soon change, as the Home Office is testing equipment that can detect traces of a whole range of illegal drugs in saliva samples, reports the Sunday Times.


It is thought some of the gadgets will be installed in police stations in the next few weeks, while trials of a handheld version for roadside use continue.

Road Safety Minister Mike Penning said: 'Drug-drivers put the lives of responsible motorists at risk and we are determined to ensure the police have everything they need to tackle this menace.


'We have taken urgent action and intend drug-screening devices to be available for use in police stations this year, making it easier for offenders to be brought to justice.'


Roadside testing kits are already in use in Germany, where 34,500 people were prosecuted for drug-driving in 2008.

Article courtesy of Metro Newspaper and www.policeoracle.com

Drink And Drug Driving Campaign Begins

With hopes high for a long hot summer this year, drivers are being reminded to enjoy the long evenings, but not to drink and drive. The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) is launching its annual month long crack down on drunk drivers this week.

Police officers will be out in force during the campaign in a bid to crack down on those who think they can drink or take drugs and drive and get away with it.

ACPO lead on drink and drug driving Chief Constable Phil Gormley said:

"Every year forces successfully concentrate their resources on preventing and detecting drink and drug drivers across the UK.

“In 2009, 17% of people killed on our roads died in a collision involving a drink driver and nearly 12,000 were injured.”
"We will carry out roadside checks at all times of the day and night and on all types of road. This means that if you drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, there is a good chance you will be stopped and tested."

Last year just under 101,000 people were stopped and tested during the 30-day summer campaign with 5.6 percent testing positive or refusing a test.

Chief Constable Phil Gormley said:

"Summer is a time for socialising and having fun and this year will be no exception. Our message is clear, have fun, drink if you want to, but don't then get behind the wheel and drive. If you take that risk you will be caught."

Road Safety Minister Mike Penning said:

"Drink and drug driving are serious offences and drivers should be in no doubt that if they are caught behind the wheel under the influence this summer they risk losing their licence as well as facing a fine and even a prison sentence.

"We are taking forward measures to make it easier for the police to tackle drink and drug driving and protect law abiding road users including plans for drug testing kits to help detect drug drivers and tightening the law on drink driving.

"The number of drink driving deaths has fallen by more than 75% since 1979. But drink and drug driving still kills hundreds of people, that is why we want to help the police take tough action to tackle these reckless drivers."

Article Courtesy of ACPO PRESS OFFICE & WWW.POLICEORACLE.COM

Abandoned Labrador Becomes A Police Dog

Six-year-old Monty and his handler PC Rob Cooke were awarded the Terry Ball Award at the annual Labrador Rescue Ball last month.

The award is given every year to a neglected or abused Labrador who deserves special recognition for their achievements following a particularly difficult start to life.

Monty has been helping to police the county since he was rescued in 2007 when he was found starving to death at a deserted pub.

He'd been there for up to three weeks and had survived by drinking water from a toilet.

He was given a home at the East Midlands Labrador Rescue, where his carers recognised a potential in him to become a crime-fighting police dog.

PC Steve Abbott, a Home Office and ACPO accredited police dog instructor, helped guide Monty through the eight-week training process.

He said: "He certainly had lots issues when he first came to us. He was frightened to be in confined spaces and didn't trust anyone. But I took the time to show him lots of love, sit with him and make sure he knew he was safe.

"I took him for long walks and I saw that he had a great natural ability and had the potential to do really well – he just needed to get his confidence back again."

But training was not plain sailing for Monty.

PC Abbott continued: "He was just not getting it at first. But he had such a bad start to life, I was determined he was going to make it.

"So I put in extra time with him and pretty soon, he was not only getting it, he was one of the best we had."

Monty is able to easily locate a variety of weapons and illegal substances, including heroin, cocaine, amphetamines and cannabis.

Within days of his new job, he had discovered several thousands of pounds worth of cocaine, and his latest find was £3,000 worth of cannabis at a house in Worksop.

Monty lives with his handler PC Cooke and is treated like a member of the family.

PC Cooke said: "He's spoiled at home and gets lots of love and attention. But he lives to work – that's what he loves doing the most.

"He's a loveable rogue and I would not swap him for any other dog in the world. He is a bit boisterous, but if you give him a task, he does it perfectly.

"I am extremely honoured and proud to receive this award, not for me but for Monty because of where he came from and where he is now."

Sgt Donna Busuttil, from the dog section, said: "The work Steve and Rob have done with Monty cannot be underestimated.

"They make an excellent team and Monty is one of the best working dogs we have ever had in this department.

"We are extremely proud of what they have achieved and undoubtedly make a significant contribution to keeping the streets of Nottinghamshire safe."

Article courtesy of Nottinghamshire Police and www.policeoracle.com

Police, Crime & 999

I have received the following request from John Donoghue, who is a serving police officer, requesting me to draw attention to a book he has written which will be published in August but currently available online. I am happy to oblige in the sincere belief that it is genuine and sounds very humorous and interesting. The purchase price online offers a considerable saving from the recommended retail price too! So here goes, this is what he said to me in his e-mail;

As a serving police officer too, I found your blog fantastic. You have a way with words! I loved the schnauzer joke too ...at least I HOPE it was a joke!!

Anyway, I was wondering if you’d be so kind as to give a mention on your excellent blog to my book Police, Crime & 999

It’s a look at a year in my life as a front line response officer, comes with the warning: CONTAINS HUMOUR AND TRACES OF NUTS and, amongst other things, answers those basic questions:

What REALLY happens behind the scenes in the police?

What bizarre 999 calls are made to the emergency services?

Why can wearing 2 pairs of socks make you a suspect?

What is the link between police and vampires?

Which Royal arrest never made news headlines?

What covert sign do officers make when they no longer wish to talk to you?

I’ve changed names and places to protect the guilty!

The book isn’t officially available until August, but it is available NOW for all readers of your blog via my website www.policecrime999.com where there is a 10% discount.

There is no publicity budget to speak of, so any help in spreading the word would be most appreciated.

I really look forward to hearing from you or if you want a photo of the book etc

Cheers

John

web: www.policecrime999.com

A Pharmaceutical Freudian Slip

Time for a touch of light hearted humour folks:

My neighbour found out that her dog ( a Schnauzer) could hardly hear, so she took it to the veterinarian. The vet found that the problem was hair in the dog's ears. He cleaned both ears, and the dog could then hear fine. The vet then proceeded to tell the lady that, if she wanted to keep this from recurring, she should go to the chemist and get some "Nair" hair remover and rub it in the dog's ears once a month.

The lady went to the chemist and bought some "Nair" hair remover. At the cash register, the pharmacist told her, "If you're going to use this under your arms, don't use deodorant for a few days."

The lady said, "I'm not using it under my arms."

The pharmacist said, "If you're using it on your legs, don't shave for a couple of days."

The lady replied, "I'm not using it on my legs either. If you must know, I'm using it on my Schnauzer."

The pharmacist says, "Well Madam, in that case you had better stay off your bicycle for the next two weeks!"

Police Automatic Number Plate Recognition Cameras

Devon and Cornwall Police claim revealing the locations of automatic number plate recognition cameras would hinder crime fighting. The force is fighting a legal ruling which could pave the way for thousands of secret traffic cameras across Britain to be revealed.

Devon and Cornwall Police claim revealing the locations of its 45 automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras would hinder crime fighting.

Their locations were requested under Freedom of Information laws by Guardian Government Computing, which appealed to the Information Rights Tribunal (IRT).

The IRT found in favour of the publication, ordering the information be disclosed within 35 days.

More than 10,000 covert cameras photograph and record the registration numbers of motorists every day. The information is used against a national database to track criminals and has proved vital in tackling criminals.

A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesman said the force was appealing. "The force continues to take legal advice and is also consulting the Association of Chief Police Officers FOI Central Referral Unit as part of the process," he said.

"The force believes that revealing the exact location of ANPR sites will seriously reduce their impact as a crime-fighting tool in identifying suspects and offenders.

"There is no doubt that since the advent of ANPR the police's ability to proactively target criminals on the road network has increased dramatically.

"Showing a criminal the exact location of a camera will make those cameras easier to avoid and thus make capturing criminals more difficult.

"While the force accepts the need for transparency and the public's right to information whenever possible, revealing the location of covert policing resources goes far and beyond this."

Forcibly retired police officers invited to return as volunteers

Labour says police forces are forcing 2,100 of the most experienced officers into early retirement, some of whom are then being asked to rejoin on a voluntary basis.

Police officers with more than 30 years experience who have been forcibly retired because of budget cuts are being asked to return as part-time volunteers, Labour has disclosed.

The shadow home secretary, Yvette Cooper, said 13 police forces have so far confirmed plans to force more than 2,100 of the most experienced police officers in England and Wales into early retirement by 2015. A further nine forces are considering similar action.

Chief constables have no legal powers to make police officers redundant, but can forcibly retire those with more than 30 years service with 28 days notice under an obscure A19 provision of the police pension regulations on grounds of efficiency of the force.

A Labour survey of current police budgets reveals that 13 out of the 43 forces, including the West Midlands, North Yorkshire and Surrey, have already decided that 2,124 officers should be compulsorily retired using the A19 regulation by 2015 in order to make up for 20% cuts in Whitehall police funding.

The issue was raised at prime minister's questions by the Labour leader, Ed Miliband, who cited the case of PC Martin Heard, who is being forcibly retired after 32 years as a neighbourhood officer in Wolverhampton.

Heard received the "Copper's copper" award from the Police Federation last year, and some weeks after he was forced to retire, he got a letter asking him to rejoin the force as a special constable on a part-time unpaid basis.

He was among a group of experienced officers being retired under A19 due to meet the home secretary, Theresa May, today. Others included Detective Constable Tim Kennedy, a recognised specialist in serious acquisitive crime, Sergeant Dave Hewitt, who is 48, with 32 years service, and is one of the youngest officers in the country to be retired, and Inspector Mark Stokes, a leading specialist in crime prevention.

Cooper said Heard was not alone in being asked to rejoin on a voluntary basis, adding: "You couldn't make this up.

"Senior, experienced officers are being forced out by the pace and scale of the Tory-led government's cuts, then asked to come back and do the same job for free because everyone knows they are needed in the fight against crime."

In the Commons, Miliband claimed the policing cuts demonstrated that the prime minister had broken his pre-election promise to send any cabinet minister who came to him with proposals to cut frontline services packing.

Cameron told Miliband: "Decisions about police numbers will depend on the decisions made by individual chief constables in individual parts of the country.

"The point I would make is that we see, in case after case, that there are far too many police officers in back-office jobs doing paperwork and carrying out corporate development work who should be on the front line.

"Responsible chief constables are getting these police officers out on the front line to fight crime, and crime under this government is falling."

He accused Labour of "complete and utter hypocrisy" over police numbers, citing Alan Johnson's admission when he was home secretary before the general election that he could not guarantee numbers would not fall in the event of the party remaining in power.

"The question is not should the budget be reduced – of course the budget has to be reduced," said Cameron.

"The question is who is going to cut the paperwork, who is going to get rid of the bureaucracy, who is going to trust the local managers to make sure we get police on the front line? These are steps we are taking, and steps his government never took."


Blue Line Comment My thanks to Steve Bennett for posting this article on his blog:http://thinbluelineuk.blogspot.com/2011/05/would-you-retire-from-police-service.html

Forcing some of our most valued and experienced officers to retire is bad enough. With all due respect being paid to the good work of the specials, asking officers who have put 30+ years of commitment and experience into the job to come back on an unpaid basis is a really insulting and disrespectful kick in the teeth. It is also a measure of the arrogance and ignorance of senior officers who would even consider such an insulting proposition. Seems like more of a political gesture than a serious operational suggestion to us.

French Police in Uproar Over Lunchtime Booze Ban

They might be lampooned as a bunch of truncheon-happy meatheads by leftwing street demonstrators, but that doesn't mean French riot police don't appreciate a nice glass of Burgundy with their lunch.

The notorious Compagnies Républicaines de Sécurité, or CRS, are outraged at an official decree stating they can no longer drink wine or beer with their meals.

Until now, a civilised tipple was part of the daily lunch menu of the controversial force, lauded by Nicolas Sarkozy, whose trademark black body armour and riot shields are a regular feature on French streets.

A glass of wine, beer or cider – but not spirits – was always permitted with lunch, including while on duty. Even packed lunches provided out of riot vans while they were patrolling demonstrations came with a can of beer or glass of wine.

But in October last year, authorities were annoyed when pictures published on the website Bakchich showed uniformed riot police swigging beer from cans on the sidelines of a sixth-formers' street-protest against pension reforms in Perreux-sur-Marne, north of Paris. The website reported that having told locals it was too dangerous to go outside during the high-school demo, uniformed officers stopped for a beer on a street corner in full view of the public.

Police unions expressed their fury at the new decree. Paul Le Guennec, of the biggest riot police union, Unité Police SGP-FO, said the French public had not seemed shocked at the notion of a CRS officer drinking at lunch.

"Does the fact that having a glass of wine while eating prevent any kind of worker from carrying out their job? I don't think the chief of police drinks water when he's having a meal," Le Guennec told the paper Le JDD.

The union argued that the CRS did not have a higher incidence of alcohol problems than the rest of society, saying a small drink with lunch was in line with French labour law.

But unions warned that the row over lunchtime drinking should not be allowed to detract from their protests over cuts to the 14,000-strong force. Earlier this year, there was unprecedented strike action and protests by riot police over cuts to barracks and staff, with some CRS in Marseille going on hunger strike in an embarrassment to the security-minded Sarkozy.

Article courtesy of Guardian Unlimited and www.policeoracle.com

Blind Call Taker Nominated For National Award

The outstanding achievements of a force call taker have been recognised, as she is short listed for a national award.

Carmen Glover, 39, is believed to be the first blind person in any police force in England and Wales to take 999 calls.

She will now represent Nottinghamshire Police in the Outstanding Achievement category at the Call Centre Management (UK)'s awards ceremony, which will take place in Manchester on 12 May.

Carmen joined the force in 2009, and had to wait almost a year before she could take both non-priority and 999 calls. Call operators usually have eight weeks of training and six weeks tutoring before starting in the control room.

The force invested in 'Jaws', a specialist screen-reading software, which talks to Carmen through her headset, navigating her around the computer screen while the caller speaks to her in her other ear.

Operators dealing with 999 calls need to be logged in to a different system and use a touch screen, which meant Carmen had to use a simple piece of plastic with holes in it, to 'feel' the screen.

Louise Ogden, a Control Room Manager who nominated Carmen for the award, said: "Carmen is a top performer on our shift, and last month took 100 more calls than her neighbouring colleague, which is a phenomenal achievement.

"She is an inspiration and is proof of what you can achieve if you really want something.

"Carmen is one in a million. She never gives up and is keen for someone to invent a way for blind people to read maps, as she wants to become a dispatcher who controls the radio operations for police officers.

"Whether she wins or not, her achievements are fantastic. I am extremely proud of all she has done, and the force is lucky to have her."

Speaking of her nomination, Carmen said: "I was really surprised to hear that Louise had nominated me, and I am really proud to be representing the force. Hopefully I can bring back the award for Nottinghamshire Police."

Article courtesy of www.policeoracle.com and Nottinghamshire Police

The Power of Words

Please watch this two minute video clip. It reminds us to watch our words. I suspect it is, of course, stage managed but the message is nevertheless very true. Almost 2 million people have viewed this powerful statement on YouTube.

Police Campaign For Wounded Troops - Help For Heroes

The Sun Newspaper Backs Police Campaign For Wounded Troops (Sat, 26 March 2011)
Courtesy of: Karen Thomas - Police Oracle. The Sun has thrown its weight behind a Police Service campaign to Raise £1m for Help for Heroes after rallying A-list celebrities to their cause.

TV presenter Lorraine Kelly and glamour model Peta Todd are among the high-profile names that are now firmly behind police efforts to boost funds to support wounded Armed Forces personnel and their families.

Troops of all ranks, many of whom have been assisted by the charity, have also praised big-hearted officers for starting the campaign.



As reported on Police Oracle yesterday, personnel are being urged to contribute through a number of different channels from payroll giving, organising or participating in sponsored events and buying specially-commissioned items.

An official lapel pin - ACPO-approved to wear with the uniform - is available through Police Oracle and all the proceeds from each sale will go towards Help for Heroes.

AC Ian McPherson of the Metropolitan Police, who started the Service campaign to support the charity in 2009 while CC of Norfolk, urged officers and staff at the launch of The Sun initiative "to do their bit".

Click play to watch AC Ian McPherson explain why officers should "give an hour"



Supporting the initiative, a dedicated website - www.policeoracle.com/helpforheroes - will keep a tally of all the money raised by individual forces and monitor progress towards the £1m target.

Mark Elliott, the Head of External Operations for Help for Heroes, praised The Sun for getting involved with the campaign – and said the police had set an outstanding "benchmark" with the Raise £1m campaign.


He said: "Thank you for what you have done and what you are going to do. An hour is not a lot of time but it is invaluable to Help for Heroes.

"It is simple and something that we all can do - please spread the word."

Although many individual officers have already put a lot of time into raising almost £100,000 for the charity, a national committee has been formed to coordinate the grass-roots efforts.

This will ensure the police commitment to the cause is more widely recognised by colleagues and the public.

Click on the Help for Heroes logo anywhere on www.policeoracle.com/helpforheroes for all the details on how to get involved in Raising £1m for the brave men and women injured while serving their country.

Ex-US Police Pro: Direct Election 'Unsuitable'

Government ministers and law enforcement analysts have clashed in their views on the introduction of Directly Elected Police and Crime Commissioners.

Addressing the Policing 2011 conference in London Jessica de Grazia (pictured), a former Chief Assistant District Attorney in New York, said the proposed system of governance would be unsuitable for the UK – and could pave the way for corruption.

She also admitted surprise at comments made by Policing and Criminal Justice Minister Nick Herbert, who said the introduction of direct election was not inspired by the American model.

Mr Herbert had pointed towards London – where the mayor is accountable for law enforcement – as the example of success in which the policy had its roots.

But Ms de Grazia said: "This is the first time I have heard that this model has not come from the USA – I am not aware of any other jurisdiction that uses it.

"The question is whether the Directly Elected Police and Crime Commissioner can remain independent and politically neutral – the short answer is no. This is a person who is going to have a huge amount of power over the police.

"Let us make this clear – this is not a police authority, it is a person who, with modest checks and balances is going to be able to appoint and fire the chief constable, the deputy chief constable and the assistant chief constable.

"On top of this they will be responsible for making sure a force is run effectively and efficiently – and we do not yet know who is going to run for office."

Ms de Grazia asserted that the cost of election campaigns would immediately preclude some would-be candidates from putting themselves forward. And she argued that the risk of an undesirable individual making it into the position needed to be countered by a robust package of checks and balances.

She also stressed that – in the US model – the prosecutor had far more power in deciding whether complex cases of organised crime should be investigated in the first instance, a check that did not exist in the proposed British model.

However, the views of the former Chief Assistant District Attorney were challenged by Lord Wasserman, a government advisor on policing and criminal justice who also has considerable practical experience of the American system.

The peer maintained that the policy of directly elected individuals "is not as radical as it sounds" and that chief constables would retain operational independence.

He also highlighted that senior officers are "not pushovers" and that there would be trouble if a directly elected commissioner needlessly overstepped the mark.

Lord Wasserman added: "I could not disagree more with Jessica – I believe that we are going to have Directly Elected Police and Crime Commissioners and they will be people who already have a standing in policing."

Meanwhile the debate also attracted strong views from Richard Kemp, Vice-Chair of the Local Government Association. He believed the policy of introducing the individuals was unsuitable and they would ultimately be scrapped in years to come.

Article courtesy of Cliff Caswell-www.policeoracle.com

Brain Scans 'To Predict Future Criminals'

Courtesy of: Ananova and www.policeoracle.com

Scientists may soon be able to identify potential criminals using developments in brain research on children as young as six months, an expert has claimed.

Psychologist Dr Adrian Raine said recognising problems in a child's limbic system, which controls emotion, will allow scientists to predict future offenders and psychopaths.

"Seeds of sin are sown quite early in life," Dr Raine told a science conference in the US.

“People would have to decide whether or not to intervene at an early age to stop crime despite possible mistakes in predictions”
The British scientist, who is at the University of Pennsylvania, said three year olds with a poorly-functioning amygdala, a key part of the limbic system, were more likely to commit crime 20 years later.

Further research presented at the conference showed emotional problems, like "callous-unemotional" (CU), were hereditary.

CU traits are associated with a lack of emotion, empathy and guilt and are linked to persistent bad behaviour in young children.

After assessing more than 9,000 twins between the ages of four and 12, Dr Nathalie Fontaine concluded that genetics played a fundamental role in the emergence of CU traits, especially in young boys.

Dr Raine said that a time would come when "we are going to be able to predict reasonably well which individuals at a modest age say eight to 10 years old are predicated to become criminal offenders".

The scientist added people would have to decide whether or not to intervene at an early age to stop crime despite possible mistakes in predictions.

Omega 3 - a fatty acid that helps build brain cells - was identified as being able to reduce aggressive behaviour in children based on studies that have shown giving supplements to prison inmates cut serious offending by a third.

"Its very simple - bad brain, bad behaviour... improve brain functioning and you will improve behaviour," Dr Raine said.

The Wisdom of Benjamin Franklin on Freemasonry

Clampdown On Rogue Clampers

Rogue firms face huge fines and even jail in a crackdown on wheel-clamping.

The Government will unveil plans this week to make it a criminal offence to clamp or tow away cars on private land.

Cowboy clampers rake in £55million a year from motorists.

The new law due to come in early next year will see them fined up to £5,000 by JPs.

Repeat offenders will be clobbered with unlimited crown court fines. If they refuse to pay they could be put behind bars.

Home Office Minister Lynne Featherstone told The Sun: "For too long motorists have fallen victim to extortion and abuse from rogue clamping companies.

"I have been outraged by cases of drivers being frog-marched to cash points late at night or left stranded by rogue operators.

"This Government is committing rogue clampers to history and putting an end to intimidation and excessive charges once and for all."

Official figures show some 500,000 cars are clamped each year on private land. It costs drivers an average £112 to free their vehicle but some have been forced to fork out up to £500.

Ministers also plan to tighten up regulations for dishing out parking fines on private land to stop cowboys from simply switching tactics.

The measures will not affect the police or official bodies like the DVLA who will still have the power to clamp or tow away untaxed cars.

Last night a driver who beat car clampers with a 30-hour sit-in hailed the plans as "excellent news".

The Sun – which has exposed a string of rogue clampers – told last August how Haroon Zafaryab, 27, became the people's champion when he refused to budge from his clamped Toyota Prius for more than a day.

Clampers plastered his car with 40 orange "fine" stickers and the bill mushroomed to £4,000. But the stand-off ended when they caved in.

Mr Zafaryab – who had failed to spot a tiny "no parking" sign on private land in Wembley, North West London, said: "Mine was a single victory for the little man. This is a giant victory for the whole motoring nation.

"Drivers have been held to ransom by these parasites for years."

Article courtesy of and www.policeoracle.com