NTHNTF

In the flat bottom of the broad valley of the Ruthrieston Burn, between Garthdee and Morningside, lies an old fashioned public playing field. Overlooked by two or three blocks of recently-refurbished tenements on one side and the disused railway line on the other, the full-sized football pitch is complemented by a kiddies playground with swings, a chute and the like. The old railway line, trackbed now tarmac, is today a major commuter route for cyclists and an evening stroll for dogwalkers. But no-one ever uses the football pitch for football. Once muddy six yard box now tussock heavy grass. No nets are ever strung from these corroding municipal goalposts. The bar has fallen rusted broken from its supports at the east end of the pitch. Last week we noticed that now even the posts are gone. A football pitch with only one goal.

Just a little further down that same valley, high fenced and high-tech locked £35-a-match astroturf football pitches for rent are high-energy blue mercury-arc lit at all times to a certain level of brightness. The CCTV system which operates primarily as surveillance of the adjacent ASDA car-park provides the security footprint. Shipping containers double as changing facilities and equipment lockers, raising in our minds the questions: Just what exactly is the nature of the commodity being freighted? By who's agency is this freight being consigned, and to whom is it being delivered?

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ABERDEEN CITIZEN

"BEST free newspaper in Scotland"

MATCHES AIM TO KICK OUT BAD BEHAVIOUR

A NEW scheme has kicked off in an Aberdeen community in a bid to cut antisocial behaviour. Grampian Police are running football matches in the evenings for youngsters in Garthdee. The initiative, being run in conjunction with ASDA Garthdee, hopes to slash problems caused by youths.

ASGA general manager, said: "ASDA Bridge of Dee is delighted to be giving youths the opportunity to participate in regular football matches."

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"This election Communication printed and published on behalf of Gordon Townson"


SNP DELIVERING FOR GARTHDEE


There is a council by-election taking place on 23 June in the Garthdee ward. The SNP candidate is Gordon Townson. As a former police officer with 30 years experience, Gordon has worked as a community officer and education liaison officer.


A former chairman of Grampian Police Diced Cap Charitable Trust, he currently coordinates the Jasmine Charity Challenge, working with several schools across the region, bringing schools, charities, and businesses together to help young people maximise their potential through career opportunities.


Gordon has a wealth of life experience and is well placed to serve your area with enthusiasm and integrity. He will work hard for his constituents if you elect him on 23 June.


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http://www.prosource.it/sparkie.html

Grampian Police has been gifted a new pint-sized patrol car.

The fuel-efficient Chevrolet Spark - the smallest in the force fleet - has been paid for by Belmont Chevrolet and Aberdeen-based Prosource.IT.

Now the car – the first to carry the "Local Policing. Closer to you" logo – will be used as part of a cost efficiency drive by officers of the divisional Mobile Support Unit (MSU)

Aberdeen Division Chief Inspector George MacDonald said: "I would like to thank Belmont Chevrolet and Prosource IT for their generosity."

Belmont Chevrolet Aberdeen sales manager Mark Stevenson said: "The Chevrolet Spark has a low vehicle excise band of £35 per year and a combined urban fuel consumption of 55.4mpg. This makes it a cost effective motoring platform. With its punchy engine and manoeuvrability it's ideal for use as an urban commuter vehicle. Belmont and Chevrolet are delighted to support Grampian Police and we feel this is an excellent example of the Chevrolet Spark igniting its appeal to our communities for cost effective motoring."

Prosource.IT director Alan Cowie added: "We're an award-winning global company headquartered in Aberdeen. We decided to put our money where our mouth is by supporting our local community in this innovative way. We see this partnership as an extension of our business principles and are delighted to support Grampian Police."

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http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/scots-film-on-trump-resort-ignites-anger-1.1106366


A BITTER row has broken out over a documentary film on the building of Donald Trump’s controversial new £750 million golf course and resort near Aberdeen. The film, which includes footage of Baxter’s arrest, is very critical of the behaviour of the Trump organisation, the economic and environmental planning of the golf course, Scottish reaction to it and Grampian Police’s apparent determination to defend Trump’s interests.


“Water and power is cut off, land disputes erupt, and some residents have thousands of tonnes of earth piled up next to their homes,” the storyline runs. “Complaints go ignored by the police, who instead arrest the film’s director, Anthony Baxter."


Baxter said he was particularly concerned by the role of Grampian Police. Within half-an-hour of interviewing one of Trump’s employees he claims he was put up against a car, handcuffed, taken away, had DNA and fingerprints taken and equipment and footage confiscated.


“After all this I am supposed to think the police are impartial. I call on them to make an apology.”


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http://glasgowunihumanrights.blogspot.com/2011/05/scottish-police-chiefs-back-single.html

O'Connor who is president of the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents (Asps) said:

"The election is over, the new Scottish Government is in place, and now is the time to get down to business. I hope we will see an end to the negativity and scaremongering in the debate on the future of Scottish policing."

O`Connor added:

"The majority of Asps members support a single force. Even with significantly enhanced collaboration between the existing eight forces, the service is not sustainable. Similarly, we do not believe that moving to a rationalised regional model would deliver the level of savings and improved outcomes that would be available in a single service. More importantly, if we are going to change we should do it only once. We do not want the cheapest service, we want the best."

O'Connor’s final pitch was:

"A single police service would mean that policing would be directed nationally, but delivered locally."

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1 COMMENTS:

Anonymous said...

I agree with your narrative all things being equal. Although to balance the proposal this will be more centralisation of a potential malicious police-state in what is already a covert police-state.

Where will the checks and balances sit in this? Freemasons? Jesuits? Bankers? Who will wander onto these [local and national] boards? Common Purpose graduates?

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Ploughshares

As cycling advocates, we're always pleased to hear of any increase in cycling activity. We recently heard of an increase in the number of Grampian Police officers on bicycle patrol - splendid! Here they are along with former Transport and Climate Change minister 'Fatty' Stewart Stevenson:

Chief Superintendent Mark McLaren said:

"Being visible and accessible within our communities is important to us.

"We know that people like to see us out and about on pedal cycles as it creates opportunities for better engagement which is not always possible when officers are travelling in vehicles.

"The big advantage here of course is that our staff like to use the bikes too, so this is a bit of a win/win situation.

"This is a great opportunity for us as not only do the bikes offer health and environmental benefits, they also have the added advantage of being able to quickly get into areas that aren't always immediately accessible by cars."

In a related development, we recently noticed bicycle paramedics on speculative patrol in central London:

All good stuff. But what particularly caught our interest was the name of the supplier of these public service urban mountain-bikes. Monopolytastic Killingry-mongers Smith and Wesson! Here are the most common specifications of their police bikes:

The 'Smith and Wesson Tactical':

Developed with the experiance and input from officers, the 'Tactical' model delivers the performance and reliability necessary for any department.

The 'Smith and Wesson Perimiter':

An excellent entry level bike offering the same high frame build standard as the higher specification bikes. Ideally suited for patrolling or community policing.

Both specifications include "silent hubs" (for "stealth" cycling) and are available for "civilians" to purchase.

At first we revelled in the thought that this arms-manufacturing company was now engaged in making bikes. We delightedly thought it was an example of swords being beaten into ploughshares. But then we shook off our idealistic naivity and realised that it was, perhaps, an example of the exact opposite of that.

With the exercise of a little healthy perspicacity we learn that the bikes are, in fact, generic bikes of the sort which you'll have seen bike shops marketing under their own names. They are outsource-manufactured in a who-knows-where factory through an agency agreement controlled by the box-shifting US-based bike mass-marketer Cycle Force Group, with the Smith and Wesson brand being licensed for marketing purposes only.
Neither Smith & Wesson nor Cycle Force Group risk any of their real capital in this enterprise. It seems that, perhaps, police forces respond positively to the core-brand-values embodied in the Smith and Wesson trademark. We have also learned that Smith and Wesson have similarly entered into a licensing agreement with North Carolina based Wellco Enterprises for the design and distribution of a full line of 'tactical law enforcement' footwear.

From the jungles of Vietnam to the mountains of Afghanistan we have supplied our best and bravest with the innovations needed to prevail in the world's toughest conditions. Today this mission continues as we outfit those currently fighting overseas as well as those returning home to face new challenges. It's this commitment that spawned our credo: There and Back. No matter where the battle lines are drawn.

We can, perhaps, learn a little of the mindset of these bicycle and boot marketers via their use of such language. And we can also learn a little of the mindset of institutional procurement officers when we realise that the Smith & Wesson brand is the critical marketing lever which pulls the trigger of their buying decision.