Dear Sir,
I read with interest your article on supplying 20 hand held radios to local businesses (cost £9,000.00 averaging £450.00 each, online £100.00 each) in an effort to reduce ASB (anti-social behaviour) on our Business Park. It might be worth noting that mobile radios were first used by William Rutledge of Detriot Police in 1921. Are we moving backwards a little here, when we are surrounded by the most sophisticated and advanced communication systems the world has ever known? Yet, here we are, still resorting to good old radio? I fear that their use will little reduce the amount of anti-social behaviour on our streets and Business Park.
In a similar vain, a couple of weeks ago our campervan was broken into by a young chap, many others in our area suffered similar incidents. Our next door neighbour kindly let us have a recording of the incident. The perpetrator nonchalantly cycled up to our van (on what, we now have discovered, was a stolen bicycle), wandered round the vehicle trying all the doors, found that I, silly boy, had left the van unlocked, entered and sorted through all the internal cupboards. Thankfully he didn’t leave a mess, found nothing except a bottle of fine 12 year old malt whisky, which he took (I hope he appreciated it, though I doubt that), sauntered out of the van, mounted the stolen bike and rode off into the night. It was his arrogance of movement and his knowledge that he was untouchable that really goaded me.
The police were informed and we were given a crime number. I felt a degree of pity for the young policeman who attended. He gave us little hope of apprehending the young offender, even though he was in full view of the cameras. And, even if he were identified, the law would do little to punish him. It seems to me that the law and our protectors are powerless against these little (and big) criminals.
And here I rant! Bring into force some degree of public humiliation of these offenders. If we could look them in the eye and express our disgust directly to them, face to face, they might have second thoughts about committing their crimes again.
I remain a continuous reader of Newton News and hope you go from strength to strength.
Name and address supplied.