Because I rarely manage to sleep through the night without waking at least once, the radio stays on till morning, Radio 4 giving way to the World Service and then back to Radio 4 again in the early morning, so it often happens that I hear snippets of news just before 'getting up' time and being half awake and still half asleep, I often wonder if I have heard accurately.
This morning was a case in point.
The news item was about an 18 year old boy who, on hearing someone start up his moped with a view to disappearing with it, rang the police. Give them their due, they arrived just as the said moped was speeding down the road with its three occupants. How you get three people on a moped is a similar problem to fitting 4 elephants in a mini, I would have thought, (two in the front and two in the back, in case you didn't know) but that's by the by. The problem, as far as the police were concerned, was that the thieves were not wearing helmets. Understandable, I suppose. You're strolling down the road and you happen to come across an unattended moped which would seem to provide the ideal transport home, if a little short on leg room, and it's unlikely that you had the forethought to bring a helmet with you.
However, the absence of helmets posed a problem for the police as they informed the owner that they were terribly sorry but they couldn't pursue the moped because, should one of its occupants fall off and injure himself, he might sue them!
You couldn't make it up!
13 comments:
Ah yes that old chesnut!
We had a case at middle school in this area where we were burgled and as the guy was making off with a computer, he tripped on a crack in the pavement and hurt his ankle.
He then had the ordasity to take the school to court. I don't know if he won but the fact that he was able to have a case was bad enough!
Oh and on the topic of health and safety...to leave your radio on all night is a fire hazard you! tut tut! ;)
It's never gone on fire yet, Wallo. ;)
You too, Flighty. :)
It's a strange world, Jenny. Sometimes, I long for the simplicity of the 60's. It wasn't perfect, but at least things made sense.
Unbelieveable! Good to see it's gone pear shaped in the UK too. I mean i'd hate for Oz to be the only country with it's values askewed!
You're so right, Dale, and we were young!!!
Michelle, I think it's the same everywhere these days, but a lot of our problems are due to membership of the EU (we can't make our own decisions as a country on so many things any more)and the Human Rights Act which so often ends up protecting the rights of criminals over those of their victims.
I feel sorry for th police whose hands are tied by the bleeding hearts of the world. They cannot do their job without some type of criticism.
Of course I think all our protection of the criminals today is eroding the policeman's job.
Thanks for the story.
whenever I used to nick cars I didn't put my seatbelt on for just the same reason jenny. what? you were all young once..
How do you get two whales in a mini?
along the M4 and across the severn bridge
Arthur, I am REALLY disappointed in you! (shakes head sadly).
Athena thanks for visiting.
Tip to would be thieves. Untie your shoelaces 'cos the old bill won't chase you in case you trip up and hurt yourself.
They have to be intelligent enough to know how to tie shoelaces, Krip!
No Wales does not count as "the wrong side of the Pennines" because Wales is a separate nation and besides Dylan Thomas was born there. He would often take his kids on a moped up Fern Hill just for laughs - never wearing a helmet because he thought they were cissy - and I couldn't make that up...could I?
'Course not, YP ;)
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