vladi

@beansprout The Swedes seem to have a useful strategy with regard to offenders which has reduced repeat offending. I agree that prison time for minor offences is a complete waste of time. Even worse is that prisons are "colleges of crime" where inmates learn about how to be do crimes and worst of all, become exposed to drug taking. I wouldn't advocate having chain gangs as in the USA but some strategy for getting them into say manual work under supervision might be useful - especially if it came with a modest wag. This would be significantly cheaper than the £51,100 it costs per year for keeping one in jail.

Some suggestions for mandatory action might include:- 1. Permit retailers to display facial images on the premises of previous offenders at their local store. 2. Sound an alert and display images on screens inside the store when the FR flags up a person entering who is on the national database of shoplifters. 3. Physically bar recognised shoplifters from the premises. Should they attempt to force entry then charges should be pressed under aggravated trespass, which a criminal offence under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. 4. Change the law to allow retailers to have enhanced powers of citizens arrest. What would you suggest? The UK seems to have the most lenient policy towards shoplifting , probably because of other demands on the police force. On the plus side, they may have more time for it now that non-crime hate incidents will no longer be investigated. Other countries, such as the USA have much more sever punishment as does Singapore where repeat offenders or aggravated cases can be sentenced to up to 3 years in prison, a fine, or both.

At present several large retailers such as Co-op, Tesco, Waitrose, John Lewis, and Next use a cloud-based facial recognition system that gives instant alerts to the entry on the premises of known shoplifters. Around £19 million incidents of retail theft (some with attacks on staff) occur ever year in the UK amounting in value to £2.6 Billion in value, involving 41,000 known offenders. Shoplifting adds to the retailer's costs and this is passed on eventually to honest shoppers, isn't there a case for F.R. to become mandatory at all retailers?

Pity that the image is very dark. Have you considered installing a motion sensitive light that you can adjust and/or a Recordable PIR that delivers a message like "Don't even think about it!" My neighbour has one and he leaves out an old Amazon box on the doorstep in full view on odd days. It's never ben taken yet.

The people who will probably be most adversely affected will be will be those who are asset rich but income poor such as the elderly and these are less likely or less able to take to the streets and protest.

Would highly recommend.

Really? I made no comment on any of his facial features whatsoever. I observed that he was "expressionless" and suggested that "if only his face could break out into a smile occasionally then that would help ". These observations refer to behavioural aspects of Starmer's performance as he appears on the media. Where's the hate and where's the crime?

Without doubt, he is getting a bad rap from the media and no doubt he is a sincere well-intentioned person but he is so expressionless. If only his face could break out into a smile occasionally then that would help. The deadpan, dummy look does not inspire. I look forward to the day when he might venture out and make the odd humorous quip with a smile. Tony Blair could do that rather well. If I ever needed a defence lawyer and I had to choose between them both, I know which one I would choose. Anythings possible with the right determination and a good coach.

Sure, the last two decades have been notable for scandal and mismanagement but these days with multiple social media channels providing widespread and instant exposure plus cameras everywhere, it's more difficult to hide issues. Think of Matt Hancock. The media is ever vigilant to run with a political story and when they get a sniff of scandal they will dig and keep on digging.

Thanks for the tips. What do you recommend for treating Jasmine that has really overgrown the trellis it is on?

I think Labour can be much better. It's just that Starmer is so indecisive and boring. He has no presence, no charisma and no strategy. Also no vision of what he wants Britain to aspire to. He is being led by the nose by Jonathan Powell - a Sinophile. I would prefer John Healy or McFadden - they are much better communicators. They can think on their feet and that's something Sir Keir seems unable to do.

So why then are we appeasing China at every step? Now to get back to my OP and close off the tangent you introduced on Trump, let me state clearly I am no fan of his. He is unstable, unpredictable, misogynistic, dishonest, spiteful and a consummate liar. Oh, not to mention he is a convicted felon. Hopefully, as I predicted previously he will not live to see out his term.

To many Starmer comes across as weak, indecisive a lacking a plan. The complete opposite of a conviction politician. He can overcome these perceptions by having a clear foreign policy and staunchly safeguarding Britain's standing in the world. So far he has alienated our closest ally over the Chagos and the two traitors spying for China. The word on the street is that the leadership void has been filled by Johnathan Powell and that Starmer does everything Powell says. Powell should be sacked as his links to China go back 3 decades during which he was a frequent visitor and meeting senior Chinese officials. The other connection is through his brother -Lord Powell who was chairman of the China-Britain Business Council. Both Powells are members of the 48 Group Club whose stated aim is to "connect China to the world" Has Starmer got the guts to clear out the Augean stables?

Looks like current Chinese spying fiasco is going to fester on further now that the White House has come down hard with criticism. This follows on from the Chagos debacle where the UK has committed to giving up these strategic islands whilst paying out £101 million per annum to lease them back from Mauritius ( a staunch China ally) for next 100 years. The other on-going festering sore is approval for the proposed huge new Chinese embassy at the old Royal Mint site close to tower Bridge. Despite objections from MI5, this massive development in inner London is likely to be approved as a goodwill "gift" to Xi when Starmer visits China later this year. In return, Xi will probably release Jimmy Lai from prison. It begs the question - just why do we kowtow to China?

Just wondering.... was Poundland holding a stock of cheap fireworks in readiness for November 5th?

Where's the big Tesco?

Sounds better than getting sent to Rwanda.

If my understanding is correct, David Lammy asserted that Farage "flirted with the Hitler Youth". This doesn't quite compute because the Hitler Youth ceased to exist in 1945 with the end of WW2 whereas Farage was not born until 1964. Maybe Lammy confused the Hitler Youth with the Combined Cadet Force (CCF) because Farage was member of the CCF during his time at Dulwich College. Having informed us that Henry V11 succeeded Henry V111, we cannot but conclude that arithmetic was never Lammy's strongest suit. Then again, on a question on history, he claimed that Marie Antoinette won a Nobel prize

There is a case to be made for Rachel Reeves increasing taxes in this area whilst also closing some of the loopholes. She has a free hand as offshore companies don't have a vote in a general election. There are about 65,000 medium to high value residential properties in the UK that are owned by offshore companies. In the majority of cases the reason for this is primarily tax avoidance. Offshore ownership has distinct tax advantages in relation to Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT). A similar situation exists with Inheritance Tax. But significantly also, it protects assets from local creditors, lawsuits, or bankruptcy proceedings. Where such property is rented out then there are also tax advantages such as offsetting mortgage interest and other items. Then there's corporation tax of 25% compared to 40% for a private individual in the higher tax band. Not forgetting that the proceeds of crime are accumulated in offshore trusts and companies.

Possibly & possibly but let's get the thread back on topic ie Lammy.

How credible can this report be given that the "former friend" failed to identify himself.

To help me understand your logic, can you mention a few countries from where the proceeds of crime would result as inflows to the UK.

You got my point exactly. Sending money out of the country is disinvestment. Successive government's here make a big noise about incoming investment by foreign businesses. but keep quiet about the outflow of £28.5 Bn annually by remittances. Also £28.5 Bn is 4 times the UK foreign aid budget. I can't recall any recent inflows matching that amount. No wonder the country is getting poorer by the day.

Both France and Germany impose taxes on remittances above a certain amount. Why not the UK?

Don't think they are externalising these billions to thwart Reeves. They are doing it to build mansions in Lagos, Lahore, Hyderabad and the Caribbean . Plus set up businesses overseas , not the UK. Plus of course externalise the proceeds from crime. Twenty years ago, processors such as Western Union did not exist. Now they have outlets on every street. They externalise money without any controls. It's gotta change to protect the UK economy.