Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
17 October 2008
08:187655There is a little item in the Dover Express page 8 about a young boy aged 11 who squeegeed the fountain here in Market Square with fairy liquid. A harmless prank for a schoolkid and indeed many of us would have got up to similar in the past in our young years...perhaps pinching apples from a tempting tree and the like.
But this boy has been arrested and is scheduled to appear in court later in the month. Is this some sort of dreadful overkill??
In the old days of deference, the policeman would tell you off and you would go home redfaced with a monumental flea in yer ear. Surely thats all thats required nowadays too, perhaps with the addition of a chat with parents etc.
When you read on Howards thread about the police turning a blind eye from now on to consensual public indecency then havent we got our priorities very mixed up.
Guest 643- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,321
17 October 2008
08:547659I do agree with what you say Paul, but I think the problem here lies in the fact that the fountain will now have to be cleaned out which costs money - tax payers money - and possibly punishing him will make other kids realise that they can't get away with damaging public property.
With regard to the recent revelations about what the police can turn a blind eye to, personally, although I would hate to see any gross indecency taking place (specially where kids can see) I have never in all my years seen anyone having sex in an open place, or in a toilet, in broad daylight!
When my son worked in the library he saw a man "doing his own thing" whilst using a computer there. When the police were called they couldn't do anything because they didn't catch him doing it. So what is the answer? Goodness only knows!
There's always a little truth behind every "Just kidding", a little emotion behind every "I don't care" and a little pain behind every "I'm ok".
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
17 October 2008
09:107660The cost of repairing and cleaning the fountain was priced at about £10k or so I have been led to believe.Perhaps someone on the council could inform us otherwise.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
17 October 2008
09:147661I agree with JACQUI, I must say i was walking my dog out over the hills some time ago and we came across a boy and girl having sex in the open and I could not get my dog away she was runing round them , but they did not stop I just walked away my dog did come back to me
after some time.
Vic MATCHAM
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
17 October 2008
17:557682Interesting responses there guys...its hard to fathom how some fairy liquid can do £10,000 worth of damage as the whole structure looks fairly robust, although I have heard this figure mentioned before. The fountain, one of our most pleasant assets, is enjoyed by all, but it is very often out of service for some reason or other. Perhaps £10,000 is the annual maintenance bill.
If the child had done some physical harm to someone else then okay re court case, but its hard to find justification for something so austere as a court case in this...especially as he is only 11.
Guest 663- Registered: 20 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,136
17 October 2008
18:007683At one time I think it was around £500 and my be more to clean out the fountain as that sort of thing happened quite regular as for the police well gone are the days when a good clip round the ear would have done Hands are tied mybe to much for such things.
Guest 661- Registered: 16 Mar 2008
- Posts: 241
17 October 2008
18:017684At the age of eleven the boy is old enough to know right from wrong.His parents should be presented with the bill for the clean up. Perhaps they will keep him under control a little better.It might be a fountain this week but what will it be next time he strikes.
A dog is just not for christmas save some for boxing day
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,018
17 October 2008
18:557686Yes this punshiment may make the little blighters think next time they want to see a fountain of foam .The engineers dont just pull a plug like a sink at home and the suds go away .The foam clogs the jets which have to be cleaned it is in the region of over a £1,000.its not a couple of hours work .In time the parts have to be replaced.Personally I think the fountain should be placed with a nice sculptor.
Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,695
17 October 2008
19:1276881. Love the fountain when it is working and some numpty has not "foamed" it.
2. As Sue says the foam damages the jets and pump and this is why it costs so much every time it gets "foamed".
3. It is council taxpayers money that is getting spent on this, that could be spent on more useful things
4. It is about time somebody was done for this - shame it was an 8 year old
As for having sex in public - provided it is discrete - I am not sure I am bothered whether the police turn a blind eye or not. Particularly as there are much more annoying and offensive things going on that I would like them to deal with; including the sort of thing happening to Terry, cycling on pavements, vandalism in the kiddies play area, speeding through the town, public drinking in the parks, begging etc.
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Guest 675- Registered: 30 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,610
17 October 2008
20:167697The fountain is a very popular feature of the Market Square and is often photographed by visitors, with Castle Street and the castle in the background, yet the number of times it has to be closed for cleaning tells you how often young people foam it up. Because of this I am delighted that an example is being made to drive home the cost in time, money and visitor satisfaction this stupid jape incurs.
I am also delighted that the police have decided to turn a blind eye to discrete public sex as they will, perhaps, now be able to pay attention to those using the streets and parks as public toilets or canvasses for their 'artistic' expression.
Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong.
Richard Armour
17 October 2008
20:237698Of course it was a bad thing to do but he is a child!! We need to regain our perspective: there should be consequences as that is the best way for him to learn, but let's make it proportionate to the age and the crime. There are people who hurt/damage/rape/kill and barely get a ticking off - short prison sentences etc. Absolutely Paul - a serious ticking off and some badly p***** off parents should do it!! Although admittedly these days kids are less impressed with authority and consequences than we were!!
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
17 October 2008
20:277699make the punishment fit the crime,ie the boy cleaning the fountain out supervised of course.
Guest 675- Registered: 30 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,610
17 October 2008
20:457700It is the sad state of the world today that means if a police officer gives a child a 'severe ticking-off' the outcome is more likely to be the parents threatening to sue the police for abuse than them chastising the child. I recall with some disbelief a police officer suggesting at a public meeting that parents should take some responsability for their children being answered with cries of,"outragious, disgusting and how dare he'. My father often warned me that if I got into trouble he would drive me to the police station himself and yet these days the parents appear more keen to provide alibi's than have their children pulled up for wrong doing. Only yesterday I heard a mother demanding that a school call in and speak to the children because her son had been kicked while in a tackle during a football game. My father would have just got me some shin pads.
Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong.
Richard Armour
17 October 2008
20:487701Absolutely!!!!!!!
Ross Miller- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,695
17 October 2008
21:027703I agree Chris
In my youth if we got a ticking off from the police we got twice the ticking off from my father when we got home.
The alternative to punishing the child directly would be to punish the parents by suing them for the cost of cleaning and repairing the fountain - he would most certainly be paying that back from his pocket money for a long time; so ultimately he and his peer group would learn. If we also then made sure the case was well publicised the parents of other children and youths of this persuasion might be convinced to control them a little more.
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
17 October 2008
22:517708the problem is that the problem of the fountain has gone on for too long.
i would like to think that the parents will be hurt by the fine and "ground" their child for a week, so that it sends a message to others.
it clearly is just a prank, but does anyone know what time this prank happened.?
was it in school time?
was it at a time when he should have been at home?
Guest 667- Registered: 6 Apr 2008
- Posts: 919
17 October 2008
23:347710Yes he is only a child, but at his age he does know right from wrong and yes his parents should be made to pay the full cost. Then just maybe they will punish him.
I doubt any thing will happen though, other than a ticking off. After all it was only yesterday a man was fined £100 and 8 points on his licence for killing someone due to wreckless driving of a car. £100 for the life of a person what a joke.
Punishment fit the crime we just have no idea, the do gooders have taken over. When I was about 6 I was locked in a police night cell for about 10 minutes for a punishment after my Dad took me to the police station. I screamed the place down but never did it again. Not saying it is the right sort of action but just try doing that today and the parent would end up inside along with the police officer.
Guest 644- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,214
18 October 2008
02:467715Not having read the DE I don't know the details of the story, but either this child was supervised or not. If so, why did the parents allow this child to run amok with washing up liquid, did they not care? Who had bought this and why? If the parents/supervisory adults were not there, then what on earth was an abandoned 8 year doing running around causing trouble?
Either way, it seems to me that in this case the parents should be culpable, and not just the 8 year old perpetrator.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
18 October 2008
07:297716Just to clarify, the boy is aged 11 and the story is on page 8 of Dover Express. See top posting above. Although its not a story as such just a tiny gem of a few lines.
Very interesting and diverse views there and food for thought.
Guest 641- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,335
18 October 2008
11:267735I feel that as originally stated that this is total overkill as far as the prosecution of the 11 year old is concerned, but taking all feedback on the forum, let the fine fit the crime - the parents should be liable to ALL costs in this daft age of sueing and counter-sueing which most people seem to understand as their god-given right.
Maybe remove the fountain and replace is with some 'tudor' stocks which would be great for the tourist trade and 'street scene' alike. Why not go all the way and contact our french compatriots and invite 'Madame Guillotine' as well.
