Posts Tagged ‘ crime ’

Who’s What, Where? When, Why and How?

I’m never sure about farmers’ markets. Not only to they present yet another apostrophe conundrum — organised as they mostly are by local business associations, i.e. groups of grocers — but there’s a tendency for the same farmers to traipse around the “circuit”, so each market becomes as personality-less as the chain stores they’re meant to be an anathema to. So while I like fruit vodka and garlic olives as much as the next bohemian, I’ve taken to reacting much like Earl (of TV’s My Name is…): Get the Flash Player to see this content. But, why am I bringing this up (except as a glorious chance to use the six honest serving-men as a post title)? Well, because someone has nicked King’s Heath’s “Who’s What?”. When, Why and How are not known.

Being proud of where you live is an admirable trait, all told. Not in the sort of nationalistic ferver that is whipped up during global sporting tournaments, but proud in the way that you care what happens to your environment and the people that live there. Even if the “Kingstanding and Proud” signs spotted around the city do veer a little to close to factionalism, they’re well intended. But as kpmarek says over on Flickr, don’t you think these signs give off a little bit of a mixed message? I hate the way the police give up in some areas, signs like “if you leave anything on show, expect it to go” in car parks may as well say “we can’t be bothered. criminals, do what you like”. To mix up one of these white flags of crime with an “Eastside and Proud” message, isn’t it saying, just a bit: “We’re the boys from Eastside, we’ll nick your stuff.”

MyNeighbourhood.info is a site that maps crime. It’s not updated quickly enough for local vigilantes to slip into their tights and rush to the scene of the bicycle theft, but will let you see if more stuff gets nicked from the sheds in the next few roads than from your shed. And it shows where bus stops are. Uploaded with plasq‘s Skitch! So tell us if you find out anything interesting.

Tough on crime, especially today

Did you know today was United Streets of Birmingham Day? I didn’t (kthx for the tip). It’s a Police initiative to “provide a focus for all community safety activity across the City with a particular focus on burglary, robbery and vehicle crime” and the day includes… high visibility patrols by police and local authority / environmental / youth wardens; speed enforcement checks; robbery vehicle patrols; anti-social behaviour responder vehicle in action; licensing enforcement operations (alcohol and fireworks); arrest days (warrants); lockdowns at transport hubs; active use of stop-and-search powers; Which is nice, although you might hope that “as many staff as possible take part in local activity” on the other 364 days of the year too. There are some sensible tips about safety and crime prevention on the website. All in all I’m not quite sure what they’re getting at with this, but I’m glad they’re doing something all the same.

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Posts Tagged ‘ crime ’

Who’s What, Where? When, Why and How?

Eastside and Proud

Keep ‘em peeled

Tough on crime, especially today

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