Topic ID 380
Last Sunday I stood by the fountain and watched with my son as the lights on the tree were turned on, and I wondered how long they would last. Hours. See todays Mercury.
Reply ID 2840
Time was when the law protected the innocent; now it protects the guilty.
Reply ID 2843
What pleasure do they get out of such mindless vandalism? Shame they didn't electrocute themselves, that would have been some sort of payback. Lets hope the CCTV comes up with identification and they get more than just a slapped wrist and told not to do it again.
Reply ID 2847
Didn't see the article..the lights were on this morning at 7am (?)
Reply ID 2848
http://www.herts-essex-news.co.uk/mercury/news/story.asp?id=178888
Reply ID 2849
john i love your quote: “I feel like someone’s kicked me in the goolies."
Reply ID 2851
From Mercury article: "CCTV footage being studied by police" - So, they have a record of the crime happening, and are able to look at it again to work out who the people are, all of which must take about 2 or 3 hours for a 10 minute bit of vandalism. (By the time they've found the tape, wound it to the right place, watched it a few times to identify faces, etc.) Why not just pay a policeman to walk around town and ensure it doesn't happen in the first place?
Reply ID 2853
The omni-present copper? Let's be thankful for the CCTV and the fact that it has recorded the images. Let's see some of those images in next weeks Mercury.
Reply ID 2855
The Mercury wanted to take the line 'publish and be damned' and 'name and shame' but not wanting to go into this too deep - the vaguaries of the Data Protection Act prevents the release of such photos - hence my earlier post. The police have tried all they could in the time allowed to try and find a way that photos could be published. Between everyone involved in this - if there is a way, they will appear. I am hearing snippets in town and think that eventually names will appear in the frame. On a slightly different tack I am no electrician but I still can't understand why it is so difficult to get all the clocks in lamp columns to display the same time - or even to get the lights on the tree to co-incide with one or more of the displays. I am going to puzzle this one out over a quick half - or possibly two.
Reply ID 2856
It seems a shame that the Mercury added the gloom of this incident happening at all by running it on the front page, whilst all the good news of the great events that happened over the weekend were relegated to pages 24 and 25. The sort of people that carried out the vandalism are the sort of people who are probably today revelling in having made front page news.
Reply ID 2857
I totally agree with Kate. It's a good opportunity for inadequates to get publicity.
Reply ID 2858
Well said Kate, It would be nice to have good news on the front page occasionally. Especially when it is so good as last weekend obviously was, I am sorry I did not get down to enjoy any of it myself but have had loats of reports of how good all the events were.
Reply ID 2880
Well if you're going to have a Police presence in town, then chucking out time would seem to be a no brainer. CCTV has never prevented a crime taking place.
Reply ID 2883
In Ireland they have begun to hold the Licencee responsible for the acts of 'Drunken' misbehaviour.. perhaps with this approach less people will be served when drunk and groups will be moved on..there are also Doorpeople at the White Hart..any sign or word from them?
Reply ID 2884
Interesting theory. Does anyone know if the behaviour of the clientelle is considered when the licenses are reviewed? From what I recall the license applications are advertised in the local press.
Reply ID 2911
I am really glad to see they have put the lights back up again. I totally agree that the licensee should be responsible for its customers if they got into a state on their premises. I find it very hard to believe, that absolutely no-one in the White Hart could hear what was going on, this sounds like quite vigorous vandalism.