'Armed teenage gang stopped on bus'

Kristoph · 19 May 2008 at 17:57

Seems pretty normal to me... just another day in London?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7408998.stm

An arsenal of weapons including knives, a baseball bat and screwdrivers were found when police searched a teenage gang on a bus in south-east London.

When officers searched the youths they found six knives, two screwdrivers, a corkscrew, a golf club, a metal baseball bat, a mallet, two wrench handles, a claw hammer and a metal bar.

Doubt much will happen to them?

I wonder who's life was potentially saved?

inferno · 19 May 2008 at 18:01

These kids need to be made an example of. The only thing I can think of that will deter these scum is the death penalty or a sever public beating. Normal values just don't apply to them.

fozzybear · 19 May 2008 at 18:04

Maybe they were a bunch of chefs and handymen off for a round of golf. More likely that they're just complete scumbags though.

Hamish · 19 May 2008 at 18:05

Maybe they were on the way to cook some meals for the homeless after fixing a pensioners shelves, while playing a game of baseball with their grand kids

edit beaten!

Kristoph · 19 May 2008 at 18:07

Whatever happend to

This is just overkill...

ExRayTed · 19 May 2008 at 18:07

"When officers searched the youths they found six knives, two screwdrivers, a corkscrew, a golf club, a metal baseball bat, a mallet, two wrench handles, a claw hammer and a metal bar."

Proper hardmen carry corkscrews.

sniffy · 19 May 2008 at 18:07

When the youths boarded the bus at about 2000 BST the driver was alerted, instructed to lock the doors and wait for the police.

I would have given them the finger tbh. Lock myself in with 24 teenagers wielding knives and bats? Yeah right...

Kristoph · 19 May 2008 at 18:08

Most probably locked it from the outside. Think it's possible?

Would have been interesting if any of them on the upper deck noticed him locking it.

What I don't understand is, if they have the nerve to carry these weapons around, probably with the intention of using them, why did they not just put one of the emergency windows through and leg it?

sniffy · 19 May 2008 at 18:10

Ah yeah I imagine you can.

They might have had 2/3 police officers waiting outside but yeah if all 24 legged it, you don't have much chance.

Azagoth · 19 May 2008 at 18:11

BBC said:
The teenagers were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit violent disorder and later bailed while enquiries continue.

In other words, the paperwork will sit on a desk for a week or so and they'll be let off with nowt but a caution. Meanwhile, the police chalk up another 24 "crimes solved" making it look like they're actually doing something about it.

Tony Williams · 19 May 2008 at 18:12

They didn't harm anyone although it's not ideal to carry weapons and being in such gang makes it pointless. I would have pursuited them quietly then the police could have caught them red handed, we might never know what was going to happen now.

TriedandTested · 19 May 2008 at 18:12

Ch Insp Jerry Peppin said: "We are determined to rid our streets of potentially dangerous weapons."

How about ridding our streets of the dangerous teenagers that think it's OK to walk around with weapons? Yes please.

Dj_Jestar · 19 May 2008 at 18:14

"sticks and stones may break my bones, but this claw hammer will rip your ****ing face off, innit."

Kristoph · 19 May 2008 at 18:19

Tony Williams said:
They didn't harm anyone although it's not ideal to carry weapons and being in such gang makes it pointless. I would have pursuited them quietly then the police could have caught them red handed, we might never know what was going to happen now.

Not ideal to carry weapons? Since when is it ever ideal?

Caught them red handed? You mean arrest them once they've cracked someone across the skull with a metal bar? Or jabbed someone in the stomach or leg with a screwdriver?

You say we might never know what was going to happen now? Don't you think it's slightly obvious what the intent was? I can't see any other need for carrying them other than violence. I'd rather not see what was going to happen and have one more teenager free to live their life other than lying in a pool of blood in some london street or shop.

Trusty · 19 May 2008 at 18:21

inferno said:
These kids need to be made an example of. The only thing I can think of that will deter these scum is the death penalty or a sever public beating. Normal values just don't apply to them.

lol, certainly would deter people from carrying knives on the street. On another note, i'm in favour of bringing the death penalty back, there isnt enough scare tactics with prisons, people just dont care. People would care if there own life hanged in the balance.

what are people's thoughts regarding the death penalty?

semi-pro waster · 19 May 2008 at 18:21

ExRayTed said:
"When officers searched the youths they found six knives, two screwdrivers, a corkscrew, a golf club, a metal baseball bat, a mallet, two wrench handles, a claw hammer and a metal bar."

Proper hardmen carry corkscrews.

Yeah that is the bit that jumped out at me as well. How do they know he wasn't about to crack open a nice bottle of tempranillo? And surely a baseball bat is mighty difficult to conceal.

Kristoph · 19 May 2008 at 18:27

semi-pro waster said:
And surely a baseball bat is mighty difficult to conceal.

You'd be suprised, one of my previous housemates had a metal baseball bat he kept in his bedroom. Fits up a jacket sleeve or tucked into trousers / inside a jacket.

Glad to say he never took it from the house, think it was more personal safety in his own home.

Tony Williams · 19 May 2008 at 18:31

mp3kla said:
Not ideal to carry weapons? Since when is it ever ideal?

Caught them red handed? You mean arrest them once they've cracked someone across the skull with a metal bar? Or jabbed someone in the stomach or leg with a screwdriver?

You say we might never know what was going to happen now? Don't you think it's slightly obvious what the intent was? I can't see any other need for carrying them other than violence. I'd rather not see what was going to happen and have one more teenager free to live their life other than lying in a pool of blood in some london street or shop.

No, not once they hit someone but insted try and get a better idea of thier real intent, then the police can spray them full of fail-paint. They should not of put the driver in that position, ever! That was very dangeroius to his life by the sound of it, they could have waited till the youths left the bus at least.

As to the death penalty, I wouldn't in this case, unless someone was killed - I do believe if someone purposely takes another persons life then he becomes worthless and should be ground up for food.

In some areas the only way to walk the street is with a defensive weapon or a good know-how on fighting, martial arts, where I live I see a lot of kids carrying knifes, some seem young enough to breast feed. I am not saying it's right to walk round with crowbars like Gordon Freeman but I'd rather injure someone than have them hurt to even kill me.

Indy500 · 19 May 2008 at 18:35

As people have said, their intent is what matters. The police just seem content to disarm people, without taking into account kicking someone into a paving slab can crack a skull open and kill someone just as well as a bat can.

Tombo · 19 May 2008 at 18:36

Tony Williams said:
As to the death penalty, I wouldn't in this case, unless someone was killed - I do believe if someone purposely takes another persons life then he becomes worthless and should be ground up for food.

Does this apply to soldiers and police or just unlawful killings?