A group of travellers wrecked a multi-million pound police helicopter which was being used to spy on their site. The gang used axes to smash the £5million aircraft, after they leapt over a 4ft wall surrounding Surrey Police force’s helipad at Fairoaks airport, near Woking in Surrey.
After threatening staff working in the operations room, they set about wrecking the helicopter, smashing six of its windows and causing tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage. The incident happened at 10pm yesterday after weeks of aerial surveillance on the travellers’ site, where detectives believe stolen goods have been hidden.
Officers were getting ready to raid the site after collecting evidence they had filmed from the air. A police source said last night: 'The gipsies were furious because they kept getting buzzed by the helicopter. But no one expected this level of violence. Before a raid is conducted we will observe the criminals from the air. That way we get an idea what we are likely to find, identify suspects and locate entrances and exits. Maybe we got too low.'
I'm sure the report is basically kosher, but I wonder how they knew they were travellers ?
I keep reading in the Guardian that violence solves nothing. But it seems pretty effective for some groups. The police round our way are leery enough of them as it is. Incidents like this (and this) will only reinforce the feeling that they're not to be messed with.
Here's a report on a 'domestic' in Wales :
Nineteen people were arrested after reports of a huge brawl at a Mid Wales gipsy site. Dozens of police officers attended after “violent disorder” broke out. Neighbours reported seeing a gang of men pile out of several vehicles and run on to the site at Withy Beds, on the outskirts of Welshpool, at about 2pm yesterday. Dyfed-Powys Police said 19 travellers from Welshpool and Oxfordshire were arrested for violent disorder and officers remained at the scene overnight, but had left by 8.30am today.
What ? A £20,000 4x4 full of red diesel ? I'm shocked.
7 comments:
Laban, can I ask a favour, my mum asked me about "dormant accounts act 2008" (where the government robs old people).
I am sure I read about it on your blog but I search and I can't find the posts. Do you know where they are?
I have used google to search and found info else where, but the way you put these things in a real world context is interesting to those who don't follow these things closely. thanks.
From that report on the 'domestic violence' incident: "One resident of Forden, who declined to be named, said: “I heard the police helicopter hovering over the area yesterday and thought something must be going on."
Oh oh!
But having a scrap is an integral part of travelling culture. The police have no right to interfere with people expressing their own culture. Let them get on with it.
These people are a menace and should be dealt with by the law in the same way anyone else would. I have a feeling though that the authorities are afraid to interfere because of the various groups protecting their interests as a minority group.
Shouldn't that be, 'do as you Pikeys?'
Richard
And let's not forget their crimes against art*.
I'm sure we'll be seeing arrests. Any....minute....now.
*Apologies to anyone who thought Moore's sculptures were themselves the greater crime against art.
Are you quite sure it was pikeys who vandalised the helicopter? It could just as easily have been taxpayers who resent the police spending £800 an hour "buzzing" campsites in shiny helicopters rather than doing anything useful.
Post a Comment