IlonaM

JCWI has started a petition calling for an Independent Commission into the policies and practices of the Home Office, and the ?hostile environment?. Please do sign and share with your networks: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/219003 Petition text: 'An Independent Commission into the Home Office and the "hostile environment" The Windrush Scandal and Amber Rudd?s resignation have shown the chaotic and cruel way the Home Office operates. This crisis was caused by Theresa May?s ?hostile environment? policy. The policy ruins lives, puts people at risk of destitution and removal, and increases the risk of modern slavery. It asks landlords and doctors to act as border guards and there is no evidence that the policy works. Migrants and those who look or sound 'foreign' are at most risk. We can no longer trust that the Home Office can function effectively and fairly. We need an Independent Commission to look into the behaviour of the Home Office and its ?hostile environment?. It is the only way to ensure that all those caught up in Theresa May?s ?hostile environment? are protected.'

JohnL Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Ironically the person most likely to leave IMHO is > Farage. We can but hope...

Thanks for your helpful advice peckham_ryu. He has a crime number and insurer is pursuing other driver who refused to exchange details and left scene. He is rather exercised by the parking tickets as he was unable to deal with the bike himsef due to injure and had no one locally who was able to do it for him after the accident. I will tell him to ask his insurer whether the parking fines might be covered under insurance.

A friend of mine recently was knocked off his motorbike by a car and, having been injured, was unable to remove the damaged bike for several days from the verge of the road where it had been put following the accident. It had been removed from the road after the accident. He has received two parking tickets and they are refusing to waive them on the basis that he was unable to remove the damaged bike due to injury. He is going through the review process at the moment. Has anyone had any experience of successfully challenging this kind of ticket which appears rather heavy-handed? I would be grateful for any advice please.

Assault is the apprehension or threat of physical violence, battery is the physical touch/hit/beating etc. If the injury breaks the skin you then get into GBH. Laypeople often use 'assault' for a physical act, rather than the apprehension/threat. In this circumstance assault would describe the verbal abuse and behaviour directed at the OP's wife and her friend. Fortunately it did not escalate to a physical attack, but an assault of this kind would be deeply upsetting coming out of the blue as it did.

Hi Lee, As the incident has passed, I would report it to non-urgent police number (101) or online [https://www.met.police.uk/report/how-to-report-a-crime/]. As you say it was an assault, and also quite possibly a public order offence, and it left your wife and her friend very shaken. If they have behaved like this once, they have probably done it before and may well do it again towards someone less able to cope. Their behaviour might even escalate to a physical assault and battery. The parks office should take an interest in protecting the users of their parks. I know it is a pain to do, but you don't have to hang on for the 101 service; you can put a report in on the website. Once you've reported it, you can return to enjoying this glorious weather!

How horrible. I hope that your wife, her friend and the dogs are feeling better soon. Have you reported the incident? Sounds like the pair are another serious incident waiting to happen.

Oh to be a dolphin, 'so long, and thanks for all the fish'!

Thanks for your support intexasatthemoment - gratefully received! I seem to be spending my time at the moment googling ants, flying ants, weatherproofing summerhouses and noise nuisance! Much fun to be had ... The back of the flat is a wall of the smell of Rosemary oil today whilst I try to find bait traps I put somewhere sensible (can I remember where??!!) and digging out the ingredients for some of your suggestions!

I have found three so far this morning in my kitchen and bathroom in Underhill Rd. I'm afraid io'm killing them on sight at the moment and feeling very nasty. Last year was so bad I got a man in as the bait traps etc. didn't work. Have started with Rosemary oil as have put the bait traps somewhere safe and cannot find them.

intexasatthe moment Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Pretty sure it's St Aidan's Rd near junction with > Underhill . You're absolutely right! Just found it on Google streetview:

I agree. They could have sought to blend in the bricks to the local scheme, but I do like the internal courtyard and the light interior.

Evening Standard - The art of the impossible:self-build house in East Dulwich is a masterclass in how to turn a tricky London plot into a fabulous modern home https://www.homesandproperty.co.uk/home-garden/interiors/self-build-house-in-east-dulwich-is-a-masterclass-in-how-to-turn-a-tricky-london-plot-into-a-a119806.html#gallery

malumbu Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > It may be opportunist and not sure if it is > correct but I like what Clegg had to say : The > former deputy PM added that the scandal is a > result of politicians? ?constant, craven > genuflection? to Britain?s mainly right-wing > press. ?Until the British political class gets up > off its knees as far as these bullying, vile, > profoundly right-wing newspapers are concerned, > we?ll continue to stumble from one unjust, > inhumane and ? in policy terms ? illogical > approach to immigration to the next,? he said Very accurate - Blair used to make knee-jerk immigration policy & legislation in response to the Daily Mail etc. However, for years some politicians and Government ministers have also contributed to the development of newspaper and public opinion through their choice of language, etc.

Interesting episode of Moneybox Live today on Radio 4: 'Money Box Live: The Cost of Citizenship Money Box It's estimated that tens of thousands of people who have lived most of their lives in Britain - working, paying tax, bringing up families - are living with limited rights to remain or perhaps no legal status at all, once their previous permission lapsed. Some were born here. Some arrived as children. With the so-called "hostile environment" for illegal immigration that has been brought in, people who have grown up in the UK but do not have permanent status, are coming up against tighter checks on documentation in a way that didn't happen before. When they try to regularise their status, they're discovering that the route to permanent residence or British citizenship has become much more expensive - with further increases in store. Some complain that the charges are extortionate on top of the taxes they already contribute. We hear about the financial implications for people going through the process. Chrisann Jarrett and Dami Makinde, who both came to the UK as eight-year-olds, tell of their separate ongoing struggles to gain settled status in Britain. And immigration expert Kamena Dorling of the Coram Children's Legal Centre and senior immigration lawyer Philip Turpin from Turpin and Miller discuss your calls and emails and how to navigate the costs and complexities of the UK immigration system.' Available to listen again at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09zt3jx - 30 mins

Loz Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > Would being an immigrant myself count as 'doing > some research'? So, yes, I do know what amazing > value immigrants bring to this country. :) And I > also know that it would be damn near impossible > for me to find four pieces of documentation for > each of the years I have been here. And that's > coming from a bit of a document magpie. > > But, over to you. With your experience, you'll be > able to tell us what you think is a sensible > immigration policy. I have never suggested that the UK had 'sensible' or fair immigration policies. I think it would be extremely challenging for any of us, whether immigrant, asylum seeker, refugee, or British citizen born and bred to find documents proving residence from years/decades ago. The immigration system in this country has been in a mess for years, exacerbated by statements and attitudes expressed by politicians and Government ministers and amplified in the press. It has caused unnecessary stress and heartache to people from a great variety of countries and situations. A case in point in the paper today: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/apr/24/canadian-woman-told-to-leave-uk-margaret-obrien And another reported yesterday: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/apr/25/arthur-snell-high-commissioner-baby-denied-uk-passport-2011

It's worth going back to search regularly and think of the different filters which might apply to your situation & circumstances (think creatively!). From a search just now I came up with this one which you may have already come across, but if not ... - The Professionals Aid Council : http://pcac.org.uk/?page_id=106 - they do make grants to students if you meet the eligibility criteria. Also, what about the medical & nursing bodies - have they got any handy funds?

Have you looked at Turn2Us grants search? The website is: https://grants-search.turn2us.org.uk/ You can search for Grant-giving Trusts for individuals by using filters ie gender, location, age, health issues, professional etc. Very simple to use, but might yield some potential funding opportunities. Good luck!

Both bumbles and honey bees busy pollinating the blueberries and various other plants in Underhill.

If you had worked in the field or followed the news you would know the direct impact of the 'hostile environment' on migrants and asylum seekers - not just in respect of the Windrush scandal, but going back years and affecting people from many countries and backgrounds. I suggest Loz that you do a little more research before thinking that this report has arisen from 'jumping on the bandwagon'. For those who are interested, there will be a 'Support "Windrush Generation" amnesty debate' demonstration on 30th April organised by Stand Up to Racism. Fpr those who avoid Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/events/186644592137225/) the details are as follows: 'Date & time: 30 April at 16:00?19:00 Location: Parliament Square, London, SW1P 3, United Kingdom Details We will gather to support the mass petition that has triggered a debate. We support the call for an amnesty for the "Windrush generation" who were invited to the UK as British citizens. We call on the government to stop all deportations, make sure there are no problems with documentation and establish an amnesty for those who came here as minors.'