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HUNTING THE HOMELESS

9:01am Wednesday 1st August 2007

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By Craig Manning »

TEENAGE hit squads are roaming the streets of Birkenhead preying on the homeless in so-called "happy slap" attacks recorded on their mobile phones.

One aid worker has described the youths as turning "hunting for homeless people into a sport".

“I need to use a crutch to walk and these lads grabbed it off me and started hitting me with it. It was really frightening.”

John Evans

The disadvantaged say youths on bicycles coral each other together on their phones after spotting potential victims on the town's streets.

Extra police and community patrol officers have been drafted in to help tackle the problems and reassure those living on the streets. But some of the homeless who spoke to the Globe last week said it is not enough for those who have nowhere else to go.

John Evans, 50, has been living on the streets for 15 years and was beaten by a gang earlier this week.

He said: "I need to use a crutch to walk and these lads grabbed it off me and started hitting me with it. It was really frightening."

And he fears the worst is yet to come.

"I want this sorted out because a lot of people I know are frightened that they are going to be attacked."

Lee Hughes, a former hostel worker from Liverpool, agreed. The 36-year-old, who has been on the streets for 18 months following the breakdown of a relationship, described the latest attacks as "atrocious".

"I've been punched in the face and am verbally abused, virtually daily," he said.

When I see a group of lads I get very apprehensive and scared that they are coming to attack me. The police aren't doing enough to protect people like us. We are just a problem that they have to deal with."

Councillor Adrian Jones, who sits on the Merseyside Police Authority, said: "What can be more cowardly than a bunch of young scallies organising themselves with mobile phones to co-ordinate attacks on helpless people?

"This sickening behaviour comes at a time when crime is going down and Wirral people are quite rightly beginning to feel safer."

Pastor Rob Jeffs, who runs the town's Charles Thompson Mission that provides free meals and daytime shelter for the homeless, says the incidents have led to a heightened state of fear for many - although he praised the police for their efforts.

"It's been going on for a long time and many people are frightened to go back out onto the streets at night," said Rob. "We're talking about people who are vulnerable and frightened.

"For example, there was one man who didn't know what happy slapping was until he was attacked by someone who filmed it on a mobile phone. But the police have been great in dealing with the problem."

Bridie Metcalfe, who gives food and clothes to people outside the Charles Thompson mission each day, said: "There are about 12 people who constantly get abused, and that's because people know where they are and the problem is they don't report the incidents.

"Kids ride past on their bikes and use mobile phones to call their mates and tell them where the homeless people are.

"They come here for a change of clothes and food, but because of what's going on they are like cats on a hot-tin roof, looking over their shoulders fearing that they will be next.

"Sometimes we can be standing in the yard and lads will ride past on their bikes.

"Not long after more people will turn up. They have turned hunting for homeless people into a sport."

David Bond, 35, originally from Kirkby, in Knowsley, has lived rough in Birkenhead for 17 years.

He says he was beaten up just weeks ago but did not report it to police because he felt that would be "pointless".

Up until a few months ago Jayne Hulse was homeless and now lives in a hostel.

She told the Globe that she was beaten up and blinded with a golf club by as she tried to help a man who was being attacked by youths a few weeks ago. The attack left her with serious injuries and needed an eye operation.

She attends the Charles Thompson Mission in Birkenhead on a daily basis and said police should be doing more to protect the homeless.

Lee Ainsley, aged 27, also lives in a hostel.

He has not been the victim of an attack but he feels teenagers should have more respect for those who are less fortunate than them.

"Filming people as they're getting beaten up is just awful. It's a problem which is getting out of control," he said.

Detective Inspector George Davies said: "Extra police officers have been drafted in to the area as a further means of public reassurance and the police are currently working closely with partner agencies with links to the homeless community.

"I would appeal to anyone who may have information or who has been attacked in the Birkenhead town centre area, and not already contacted police, to contact Birkenhead CID."

Councillor Adrian Jones, who sits on the Merseyside Police Authority, said: "What can be more cowardly than a bunch of young scallies organising themselves with mobile phones to co-ordinate attacks on helpless people?

"This sickening behaviour comes at a time when crime is going down and Wirral people are quite rightly beginning to feel safer. "But these no-brainers' depravity will set the popular perception of public safety back years.

"If they think that even in their own circles they'll emerge with some sort of warped street cred for being tough' they're complete idiots.

"They'll just be despised as cowards for the rest of their lives."

Witnesses or anyone with information should call 0151 777 2264 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Your Say Your Globe

Bluestring, Wirral says...
11:28am Wed 1 Aug 07

What a scandalous thing to be going on in our town.

As if the homeless don't have enough to deal with without these little *##*s attacking them.

The coppers should get their finger out and help the vulnerable.

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Nemo, says...
1:22pm Wed 1 Aug 07

It's about time this kind of pond scum got a taste of their own medicine. Bring back the stocks - one in every town or village. Nothing wrong with dishing out a bit of public humiliation.

'Bleeding heart' liberals need not reply. We can hear your wingeing about 'rights' from a million miles away. You've had it your way for nigh on 40 years. Maybe it's time for a change.

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justaddmilk, Wallasey says...
4:11pm Wed 1 Aug 07

Nice to see Jane Hulse commenting on the police but forgetting if they didn't have to arrest her so much then maybe they wouldn't have so much paperwork to do and actually go and deal with the mindless idiots that are attacking people!

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Dave Rimmer, Wallasey says...
6:22pm Wed 1 Aug 07

More excuses for vigilante groups to spring up..... good thing or bad thing....who knows?

Report this post »

frank, birkenhead says...
6:57pm Wed 1 Aug 07

why are these people homeless? they can afford to drink all day. if they wern't on the streets harrassing people for money they probably wouldn't get battered.

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Republican, Madrid says...
11:09pm Wed 1 Aug 07

Typical Birkenhead attitudes on display yet again, such a friendly, helping and charitable bunch of people. Still Frank, Nemo, suppose its okay to go around kicking another person in until they bleed. Oh I forgot, just another normal weekend night on the Wirral!
One more thing, how can the homeless afford to get a house when working people in the UK can't afford to buy one? Still thats a whole different story.

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Nemo, says...
8:31am Thu 2 Aug 07

Republican wrote:
Typical Birkenhead attitudes on display yet again, such a friendly, helping and charitable bunch of people. Still Frank, Nemo, suppose its okay to go around kicking another person in until they bleed. Oh I forgot, just another normal weekend night on the Wirral! One more thing, how can the homeless afford to get a house when working people in the UK can't afford to buy one? Still thats a whole different story.
The 'pond scum' to which I referred are the yobs that are attacking the homeless people, not the homeless people themselves!

And Frank, however annoying the homeless may be at times if they are begging for money, and regardless of the fact that many of them drink to excess, those are not any kind of excuse for them to be treated with such contempt by mindless morons for 'amusement'.

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Dave Rimmer, Wallasey says...
9:25am Thu 2 Aug 07

Well said Nemo......the critics of homeless people are usually unaware of the circumstances of why such people are homeless and in many cases mental health is a serious issue.I would suggest the critics spend a week as a volunteer in a homeless shelter and perhaps, then they may understand the plight of some of the unfortunates who have to use such shelters.

Report this post »

captain scarlet, birkenhead says...
9:40am Thu 2 Aug 07

I see them walk up and down everyday with their cans of super and my first instinct is to run out and hug them! They brighten up the place so much.

Report this post »

captain scarlet, says...
10:14am Thu 2 Aug 07

And i thank the lord me measly job and the pathetic amount of tax it generates at least somehow contributes to a wee dram for those poor souls. Who said teenagers are useless!

Report this post »

guy, Birkenhead says...
10:34am Thu 2 Aug 07

john evans is always around b'head town centre day and night, always drunk and begging for cigs and money, ive even seen him throwing his so called crutch upto 20 foot in the air and falling over in front of children, fighting with the other homless people !! urinating outside my shop need i say any more !!!! we have to lock our shop at 21.30 everynight because these people are always around causing trouble. rant over !

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guy, Birkenhead says...
10:50am Thu 2 Aug 07

captain scarlet wrote:
I see them walk up and down everyday with their cans of super and my first instinct is to run out and hug them! They brighten up the place so much.
That did brighten my day up :)

Report this post »

chav, birkenhead says...
11:06am Thu 2 Aug 07

i think it is a disgrace that people like this can get attention of a paper do they think that all the old people that they hound for there money is actually going 2 give them it

Report this post »

Whatever, Oxton says...
11:32am Thu 2 Aug 07

No one with an ounce of humanity can condone these attacks or wanton violence full stop. Although these individuals, in my experience, don't seem to give a **** about the society they live in or the decent people they may encounter whilst stumbling around drunk or under the influence of drugs. As commented on earlier urinating in shop doorways, fighting with each other, screaming and shouting at all hours of day and night is hardly going to endear the 'homeless' to anyone. I see many boarded up properties around Wirral - is there any need for anyone to be homeless? Also I thought boozing in the street was an offence - these people seem to do it with impunity?

Report this post »

Chris Bindinall, Wirral says...
11:49am Thu 2 Aug 07

Nemo's got a point - kids who do that sort of thing need a birch taking to them.

That said, there's homeless, and there's drunken begging, and as far as I'm concerned they're poles apart.

Report this post »

Jack Frost, birkenhead says...
11:55am Thu 2 Aug 07

I don't agree that they deserve a kicking, but what is the alternative ? We've tried telling them they're naughty, and supplying them with beer tokens.

Report this post »

captain scarelot, birkenhead says...
12:13pm Thu 2 Aug 07

Experiment on them? That way they get a bit of pocket money and help society? And everyones happy!

Report this post »

the man, birkenhead says...
12:29pm Thu 2 Aug 07

they make me sick harrising little old ladies out side the bingo every nite people like that should have an asbo on them i mean if it was young people fighting every nite drunk and askin every person the goes by for money "2 get back 2 liverpool" as they have lost there ticket then this article would be making out a lot worse but just because its a few homeless people they are made out as saints well its a disgrace i am sick of gettin asked by drunken smelly ***** heads for a fag and when i say no they look at me like i have offended them they like they have a hard life they lie and steal and are constaly drunk they should keep some of that money and maybe they wont be homeless anymore and they can get a bath and stop stickin the streets of birkenhead and then maybe they wont get attacked as we will not have 2 see them any more

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Sir Arthur Street-Greebling, wirral says...
2:08pm Thu 2 Aug 07

Say what you like about the homeless they do love a nice park don't don't they? Wending my way through Hamilton Square today it did my heart good to see them outside in the fresh air at one with nature. One or two of them were even lying on their backs, admiring the beautiful sky I presume. With the council spending so much money on this facility it's nice to see it being used I thought as I made my way back to the office...

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The Doctor, Oxton says...
2:22pm Thu 2 Aug 07

IMHO we should just put them all out of our misery and use the bodies as sandbags during the flooding. At least that way they'd be some bloody use to society as oppsed to just scrounging off it. Work-shy dossers that they are.

Report this post »

Donny, Birkenhead says...
2:23pm Thu 2 Aug 07

Oh come on guys.

They're homless, probably suffering from psychological problems, no one gives a stuff about them and they deserve some sympathy, surely?

Report this post »

Lily Smythe, Birkenhead says...
2:25pm Thu 2 Aug 07

I have to agree. Either that, or use their bodies for medical science.

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Jack Frost, Birkenhead says...
2:34pm Thu 2 Aug 07

Is this a wind of change at last? I've been thinking, about these teenagers, and come to the conclusion that they are performing a public service free of charge, which is a first when you consider what this cowboy council is doing (car parking ?). Their actions are making Birkenhead a better place.
But hey teenagers ! leave the traffic wardens alone they are only carrying out orders, like our soldiers in Iraq and Afghan'

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Albert Squeal, Wirral says...
2:38pm Thu 2 Aug 07

Bullets are cheaper than dole.
As long as these little scallies haven't consumed too much pot, we could use the bodies for spare organs or medical research.

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captain sure-snot, says...
2:42pm Thu 2 Aug 07

Oh donny,donny,donny,do
n,don. Sympathy? mmmmm,lets see. Nope. I like the sandbags idea,initiative and practicality,cost effective and,arguably,humanit
arian!

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frank, birkenhead says...
2:48pm Thu 2 Aug 07

i don't recall saying it's ok to beat anybody up. there shouldn't be anybody living rough. if they have mental health issues they should be supervised, in a safe environment. there are countless derelict houses on the wirral. why not get the yobs off the streets and get them working on these houses and then get the homeless in the houses. its not rocket science.

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The Doctor, Oxton says...
2:49pm Thu 2 Aug 07

In case people din't realise I was being sarcastic. The problem isn't the homeless or the happy slapping kids. The problem is this country has gone so far down the tubes we've reached a situation where this is happening at all.

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Mark St Mark, ex Wirral, further up north says...
3:00pm Thu 2 Aug 07

Shame on you all. What about the poor lads who have nothing to do but beat up our street undesirables. We should start boxing clubs, chuck them all in to the ring and let us watch as they bash 7 bells out of each other...

Report this post »

Mark St Mark, ex Wirral, further up north says...
3:02pm Thu 2 Aug 07

Castration always works. Works with anxious dogs, it takes the **** out of 'em!!

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Albert Squeal, Wirral says...
3:14pm Thu 2 Aug 07

I suggest that anybody who uses the word "fella" and wears sportswear as daywear is targeted and made to work for their dole money, they must also be banned from walking in a surly manner and have the Netto bag surgically removed from their hand.

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captain slurnot, birkenhead says...
3:18pm Thu 2 Aug 07

Its not all in the teenagers favour-their prey are homeless,which means their harder to find!

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Jack Frost, birkenhead says...
3:34pm Thu 2 Aug 07

Rubber duck we got our selves a convoy ! Why not for every immigrant, illegal or not, we swap one of them for one of our teenage threatened druggies ? The advantages would be two fold... it would instill a sense of disciplined self preservation into our bullying teens when confronted with someone strong enough to cross a continent on foot, instead as one who can hardly cross the road, and it would also reduce the time for our well toiled customs officers to process the immigrants as they would be keen to let in the foreigners, as this would be a a feckin bargain !

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Dr John, London says...
3:44pm Thu 2 Aug 07

A society can be judged by the way in which it treats its most vulnerable.

From the hateful comments posted here about the attacks on homeless people in Birkenhead, it's pretty clear to me at least that we have bred a generation of swine.

I studied for a doctorate in anthropology and only wish I had had the opportunity to observe the blood-thirsty habitants of Birkenhead in my final year.

I may have won a Nobel Prize for discovering that Neanderthal Man did not become extinct
as previously
believed.

The tribe migrated instead en masse to Birkenhead.

Shame on you.



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captain hairnet, birkenhead says...
3:52pm Thu 2 Aug 07

Ooooh,hark at the self rightous dr john. I could probably pick a well known saying out of my a**e to! Dont know about you lot but I feel proper chastised

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Dr John, London says...
3:58pm Thu 2 Aug 07

Chastised?

That's a big word, captain hairnet.

Where did you learn that?

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A tramp, no fixed abode says...
4:01pm Thu 2 Aug 07

I want to break free

Report this post »

Another tramp, Upper Parksbenchville says...
4:03pm Thu 2 Aug 07

My outdoor career can be quite lucrative at times...

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captain hatpin, birkenhead says...
4:06pm Thu 2 Aug 07

Well it wasnt bumming on the streets and anyway that quote didnt come from somebody from birkenhead otherwise it would have read "Hunt the homeless!" I'm going for a game of golf now,wheres one of those homeless people,he can caddy for me.

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Jack Frost, Birkenhead says...
4:15pm Thu 2 Aug 07

Hey Doc get off your high horse you big tart !

Most if not all of these posts require a sense of humour to appreciate, hence your lack of appreciation.

But there is a big problem here with young people who would rather take the free state shilling to roam about town getting **** in order to harangue the local population.

There are too many for this to be misfortune, this is idleness. And it shames me that my tax goes to pay for this.

And if you have any doubt you condescending t*** get yourself booked into Birkenhead for a week or two.

Shame on you for not knowing what you're talking about, sat in your ivory, pig ignorant tower

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Sir Arthur Street-Greebling, wirral says...
4:18pm Thu 2 Aug 07

Was the picture of Jayne Hulse before or after she was hit with a club?
Its a fair point that some of these people would of been in some sort of hospital or sheltered accomodation before 'care in the community'. However the majority of homeless on the streets of Brokenhead are tracksuited scallies, always drunk or drugged up, aggressive and people have had enough of it.
I notice the homeless scallie who asks everyone for money in the carpark in Hamilton Square us always on the ball enough to be there every morning at 7.30 5 days a week.

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Dr John, London says...
4:19pm Thu 2 Aug 07

Woah!

A roller-coaster ride there, Jack Frost.

You seem to have gone from sensible to carpet-chewing lunacy in the space of a couple of sentences.

I don't need to "get booked in" to Birkenhead to know that assaulting the maost disadvantaed is totally wrong.

Period.

Report this post »

Dave Rimmer, Wallasey says...
4:20pm Thu 2 Aug 07

All you clowns and comedians want to join
your colleagues in the
Wallasey Clown Hall

Report this post »

Dr John, London says...
4:21pm Thu 2 Aug 07

That's "most" by the way.

Not Maoist - a little anthropology joke there!

How they would have laughed at Cambridge.

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Sir Arthur Street-Greebling, wirral says...
4:24pm Thu 2 Aug 07

"Not Maoist - a little anthropology joke there!"

Phew! Was gonna say Doc, getting a bit to heavy there!

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Jack Frost, birkenhead says...
4:28pm Thu 2 Aug 07

Dr ! No ! I only chew laminate now..

At least we're only beating up our homeless, and not murdering them as your tribe do !

How neanderthal is that then ?

And as for assaulting the maost, we tend to leave the communist homeless alone

Report this post »

Dave Rimmer, Wallasey says...
4:31pm Thu 2 Aug 07

Now you are insulting our inteligence. It was quite obvious that
"maost" was a typing error.

Report this post »

Dr John, London says...
4:32pm Thu 2 Aug 07

Dear Jack,

Not sure what you mean by "your tribe" and "murdering"?

But anyway.

You made me laugh, so fair play.

Best get back to work.

Been nice doing business with you.

If ever your passing through London, look me up.


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Chris Bindall, Wirral says...
4:35pm Thu 2 Aug 07

Not that I have any particular love the council - I'm more than ready to see them getting a good kicking from time to time - I'm getting really bored of reading Dave Rimmer's "Clown Hall" remark in vurtually everything he comments on.

Yes, Dave, we've got the joke. And it's hilarious. You're a comic genius right up there with Max Bygraves. Now think of something slightly less hilarious, please, before our sides split.

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Mark St Mark, ex Wirral, further up north says...
4:39pm Thu 2 Aug 07

Chill guys, go take it out on some poor tramp

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Dave Rimmer, Wallasey says...
4:48pm Thu 2 Aug 07

Chris....sorry you are not a fan of my terminology but until the performance of Metropolitan Borough of Wirral becomes acceptable to the residents of Wirral then I will continue to call them what I believe they are. You are a regular contributor on this site so whether you take an interest in them or not you are well aware of their gross incompetence.

Report this post »

Chris Bindall, Wirral says...
4:53pm Thu 2 Aug 07

I am a regular contributor and, as I said, I don't mind seeing the council getting a kicking.

I just think your remarks would carry more a bit more weight if you changed the record a bit!

Report this post »

Dave Rrimmer, Wallasey says...
5:18pm Thu 2 Aug 07

OK Chris, I have broad shoulders and can take criticism and am happy to listen to other peoples comments,so
for you, I will consider my future terminology but please keep in mind I will comment on all c*ck-ups and injustices inflicted on the council tax payers of the Wirral by the Council whether they like it or not.

Report this post »

Chris Bindall, Wirral says...
6:29pm Thu 2 Aug 07

Good for you - as will I!

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amanda, irby says...
6:29pm Thu 2 Aug 07

some of these posts are absolutely disgusting. I see no one has mentioned the thugs that are going around attacking these human beings more interesred in putting the homeless down.

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The Doctor, Oxton says...
6:58pm Thu 2 Aug 07

Nobody here is seriously puting forward the idea of putting down the homeless. The situation with the homeless and the slack jawed idiots beating them up is endemic of the problems with Birkenhead as a whole. Namely a general lack of respect be it of other people, their property or for ones self.

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Sir Arthur Street-Greebling,, wirral says...
7:25pm Thu 2 Aug 07

"Nobody here is seriously puting forward the idea of putting down the homeless."

Quality, Dr, quality!

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The Doctor, Oxton says...
7:37pm Thu 2 Aug 07

Thank you Sir Arthur.
If there was any offence taken none was intended. I myself am sickenen to the levels of depravity to which this borough has sunk. A walk in Birkenhead on a Saturday night is like a wander through bedlam.

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captain hole in one, birkenhead says...
9:27pm Thu 2 Aug 07

Never mind the homeless,I lost in golf! Sir Arthur Street-Greebling,I like the cut of that mans jib,rule us Sir Arthur,take the mantel,I am your loyal servant.

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captain its my bedtime, birkenhead says...
9:35pm Thu 2 Aug 07

And just for the record,that picture of john evans,he always looks like that.Remember,dont have nightmares,have wet dreams.Goodnight.

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Republican, Madrid says...
10:01pm Thu 2 Aug 07

Okay, I think everyone has lost the whole point of this story.

Its about gangs of people beating another person up. A vulnerable one at that, for their enjoyment.

What if it were other "vulnerable" groups of people. Disabled? The Old? Children? Getting beats.

If thats the case, why not stick a big ampitheatre type structure up around the Wirral instead of building "The Viking Gateway thing."

****, just gave Wirral Council another good idea.

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Lord Thomas of Oxton, birkenhead says...
10:19pm Thu 2 Aug 07

Thank you for the invitation Dr John, London. You did not leave your address,
As I would pass it on to the so called homeless with a free rail ticket for all to come and stay
With you. They would not stay in a hostel or have a free bath it would interfere with their drinking
time and too many rules for them.
I donÂ’t condone the beating of them but they need to be taken off the streets there are laws against begging, Set the traffic wardens on them for a month, paying them a bonus every time they book one

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Sir Arthur Street-Greebling, wirral says...
10:45pm Thu 2 Aug 07

Clearly gangs of thugs going round the town beating up the homeless is quite unacceptable.

What is required is a crack team of highly trained thugs, possibly ninjas, to clear the streets of this blight.

Perhaps if one such ninja could infiltrate the Sayers and White Lightning manufacturers we could eradicate all our problems in one go.

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rose madder, Oxton says...
7:54am Fri 3 Aug 07

As someone who lives and works in Birko, it's enough to make you want to take to the streets at night dressed as a bat....I am one of the workers who has been accosted on several occasions by the "gentleman" trying to scav money off me when I am parking my car at 7.15 on my way to an honest day's toil. It's one thing approaching a lone female in the daylight in summer, but if he persists in his little routine into the winter when it is pitch black and half the lights in the car prk don't work (despite numerous calls to Streetscene, as much of a waste of time in itself as trying to educate the idiot masses of the town), the he will be in serious danger of getting his f**kin head stove in......

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rose madder, Oxton says...
7:58am Fri 3 Aug 07

Apologies for that last shocking misspelling, will have our erudite friend from the capital spitting into his kedgeree, of course I meant to say "getting his f**kin head stoved in....Do forgive me, the day is yet young.....

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captain just got up, birkenhead says...
8:27am Fri 3 Aug 07

Ninjas! Yer! Right on!

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Mr Bollo, says...
10:39am Fri 3 Aug 07

Sir Arthur - 'I notice the homeless scallie who asks everyone for money in the carpark in Hamilton Square us always on the ball enough to be there every morning at 7.30 5 days a week.' - that's because they get booted out of their hostels first thing in the morning you twerp, not because of any overwhelming sense of responsibility to hassle you.

Personally, I'm far more intimidated by the gangs of aggressive scallies than the local alcoholics and ageing druggies. About 10 years ago when I was in my late 20's, I was riding my bike up Balls road and got chased by a gang of around 20 such teenagers in broad daylight - I managed to get way, but it was an intimidating experience.

The problem is, this kind of aggressive behaviour is ingrained in the families of such people. They have no sense of social responsibility because they have no future - we are talking about kids whose parent have never worked, and therefore never expect to work themselves - they exist in an entirely separate world from most of society, the term underclass is entirely accurate here. Until the underlying problems of poor education and lack of opportunities for such people are solved, this issue will not go away. And no amount of ‘Daily Mail’ style rhetoric along the lines of ‘bring back the birch!’ will make the slightest difference. This is not ‘bleeding heart liberalism’ (before anyone trots out yet another tired cliché), this is fact. This social decline has been going on for more than a generation, and unfortunately it will take at least another generation to solve.

The sad irony of this story is that some of these teenagers are beating up the very people that they are destined to become. They are looking at their own future.

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amanda, irby says...
10:47am Fri 3 Aug 07

totally agree Mr Bollo.Great post.

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Sir Arthur Street-Greebling, wirral says...
11:15am Fri 3 Aug 07

Being sensible for a moment, excellent post Mr Bollo, agree with every word. I don't think Birkenhead has ever recovered from the heroin epidemic of the 80's. As a town, to look at its not that bad but its the people that let it down.
When you see young mothers pushing prams and drinking, swearing at the kids etc what chance have those kids got? I dont know what the answer is either. Education? More goverment funding? What?

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captain ready for lunch, birkenhead says...
11:31am Fri 3 Aug 07

Bollo? I wont ask what that stands for. 10years ago you where chased? Glad to see your over it. I live and work in Birkenhead,I see the bums morning,noon and night. Their a bigger pain in the a**e than the likes of you(which takes some doing) They despise the same society that tries to help them but will still take what they can,including sympathy. Well their not getting mine.

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captain goin for lunch, birkenhead says...
11:33am Fri 3 Aug 07

There is no answer. Life sucks!