Thefts and Vandalism

ITV Tonight programme at 19:30 and also Channel 4 at 22:00 on the state of London Underground; thank god for ITV PLayer and Channel 4 More to catch up - 2 for the list.

 

I watched that programme - it was OK, but didn't, imo, go deep enough. In fairness, a 30 minute 'slot' probably isn't enough, but it's a start in increasing peoples' awareness of the problem

 

Metal thieves strike on Portland to steal a piece of industrial heritage (From Dorset Echo)

 

Some happier news...

Surveyor on £60,000 a year jailed after secret life as graffiti vandal exposed

Report says that he vandalised the Bluebell in 2003.

"Jailing him at Blackfriars Crown Court in London, Judge Deva Pillay said: “These defacing attacks upon the property of others was at times so prolific that it could justly be described, on occasions, as occurring on an industrial scale.

“The costs incurred by the railway companies and owners of property, and ultimately the community at large to clear up this unsightly mess, was and is very substantial indeed.” "

 

http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/11...dals_wreck_steam_railway_carriages/?ref=var_0

 

They could have credited my photos...!

 

Because that's what's important eh?

 

As the person who discovered the graffiti, organised the group to clean it off by lunchtime on the same day, reported it to the Police and liaised with them about these press articles, I think I'm one of those people who can probably treat it with a healthy dose of 'railway humour'...

 

Am sorry but if people steal anything then they will be people who do it for money, and its down to the people from preservation groups who unfortunately suffer from these idiots
But it shows that the something is never working such as those in prison reoffending, and those who are recurrent, but which the human rights need to be excluded from them,and things changed to make life harder in jails, and not the easy life they have in their because of the softies in this word.
You steal, you get punished, these wouldn't have been happening in the victorian days, as they would be on cabbage and water, hard graft, and the thought of hanging too.
I just believe those who commit crimes should be made a fool of,to the public, or even put in the army to be sorted out.

I know people are against hanging ect but our jails would be less crowded, and why should we pay for them, when they don't pay any council tax ect, they should have to pay something, and take away their sky tv and privilages too.

 

Aah, in that case I doff my cap to you. Next time add a wink

As for the last post, while a fan of Victorian engineering, and as angry as probably everyone else on this forum about theft and vandalism on our railways I'm think a return to Victorian justice and capital punishment is going a bit far......

Save that for freeloading photographers

 

I blame iPhone keys and clumsy fingers for that omission...!

 

Actually, statistics show that a harder time in prison is more likely to contribute to someone re-offending. Countries such as Norway, that promote re-education rather than retribution have a lower percentage of repeat criminals.


(off topic)

 

Possibly, at the very least however vandals should be made to put right the damage they did with their own time and expense on top of any further punishment, if someone has graffitied a coach, they should be made to repaint said coach with the cost of paint and other expenses funded either from their savings or by selling assets they have to pay said bill.

 

Pretty rare that they get caught though.

In any case, that's partially the idea behind community service. I imagine a lot of railways would think twice about inviting the person who caused the damage back behind the scenes and showing them where the store cupboards are....
Do any heritage lines use community service labour?

 

I'm sure I saw something somewhere that had a plaque written on it saying something to that effect, helpful I know...

 

Pretty sure the cattle dock at Alresford on the Mid Hants has a plaque stating it was constructed using community service labour.

 

Well that's nice then.

 

Might be that then, I remember someone suggested we get community service people to build the second platform at Cheltenham racecourse, as it was, it ended up being Broadway people with some gloucester college chaps thrown in.

 

Alex, are you thinking of this.....





I don't think the Apprentices involved would appreciate being referred to as 'community service labour'.

Although, I believe, back in the days of the Youth Training Scheme, there was a venture where young persons were engaged in the re-building of Winchcombe Station.