Solving Crime

Witness Appeal - Theft Of Motorbike Cutlers Mews Neath Hill

Thames Valley Police are appealing for information following a report of a theft of a motorbike from Cutlers Mews, Neath Hill. Between 3am & 6am  on Saturday 30 June  a black motorbike vehicle was taken from Cutlers Mews Neath Hill without keys.   We are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the offences taking place or who may have information to call our 24-hour enquiry Centre on 101, quoting reference 43180198091 If you don’t want to speak directly to police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court. https://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/advice/protecting-your-home-and-belongings/vehicle-crime/ Set up a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme in your area Would you like to bring your community closer together, or do you have concerns about burglary, antisocial behaviour or the general environment in your street? Through Neighbourhood Watch you can help the Police and your neighbours to strengthen your community.  You can make your area a better place to live.  The scheme is free to join Consider setting up a NHW Scheme in your area, for more information email MK.Community.WatchCoordinator@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk

This was emailed out by Thames Valley Police about a vehicle taking in Milton Keynes. They want to hear from anyone who actually saw the theft occurring, which is fine but exceedingly unlikely. If they had given a full description of the vehicle such as manufacturer and registration there is a greater chance someone would have seen it and could help. Someone might know where it is now, or who has it.

They might even see it being ridden around the streets, but reporting every black 'motorbike vehicle' you see may not be terribly helpful.

It strikes me that the police issue lazy rubbish like this because they are not that sure how to go about solving crimes, which also seems from anecdotal evidence at least, to be because they don't really care about solving crime either.

Can Councils Learn?

It seems they can! After deciding to delete the last remaining 'free' parking spaces in the Central Milton Keynes area, a decision based on stupidity and greed, word now reaches me of it's reversal. Apparently the sight of expensive parking spaces near offices remaining resolutely empty every day has led to a rethink. I'm not sure I thought councillors capable of anything close to common sense, let alone serving the people.

We should withhold more often. By making the spaces an embarrassment rather than the expected gold mine, the people have forced the issue. Maybe direct action should be deployed by the people more often. If the politicians don't think the ballot box has any relevance to them any more, perhaps we should withhold payments, for services expected but unfulfilled. The step after that I suppose is the one the Arabs have been taking recently?

Predict A Decision

Actually, thinking about councils, I thought I should attempt a prediction. A decision is due any time now about where a large casino is going to be authorised in Milton Keynes. There are three candidates; the Xscape building in the centre, the Leisure Plaza near the railway station and the MK Dons football stadium.

Xscape has a lot of leisure activity and is near what is known as theatre district, which sounds sophisticated (and the theatre is fantastic) but is actually a warren of little alleyways and often sees an infestation of drunken 'malcontent's'. The addition of a casino may overload the area.

The Leisure Plaza is an area that is now quite run down, with a long-closed nightclub standing empty, a bowling alley, an ice rink and unfortunately a lap dancing club. Putting a casino here would mean the regeneration of the whole area, with new facilities, enough out of the way to not be a nuisance, but close to road and rail links to bring in custom. (I must declare an interest here; I have links to ice hockey, so my sport would gain in this scenario. I don't mean financially, there isn't any money in it! I mean giving youngsters somewhere to play and locals a bit of exotic sport to watch, in rejuvenated facilities).

The last option is the football stadium. This is well out of the way, which is fine for a sport like football, with large crowds arriving and departing at roughly the same time, during the day or perhaps early evening. For a casino it seems a bit detached, no cohesive reason to be there. But the man responsible for the stadium is a bit of a local hero, with a high profile and crucially, contacts. Now, to the best of my knowledge, he is a lovely bloke and I wish him no harm, but he may have access that no competitor does.

Most people, if taking a bet (pun intended) would plump for the stadium, for exactly these reasons. But is that right? Should a decision be made where the most good can be done, or where (perhaps) the benefit is to the relationship between councillors and local businessmen?