Volunteer Border Force

[Dan Tribe]

Yes, totally agree but in the years I've been here I can think of only two occasions that felt "dodgy" and neither ended up as being so.

There is nothing Dodgy about a Dutch flagged Bav 43 entering Southwold just before High water with 4 visible crew.
In hindsight there was something dodgy about where they moored but is that really enough to warrant an alert?
If however you had been given a heads up before hand then the story would be very different.
In this case there was a heads up available but with the HM gone home (lives 30 miles away) for the night there was no one to contact.

Apologies for thread drift, but have you read Single Handed by Chris Robb? Fiction about smuggling set on R Blythe. Not great literature but fairly good light weight reading.

 

[Bigplumbs]

We only have to look to the behaviour of various community moderators to see what happens when someone gets a sense of "power"....

Do we really want a bunch of self appointed traffic wardens pstroling the shoreline armed with authority to board you and demand to see your papers and anythingelse they think they can demand?

I agree with that. Bad idea in my view

 

[Rum Run]

Surely some of that £350 M per week we won't be paying the EU can be used to pay for some professionals?

TBH I would have no hesitation in reporting dubious things to the authorities ( never had to yet) but really do not have much faith that anything will happen as a result, mainly because the professionals are under-resourced by a system that follows bean counter management principles. Eg, centralising the Coast Guard stations.
I suspect that the originators of this little scheme imagined UKIP-voting retirees in hi-vis being brusque to foreigners at Dover ferry port for free, not eagle-eyed local yachties calling up the CG Cutter on their bat phones
Or perhaps I am being cynical

On the other hand, there is a precedent for something similar, just re-activate the Cinque Ports. That could be self financing.

 

[Poignard]

This force of "public-spirited" citizens could easily be expanded nation-wide to provide the Government with a useful network of anonymous, unidentifiable informants; ready and willing to denounce any of their neighbours suspected of committing crimes against the state.

 

[Capt Popeye]

This force of "public-spirited" citizens could easily be expanded nation-wide to provide the Government with a useful network of anonymous, unidentifiable informants; ready and willing to denounce any of their neighbours suspected of committing crimes against the state.

Humm think that we already have such a 'Force' them are known as the 'Luvies', 'Lefties' plus 'PC' Brigade, they regularly already report the following, Gollys on show in public, and those using phrases like, 'Good Golly'; 'straight cut trousers'; Colours like 'black' or 'yellow' or certain 'White' plus 'brown' words that could possibly offend 'others', err in possibly their view; Yep we certainly do have them amoungst us already, so whats new, eh ?

 

[Poignard]

Humm think that we already have such a 'Force' them are known as the 'Luvies', 'Lefties' plus 'PC' Brigade, they regularly already report the following, Gollys on show in public, and those using phrases like, 'Good Golly'; 'straight cut trousers'; Colours like 'black' or 'yellow' or certain 'brown' words that could possibly offend 'others', err in possibly their view; Yep we certainly do have them amoungst us already, so whats new, eh ?

Golly! That is worrying.

But don't worry, when your network of good citizens is in place they will be able to denounce them to the authorities. :encouragement:

 

[Capt Popeye]

Golly! That is worrying.

But don't worry, when your network of good citizens is in place they will be able to denounce them to the authorities. :encouragement:

Humm well kind Sir, these of which I spoke are indeed the forerunners of a new Britain under some future Govt that thinks and decides that what a Govt plus its Advisers plus Celebs plus quislings plus hangers on etc etc do is the right thing for us all to do.

Oh just noticed that you stated that word 'Golly' cripes you are in for it now, someday reconning will be on you !

 

[Poignard]

Humm well kind Sir, these of which I spoke are indeed the forerunners of a new Britain under some future Govt that thinks and decides that what a Govt plus its Advisers plus Celebs plus quislings plus hangers on etc etc do is the right thing for us all to do.

Oh just noticed that you stated that word 'Golly' cripes you are in for it now, someday reconning will be on you !

It gets worse. When I was a child we had a dog called by the same name as that owned by Wing Commander Guy Gibson VC!

But times change, and one must change with them to survive.

 

[Boz]

Oh just noticed that you stated that word 'Golly' cripes you are in for it now, someday reconning will be on you !

You should wander through the swinging moorings at North Fambridge

 

[Capt Popeye]

It gets worse. When I was a child we had a dog called by the same name as that owned by Wing Commander Guy Gibson VC!

But times change, and one must change with them to survive.

Humm well, yes that Brown colour, well in my London youth days it, that shade of brown, was the official School Colour of the local Grammar Girls School, most fetching it was. And I recall my Mum insisting upon having that shade of brown in her Sewing Case just in case ?

Funny how some things are in then out of fashion, my what we do to accommodation others in this so accommodating country {#

 

[Capt Popeye]

You should wander through the swinging moorings at North Fambridge

What calling out, goodness me where is my Golly gone, perhaps ?

 

[toyboy]

I’m thinking the problem will be that the volunteers will be roughly equivalent to the PCSOs and so will need lots of trining first. Imagine the H& S stuff they’d have to go through. Also, wasn’t there a Coastguard volunteer force a few years ago? What happened to that?

I know all the people who live in my road. I ain't going to report some one walking past just because I don't know them. On my local river I wouldn't dream of reporting some one just because I don't recognise them or their boat. Many people on the river or along the coast have traditionally made their living from a little smuggling. It is a way of life.

 

[toyboy]

Humm an absolutely great well thought idea, might suggest that it is the Locals who can spot irregularities in behavior and actions, far more that those employed and wearing uniforms plus badges.
How can an officer in any uniform blend in and go unnoticed as an observer ?
Yep trust the locals, those working, sailing, foreshore walking etc etc = far better than any Paid staff member, and of course local Fishermen and Anglers.
We do already have Special Constables working with the Police Forces, but would not suggest them, as they have scheduled duties, wear a uniform and badges, NO what is really required if a casual approach covering all and any hours, especially those High Tides after dark.

As to the few someway destructive comments about training and authority to board and search, suggest that that's getting the wrong end of a stick, as one might say. That is I suggest. We need observers and reporters all answerable to the appropriate authorities

What just like the Statsis?

 

[toyboy]

If these people are not to be paid and are not to have the satisfaction of strutting around in a uniform looking important and impressing the girls, in what way do they differ from the ordinary man in the street (or on the quay) who sees something illegal going on and reports it to the police?

People involved with any business on our rivers have their own ways and means of dealing with stuff they disagree with. Weekend yotties just get in the way.

 

[Capt Popeye]

What just like the Statsis?

Humm well maybe yes, there are people from certain countries that recall that era in their country so why not employ them on a sort of exchange work basis = job done ? Thanks for the good advice, eh ?
I may report you for good conduct to the right people ?
Congratulations

 

[Capt Popeye]

I know all the people who live in my road. I ain't going to report some one walking past just because I don't know them. On my local river I wouldn't dream of reporting some one just because I don't recognise them or their boat. Many people on the river or along the coast have traditionally made their living from a little smuggling. It is a way of life.

Err which river is that kind Sir ? got my pencil ready

 

[Boz]

What calling out, goodness me where is my Golly gone, perhaps ?

Examine the boat names carefully ......

 

[reginaldon]

Err which river is that kind Sir ? got my pencil ready

The Thames?

 

[reginaldon]

I'm sure any of us - known to each other, who are around our harbour from day to day, could do the job occasionally without officiousness and maybe have done so, I wouldn't know. Certainly there are those ashore who might become insufferable.

 

[Capt Popeye]

The Thames?

Humm ah well, thats a sure 'shady' river, as I know, came alongside a Freighter Tied up along a Wharf in the Patrol Launch, well up river, just to see whats what, as they might say; a crewman said to us, 'just watch out boys, go carefully', then a Fella of foreign appearance appeared further down the Ship and run like hell off onto the wharf up over the buildings rooftops and away, the crew members just carried on doing what they were doing as if nothing had happened. Yes a strange old river that.