Vic Patterson

3G, I don't know how the children are being killed with guns but just the fact that they are is disturbing, too many guns and not enough controls, laws need changing! my experience with Mr. Plod have normally been ok it is when the "senior" officers get involved or "policy states" it goes wrong!

Malcolm, You have a valid point but as I said I don't know how many were involved, most police are not performing critical duties but are out doing routine jobs, surely these would be used in this situation and not necessarily replaced.

Mental illness is not very often recognized in criminals, but is quite obviously the cause of their offences, again I believe the laws need changing, not all mental cases need locking away in institutions but treatment and controls can safeguard the public. Sounds like this guy should not have been released, but where should he have been kept? and how many others should be detained and for how long? I don't have those answers!

Dammed if you do, dammed if you don't! how much public protection was needed? how many police were used (I have only seen and read snippets in our news) where is the extra cost incurred? overtime to the police?

I don't know a lot about his case but keeping offenders in prison under the present laws is pretty difficult, early parole etc in meant for the majority of normal offenders, and it works! it is for the minority that the laws need changing, more discretion for the authorities is needed, repeat or serious offenders should be pounding rocks!

While growing up, a caravan in Rothbury was our annual vacation, they were the best days of my youth! Cragside, the Thrum and the moors! I hope they don't get too much tourism publicity.

There is no such thing as an "obvious" toy gun. These are old stats but do show that too many kids are killed by guns, yes the police appeared to be heavy handed when they dealt with the 12 year olds (they are old enough to know what they were playing with) only a fool would wait until they found out if they were real or toy guns.

Trust me, I'm a police man! There are a few bad apples everywhere!

In a single year, 3,012 children and teens were killed by gunfire in the United States, according to the latest national data released in 2002. That is one child every three hours; eight children every day; and more than 50 children every week. And every year, at least 4 to 5 times as many kids and teens suffer from non-fatal firearm injuries.

American children are more at risk from firearms than the children of any other industrialized nation. In one year, firearms killed no children in Japan, 19 in Great Britain, 57 in Germany, 109 in France, 153 in Canada, and 5,285 in the United States.

Threegee do I detect that you do not appreciate the efforts of the Northumbria Police!

I believe carrying a gun cancels out mental illness! (risk to law enforcement and the general public)

Just two police cars damaged, it mustn't be over yet!

Sounds like the "murder squad" at Northumbria Police are gearing up to commit another appropriately white-washed murder. Does anyone seriously believe that they are committed to a "safe arrest"?

I'm sure they are committed to try and make a "safe arrest" but safe for the public and police! let's not hand him to such as the "Lockerbie" bleeding hearts!(let the sniper make the arrest!)

IMHO several of the players appeared to be a arrogant prima donnas who didn't give the effort they could and should have, that being said instead of tying the game 2-2 at half time they are 3-1 down this makes it a totally different game tactically.

I would suggest the FA do as they did in 1926 and disassociate themselves from FIFA until the latest technology available is adopted, I believe FIFA need the FA (or England, Mexico and Ireland etc) more than the FA need FIFA! Take a look at Tennis, Cricket, Football and Hockey, those games have been greatly improved because of use of modern technology.

not had time 2 come on here but aww.. thankyou for the birthday wishes.... n love the balloon cympil x

Ooops sorry for the typo!

Happy birthday Debora

As Mr. Darn suggests exchange batteries is a great solution, I have read of exchange power modules (but I think they were hydrogen for Vancouver transit) and battery technology is moving along fast.

With regenerative braking and solar power to assist with the travel range it could become feasible, but anything less than 500 km isn't really practicable considering the terrain and weather.

Our next town is over 100 miles away!

2010 - White Focus ST3

Nice! coming to North America ..... next year!

2010 Ford Escape (yes I work in a prison!)

Happy Birthday Monsta, hope you have a great day

Heres a pic of a 1930 model T wagon that my freind Bobby restored from the ground up, it took him 2 years but its taken 1st prize at a lot of shows

A very nice looking A eh! My brother and I restoring a model A 29' Murray (also a 20' model T Touring) we also run a 26' TT grain truck.

About time you both get together and discussed the issues! I'm sure face to face you could resolve the personal issues and even help overcome the "Youth Disorder" problem! (it's difficult being mad with someone your having a coffee or eating a meal with!)

Great...congratulations, looking forward to see some photo's!

I'm loosing a vehicle this week (wife's car declared salvage by insurance) and need another, I've been looking for over a month, I have gathered a stack of brochures, visited all the consumer websites, been to garages and kicked the tires.

Do you go for style, comfort, practicality economy, resale value or what. Everyone has different advice and each one is has its own merits.

For discussion purposes what do you look for in a car? (we don't get many European cars to pick from) can be SUV, Crossover, car or truck.

A class act Plymouth.

Our condolences, our thoughts are with at this time, Joe was respected and loved by us all, he will be missed.

All of the above! Dan Dare & Mighty Meakon! 40 Berkley Square (Eagle) Picking williks, Tettie guns, Picking the tar with a stick, Beatle Drives, Saturday morning flix (Tom Mix, Gene Autry, Batman) "Welcome to Workers Playtime" Take your pick, Dixon of Dock Green (evening all) Muffin the Mule (OMG!) B**** & W**** show. Terry O'neil's One O'clock show (nah, not realy) Chips in paper (outside

Thank you Maria, Please pass on our best wishes from up the road in Grande Cache, tell Joe the snow is nearly gone!

Happy Birthday Brian, I hope you have a great day, but not too much of the green beer!

After reading "A Rant About Bedlington" I think I might have to retract the above posting!!!

It is certainly the elected officials duty to listen to the public who elected them, then act as they see fit, (but not always necessarily the way the electors feel they should.) there are often many legal or financial considerations that are not known to the public.

How well do you know your councilors? have you been to any council meetings or talked or e-mailed them to tell them of your concerns? (not only you but all of the readers) Living here in a small community it is very easy to for us to all that, as we work, live and play very closely, my point is they are elected but only if you vote for them!

At work yesterday a good friend of mine said he is being asked to run for Mayor or at least for council, he sees the core of the council being local businessmen with their own agendas! a few years ago my plumber was almost elected as Mayor!!! (failed by less than 20 votes.) We have our council minutes posted on a web site, I read them and often follow up by going to a meeting or sending an e-mail, our local newspaper is a good means of telling the council what the people really think!

I think we have many capable readers here who should get involved with the council and the community in general, great ideas and enthusiasm but only lack the formal skills, I'm sure the council read this web site, use it to tell them what you think!

Respectively submitted, Sorry for the rant!