Forum Topic

Gang of Eastern Europeans running down Montserrat

Stole loads of phones on display board  apparently, this morning.. From phone shop on PHS

Penelope Becker ● 715d75 Comments

There's a disturbing implicit, sometimes explicit, thread running through some of the comments here, to the effect that BAME people are somehow bringing the issue on themselves - and even one suggestion that some people deliberately see racism everywhere just so they can cause tensions. The reality is, of course, quite different: a recent report by the Fawcett Society which examines the experiences of thousands of women of colour at work and explores the different experiences of women from different ethnic minority groups and religions (https://www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/broken-ladders). What they found is very disturbing, though hardly surprising: * Institutional racism is common in all sectors and in all organisations: 75% of women of colour have experienced racism at work, with 27% having suffered racial slurs;* Nearly two thirds said that they had been forced to change themselves to ‘fit-in’ at work (modifying language, hairstyles and even names);* Approaching half said their well-being had been affected;* A significant proportion said that their manager had blocked their progression at work (28%), or passed over for promotion despite good feedback (almost half);* Half had experienced discrimination at work (asked for information outside of normal monitoring processes, for example).Another example, one of all too many: a year-long study by the charity Birthrights found systemic racism in UK maternity care(https://www.birthrights.org.uk/campaigns-research/racial-injustice/).The idea that people are just making this up to annoy comfortable white people is both absurd and insulting.

Richard Carter ● 700d

Suggest you have tin ears.

Michael Winstanley ● 703d

Suggest you check with Met Pol for witness statements that I heard first hand! Afraid I can't provide their addresses for obvious reasons. Suggest you become Met Pol volunteers, rather than shout 'racist' from sedentary positions!!!

Penelope Becker ● 703d

Well if we were in a different country, we would be probably called something, it was a white person.  Well they had a suntan, sure they were white.

Barbara Stevens ● 703d

Unfortunately this thread is split in two - those who are careful with language and those that aren't (and moreover are ignorant of any possible harm associated with the use of their language). It's flogging a dead horse arguing with people whose mindset simply can't and won't change. All it takes is Penelope to reflect on her use of race here and admit we all have a point, but that's never going to happen given how defensive her and her merry gang of xenophobes are being. I'm literally an ethnic minority telling you it's offensive, Penelope, and you are proven to have no empathy or understanding on a fellow person's feelings or opinion.

Simon Sharp ● 703d

I doubt that anyone thinks that the police meed to waste their time on your inaccurate posts on a local forum read by no more than a couple of dozen people.Other readers though have politely tried to point out where you might have jumped to a false conclusion. If you cannot adequately justify this conclusion then on a subsequent occasion such things would be best left unsaid.Your post could easily have been titled as "Gang running down Montserrat..." without attaching some presumed and false racial stereotype". The consequence of saying what you did is that far more attention is attracted to that mistaken and perjorative presumption than to the future of local retail businesses, suggesting that your concern is more with the former.

Michael Winstanley ● 703d

All very interesting, Penelope, but you still haven't given us any indication of your evidence for assuming that the gang were "Eastern Europeans."

Richard Carter ● 703d

Just hope participants here who criticise crime reporting local news that affects us all, don't become victims themselves..suggest you field complaints about my post to Met Pol if you think my post was racist!! ...you may wonder why businesses are leaving,, well documented. 02 left after continuous raids. Hope you will be happy when nothing left here but coffee and charity shops!! And abandoned retail sites!

Penelope Becker ● 703d

You obviously couldn't distinguish a "fact" if it bit you on the bum. You want to take as verbatim what some policeman has told you (you claim), yet spend much of your life posting nonsense about other trusted authorities lying to you.

Michael Winstanley ● 705d

I was told they took phones in 3 phones. That's past the small Boots.

Barbara Stevens ● 705d

Richard I ask the man in EE in putney he told me  the gang of yes Eastern European’s  had already stolen the  complete shelf of iPhones including the shelf from another shop in putney but he and his partner stopped them in EE  by  standing up to them…. Gangs in Putney…

Paul Beer ● 705d

Dear Richard, our converter was stolen 2 months ago near Richmond park reported it to Wandsworth police station they told me this information.  Fact.

Paul Beer ● 708d

And yet more tosh: evidence, please, that it's "Eastern Europeans" that are supposedly stealing catalytic converters.

Richard Carter ● 708d

Ivonne, I think you're over-interpreting here,  but we why don't we wait for Penelope to explain?

Richard Carter ● 708d

Ivonne, I think you're over-interpreting here,  but we why don't we wait for Penelope to explain?

Richard Carter ● 708d

Richard, I actually ask one of the staff in a mobile shop in putney on what’s going on. It happens  a lot and they move around, they didn’t cover there faces very fast, professional and dangerous. The phones are sold for spare parts. I suspect they are not English similar to the Eastern European’s that are stealing catalytic converter all over London from cars. Unfortunately it’s going to get a lot worse. P.

Paul Beer ● 708d

Well, there was another post that read:"When it comes from the mouth of someone who (almost certainly) voted Brexit it doesn't sit well with me."Yes, the title of the post read as you say because it was based on what she was told.  I do not think the intention was for it to be biased against them or xenophobic.

Ivonne Holliday ● 709d

Plus, of course, there was the heading of her original post, which was "Gang of Eastern Europeans running down Montserrat." That makes it pretty clear to me.

Richard Carter ● 709d

Why? She was just repeating ignorant gossip on the supposed ethic origin/language base of people  - and later, in her post on 12/05/22 at 20:37:00, she wrote that she "Never thought a robbery report on PHS would result in Brexit bashing, racist accusations flying around and virtuous hurt feelings"

Richard Carter ● 709d

Hello Richard,Perhaps it would be helpful if you read Penelope's post of 11 May 2022 at 11:19hs.Thank you.

Ivonne Holliday ● 709d

I'm still  intrigued as to how Penelope Becker knew that they were East Europeans: was it their language, perhaps? But that might be a problem, given that there are at least five main language groups of languages spoken in Eastern Europe, and there are huge variations within some of the groups.Maybe Penelope Becker would be kind enough to give us the benefit of her undoubted linguistic expertise to solve this mystery.

Richard Carter ● 709d

These phones get stolen quite frequently. The shop assistant are told do nothing by the company as it could be dangerous. Theses phones do not actually work completely locked and are sold for parts. The phone company  in the High street can’t do anything. We have cameras everywhere and I am sure if the police could be bothered track a few of theses bandits down.Unfortunately it’s only going to get worse.  Keep away if you see them they are dangerous. P

Paul Beer ● 711d

No, I don't tend to bother tbh.

Michael Winstanley ● 711d

Michael W,if you read the earlier threads you would have read my comment on the minimum wage not being enforced.In 2011: "More than 890,000 of Britain’s lowest-paid workers will gain from these changes."https://www.gov.uk/government/news/national-minimum-wage-to-rise-from-1-october-2011"indeed the 20% lowest paid workers are surely on the minimum wage"These are recent stats:"How many people are paid at the NMW?The Low Pay Commission estimates that there were 2 million workers paid at or below the minimum wage in April 2019, around 7% of all UK workers. This compares to 1.5 million jobs paid at or below the NMW in 2015, before the introduction of the National Living Wage.Jobs paid around the minimum wage are concentrated within a small number of low-paying occupations. The Low Pay Commission estimates that nearly half (48%) of all jobs paying at or below the minimum wage are in retail, hospitality and cleaning & maintenance occupations."https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-7735/

Ed Robinson ● 711d

Richard that is quite an old study but inline with many others.Perhaps a bit easier for me to read - but I find the briefing below more open regarding "Evidence gaps and limitations' and the distribution of the impact. But it does make some good points:"The wage effects of immigration are likely to be greatest for resident workers who are migrants themselves"It probably explains why Brexit got some unexpected support from those you would lease expect.Still although I disagree Richard - it does show it is possible to have different opinions on this subject. The subject was taboo not that many years ago and very nasty during Brexit.Can you image if a study did come out saying - as some HGV drivers said - that their wages were impacted? Politically I do not think it would have been allowed.I also find it odd that Labour, although quite rightly highlight the many positive of immigration seem to downplay the overall economic impact from increasing the size of the population.https://migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/briefings/the-labour-market-effects-of-immigration/One last point - professions and trades have been controlling the size for centuries of course nothing to do with supply and demand impacting living standards."Delegates at the annual BMA conference voted by a narrow majority to restrict the number of places at medical schools to avoid “overproduction of doctors with limited career opportunities.” They also agreed on a complete ban on opening new medical schools."https://www.bmj.com/content/337/bmj.a748.full

Ed Robinson ● 711d

This doesn't make a great deal of sense - the 5% lowest paid workers - indeed the 20% lowest paid workers are surely on the minimum wage and thus there can be no decline in their wages.But lets put this research into more intelligible terms:Immigrants do not take your jobs or reduce your wages. That is propaganda put about by people who usually stand to gain from your support. It's a con as old as time, but many still fall for it.

Michael Winstanley ● 711d

Bleating "supply and demand" is no substitute for actual data, and many studies have found that the effect of immigration on wages is minimal.For example, research from University College London found that an inflow of immigrants the size of 1% of the UK-born population leads to a 0.6% decline in the wages of the 5% lowest paid workers and to an increase in the wages of higher paid workers.http://www.ucl.ac.uk/~uctpb21/Cpapers/CDP_03_08.pdf

Richard Carter ● 711d

Thank you Michael, but I must admit a young black family moved in my road in Barnes, when I was about 12, he was lovely. I would always say hello, my mum said you must be nice to him, his dad works in a Bank. What difference that made I don't know. Did working in a Bank make them nicer, but it always stuck in my mind.

Barbara Stevens ● 711d

"Its quite laughable to  intimate you are offended, as a person of colour, when you have no idea what colour I or anybody else is on this platform! "Brexit voter = not very clever perhaps?People may  not know what colour I am, but the colour of a number of posters is pretty bloody obvious. Babs for example, talks about her childhood, when hardly anyone round here knew a black person. A couple of people on here have stood for political office - their faces have been in local media. Others are known to quite a few for various reasons - Vic Condon in his taxi for example.Then we come back to the description of an "east European gang". So someone heard what they believed to be east European language (a skilled linguist obviously). Did that mean the whole "gang" came from the same part of the world? Clearly they all came from the same end of Montserrat Rd, but before that, how does anyone know?https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/penelope-becker-protests-for-britain-leaving-the-eu-on-news-photo/1098241252

Michael Winstanley ● 712d

Richard it is simply supply and demand - who would argue with such basic economics???I personally do not know any "low skill worker" who are they - please tell?   Are these the HGV drivers?  The highly skilled vegetable/fruit pickers?  The care workers?As mentioned the minimum wage was not enforced as the widely reported scandals showed in agriculture, the clothing industry and care.I believe there was a handful of prosecution. Words on paper do not protect workers unless they are enforced.

Ed Robinson ● 712d

"A very sudden and large increase in the supply of labour meant that wages were driven down in certain sectors."This is one of the most long-standing popular myths of the whole Brexit debate: numerous studies have shown that the effect of immigration has had minimal effect on pay rates. For example, this BBC report summarises the evidence:"Reality Check verdict: Current research suggests there was a small, negative impact on the wages of low-skilled workers, which was outweighed by other factors such as the impact of the financial crisis and rises in the minimum wage."https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46918729

Richard Carter ● 712d

First of all no one was "stealing British jobs".A very sudden and large increase in the suply of labour meant that wages were driven down in certain sectors. Despite pre-Brexit reports suggesting otherwise I think that most sensible people agree that was the case.Some employers were also breaking the law by not paying the minimum wage others were recruiting directly from abroad without advertising locally or even nationally.All workers deserve the protection of the law. Sadly various governments choose not to enforce it.Workers sadly were not at the forefront of the political parties' minds on either side of the Brexit argument.The UK has always tended to increase immigration when wages rise as far as I'm aware. Neither party seems to want a highly paid workforce unfortunately, although the news suggests some sectors are seeing a recovery in wage levels since Brexit.All of the above is not the fault of workers who have emigrated here but of our political system.Raising racial tensions isn't unique to one party or one movement. In the commons recently a Conservative minister had to remind the Labour front bench MP that their language was unacceptable. As far as I know the Labour MP was not disciplined despite them repeating his odd thoughts in a tweet which he later deleted.I read recently that one family from Ukraine with relatives in the UK, decided to settle in Ireland and the UK relatives (a doctor I believe) moved to Ireland. Perhaps it was the UK red tape or Irish hospitality or both.One a less serious note from Ireland view we in Putney are Eastern Europeans:)

Ed Robinson ● 712d

If you go to Charlewood Rd, tomorrow you can get a free flower at a stall. Well you know where you moaners can stick it. Bring back flower power, happy days.

Barbara Stevens ● 712d

This is an interesting one involving both eastern Europeans and Irish borders ... and it's in the Guardian and Telegraph so no bias?https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/may/11/ukraine-refugees-who-enter-uk-via-ireland-may-be-sent-to-rwanda-mps-toldhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2022/05/11/ukraine-refugees-entering-uk-illegally-via-northern-ireland/

Michael Ixer ● 712d

Sue. I don't see how you can in any way blame those of us who didn't want Brexit for what's going wrong. We mostly predicted these issues which is why we didn't want to leave, but it's not under our control to create or alleviate problems caused  by Brexit. I'm not bitter, it doesn't affect me too much personally - other than Eurostar check-in taking an hour longer at St Pancras (why is it faster at the Gare du Nord?) - just sad about some things: like the way it's affected some friends' lives and Johnson's lies causing the impasse in Northern Ireland; why did he agree to the NI Protocol and say there'd be no border in the Irish Sea, was he drunk after all his parties?I've no reason to dispute the statistics Richard quotes which are from multiple sources; I'd say the general consensus seems to be the Brexit vote didn't increase the number of racists or xenophobes but just made those inclined that way believe it gave them "permission" to act and speak out with their unacceptable views - there's no logical link with what Remainers wanted or want in that; many of us believe in the next couple of decades we'll move back closer to the EU if not actually rejoin it. I'd certainly not say all Brexiteers are racists - I discussed Brexit with several colleagues who wanted to leave the EU as the wanted to get away from its regulation (financial services and GDPR). I still think they're wrong as we want equivalence in those areas so need to keep close to EU regulations and in any case mainly affect the professional elite! Although I think they wanted a lot "softer" Brexit than we ended up with. But those colleagues weren't racists or xenophobic as far as I'm aware (and I have worked with some who were).

Michael Ixer ● 712d

Hello Sue,I included the article because, as far as I remember, one of the points made was that the Eastern Europeans were stealing British jobs. Then, when the time came, not many British people applied for these crop picking jobs and, the few who did, mostly left after two or three days. Also, I do not think I was the one who brought the subject up in this thread.

Ivonne Holliday ● 712d

The poster was a terrible mistake that should never have been made and it could be seen as having a racist element but I fail to see why you have resurrected a very old article about crop pickers? That's the trouble with bitter Remainiacs, you just cannot get over Brexit and probably never will. This constant regurgitation of your Brexit woes is not helpful and certainly not conducive to peace.  I could just say STFU but I'm being polite. Unlike Rose Compton.

Sue Hammond ● 712d

So if I understand you correctly, Sue, it was not the racists amongst the Brexiteers who are guilty of racism, but those who protested against the racists. Well, that's certainly a novel argument...

Richard Carter ● 712d

Well, Sue, you will not be surprised that I disagree with you....The first thought that came to mind was "THE" poster which, from memory, was not "planted" by remainers.Also, I draw attention to the following article published by the Daily Mail:https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10168619/Vegetables-left-rot-fields-chronic-crop-picker-driver-shortage.html

Ivonne Holliday ● 712d

Not a coincidence at all Richard. Quite the opposite. If those statistics are true (which I doubt) those hate crimes were more likely caused because tensions were created, and then fuelled, by all the racial #### stirring from bitter Remainers who used it as a tool for their anti-Brexit agendas.

Sue Hammond ● 712d

Similarly, in case the message isn't quite clear,  "Racism and race-related hate crime has increased since the 2016 Brexit referendum, with officers appointed to deal with resultant 'tensions'."https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-48692863and"The spike in hate crimes that followed the Brexit vote in the summer of 2016 serves as a poignant reminder that Eastern Europeans are still 'not-quite-white'.  But at the same time this was a racism that was indiscriminate in its discrimination, targeting not just Eastern Europeans – the EU part of the problem –  but racism's favourite targets of yesteryear as well.  The toxic rhetoric surrounding immigration in the build up to Brexit allowed some Brexiteers to interpret the referendum results as endorsing their exclusionary views."https://www.britsoc.co.uk/about/latest-news/2017/may/eastern-europeans-brexit-and-racism/

Richard Carter ● 712d

"Instances of racist hate crimes have surged in the UK since the 2016 Brexit referendum."A coincidence, presunably? https://www.lse.ac.uk/research/research-for-the-world/politics/are-the-elites-driving-nationalism-in-post-brexit-britain

Richard Carter ● 712d

Unfortunately Penelope there are some people who 'see' racism in all kinds of places in order to raise racial tensions and Brexit was the perfect platform for them.

Sue Hammond ● 712d

Never thought a robbery report on PHS would result in Brexit bashing, racist accusations flying around and virtuous hurt feelings... Barmy lot!!!!!

Penelope Becker ● 713d

What a charming person you are.  Not.  Obviously from the gutter.

Sue Hammond ● 713d

This is completely correct. 
Brexit Voter = Racist Arsehole Bigot.

Rose Compton ● 713d

Exactly Penelope.  The opinion on this forum was, and probably still is by some people: Brexiteer = Racist Bigot

Sue Hammond ● 713d

Extraordinarily funny race baiting mixing in Brexit and xenophobia.. Its quite laughable to  intimate you are offended, as a person of colour, when you have no idea what colour I or anybody else is on this platform!

Penelope Becker ● 713d

I think the problem is us older residents probably who lived local, I was in Barnes, went to School in Sheen never had many different nationalities when we were at school. There was a young Indian girl, also a white girl from Kenya. Who were all treated the same as anybody else. As parents, most parents especially mine would have been annoyed if we were not nice to other children. Most parents today would be the same, when there young. But we are not talking about very young children we are talking about young adults or adults. If you were upset and trying to explain something to the Police, would you not blurt anything out of your mouth. Just can't keep everybody happy these days.

Barbara Stevens ● 714d

Simon,Yes, Penelope did say a gang of Eastern Europeans.  But, Penelope also included another post this morning (11.20am-ish) that read:"Several witnesses including residents on Montserrat described them as white gang, and Eastern European by their language shouting at each other..."Does this help clarify matters?

Ivonne Holliday ● 714d

Simon,You did not read my post above properly.As I said:  "You say 75 years ago (in the 1940's?  I very much doubt it!) these characteristics became obsolete.  Instead, fast forward some 40 years when it became very apparent that those characteristics we were taught at school did no longer apply."Those characteristics that I learnt at school have not applied for a few decades!  I do not think national characteristics are taught at school anymore; neither do I think there is a single descriptor for all British nationals.How would you describe how a British person looks like?

Ivonne Holliday ● 714d

What does a British person look like?

Simon Sharp ● 714d

Well Michael W, I am not 75 years of age yet and not for quite a while.  At school we were taught the physical characteristics of different nationalities, meaning which skin colour was characteristic of each nationality.  I remember having great difficulty in differentiating between Chinese nationals and Japanese nationals, between the nationals of the different Nordic countries as well as those from different countries in Africa.  But they did have similar characteristics.You say 75 years ago (in the 1940's?  I very much doubt it!) Instead, fast forward some 40 years when it became very apparent that those characteristics we were taught at school did no longer apply.  What do Eastern Europeans look like?  I go straight to the car wash that used to be on Putney Bridge Road and Fawe Park Road run by Eastern Europeans.  Height just under 1.80m, smiling and friendly, high cheekbones, olive coloured skin, wide teeth, slim in built and always very welcoming.Am I discriminating here?

Ivonne Holliday ● 714d

Depends on context and intent. As my most recent post today highlights, Penelope likely fell foul to this. Your post is a neutral descriptor of people - fine. Hers is a loaded headline - "gang!", "running down!". The nationality was an optional extra she chose to add in to make the headline more juicy, full of emotion, just like the Daily Mail might. These are subtleties which may have in the past been ignored but as others have commented it is no longer acceptable.

Simon Sharp ● 714d

So, Simon, did you read my post of yesterday at about 7.30pm? As a non-white person, do you believe my post is discriminatory?

Ivonne Holliday ● 714d

There's a difference between identifying individuals' nationality when reporting crime on a forum compared to reporting it to the police. The forum members prone to xenophobia and Brexit sentiment (of which there is a worrying majority) will use the nationality label to further deepen their prejudices. The police can more constructively use the information to try and find the culprits. I'm speaking as a non white person. Trust me on this one, or at the very least try and understand my viewpoint.

Simon Sharp ● 714d

"perhaps it's time for some unconscious bias training?"Thanks, but my unconscious bias is already pretty well-trained. At least, I think so.

David Ainsworth ● 714d

perhaps it's time for some unconscious bias training?

Matt Palmer ● 714d

"The idea that a nationality can be discerned by peoples' physical characteristics went largely out of fashion about 75 years ago."Precisely so. It suggests to me that some people (maybe on this Forum?) are that number of years out of date, and are prone to thinking in outdated racist terms without even realising that they are.

Alexander MacLeod ● 714d

Several witnesses including residents on Montserrat described them as white gang, and Eastern European by their language shouting at each other,suggest you check with Met Pol if anyone has any further information, or want to report your false allegations of racism! You may end up being investigated, I may add, as false allegations are taken very seriously

Penelope Becker ● 714d

"Yes Matt, but you also can't say all English, Scottish or Irish are White"I can't work out if you are agreeing or disagreeing with me. You certainly can't say "all english etc are white" because of course that's not the case.

Matt Palmer ● 714d

What does an "eastern European" actually look like? If I see a gang or people running down a road, how would I tell they are "eastern European".I was in Poland recently. The people there look pretty much the same as us, both in physical appaearance and in the clothing that they wear. The only discernible difference is that there are far less non-white people to be seen.The idea that a nationality can be discerned by peoples' physical characteristics went largely out of fashion about 75 years ago.

Michael Winstanley ● 714d

Yes Matt, but you also can't say all English, Scottish or Irish are White. In an identification parade, they would have a line up of all white, all black, all chinese, etc etc. You wouldn't have one black one white one and one with a bit of ..... on.

Barbara Stevens ● 714d

but all of those nationalities could also be black/asian etc.So you can't actually say 'Swedish are white' etc.

Matt Palmer ● 714d

Just to add to this, because the complaints are so stupid, I'm white, Swedish are white, Americans are white, Irish are white, Oh no don't say WHITE it might upset us, were being picked on again.

Barbara Stevens ● 714d

Well he had long blonde curly hair but it could be dyed. They had makeup on so we couldn't decide on their colour. They had a mask on so we couldn't tell and it might have been a wig and they could have been bald. They could be really small but were running on stilts. They have trousers on but could have been women.  How would the Police ask you to describe somebody, well all I can say on here is know wonder they never get caught, you aren't allowed to say what they really look like, where they possibly might come from. So when you see them breaking into your house, what do you say, OH I'm not allowed to say I might upset someone.

Barbara Stevens ● 715d

When it comes from the mouth of someone who (almost certainly) voted Brexit it doesn't sit well with me.

Simon Sharp ● 715d

If they were in fact Eastern Europeans then it’s just as valid as if they were a bunch of Welsh people. Being one I would take zero offence if that was the case and would not take kindly to virtue signallers defending my race thereupon.

Freddie Francis ● 715d

I cannot confirm nor refute the description because I was not there.But I describe above some beggars near Sainsbury's in Werter Road as Eastern Europeans.  They had some characteristic looks and also, a friend of mine spoke to them and they confirmed they were: Romanian, Bulgarian, Polish and Hungarian. But, using known figures but assuming I had never seen them or heard of them, if I had to describe Clive Myre I would say he was a black man, Nick Eardley as white Northern European man, Rishi Sunak as Asian man.  Similar to Priti Patel, an Asian woman.None of these descriptions are meant to be discriminatory, but the best way I would describe them.

Ivonne Holliday ● 715d

Later on I asked someone who works in a shop on the High Street if they had witnessed this event which indeed they had. They then went on to explain that whilst watching these people hurtling towards Montserrat Road with what looked like a large white case (it was a display case that was full of mobile phones) they were not sure what was was going on but presumed that it was quite a usual occurrence for a week day morning in Putney. Needless to say I laughed like a dray horse at this observation of life on our main thoroughfare...

Miles Thompson ● 715d

Hmmm thought Brexit  had “sent them all back from where they came from"...

Maxine Campbell ● 715d

Well said, Simon. Quite agree.

Jane Carter ● 715d

Whilst it's awful to read of this crime, what a xenophobic use of Eastern Europeans. This forum reads like the Daily Mail, no doubt the newspaper of choice for posters here. What about writing "gang of Caucasians running down...", or is it really an "us v them" for you Penelope? As a person of colour, I am just calling out the micro racism here.

Simon Sharp ● 715d

The information is correct as there was a a raid this morning at said phone shop. Insufficient policing to deal with such incidents on the High Street remains a problem. Nor do local shops employ adequate security and in many cases there is NO security. Yet, stories about repeated stealing on the High Street are legion including a narrative about the O2 shop closing for this reason.  These shops would not be open in the evening but imagine a similar problem within a night time economy - for example thefts from bags/jackets/handbags withiin different venues.

Miles Thompson ● 715d

How awful!!!I though most Eastern Europeans had gone, at least those we used to see begging near Sainsbury's on Werter Road.  I hope there is enough CCTV footage to identify them!

Ivonne Holliday ● 715d