DuncanW

Sentencing guidelines for carrying an offensive weapon: http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/s_to_u/sentencing_manual/knives_and_offensive_weapons/ It seems that these offences are taken seriously by the courts but but won't always be met with a custodial sentence. It's worth bearing in mind that we lock up more of our citizens than any other EU country. It's very expensive to do so and not proven to be effective at reducing crime levels. Although obviously appropriate in many cases, keeping young offenders out of the prison system wherever possible is preferred as other routes to rehabilitation have better success rates. That said, there is no excuse for carrying a knife - we need to be clear about that. It can't be blamed on Kids' Club going under or anything else. We need to understand the factors which can lead to this type of behaviour, sure - but the decision to carry, or in this case use a knife is made by that individual alone. I hope the individual who was stabbed is okay!

I think I'm right in stating that no new grammars had been created for thirty years prior to that so hardly a dramatic piece of legislation. And as mentioned above, M Thatcher closed down more than anyone else. Was that also the politics of envy? The Blair/Brown adminstration has a record to be proud of on education, which I'm sure the vast majority of forumites with children at some of our many excellent local schools would agree.

Malumba, Would it not be expected that those that are most worried, concerned and/or engaged with their children's education end up with the least to worry about? There's always been competition between schools in the state sector. Over the last few years it's become more transparent, and evidence based, rather than anecdotal. Most schools in Southwark select on distance so don't see the link between traffic and school selection criteria. Bromley doesn't have the grammar school system. It has one boys' and one girls' super-selective which have no proximity criteria so kids from our area are eligible. (And can travel there by train) Can't speak for anyone else but my kids walk/scooter to school. Finally, it's not nice to be prejudiced or so angry.

Blah Blah Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Most people who fly first class don't actually buy > their tickets. They are paid for by whatever > company, event etc is employing them to fly out. > And a quick google search shows he was in Cape > Town as part of a world tour. So the tour company > (who like all tour companies do) fly their main > act first class. Not quite what the person posting > that pic on twitter was trying to make of it, is > it. It's not exactly the Joe Strummer ethic tho is it? Also - Talent gets a deal offered to them via their agent/manager. All the perks and privileges are laid out as is their fee/cut. There is nothing in the world that would stop RB saying I don't need this level of perk/privilege, I'll take that as straight pay please. That would be taxable income of course though.

I think it's just a story, aimed mainly at children and doesn't bear up to this level of analysis...

> One of my school friends told me to start worrying > now about secondary school admissions as her > friend's daughter, who lives in Peckham, only got > offered a place in Beckenham (?Langley park). So I > thought I'd better start planning and (?saving) > now. Langley Park is a heavily oversubscribed school that offers places based on proximity, so that's unlikely. Maybe start worrying now about making your next 'joke' funny??

I've heard of the term birthers It was on the news quite a bit

They got today's date right! :)

How come the Victorians didn't build any airports then???

I think everyone agrees with that. But maybe the budget could be spent on facilities and enforcement.

The Standard is running a story/campaign to ?name and shame? restaurants that use the tronc system as a way of keeping hold of their staff?s tips. http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/seven-more-chains-named-in-tipping-row-including-masala-zone-polpo-and-mango-tree-a2949421.html Essentially the restaurant keeps hold of the service charge, or less commonly voluntary tip, and claims that it all goes to the staff. This is nominally true but that includes dividing it up between all staff including head-office and management, and also using it to make up the minimum wage of the serving staff; some even hold money back to meet minimum wage for staff during quieter times when tips are less forthcomimg. This is very different from my intent when I pay this amount in addition the actual bill. I would like and expect the money to go directly to the person or team that served me as thank-you for good service. If there was a genuine tip-sharing scheme so the one doing the washing up gets a share even though I don?t see them, I?d be absolutely fine with that. But what these restaurants are doing is entirely different from that. I wonder which restaurants/pubs in ED and Peckham give 100% tips to the serving staff on the night. If any wish to state publicly that they do, I would certainly be more inclined to use those establishments, and I?m sure I wouldn?t be the only one.

Probably not much has changed since you asked the same question back in April. The potential for change between now and when a currently pre-school child hits the secondary schools on the other hand is huge. Thankfully most of the schools round here, both primary and secondary are pretty good, but that wasn't the case ten years ago.

Great news! Honest burger is great!!

Le Beat Route but not The Wag - how does that work??

I think the ever-wonderful Ms Garret sums it up nicely at the end of the article: "For every big venue that is closing, I suspect that somewhere a new underground night is beginning. Just don?t ask me where, because I?m too old and out of touch to know. Which is exactly how it should be."

Had a successful visit to Fabulous Ice Fires on Saturday morning, and their ice-cream and sorbet is pretty amazing, it has to be said.

My understanding is the exact parcel of land has yet to be allocated, so they wouldn't be ready to make those decisions as yet. That said, the vehicular entrance (staff car park?) and the pupil entrance need not be at the same point.

On that point, would people not need to live in the near vicinity to object to the planning approval? And those that do live near the school aren't likely to object on those grounds. I don't have much planning experience/knowledge, but is that not how it works?

I would inform the police immediately, that's a serious criminal matter

Tried to go to Fabulous Ice Fires today with my kids. It was shut which was a bit disappointing as I had promised them ice-creams. I took them to the pub next door instead.

erm, and The Foresters and The Uplands?? None of these pubs were war-zones or anything but they had their moments... Otta Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > The Lord Palmerston was never rough in my opinion. > I didn't particularly like it, but it wasn't what > I'd call rough. > > Only pubs I remember having a bit of a bad rep > back in the 90s were The Castle and The Mag.

I don't think anyone is saying Kids Co is the only answer but I think you are right about Founder Syndrome. I don't have any inside knowledge but it looks like an organisation that would be bankrupt and therefore would cease to exist were it not for this money. And the Govt obviously want there to be someone in charge of governance who they can have more confidence in.

erm yeah, but isn't that what this article is getting at?

I found that quite funny...

As I understand it, that is exactly who they will be using from now on...