Kettling, def., the confinement by police of a group of demonstrators or protesters in a small area, as a method of crowd control. The kettling of football fans now appears to be a standard part of police armoury, in Glasgow as well as in Paris. As a fan, it feels that police don’t like fans congregating, or even queueing, outside a ground, they would prefer to ‘kettle’ them in a claustrophobic area, where a small number of officers and horses can establish authority over the crowd.
When kettled, you are immediately aware of the danger. A crowd is a dynamic entity. Crushing is not inevitable, but everyone is vulnerable to a few bad actors. Decision making police always seem to be far away from the kettle. Policies were laid down, probably days earlier, the officers, vehicles and horses involved in the enforcement are, at best, several minutes away from an authorised action to de-escalate an incident.
What happened at the Champions League final, hours before kick-off, a kilometre from the stadium, was lazy and dangerous policing. French politicians and Uefa officials immediately blamed fans, that hoary old habit. Fans – people – deserve better.
The police actions in Paris on Saturday evening did not happen spontaneously. Rioting has been a growing problem in French football since the return of crowds, culminating in an out of control pitch invasion by Saint Etienne fans last night, after a penalty competition consigned them to Ligue 2 next season. Police response to a legitimate issue, was to profile football fans prejudicial manner.
For decades across Europe, authoritites too lazy or understaffed to police properly, expose fans to danger and intimidation.
After a two year hiatus, the CQN Charity Golf Day will take place at Aberdour on Friday 2 September 2022. Details will be available soon.
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https://twitter.com/AdrianTempany/status/1531287537360175106
Gene-
It’s a Welsh parliament building. This outline explains what their thinking is. I am insufficiently informed or interested to do any evaluation on whether they are right or not, since I do not live in Wales, therefore it’s not my money:-
How many Senedd members are there now?
There are currently 60 Senedd members, 40 of them elected by the traditional Westminster style first-past-the-post system. The other 20 represent bigger regions using a process which better reflects the voting share particular parties have received in elections.
The members sit in the Senedd building in Cardiff Bay.
Why is there a plan for 36 more members?
The current total of 60 has been the number since the creation of what was then called the National Assembly for Wales 1999. In those days it had very limited powers and no tax powers.
The Senedd, and the Welsh government, have since acquired direct law-making powers and some tax powers, including over a share of income tax.
It is argued that with all these extra powers more politicians are needed to scrutinise proposed new laws, and that there are simply not enough Senedd members to do that job as well as it could be done.
Unlike at Westminster, where there are 650 MPs in the House of Commons, there is also no equivalent of the House of Lords in Wales, which provides a second check on the legal plans of UK ministers.
In essence, it is said Senedd members currently have too high a workload if they do all they are required to do, and ministers plans and actions are not being challenged as much as they could be.
That might mean for example, in extreme cases, that mistakes that would otherwise have been spotted in advance are that much more likely to occur.
This proposal is to move from 60 to 96 members in Cardiff Bay, to cope with the additional work involved in providing greater scrutiny.
What might the objections be?
Many politicians, if not all, will admit that persuading voters that they need more politicians is not the easiest of tasks.
The proposed increase is likely to be criticised on grounds of cost. It was estimated a few years ago to be around £12m a year for 30 extra MSs.
It could also be argued that when the case was being put in the past for more powers for Cardiff Bay, it was not made clear to the public that more powers and responsibilities would also require more politicians to manage them in the future.
Also, asking for more politicians and the funding for them in the midst of the current cost of living crisis also makes this potentially trickier than it might have been.
Will Wales be better governed?
That is the argument being made for the proposed changes, that better scrutiny would mean better decisions.
In addition to more politicians keeping an eye on the Welsh government, it would also give that Welsh government a wider choice of ministers to put around the cabinet table.
How does Wales compare with other parts of the UK?
In terms of the number of politicians, the Northern Ireland Assembly, for a population of around 1.8m, has 90 members.
The Scottish Parliament has 129 members, representing around 5.5 million people.
Wales, with just over 3m people, currently has 60 MSs.
MADMITCH on 30TH MAY 2022 2:24 PM
Crowd dynamics — discuss?
Chancing it / Brass necking it …
I’m sure we have all been there.
Add in rampant individualism / overgrown sense of entitlement / coked up young team — trouble this way comes in spades.
EUFA hand out half the tickets to its “family” — hangers on / blazers / sponsors / spivs.
——
MM,
As someone so keen on using initials you’ve made a right erse of the governing body’s…
😅
Also MM,
It was me that took the bet on whether Scott Brown or James McCarthy would have a better season.
I thought I had McCarthy, though it seems we may have had crossed wires.
I’m happy to pay the £20 to the charity you suggested, let me know the name/details and I’ll send it on.
👍🏼
Philbhoy…don’t you be putting yer health at risk…you jist concentrate on getting well…cyber hug ;-))
H.H.
TLT
I will see you tomorrow!
Just had a chat with BMCUWP, so should be there about 12;30!
Whit cough my missus says?
Sftb
I don’t live in Wales either – at a time of tight budgets the idea that anyone needs to spend more money on more government is in my opinion a vanity project.
The figures for the other parts of the UK only go to highlight the issue – too much spent on politicians.
https://news.sky.com/story/greene-king-giving-away-free-pints-to-mark-platinum-jubilee-after-being-told-it-cannot-charge-6p-each-12624290🎣
GENE
Was thinking of you at the weekend!!
Lovely!
Philbhoy
If you’re seeing bmcuwp give him a big Port Vale smiley from me.
My aforementioned vote was cast grudgingly.
Bigoted broadcasting cretins can’t help themselves.
Any picture accompanying a “Scotland struggled back then” type byline …
…will ALWAYS have a Celtic player front and centre.
Equally so with “bigotry” news.
Celtic fans clearly in focus in foreground, Old Firm FC’s fans blurred in background.
Only time we make the front of the bus with this shower.
GENE
Willdo!
Phil 12.
BRRB
Cheers mate!
Ffs I’ll be surrounded by argumentative, grumpy old gits tomorrow. Is there no end to this folly?
BRRB
I used to be grumpy but I’m all right now!
bigrailroadblues on 30th May 2022 8:26 pm
Ffs I’ll be surrounded by argumentative, grumpy old gits tomorrow. Is there no end to this folly?
Not if you stay on here…..
Uefa will commission a report into trouble in Paris.
I’m sure Sue Gray is free
BRRB
I’ll only be grumpy if the pub doesn’t supply a spittoon!
Evening all.
A wee trio of tunes, again inspired by an earlier post by BRRB.
Hope you enjoy.
https://youtu.be/ruKCw797JM4
https://youtu.be/KcrbDYe4qL4
https://youtu.be/mdt0SOqPJcg
Are the Garngad ruffians putting in an appearance or have FSTB and D66 decided to watch reruns of The Mighty Glasgow Celtic winning the league again? Incoming..
……….
Philbhoy
Make sure the spitoon has a nice crown mark on the side – don’t want to be drinking out of any old metric measure.
SAINT STIVS
“Better informed than the ravings of a mad man who watches it on tv.”
———————————-
Hey! I resemble that remark!
🤣🤣🤣❤️
Iniquitousiv ,don’t think that was aimed at you. 🤣🤣
Gene
“at a time of tight budgets the idea that anyone needs to spend more money on more government is in my opinion a vanity project.”
As I said- not my argument and not my money. It’s a decision of the people of Wales to take a stand on. The rationale was outlined in the article. It seems to me that Wales had fewer politicians, than England, NI or Scotland, available to scrutinise their legislation an make it as good as it can be., and that their second chamber officials were too overwhelmed with current work and needed help.
Now, the people of Wales can decide that they want fewer laws, slower passage of bills and a government that can be less responsive to local demands for changes in law and policy, or they can bring in more bodies to help. There is an argument to be made for lessening government expense, especially, at these times but low cost government comes at a price too.
Unscrupulous traders and companies escape more easily from breaches in practice.
With fewer numbers, bribery and corruption becomes a less expensive outlay in influencing laws to your favour.
Personal access to elected members gets harder.
I am not arguing against or for the proposal; I am just seeing both sides of the argument. Remember Boris promised £350m for the NHS from savings when we cut our elected members at European level, via Brexit. It made for a very attractive voting incentive. It was just, unfortunately, completely untrue.
BBRB
I know – I wis just yanking SAINT’s chain.😊
O, wad some Power the giftie gie us
To see oursels as ithers see us
On Spring Watch
BRRB
Late call off from the ‘Drummer’ he’s in rehearsal at Berkley from 12 to 5pm, says he might awing by once he has finished
Brian
I’m away to compile a dossier.
Gentlemen, let’s keep it civil and respectful please over the long hot summer. Or else SFTB will hand you yer erse.
Sftb
I’m all for democracy – but politicians don’t always accept the will of the people – I’ll leave it there.
GENE
I’ll be spitting in it…..not drinkin’ from it!
Cough, cough!
BelmontBrian, poor show. Tell him this is more important. Only kidding mate, I’ll see him again soon enough. Probably playing for Led Zeppelin. 👍
Brian, awing? You pished mate?🤣
Brrb
Hope you all have a great day tomorrow – have they removed the benches from George Square yet.
Gene, they haven’t cleaned the cludgies in Sevilla yet. 👍🤣
BRRB
awing = swing, embarrassed emoji.
What a Parkhead Smiddy I am :)