Banning drinking in public

bensonby · Post by **bensonby** » 13 Oct 2008 13:58

the higher echelons of the police are certainly in favour of them.

Eagle · Post by **Eagle** » 13 Oct 2008 14:06

I wonder the the offending gentlemen are aware that they are a major talking point.
They probably imagine no one notices them.
I think the Council or our Local Councillors should approach the Met about imposing ban.
Think how this behavior causes the Flower Lady's buisness to suffer. Should not think it makes any difference to two 1/2's as their exterior clientelle certainly does not look or sound like The WI.

Greg Whitehead · Post by **Greg Whitehead** » 13 Oct 2008 14:30

Thomas wrote: I don't know where they might go - but it's quite possible that they might not live in Sydenham and travel here because of the way they are treated by the police in other nearby areas (which an earlier poster did suggest was the case).

Quite possibly the case Thomas. I know for fact the young chap who sits outside Scummerfield actually travels in from Hither Green. I know this as he told me in person (it might have been Lee Green, mind).

Eagle · Post by **Eagle** » 13 Oct 2008 14:42

How can they afford the fare or do they walk.

Was the C is Sommerfield intentional.

Tim Lund · Post by **Tim Lund** » 13 Oct 2008 15:13

I've been in touch with the new management of the Two 1/2s, and I can assure you they too are not happy with the street drinkers outside. They are trying to make it a more acceptable pub, and it doesn't help having that lot outside. I've also had a word with Chris Best and the ward panel that liaises with the police about the challenges this new management is facing. It remains to be seen what if anything will emerge ...

Gaz · Post by **Gaz** » 13 Oct 2008 15:25

bensonby wrote:
Gaz wrote:If the police or Specials

Pardon?

Special Constables... I was using the Home Office slang, innit: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/police/rec ... /specials/

All I was trying to say was that the current laws should be sufficient to disrupt and disperse (or arrest) these already IF there was a will to do so by the Police or the Special Constables (which it seems there currently is not)*.

Saying that, if we need to get a Drinking Control Zone (or whatever 'power' would be most effective) then, despite my libertarian tendencies, I would support this.

Gaz
*for urinating in public areas; being drunk in a public place; causing a nuisance etc.

bensonby · Post by **bensonby** » 13 Oct 2008 15:28

Special constables are Police

A piccie of a special standing next to a "regular" officer:

can you tell the difference? I can't...

Gaz · Post by **Gaz** » 13 Oct 2008 15:55

bensonby wrote:Special constables are Police

can you tell the difference? I can't...

Hmmm... then why are they called Specials!?

The bloke on the right looks like a Special as he is short, has a beard and no chevrons on the epaulette and so is a Constable, whereas the chap on the left looks like at least a Sergeant grade (and so therefore cannot be a SC).

Sometimes they make it easier by wearing a different hat or the 'SC' insignia on the epaulette.

Greg Whitehead · Post by **Greg Whitehead** » 13 Oct 2008 16:00

Eagle wrote:How can they afford the fare or do they walk.

Was the C is Sommerfield intentional.

Why do you think they need to be able to afford the fare Eagle? It's the time-honoured tradition of shake the change at the conductor/revenue enforcement officer situation. Do you think the Inspector will chuck them off the bus/train or try to fine them when they're of no fixed abode?

In my experience they do neither after a cursory glance and sniff (sorry if that sounds glib or crass but it's my recollection).

In the past I've travelled home to Morningside, Edinburgh in 1st class and a vagrant has been sitting nearby. When approached he's feigned indifference and the conductor just moved him into the vestibule. I didn't mind him really, the guy was causing no harm and just sleeping. I've seen it on the buses/trains/tubes though where the inspector just walks past as it's pointless looking up his postcode as he has none - how can you enforce a fine when there's no means to pay?

But yes, the C in Scummerfield was indeed intentional.

lambchops · Post by **lambchops** » 13 Oct 2008 16:09

bensonby wrote:

A piccie of a special standing next to a "regular" officer:

can you tell the difference? I can't...

the guy on the left is the special.

his uniform is too small for him. it looks like he's borrowed it off his mate there. and check out the hat! either it's too small or he's got an egg head.

Greg Whitehead · Post by **Greg Whitehead** » 13 Oct 2008 17:03

lambchops wrote:
bensonby wrote:

A piccie of a special standing next to a "regular" officer:

can you tell the difference? I can't...
the guy on the left is the special.

his uniform is too small for him. it looks like he's borrowed it off his mate there. and check out the hat! either it's too small or he's got an egg head.

Neither of them are Specials as neither is (visibly) demanding the release of Nelson Mandela. Equally, neither seems to think this town, is coming like a ghost town.

I rest my case.

leaf · Post by **leaf** » 13 Oct 2008 17:56

Greg Whitehead wrote:
lambchops wrote:
bensonby wrote:

A piccie of a special standing next to a "regular" officer:

can you tell the difference? I can't...
the guy on the left is the special.

his uniform is too small for him. it looks like he's borrowed it off his mate there. and check out the hat! either it's too small or he's got an egg head.
Neither of them are Specials as neither is (visibly) demanding the release of Nelson Mandela. Equally, neither seems to think this town, is coming like a ghost town.

I rest my case.

Hi Greg, nice to see you back

Greg Whitehead · Post by **Greg Whitehead** » 13 Oct 2008 18:08

Thank you Leaf. I hope you are well? I hope life is treating you well. And the children? Please let me be correct in my memory that you had young-ish children.

If I'm wrong in that memory then I'll move quickly on to saying I'm glad you got my derisory jokes about The Specials.

leaf · Post by **leaf** » 13 Oct 2008 18:25

Yes your memory serves you well! we are all well thank you.

I loved the specials, have been singing [ghost town] in my head since i read your comment!

Greg Whitehead · Post by **Greg Whitehead** » 13 Oct 2008 18:49

leaf wrote:Yes your memory serves you well! we are all well thank you.

I loved the specials, have been singing [ghost town] in my head since i read your comment!

Great to hear you are yours are well Leaf. I'm glad you got my reference. I love watching The Specials videos (especially the Ghost Town one as it's all around London Bridge where I now work - the change is phenomenal).

That written, my partner of 11 years Katherine often transposes Rudy to Moody - this indicates when she thinks I'm being a t%*t and should calm down...clever use of a wonderful Ska track methinks?

It always brings a smile to my face.

biscuit · Post by **biscuit** » 13 Oct 2008 21:18

Eagle wrote:I think we have two opposing views who refuse to compromise or moderate their opinions. Very few people seem to be in the middle here.

I personally find drunks in public places unacceptable especially to passing ladies and children but not sure what we can really do. Presumably these people do not sleep on the street and presumably they are getting a handout of some sort.
HMG should make these people sign a form confirming no drinking outside before they can get our money.

Hi Eagle - I agree. It's a nuisance and a bother and really saddens me to see people who've lost such control of their lives. Someone mentioned earlier setting up a petition to urge LBL to do something about this issue. I would support a ban. Living in LBL we are faced with loads of chronic issues stemming from social deprivation, parental neglect (hence our significant population of ASBO children) and addictions to drugs and alcohol. So if there's a little we can do to address just one of these issues, I think helps us work towards living in a slightly nicer safer community. What can be wrong with that?

natbeuk · Post by **natbeuk** » 14 Oct 2008 11:15

Greg Whitehead wrote:
leaf wrote:Yes your memory serves you well! we are all well thank you.

I loved the specials, have been singing [ghost town] in my head since i read your comment!

Ah, I'm glad I logged on to this forum after being away for a week or so... I've had that damn song from Team America in my head and it's now been replaced by Ghost Town which is much more acceptable to sing under my breath at work then "America, f*** yeah"!! (I really hope others on here have seen Team America and know what I'm talking about!)

Greg Whitehead · Post by **Greg Whitehead** » 14 Oct 2008 11:34

natbeuk wrote:
Greg Whitehead wrote:
leaf wrote:Yes your memory serves you well! we are all well thank you.

I loved the specials, have been singing [ghost town] in my head since i read your comment!
Ah, I'm glad I logged on to this forum after being away for a week or so... I've had that damn song from Team America in my head and it's now been replaced by Ghost Town which is much more acceptable to sing under my breath at work then "America, f*** yeah"!! (I really hope others on here have seen Team America and know what I'm talking about!)

It's a very, very funny film. I know exactly what song you mean "coming again to save the motherf***ing day"

Gaz · Post by **Gaz** » 14 Oct 2008 11:53

natbeuk wrote:Ah, I'm glad I logged on to this forum after being away for a week or so... I've had that damn song from Team America in my head and it's now been replaced by Ghost Town which is much more acceptable to sing under my breath at work then "America, f*** yeah"!! (I really hope others on here have seen Team America and know what I'm talking about!)

That made me laugh! We have someone at work here who is always absent-mindedly singing another song from that film whilst in the office, "Everyone has Aids"

Greg Whitehead · Post by **Greg Whitehead** » 14 Oct 2008 13:04

But is Gary's performance in 'Lease' a patch on Kim Jong-il's "I'm so ronery"?

A film that as with In Bruges is wrong on so many levels but oh so funny.

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Banning drinking in public

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