Modern Vespa

Looks like one step forward and two steps back for Police and their pursuit policies. Too bad.

Seattle did the same thing but stood their ground with the fine. How stupid it that?

'Front Page News' of the UK BBC website today. It doesn't say much more than we already know and have raised here, nor is it big on solutions, but if nothing else it keeps the issue alive in the public domain...

'The moped and scooter crime wave that has swept London' - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-40731485

In the guys at Scooter Lab video review of the current GTS300 in early July, they mention an early rumour that 2018 may see a tracker device fitted to new Vespa models.

https://www.scooterlab.uk/vespa-gts-125-300-euro-4-2017-versions-quick-spin/

This is the only bit I disagree with. But then, I'm not in London so it is reasonable I have a different perspective of when it is appropriate for a police officer to interfere with me.

It *is* a completely different perspective between the UK and US - at least from this Brit ex-pat's viewpoint. As a rider in the UK I've never been fussed when approached by the Police, I've always viewed them as being 'on my side', and always found them very friendly even when I'm been a trifle naughty. Sometimes I've been stopped just because they want a look at my bike - that happened a few times when the Fuoco was new. No problem from my POV.

On the other hand, being approached by a US police person with no smile, wearing dark glasses and with their hand on their holster is very intimidating.

I think you really need to experience it here, we are literally under siege by scum bag bike thieves at the moment and their tactics are getting more and more violent. As Robin says we see them daily in the City, a couple of intelligenty placed covert rd blocks and I think the police would see some pretty significant results.

As I see it, the day I think I can ...
Oh nevermind.

I saw that. Very elucidating for an American.

You're more than welcome to disagree but it would be a (very) strong indicator that the bike was stolen. As Jim stated, I don't mind being stopped every once in a while, if it means this issue can be sorted. I'd also prefer it if they impounded bikes with outrageously loud exhausts (not sure if you can impound bikes in the UK or whether I've been watching too many american cop shows).

A life sentence for the killer of Ricky Hayden, stabbed to death while trying to stop his scooter being stolen in September 2016. To my knowledge, the first person to be murdered in London in those circumstances.

The killer was 19 years old.

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/guilty-man-who-hacked-celebrity-bodyguard-to-death-with-machete-over-scooter-a3600161.html

My problem with cops in the US is they make every traffic stop like they are pulling over a suspected drug smuggler.

No, you need to understand US mentality of freedom,
as Ben Franklin said
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."

Some more footage featuring Vespas

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-40787310/moped-theft-crime-of-choice-for-young-people

It's a game, a sort of real life Grand Theft Auto for council estates for kids with nothing to do and nothing to lose.

I do voluntary work with teenagers to give them confidence and life skills, and I despair that 'the authorities' just have no coherent answer to crime, social deprivation, disadvantage, lack of opportunities and all the rest that's in this melting pot of problems. A melting pot of problems that no one wants to take some responsibility for, despite many being very well paid for that responsibility in a job title or a plaque on a door.

In the mean time, more and more money is being diverted to the pockets of the one percent.

Who is stopping you from opening a business working 80-100 hours a week and becoming a 1 percenter? I can tell you who, you! If you want to take the risk and work 100 hours a week, maybe you can be a 1% one day.

That right there is one of the hardest things to teach a rookie: that most people are just......people. The problem is that some "people" will smile and be all polite and everything.....right up until they decide to see if they can kill you.

Discernment, paired with sound tactics, goes a long way in helping to ensure the good people all get to go wherever without being molested or intimidated, while the bad people all get to have an increasingly eventful day.

people bang on about the good old days, think of your tax rate now and then - there will be a big difference. It's all very well moaning about police policy, human rights etc - in the end, we decide what sort of criminal justice system we want at every election. That applies to every single public setvice there is.

Police testing moped crime tagging spray - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-40788491

Sure, of course that's the theory, but the stats on the public voting turn out, the slim 'majority' of winning parties, layers of funding and decision makers, police commissioners and so on, means we don't REALLY decide what happens in our criminal justice system, we just put some blind faith and trust into 'the authorities' and hope they act on the things that matter to us as individuals. And because, as in this thread, people don't see a connection between the issue they're facing and the authorities response, that trust is often going only one way...down.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jan/16/britons-trust-in-government-media-business-falls-sharply

LBC Commentary as the issue continues to get radio air time as well as article headlines..

http://www.lbc.co.uk/news/london/this-is-why-moped-crime-is-soaring-and-police-cant/

Some good reporting and video of recent protests and the scooter riders who's living is being directly effected by London's scooter crime.

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/deliveroo-riders-refuse-work-in-parts-of-london-after-acid-attacks-and-thefts-a3602716.html

I've talked with a couple of my cop mates from a west london nick. One's an ardent scooterist. They are really pissed off with all of this because it makes them look crap. Scooter thieving is now not just the theft of the vehicle,but robbery with violence. Their hands are tied as when they pursue these nutters the chance of some innocent pedestrian getting hit is big. These kids know this and get a big thrill sticking 2 fingers up to the law and gangsta respect with all the other toerags they hang around with. And it's lucrative and more or less risk free unless a startled mob manages to knock one of a nicked scooter. They tell me CTV only helps after the crime has been done with a bit of sleuthing. They can't stop and search 2 up kids with dodgy number plates because this may end up as a chase, and these kids can ride as well as Evil Kneival. Unfortunately there will be more maiming and a death before this gets stamped on, and I suppose draconian laws will screw up the enjoyment for us lawful scooterists.
Another thought, maybe Vespa should re name the next edition GTS...
The Bandit. It seems more appropriate.
Gass silver machine GTS 250

Enough politics, maybe?

That's not really true, though, is it.

This issue is daily news now for the Evening Standard newspaper and website, one of the capitals main news outlets.

Contrary to the 'no pursuit' policy that's often mentioned, this story covers police pursuit with officers, cars and a supporting helicopter.

I'm very interested to see if any one incident is a tipping point that changes the conversation and action on this with the authorities and police. It is always a case of which issue is pushed to the top of the 'attention pile'.

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/moped-gang-terrorised-shops-across-london-armed-with-hammers-knives-and-guns-a3603126.html

Opinion from The Guardian this morning:

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/aug/04/police-stop-criminals-mopeds-skills-numbers

20,000 police jobs eliminated since 2010. Gotta wonder where all the money "saved" has gone.
Any ideas?

Then that would be a political discussion. You should know better

Since you posted the link, I didn't see any politics in a simple question of economics. I assumed from the article a discussion would ensue and that was why you posted it?
Or am I missing something here?

I think it is true. There are clear choices about criminal justice between political parties. If one party gets a majority, you get that outcome. If you don't understand what you are voting for, pay closer attention. If you can't understand cause and effect, get someone to help you.

There is this sort of default in Britain that things will stay the same, even while people vote for parties with radical agendas. It's real head in the sand stuff.

Ah, mea culpa, missed the wink.

There are idiots on two wheels in Birmingham too:

http://metro.co.uk/2017/08/04/ballsy-biker-does-a-smack-cam-on-police-rider-before-speeding-off-6828109/

On a BV350 no less...

has anyone reported the faulty Watford Gap toe-rag filter?

Its a jungle out there.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-london-40860045/putney-bridge-cctv-of-jogger-pushing-woman-in-front-of-bus

Tough, hard-hitting articles to read about how even some dealers are feeling scared and intimidated by the scooter gangs, and how the 'solutions' offered by the authorities are a 'cop out' that just won't address the problems...

http://www.britishdealernews.co.uk/general-news/revival-modern-highway-man

http://www.britishdealernews.co.uk/general-news/i-am-mechanic-not-combat-specialist

BB great articles. IMHO i wouldn't lose sleep if the person who stole the MC/Scooter got killed in a chase. However it's usually a bystander that gets it.

Karen is a great person! Her garage is 2 mins away from my workplace and we do try to look after our local businesses.