Stealing a 78 yr old man's walking stick has to be on a par with
kicking Tiny Tim's crutch away. 

http://tinyurl.com/3zz7z9

"Philip Clarkson Webb, 78, had the stick taken off him when he was
walking near to an environmental demonstration in Kent.

Mr Clarkson Webb has since been forced to rely on a spare stick.

After a string of phone calls in a bid to locate his seized cane,
police have issued an official apology and have offered to buy him a
new one.

In the apology they admitting being "unable to place" his walking
stick.

Mr Clarkson Webb was walking nearby the climate camp environmental
demonstration in Kingsnorth, Kent, a month ago.

He was not one of the activists at the climate camp but paid a visit
to attend a seminar on trade energy quotas.

As he approached the site, which was heavily policed for the event,
police stopped him and confiscated his walking stick.

The pensioner, who lives in Southborough, Kent, said: "I am aged 78
and need a walking stick when going uphill and over rough ground.

"At the bottom of the lane Kent Police officers confiscated my stick
as an offensive weapon but gave me a receipt and promised to return
it.

"But later when I produced my receipt and asked for the stick it was
curtly refused."

He said that, since that date, he has been in regular contact with
police to attempt to resolve the situation.

"Since that date there have been three different telephone
conversations. They've lost the stick even though it had a numbered
receipt."

Kent Police Assistant Chief Constable Allyn Thomas said: "We are sorry
we have not been able to return Mr Clarkson Webb's stick and we have
apologised to him directly.

"We have spoken to Mr Clarkson Webb on several occasions and our
officers are looking to resolve the situation to his satisfaction as
soon as possible."

Mr Thomas added: "Kent Police is in the process of producing a full
inventory of an extensive amount of property seized during the climate
camp.

"As part of this we are looking to locate Mr Clarkson Webb's alpine
walking stick amongst those items.

"During the climate camp there was a considerable amount of activity
and our officers and others from around the country who supported Kent
Police had to make swift decisions as part of policing the
protestors."

He said that any complaints made would be looked into thoroughly. "

On 29 Sep, 21:46, Alang  wrote:
> Stealing a 78 yr old man's walking stick has to be on a par with
> kicking Tiny Tim's crutch away.
>
> http://tinyurl.com/3zz7z9
>
> "Philip Clarkson Webb, 78, had the stick taken off him when he was
> walking near to an environmental demonstration in Kent.
>
> Mr Clarkson Webb has since been forced to rely on a spare stick.
>
> After a string of phone calls in a bid to locate his seized cane,
> police have issued an official apology and have offered to buy him a
> new one.
>
> In the apology they admitting being "unable to place" his walking
> stick.
>
> Mr Clarkson Webb was walking nearby the climate camp environmental
> demonstration in Kingsnorth, Kent, a month ago.
>
> He was not one of the activists at the climate camp but paid a visit
> to attend a seminar on trade energy quotas.
>
> As he approached the site, which was heavily policed for the event,
> police stopped him and confiscated his walking stick.
>
> The pensioner, who lives in Southborough, Kent, said: "I am aged 78
> and need a walking stick when going uphill and over rough ground.
>
> "At the bottom of the lane Kent Police officers confiscated my stick
> as an offensive weapon but gave me a receipt and promised to return
> it.
>
> "But later when I produced my receipt and asked for the stick it was
> curtly refused."
>
> He said that, since that date, he has been in regular contact with
> police to attempt to resolve the situation.
>
> "Since that date there have been three different telephone
> conversations. They've lost the stick even though it had a numbered
> receipt."
>
> Kent Police Assistant Chief Constable Allyn Thomas said: "We are sorry
> we have not been able to return Mr Clarkson Webb's stick and we have
> apologised to him directly.
>
> "We have spoken to Mr Clarkson Webb on several occasions and our
> officers are looking to resolve the situation to his satisfaction as
> soon as possible."
>
> Mr Thomas added: "Kent Police is in the process of producing a full
> inventory of an extensive amount of property seized during the climate
> camp.
>
> "As part of this we are looking to locate Mr Clarkson Webb's alpine
> walking stick amongst those items.
>
> "During the climate camp there was a considerable amount of activity
> and our officers and others from around the country who supported Kent
> Police had to make swift decisions as part of policing the
> protestors."
>
> He said that any complaints made would be looked into thoroughly. "

No wonder they can't find his stick, they couldn't catch a cold.

"Alang"  wrote in message 
news:1ef2e49eelakpchd5mhb3sd3kurcenpici@4ax.com...
> Stealing a 78 yr old man's walking stick has to be on a par with
> kicking Tiny Tim's crutch away.
>
> http://tinyurl.com/3zz7z9
>
> "Philip Clarkson Webb, 78, had the stick taken off him when he was
> walking near to an environmental demonstration in Kent.
>

I think a criminal offence of 'theft' has occurred, has it not?

Gaz

Alang wrote:
> Stealing a 78 yr old man's walking stick has to be on a par with
> kicking Tiny Tim's crutch away. 
> 
> http://tinyurl.com/3zz7z9
> 
You've already given reason 32 and (IIRC) I identified reason 33.
Surely this must be at least reason 34.

-- 
Mike

Gaz wrote:
> "Alang"  wrote in message 
> news:1ef2e49eelakpchd5mhb3sd3kurcenpici@4ax.com...
>> Stealing a 78 yr old man's walking stick has to be on a par with
>> kicking Tiny Tim's crutch away.
>>
>> http://tinyurl.com/3zz7z9
>>
>> "Philip Clarkson Webb, 78, had the stick taken off him when he was
>> walking near to an environmental demonstration in Kent.
>>
> 
> I think a criminal offence of 'theft' has occurred, has it not?
> 
If it were taken by force, or the threat of force, it would be robbery.
(Presuming all the other elements of theft were present).

-- 
Mike

"Gaz"  wrote in message 
news:6kd16mF7a6msU1@mid.individual.net...
>
> "Alang"  wrote in message 
> news:1ef2e49eelakpchd5mhb3sd3kurcenpici@4ax.com...
>> Stealing a 78 yr old man's walking stick has to be on a par with
>> kicking Tiny Tim's crutch away.
>>
>> http://tinyurl.com/3zz7z9
>>
>> "Philip Clarkson Webb, 78, had the stick taken off him when he was
>> walking near to an environmental demonstration in Kent.
>>
>
> I think a criminal offence of 'theft' has occurred, has it not?
>
I don't see how.
They never intended to deprive him of the property, which was held legally, 
but it was a simple mistake.  It is no different to a repair shop losing 
your item.

wrote in message 
news:62a781bf-a502-4a5b-ad16-89409ab0a708@26g2000hsk.googlegroups.com...
> On 29 Sep, 21:46, Alang  wrote:
>> Stealing a 78 yr old man's walking stick has to be on a par with
>> kicking Tiny Tim's crutch away.

> No wonder they can't find his stick, they couldn't catch a cold.

I wonder who it is who is filling up all the prisons? Can't possibly be the 
police arresting people can it?

Ret.

"Ret."  wrote in message 
news:afidnYDuuMotv3_VnZ2dnUVZ8t7inZ2d@pipex.net...
>
>  wrote in message 
> news:62a781bf-a502-4a5b-ad16-89409ab0a708@26g2000hsk.googlegroups.com...
>> On 29 Sep, 21:46, Alang  wrote:
>>> Stealing a 78 yr old man's walking stick has to be on a par with
>>> kicking Tiny Tim's crutch away.
>
>> No wonder they can't find his stick, they couldn't catch a cold.
>
> I wonder who it is who is filling up all the prisons? Can't possibly be 
> the police arresting people can it?

Wanna bet  on how many of them are guilty?

-- 
William Black


I've seen things you people wouldn't believe.
Barbeques on fire by the chalets past the castle headland
I watched the gift shops glitter in the darkness off the Newborough gate
All these moments will be lost in time,  like icecream on the beach
Time for tea.

On Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:59:26 +0100, "Ret."  wrote:

>
> wrote in message 
>news:62a781bf-a502-4a5b-ad16-89409ab0a708@26g2000hsk.googlegroups.com...
>> On 29 Sep, 21:46, Alang  wrote:
>>> Stealing a 78 yr old man's walking stick has to be on a par with
>>> kicking Tiny Tim's crutch away.
>
>> No wonder they can't find his stick, they couldn't catch a cold.
>
>I wonder who it is who is filling up all the prisons? Can't possibly be the 
>police arresting people can it?
>
They find time to arrest criminals in between nicking pensioner's
walking sticks?

"Alang"  wrote in message 
news:39l4e41mtqer9vlv6jtonko4pvj0sipjtn@4ax.com...
> On Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:59:26 +0100, "Ret."  wrote:
>
>>
>> wrote in message
>>news:62a781bf-a502-4a5b-ad16-89409ab0a708@26g2000hsk.googlegroups.com...
>>> On 29 Sep, 21:46, Alang  wrote:
>>>> Stealing a 78 yr old man's walking stick has to be on a par with
>>>> kicking Tiny Tim's crutch away.
>>
>>> No wonder they can't find his stick, they couldn't catch a cold.
>>
>>I wonder who it is who is filling up all the prisons? Can't possibly be 
>>the
>>police arresting people can it?
>>
> They find time to arrest criminals in between nicking pensioner's
> walking sticks?

Well you tell me - the media keep reporting that the government are having 
to let criminals out early to make room for new convicts. *Somebody* is 
arresting these people aren't they?

Ret.

Ret. wrote:
> 
> "Alang"  wrote in message 
> news:39l4e41mtqer9vlv6jtonko4pvj0sipjtn@4ax.com...
>> On Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:59:26 +0100, "Ret."  wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>  wrote in message
>>> news:62a781bf-a502-4a5b-ad16-89409ab0a708@26g2000hsk.googlegroups.com...
>>>> On 29 Sep, 21:46, Alang  wrote:
>>>>> Stealing a 78 yr old man's walking stick has to be on a par with
>>>>> kicking Tiny Tim's crutch away.
>>>
>>>> No wonder they can't find his stick, they couldn't catch a cold.
>>>
>>> I wonder who it is who is filling up all the prisons? Can't possibly 
>>> be the
>>> police arresting people can it?
>>>
>> They find time to arrest criminals in between nicking pensioner's
>> walking sticks?
> 
> Well you tell me - the media keep reporting that the government are 
> having to let criminals out early to make room for new convicts. 
> *Somebody* is arresting these people aren't they?
> 
> Ret.

20 year old smack heads and single mums who haven't bought a tv license? 
Hardly devout detective work is it?

"Diddly Doo"  wrote in message news:gbtnir$g0j$1@aioe.org...
> Ret. wrote:
>>
>> "Alang"  wrote in message 
>> news:39l4e41mtqer9vlv6jtonko4pvj0sipjtn@4ax.com...
>>> On Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:59:26 +0100, "Ret."  wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>>  wrote in message
>>>> news:62a781bf-a502-4a5b-ad16-89409ab0a708@26g2000hsk.googlegroups.com...
>>>>> On 29 Sep, 21:46, Alang  wrote:
>>>>>> Stealing a 78 yr old man's walking stick has to be on a par with
>>>>>> kicking Tiny Tim's crutch away.
>>>>
>>>>> No wonder they can't find his stick, they couldn't catch a cold.
>>>>
>>>> I wonder who it is who is filling up all the prisons? Can't possibly be 
>>>> the
>>>> police arresting people can it?
>>>>
>>> They find time to arrest criminals in between nicking pensioner's
>>> walking sticks?
>>
>> Well you tell me - the media keep reporting that the government are 
>> having to let criminals out early to make room for new convicts. 
>> *Somebody* is arresting these people aren't they?
>>
>> Ret.
>
> 20 year old smack heads and single mums who haven't bought a tv license? 
> Hardly devout detective work is it?

Read the press releases on the type of prisoners being released:

"More than 36,500 criminals have been let out of prison early under
controversial government measures to reduce prison overcrowding, the
Ministry of Justice said today.

Some 2,486 prisoners were released early last month, bringing to
36,661 the total number of prisoners let out under the scheme since
its launch in June last year.

Among those released in August was a man jailed for a sex crime, the
Ministry said.

Other criminals released last month included 60 robbers, more than 200
burglars and 100 people convicted of drugs offences, the latest
statistics revealed.

During August, 42 prisoners let out under the scheme were brought back
to prison because they committed further crimes."

So, sex criminals, robbers, burglars, etc.  - hardly TV licence evaders are 
they? You cannot get around it - the fact that there are the occasional bad 
stories about police shortcomings - they *are* doing their job and *are* 
arresting more criminals than the prison service can cope with.

Ret.

On Tue, 30 Sep 2008 17:50:42 +0100, "Ret."  wrote:

>
>"Alang"  wrote in message 
>news:39l4e41mtqer9vlv6jtonko4pvj0sipjtn@4ax.com...
>> On Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:59:26 +0100, "Ret."  wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> wrote in message
>>>news:62a781bf-a502-4a5b-ad16-89409ab0a708@26g2000hsk.googlegroups.com...
>>>> On 29 Sep, 21:46, Alang  wrote:
>>>>> Stealing a 78 yr old man's walking stick has to be on a par with
>>>>> kicking Tiny Tim's crutch away.
>>>
>>>> No wonder they can't find his stick, they couldn't catch a cold.
>>>
>>>I wonder who it is who is filling up all the prisons? Can't possibly be 
>>>the
>>>police arresting people can it?
>>>
>> They find time to arrest criminals in between nicking pensioner's
>> walking sticks?
>
>Well you tell me - the media keep reporting that the government are having 
>to let criminals out early to make room for new convicts. *Somebody* is 
>arresting these people aren't they?
>
They appear to be mostly drug users. A crime that would disappear if
we reverted to letting the users buy at the local apothecary

"Alang"  wrote in message 
news:gbr4e4d5b91ervh26urhmcpbqq7di3csfc@4ax.com...
> On Tue, 30 Sep 2008 17:50:42 +0100, "Ret."  wrote:
>
>>
>>"Alang"  wrote in message
>>news:39l4e41mtqer9vlv6jtonko4pvj0sipjtn@4ax.com...
>>> On Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:59:26 +0100, "Ret."  wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>> wrote in message
>>>>news:62a781bf-a502-4a5b-ad16-89409ab0a708@26g2000hsk.googlegroups.com...
>>>>> On 29 Sep, 21:46, Alang  wrote:
>>>>>> Stealing a 78 yr old man's walking stick has to be on a par with
>>>>>> kicking Tiny Tim's crutch away.
>>>>
>>>>> No wonder they can't find his stick, they couldn't catch a cold.
>>>>
>>>>I wonder who it is who is filling up all the prisons? Can't possibly be
>>>>the
>>>>police arresting people can it?
>>>>
>>> They find time to arrest criminals in between nicking pensioner's
>>> walking sticks?
>>
>>Well you tell me - the media keep reporting that the government are having
>>to let criminals out early to make room for new convicts. *Somebody* is
>>arresting these people aren't they?
>>
> They appear to be mostly drug users. A crime that would disappear if
> we reverted to letting the users buy at the local apothecary

Sorry but no they are not mostly drug users.

Ret.

On Wed, 1 Oct 2008 16:38:21 +0100, "Ret."  wrote:

>
>"Alang"  wrote in message 
>news:gbr4e4d5b91ervh26urhmcpbqq7di3csfc@4ax.com...
>> On Tue, 30 Sep 2008 17:50:42 +0100, "Ret."  wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>"Alang"  wrote in message
>>>news:39l4e41mtqer9vlv6jtonko4pvj0sipjtn@4ax.com...
>>>> On Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:59:26 +0100, "Ret."  wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> wrote in message
>>>>>news:62a781bf-a502-4a5b-ad16-89409ab0a708@26g2000hsk.googlegroups.com...
>>>>>> On 29 Sep, 21:46, Alang  wrote:
>>>>>>> Stealing a 78 yr old man's walking stick has to be on a par with
>>>>>>> kicking Tiny Tim's crutch away.
>>>>>
>>>>>> No wonder they can't find his stick, they couldn't catch a cold.
>>>>>
>>>>>I wonder who it is who is filling up all the prisons? Can't possibly be
>>>>>the
>>>>>police arresting people can it?
>>>>>
>>>> They find time to arrest criminals in between nicking pensioner's
>>>> walking sticks?
>>>
>>>Well you tell me - the media keep reporting that the government are having
>>>to let criminals out early to make room for new convicts. *Somebody* is
>>>arresting these people aren't they?
>>>
>> They appear to be mostly drug users. A crime that would disappear if
>> we reverted to letting the users buy at the local apothecary
>
>Sorry but no they are not mostly drug users.
>
What are they mostly then and how do you know?

And have you ever kicked away a cripple's crutch?