Hate crime sentence
COMMITTING a vicious hate crime only warrants six months in prison and a third of a £200 fine. I’m disgusted.
C Knight Hayes
IT REALLY made my hair stand on end when I read about postal workers being bribed to steal our bank cards.
Apparently more than 11,000 people in the UK have had their cards stolen in transit. I’m not sure whether, on the back of the envelope, it advertises the treasure inside - hopefully not.
Cunningly, thieves, having clocked the poor victim, also intercept the pin number information.
Then, ever one to spot an alarmist story, I read a news piece that said criminal gangs are selling genuine British passports for less than £500. Mine had expired, but I wasn’t in a hurry to renew it as we had decided to go for staycations this year. That’s holidays in this country for those not initiated in current (often irritating) jargon. We decided instead to chillax. Oops, there goes another one.
A senior police officer has described the illicit trade as one of the fastest growing problems in Europe, with 6,000 illegal passports seized over the last three years. I sent off for mine and crossed my fingers that it would arrive back in Uxbridge safely.
Amazingly, my renewed passport plonked through the letter box after only a week. I suppose the summer rush is over now.
What did it say on the back of the envelope? From the Passport Office. One little squeeze of the contents would make it very clear that what was inside. It might as well have shouted ‘come and get me’
Talking of home territory, I am pleased to say my latest award for Smiley Service in shops, pubs and restaurants goes to two staff at the Swan and Bottle pub in Uxbridge: Anthony – nominated by Graham Box for friendly, helpful service – and Sara who (on another occasion at the same pub) impressed a different customer by acknowledging people waiting, by saying cheerfully, ‘I’ll be with you in minute’. It’s sad that this is unusual.
Doesn’t your blood boil (note change of metaphor from paragraph one) when you are ignored while you patiently wait your turn, or you smile at an assistant, hoping they’ve noticed your existence, and get a scowl back?
Having said that, there are no surly service nominations this week, so no wooden spoon awarded. Is it now all perfect out there? Do contact me at the address at the top of the column with your tales of good and bad service ….