I was totally disgusted to see a story on the BBC news about the behaviour of the police in Wales.
An officer had taken to parking his police van outside his house with 2 wheels on the pavement preventing a wheelchair bound neighbour from getting by. His defence - he owned the pavement as it was a private road! Well, maybe he did but I bet it is still a public right of way that should not be blocked. Even if he owned it, how heartless is it to block in a disabled neighbour. Vehicles should be parked on the road, not the pavement.
In the ensuing row, the policeman alleged that the disabled man slapped his face twice so he arrested him for a public order offence. How??? How on earth could a man in a wheelchair slap the face of a policeman standing up? Was the policeman exceptionally short or was he leaning into the man's personal space?
The scenes of the man being man-handled into the police van are disgusting. Disabled people should be arrested if they commit a crime but this should be done with respect and dignity, not pulling them about because they cannot stand.
To me this seems an abuse of power. There are images of the badly parked police van and the man-handling of the disabled man during his arrest. I doubt any action will be taken. The uniform should signify exemplary behaviour and respect for others and this officer is a disgrace.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7643747.stm
broken britain's not purely asbo youth like myself after all!
Trouble with these is do we really get an accurate report - you know what media are like. People, able-bodied and disabled, can be gits. Reading that report the guy in the wheelchair doesn't appear totally blameless and the van in the main picture is the one they're putting him in (I think). Where does it say he is wheelchair bound? I know people who use them but can stand up. Arresting people is not always straightforward and to be honest not always possible to do "with dignity" if someone is resisting. Loss of use of legs doesn't mean there isn't strength in the arms.
To say this officer is a disgrace based on that report is a bit harsh, if he is then he should be punished but I'm afraid that report doesn't convince me.
Parking on the pavement is a bug-bear of mine and it needs to be clamped down on.
Well certain points seem undisputed. He parked with 2 wheels on the pavement - a totally selfish act. Pavements are not for cars.
When confronted by the man in the wheelchair, he did not apologise and promise not to do it again, instead he sought to defend his actions with 'well I own the land' - disgusting. We have someone with that attitude in uniform representing authority. That man is not fit to be a member of the human race and yet he is still in uniform!
I agree that the actions of the disabled man were not totally blameless. However, where do you go when you are unable to get out of your own home because a policeman is parking on the pavement. Do you report him to the police?
Parking on the pavement is deliberate and selfish and should be dealt with. We have parking wardens in Basingstoke. Why do they patrol the car parks instead of protecting our pavements - oh that must be to do with raising money.
Sorry Della we'll have to disagree on this one - there is nothing in that article to to suggest for one minute "That man is not fit to be a member of the human race and yet he is still in uniform!" And if he does indeed own the land whether we like it or not then what would he be doing wrong?? Dont get me wrong I'm not trying to defend or accuse either but just saying dont let the fact that one of them is disabled automatically put the other in the wrong. To be honest we dont have the full facts on this I suspect.
I do agree with your last point totally though
I am not saying that the fact that one is disabled makes the other wrong. I said that disabled people should also be arrested if they commit crimes.
OK, so lets say it is a mother with a buggy that can't get past. There is no dispute that he is blocking the pavement, this is causing inconvenience and this has been brought to his attention. What decent human being wouldn't park properly to help another? What decent human being says 'I can because I own it so I will'. Hypothetically, I could plant 20' leylandii trees in my garden and plunge my neighbours into darkness and it would be legal because it is on my land, but would any decent human being be so selfish?
BTW there are unadopted roads all over the place and usually these are a public right of way. Suppose that every person in that street decided to fence in their little bit of pavement and their little bit of road just because they own it. How on earth would people get to and from their houses then?
The point I'm trying to make is that we only have the "facts" the reporters want us to have, I dont have a full unbiased objective report so am not yet ready to damn someone as a result. If the police office has abused his authority than I hope he is dealt with accordingly, likewise the guy in the wheelchair.
If there is indeed a public right of way then of course it should be kept free, if there isn't then something has gone wrong somewhere. I have to admit I do not understand the comment "it's my land anyway" in the original report.
I think you'll find under recent legislation you can no longer plant hedges such as you describe, I could be wrong of course.
(06-10-2008 01:47 PM)non-stick Wrote: [ -> ]The point I'm trying to make is that we only have the "facts" the reporters want us to have, I dont have a full unbiased objective report so am not yet ready to damn someone as a result.
True but it is the BBC not some dodgy rag like the Sunday Sport and there are picture of the parking and the arrest but perhaps it is best to await the outcome of the trial.
(06-10-2008 01:47 PM)non-stick Wrote: [ -> ]I think you'll find under recent legislation you can no longer plant hedges such as you describe, I could be wrong of course.
Oh no! I'd better get the hedge trimmers out quick.
(06-10-2008 01:47 PM)non-stick Wrote: [ -> ]I think you'll find under recent legislation you can no longer plant hedges such as you describe, I could be wrong of course.
Oh no! I'd better get the hedge trimmers out quick.
[/quote]
A new hedge planted alongside someone elses property must be kept below 2 metres high throughout its life
".....but perhaps it is best to await the outcome of the trial. "
That's what I'm doing and if the policeman is in the wrong I'll join you in condemning him.