Brexit and the waning days of the United Kingdom

[Sheilbh]

Latest on the PSNI breach. Dissident Republicans are saying they have the data and the police chief has confirmed that the PSNI are advising officers (and have received hundreds of requests) for support advising on safety for them and their families - they've not re-deployed anyone out of their current location but are assessing a number of cases today.

The last attack on a police officer in Northern Ireland was in February was ambushed and shot by masked men. The terrorist threat level was raised in March.

Again, the Chief Constable has responded to calls for resignation that "leadership is not about walking away – it's facing up to responsibility. We need consistency and calm heads to lead us through an unprecedented crisis." Which I don't have a huge amount of sympathy for. This feels like the sort of issue where there should be very senior people considering if they should resign - if the assembly was functioning I'd hope there'd be ministers considering resignation (although the PSNI isn't answerable to a single minister, given the history, but instead a cross-party board).

[garbon]

Incompetent evil

Legionella discovery forces asylum seekers off Bibby Stockholm days after arrival

[Tamas]

Incompetent evil

Legionella discovery forces asylum seekers off Bibby Stockholm days after arrival

[Richard Hakluyt]

Yet more incompetence; this goverment couldn't organise a piss-up in a brewery. Speaking of boozing it is well past time for them to go 

[Sheilbh]

Also I could be wrong, but isn't this the ship we're hiring that was previously used by the Dutch government to house asylum seekers - until it was forced to close down due to unhygienic conditions and an outbreak of some sort?

On incompetent and/or evil - read the Pink News piece on that West Yorkshire arrest and then looked at the video recorded by the mum. It's pretty distressing and from what I've read/seen (and even the police) statement I can't really see any justification for their behaviour given the girl is clearly distressed (and as her mum says is autistic and has scoliosis so probably in pain).

[Sheilbh]

Yet more incompetence; this goverment couldn't organise a piss-up in a brewery. Speaking of boozing it is well past time for them to go 

Yeah. Sadly I think we've got another year. Feel like they'll hang on (like Major) until the last possible point in the hope of something turning up

[garbon]

Also I could be wrong, but isn't this the ship we're hiring that was previously used by the Dutch government to house asylum seekers - until it was forced to close down due to unhygienic conditions and an outbreak of some sort?

Just looked up and supposedly they stopped using it when a Dutch newspaper investigated and found abuse by the prison officers, including rape, as well as....fire safety concerns.

https://inews.co.uk/news/bibby-stockholm-inside-controversial-barge-housing-uk-asylum-seekers-2529093

[Josquius]

It is amazing incompetence with the barge. Considering the insane and disproportionate media attention its getting (likely at the government's instigation), you'd think this once they would make extra sure everything is significantly better than even regular competent operations.

Also I could be wrong, but isn't this the ship we're hiring that was previously used by the Dutch government to house asylum seekers - until it was forced to close down due to unhygienic conditions and an outbreak of some sort?

On incompetent and/or evil - read the Pink News piece on that West Yorkshire arrest and then looked at the video recorded by the mum. It's pretty distressing and from what I've read/seen (and even the police) statement I can't really see any justification for their behaviour given the girl is clearly distressed (and as her mum says is autistic and has scoliosis so probably in pain).

A lot of the criticism I'm seeing is coming from a "Political correctness gone mad!!" or "They wouldn't do that for a muslim!" place.

I'm sad that I'm not seeing any mention of what I believe is the main problem being illustrated- the police are incentivised to take low hanging fruit to help their stats rather than tackle meaningful crime.
Insult a police officer in a way that can be said to be hate speech, clearly recorded on their body cam? Thats an easy fine and a +1 to crimes solved.

[Sheilbh]

A lot of the criticism I'm seeing is coming from a "Political correctness gone mad!!" or "They wouldn't do that for a muslim!" place.

I think it depends who you follow or look for. I've seen that, but I've also seen ACAB-ish types, libertarians, conservatives, gay activists all criticising it.

Although as I say - regardless of who's criticising it - from the Pink News article aand video I can't see how their behaviour was justified. Looked like they jusst wanted to assert their dominance.

I'm sad that I'm not seeing any mention of what I believe is the main problem being illustrated- the police are incentivised to take low hanging fruit to help their stats rather than tackle meaningful crime.
Insult a police officer in a way that can be said to be hate speech, clearly recorded on their body cam? Thats an easy fine and a +1 to crimes solved.

Given the collapse in number of crimes that end in charges I'm not sure that the incentive is working. Or if it is, it's a carrot without a stick, given that charge rates are 1/3 what they were even 7 years ago. If there was a working incentive there should have been some consequences for that collapse.

Also doesn't explain why they're so uninterested in, say, investigating laptop, bike or phone theft when there's a literal chip telling them where the stolen item is located.

[Savonarola]

I've been frustrated by the slow pace of my current rail project.  This morning I got an Alstom job posting in my e-mail that looked like it fit my skill set, so I checked it out further.  It was in the UK, but Alstom has a decent expatriate package, I could do that.  The project is... HS2... 

 

I guess Toronto isn't so bad after all.

[Sheilbh]

Doing the rounds today - local opposition to building on the site of an "iconic scrapyard" from Trainspotting. This is the site


And the Daily Mail appear to now have a reporter who is basically on the NIMBY beat - "David and Goliath fights between local communities and greedy developers" - plus the Guardian's growing concerns on embodied carbon.

We are doomed. On the upside: wolves.

[Josquius]

I've been frustrated by the slow pace of my current rail project.  This morning I got an Alstom job posting in my e-mail that looked like it fit my skill set, so I checked it out further.  It was in the UK, but Alstom has a decent expatriate package, I could do that.  The project is... HS2... 

 

I guess Toronto isn't so bad after all.

Please apply. I'm confident in your ability to just build the bloody thing.

[HVC]

Think of the job security. You'll have 30-40 years of work.

[Sheilbh]

Think of the job security. You'll have 30-40 years of work.

I know someone working on HS2 who has described it as a job for life (with a decent benefits package)

[Savonarola]

Please apply. I'm confident in your ability to just build the bloody thing.

I'm flattered, but I think you're grossly overestimating my abilities.