 |
| Llandaff Cathedral Source: Twitter |
The Dean and Chapter of Llandaff Cathedral are seeking to recruit a Chief Operating Officer in a newly created post as a key member of the Cathedral’s senior staff to support them in 'developing and delivering strategy and leading the Cathedral’s administration'.
Salary: £50,000 up to £65,000 for an exceptional candidate. Closing date tomorrow, 17 May 2023.
A Chief Executive/Chapter Clerk was appointed in 2021.
Salary: £50,000 - £60,000 per year.
Ten years ago Llandaff Cathedral worshippers were asked to increase their giving amid a 'major financial crisis'. Apparently the Cathedral can now afford £100,000+ to assist senior clergy in the performance of their ministry.
But they still can't afford to employ Lay Clerks for the Cathedral Choir with proper employment contracts, employment rights, sick pay, holiday pay and pensions?
ReplyDeleteZero hours burger flippers are obviously more desirable.
Not to mention the last accounts recording the approval by the Dean & Chapter of a budget for a £109k deficit.
If you haven't already done so, I suggest you all stop your giving.
No mention of any posts for Vergers in the hierarchy structure chart. Does that mean Mr Toad has finally been told to go forth and multiply?
DeleteDeveloping and delivering strategy?
DeleteOne might be forgiven for thinking the Old Testament, the New Testament, the Lord's prayer, the Nicene creed, the Catechism, the Book of Common Prayer, the Apostles Creed or the 39 Articles don't exist!
How in God's name did the Cathedral make it to 900 years without this latest guff and management speak?
In a cul-de-sac at the bottom of a hill, restricted site avoided by coach drivers and motorists alike. Good luck to the new Chief Operating Officer.
DeleteLW
Avoided by most of the public too, as the communicant numbers would confirm if only they were published.
DeleteHD, as a newcomer of seen the term ‘burger flipper’ come up in several of your comments. Only knowing vague details seen in the news a near-decade ago, I wonder if you could enlighten us laymen what you mean… I can’t help feel it slightly derogatory towards those particular members of the choir, but I’m sure it’s a simple misunderstanding on my part.
DeleteSticky Wicket
So what, apart from serving up sherry in the Lady Chapel, is the purpose of the Dean and Chapter?
DeleteBewildered
Llandaff Cathedral has a lot in common with the BBC.
Deletehttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/05/18/radio-4-loses-million-listeners-in-year-today-programme/
The BBC refuses to publish audience numbers for any of its radio programs, preferring to keep them concealed from the license fee payers.
One never ceases to be amazed at the ease with which ludicrous sums of money are magically discovered for vanity projects, junkets and non-jobs for non-clerics.
DeleteIt's as if such sums can be conjured from thin air by revaluing the Cathedral property portfolio annually.
It will be illuminating to see what happens with the next set of Cathedral accounts as property prices take a severe haircut in the current economic climate.
@1662
DeleteDiscreet inquiries all suggest Mr Toad and his chum Dick the Server are no longer blighting the Cathedral environs.
And two posts in the music department!
ReplyDeleteBut still no Parish Choir.
DeleteWas this a thing? I assume different to the ‘cathedral’(?) choir?
DeleteSticky Wicket
A none story here. Give up AB. You’re out of the loop lovely, a long time ago. Saddo.
ReplyDeleteLG
"It has been a good week for woke humiliation."
Deletehttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/05/19/weve-reached-peak-woke/
Keep up the good work AB and to hell with the lunatic fringe. Long may they continue to be ridiculed for the fools they are.
An average salary for such a position… see the cathedrals of Worcester and Lincoln for similar appointments made years ago for similar (greater) salaries. I have to agree this is a fairly non-story.
ReplyDeleteSticky Wicket
Does your comparison with other Cathedrals extend to their accounts, income over expenditure, size, numbers of communicants and tourist visitors, popularity and affordability?
DeleteHow about the way in which the other Cathedrals (mis)treat their employees, especially their musicians?
DeleteDick Pickles: Well Worcester posted a predicted £250,000 deficit in operational costs in their last accounts, but you're right, lets find a more comparable example.
DeleteDerby is advertising a COO at £55,000 with a predicted £95,000 deficit in their last accounts, and I'm sure this isn't uncommon. There are several others in similar positions. (This isn't insider knowledge, you can actually find this out publicly believe it or not!)
The truth is cathedrals understand that in the modern world they need to find new ways of making their buildings viable, and that clergy are neither equiped nor qualified to manage this level of development. COOs are an investment, lest these places fold and lose the history and heritage within (though I get the impression that their closure would be a desirable outcome for many on here).
Sticky W
Harold Darke: Is there any of that happening now at Llandaff? Hasn't it been a decade since the published trouble? An entirely new staff and chapter in place since then?
DeleteYou all really do seem bent to cling to this image of Llandaff as the centre of a decade old hellhole. Do you have any points to support these claims?
If you want a serious answer to your rhetorical question, I suggesting doing some research. Maybe have a look at the recent debacle at Wells and realise things could be much worse.
Sticky Wicket
Gracious me.
DeleteIt took you almost a week to come up with Derby as your what-aboutism?
Let's stick to your original choices of Worcester and Lincoln along with the original questions.
Of course the singers are still being treated as second class, it's de rigeur in Llandaff.
DeleteWhat other Cathedral staff have ever been put on, and remain on, zero hours contracts?
Which parts of no employment rights, no sick pay, no holiday pay and no pensions do you think are advantageous?
Even that nincompoop Justin Welby called out zero hours contracts as abusive and exploitative several years ago. Of course it's entirely fair to say that the hypocrite failed to check his facts before doing so and was rightly slated in the press when it emerged that the Church of England engages in widespread use of zero hours contracts too.
Which of the following in Llandaff enjoy the benefits of being on a zero hours contact?
Typhoid Mary, slippery Dick the sherry, the Chapter, the Chapter clerk, the Director of Music, the assistant Organist, the Director of Music's wife, the Canon Precentor's son and of course, the soon to be appointed Chief Operating Officer, who allegedly will be responsible for the the Cathedral's administration? 🤔
The fact the Cathedral doesn't even now count its singers as "employees" serves to confirm the low regard in which they are held and that Llandaff Cathedral continues to be a disreputable employer.
The disgraceful reality is it wouldn't cost a great deal of money to treat the singers properly but doing the right thing hasn't been a priority in Llandaff Cathedral for literally decades.
I see nothing to suggest there is any reason for me to review my decision to stop my giving. If they can afford salaries of £50-65k they don't need my money.
Believe it or not, I have better things to do than spend ALL my time on here, but I'll humour you.
DeleteI've addressed my Worcester example, and I think it's fair to say, with it's heritage as a three choirs cathedral, is a major tourist attraction and probably experiences greater numbers of visitors and communicants, yet still recorded deficits well in excess of those of Llandaff.
Lincoln is different and was able to record a surplus, but as one the UKs most popular attractions, and with the luxury of charging for admission, it's in a slightly different boat.
I wouldn't dare to claim every cathedral is struggling on the same level, but clearly Llandaff isn't alone, nor should it alone be criticised for taking reasonable action.
P.S. A northern cathedral, in all it's glory, recorded a near £300,000 deficit, but are advertising a £75,000 role... I'll let you find out who that is, but just to let you know the grass isn't all that greener outside of Cardiff.
SW
@Sticky Wicket
DeleteMy research suggests that Worcester, Lincoln and Derby Cathedrals still have proper Lay Clerks on the back rows of their Cathedral choirs and that they all benefit from real contracts of employment with the appropriate terms, conditions and protections that accrue therefrom.
Your point?
"Taking reasonable action" you say?
DeleteLlandaff Cathedral?
Don't make me choke on my green tea.
Introducing widely discredited zero hours contracts for its "professional" singers in the first place was a disgrace but continuing to use them is reprehensible.
The Dean & Chapter should be ashamed.
My point was that I thought this was a discussion about the post of COO, not the contracts of lay clerks, who knew!
DeleteI agree, the sacking of the music department was a travesty, and hopefully one not to be repeated. However, it’s always much harder to reestablish a department than tear it down, and I’m sure recent events regarding former members of clergy will only have served to shift focus away from such things as reestablishing lay clerkships.
However, the ‘zero hours’ system isn’t unique. I believe Manchester uses a similar by-the-service system, and it suits them because it allows their singers more flexibility to persue other work (some places still have ‘voluntary’ lay clerks I think, but that could all be a thing of the past, happy to be corrected…) I obviously don’t know the ins and outs around here, but I’m sure neither do you. Has anyone actually spoken with the singers here to see if they’re aggrieved by this arrangement? Has anyone spoken to the Organist ascertain the current situation? Or do you rather just lambast the admirable efforts made already in resurrecting the music department?
re: Derby and such, well indeed they’re fortunate that they went into the pandemic with contracts in place that couldn’t just be ditched over lockdown. (But let’s remember that Llandaff could have done just that and sacked everyone off again to cut costs, but instead they came out of the other end keeping their singers on, employing a new assistant and taking on a girls choir). Worth noting that Derby, along with many others, pay such a small stipend (per service reasonable, but not many services) that the only ‘benefit’ the lay clerks are really offered is the ability to call one’s self a lay clerk. With the exception of London and a few other select locations, long gone are the days when one could rely solely on a lay clerkship to make a living, and professionals understand this. I’ll be the first to shout from the rooftops that musicians aren’t treated well enough, but that’s unfortunately an industry-wide issue, not just a church issue, and certainly not just a ‘Llandaff’ problem, to suggest otherwise is indeed ‘reprehensible’. It may not be perfect, but I think there’s plenty to be lauded for what’s been achieved out of the ashes of the past.
It baffles the mind that so many of you are desperate to cling on to events of a decade ago when clearly there’s currently a lot of good will, support and development for the choir within the cathedral. And I find it equally am alarmed to witness you lament their treatment in one breath, and refer to them as ‘burger flippers’ the next. Come on ladies and gentlemen, which is it?
And back to COO for one second, has everyone just ignored the fact that this isn’t a new pot of money, and was already being used for the same post, or is that unimportant?
As usual, Sticky Wicket
Apologies, I am equally alarmed…
DeleteThat’ll teach me for burning my soup whilst typing.
SW
Not a new pot of money?
DeleteCan you please name the previous post holder?
So you need to go from Worcester and Lincoln to Derby and Manchester to avoid answering the questions.
DeleteWhat a hero.
Dick P: Hmmm, perhaps I'm mistaken, but I'd rather taken from the Job Description that this was replacing the afore-mentioned Chief Executive, given that the CE isn't mentioned at all, and is seemingly replaced by the COO in the management structure. The job spec reads as CE as well:
DeleteThis from the Job Spec:
'Dean and Chapter are seeking to appoint a Chief Operating Officer with overall responsibility for the lay administration, non-liturgical governance and operations of the Cathedral.'
This from the news article published about the appointment of a Chief Exec:
'[...] will be responsible for the lay administration, non-liturgical governance and day-to-day operations of the Cathedral.'
https://www.llandaffcathedral.org.uk/chief-executive-chapter-clerk-appointed/
Sounds like the same job to me...
If mistaken, I'll take my humble pie and eat it.
SW
Cymru'r Groes: Apologies, I hadn't thought I'd dodged any question, just provided a few examples covering a small sample of what actually goes on in the world... Is there a specific question you'd like me to take a blind punt at?
DeleteSticky W
I repeat SW.
DeleteCan you name the previous post holder?
It really is a very straight forward question.
Sticky Wicket. It's different from. (Similar to) !
ReplyDeleteDing, dong! The bishop's fled. Joanna has finally resigned. Good riddance. What a wonderful way to celebrate the Ascension.
ReplyDeletePraise be and Alleluia.
DeleteShe should never have been appointed in the first place.
Bazza's best man for the job was another of the disastrous wimmin.
DodoJo has finally done the decent thing after lining her pockets and topping up her pension pot?
Deletehttps://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-dorset-57503783
It took almost two years but every Conservative in west Wales will be celebrating.
Good bloody riddance to the wretched wrench.
Some long overdue good news on the matter.
DeleteHowever, the successor is likely to be another fool, probably "trans" so the chocolate teapot can tick another diversity box.
I cannot find any reference to her resignation.
DeleteCymro
Retirement announcement:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.churchinwales.org.uk/en/news-and-events/bishop-of-st-davids-to-retire/
Environmental matters and social mobility networks.
DeleteWhat about her huge contributions to Twitter and being a faithful Corbynista?
None of which had anything to do with carrying out the job she was actually appointed to do.
Plus she's even got the brass neck to hang on for another two months sick pay and pension contributions.
What a good little champagne socialist.
I hope she enjoys a very long and happy retirement. One less thing for AB to blog on about. Hope she also reactivates Twitter and makes up for lost time in her Tory tirade.
ReplyDeleteLG
You really are perverse, in every sense.
DeleteNo, I genuinely genuinely wish her a long and happy retirement. And I was really saddened when she came off Twitter, she spoke a lot of truth. Many of the Tory policies are anti Christian and they lied during the pandemic and feathered their own nests and the nests of their friends. Incestuous, I admire Bishop Joanna for calling it out. A true Bishop . The bench is the poorer.
DeleteLG
So tell me genius, why didn't she also call out Jeremy Corbyn and his dinner for nine people during the rule of six?
DeleteWhy didn't she slate the SNP MP who travelled on a train back to Glasgow after having been informed she had tested positive for Covid-19?
DodoJo is an utter hypocrite.
As are you.
Saddo and a**e hole.
LG appears to me to be precisely the same type of moron that's busy causing huge problems at the Oxford University debating society.
DeleteEither kowtow to their point of view or be bullied, harassed and cancelled.
Well, as some forty Oxford academics demonstrated earlier this week, the silent majority have had enough of such bullshit and are fighting back.
Amusing. You state a contrary opinion on this website and you lot can’t cope. I’m not one for silencing others. But calling me an a—se etc says it all.
DeleteLG
Avoiding the questions once more.
DeleteQuite right, a**e hole is far too grand a term for you. I apologise for raising you above your abilities and station in life.
The brain of an amoeba LG.
DeleteSo it's OK for you to call Ancient Briton a "saddo" but not for someone else to refer to you as a rectum?
Delete🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣
Thanks Menai. I'll not begin to tell you the universities this brain has degrees from. Come back with an insult, why don't you - go on ......
DeleteLG
My guess is Oxford.
DeleteThe place that deplatforms those who hold different opinions to yours.
The place where the amoeba are attempting to overcome the petri dish that contains them.
What degrees, media studies, social science?
WOW! bitter, bitter person. Not sure sharing an opinion is deplatforming those who hold a contrary one, but then I guess if your views are that fragile, then me sharing mine will be very threatening. Take the evening off.
DeleteLG
Avoiding the questions you asked for.
DeletePathetic.
@LG
Delete"... the Universities this brain has degrees from"?
Obviously it wasn't English.
Try "... the Universities from which this brain has been awarded degrees".
Two can play at being pedantic.
Was it a third rate Polytechnic in Oxford?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-65671806
DeleteMargaret Ferrier's suspension from Parliament confirmed and should result in a by-election.
How appropriate if it was to occur the same week DodoJo slings her hook. 😂
DodoJo and Margaret Ferrier have a lot in common.
Deletehttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-65681240
Neither have a leg to stand on but both are hanging on "brazenly" to the bitter end to line their pockets to maximum personal advantage and to hell with the taxpayers/pew-sitters opinions.
They are both equally beneath contempt.
Pemberthy was elected in 2016. This period of sick leave coupled with the last period of sick leave, and inactivity due to COVID meant the only positive thing about her 'episcopate' was her Ph.D. Not much bishoping happened. Long may she enjoy her very generous pension.
ReplyDeleteDon't fool yourself, there was no such election. Darth Insidious bully boy --Bazza arranged to have her shoe-horned into the post and the Holy Ghost didn't get a look-in.
DeleteHow did it turn out?
Disaster.
Just like everything else tainted by the touch of --Morgan the Malignant of Llys Ego.
Her thesis is an excellent read to be fair.
DeleteLG
That's as may be, but the rest of her seven years as "Bishop" has been a total washout. She'll be no loss to St Davids or the cult in Wales.
DeleteAfter I completed my Ph.D I vowed never to read any other persons offering. 😄. Subversive Canon, I agree about Pemberthy 's election. What a legacy Morgan left the CiW. !
ReplyDeleteShocked you have A PhD - you show such bias here, how did you manage it?
DeleteLG
I wonder if all doctorates are given for a thesis which either expands knowledge or throws a new light on existing knowledge and are rigorously examined by two oral examiners of whom one is external to the institution giving the degree?
Delete@MO
DeleteNot so much a legacy, more like multiple unbearably heavy mill stones. Morgan was the single worst thing ever to happen to the Church in Wales. I doubt it will ever recover from his malign meddling.
The Satanic Temple.
ReplyDeleteComing to a town near you soon.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-65549975
No surprise to learn it appeals to so many of the LGBTQIA community, social workers, therapists etc but I can't see what's in it for scientists or engineers.
Doesn’t appeal to me in the slightest. You’re mistaken. No surprise there.
DeleteLG
Who's talking about you?
DeleteWasn't assuming anyone was talking about me, merely responding to the above comment to say it didn't interest me. Why, does it interest you Menai? I bet you've got quite a dark side you old minx
DeleteLG
@ Frederick Jones:
ReplyDeleteGlib and slipshod comments from LG are to be expected but you surprise me Frederick. 'Thesis' are generally those Bachelors, sometimes Masters woolly-woofy essays of limited knowledge and (pp) size whereas for a Doctorate (Ph.D) they are defined as 'Dissertations'.. Not that it matters much: just being pedantic.
Ad Clerum
The British Library talks now of doctoral theses. So it would appear does the University of Cambridge. This was also so in the late 60s when I wrote a thesis. I may be out of date as Im very ancient. However while not accusing you of being glib or slipshod and regretting you anonymity may I thank you for your pedantry and comment and suggest that you are wrong.
ReplyDeleteBravo Frederick.
DeleteLG
How utterly disastrous will Penberthy's episcopacy be viewed? I'd like to pose the question: whose was worse, Penberthy or Osborne? May be a good piece for the blog AB.
ReplyDeleteWHAMAB
Credit where it's due, friend.
DeleteAt least Caiaphas achieved one positive outcome during her five year reign of bullying, the removal of the former antiques dealing Capon the dud from the Deanery to that backwater, Thaxted.
On the other hand, she's also left Llandaff lumbered with slippery Dick the sherry, though chickens may yet come home to roost when Dominic Grieve publishes his Christchurch report.
REMINDER
ReplyDeleteCommentators should note that anonymous comments intended for publication must be supported by a pseudonym .
@AB
DeleteHumble apologies, I posted a comment earlier this afternoon and suspect I may have forgotten to sign it off as me.
You are not alone Ruth. Please resubmit. Many thanks you for your contributions.
DeleteDoes anyone watch the you tube services from Llandaff? The usual number in the congregation at the 11am on a Sunday is around 29/31.
ReplyDeleteWhy bother?
DeleteYou'll only get the sh*te rite imposed by Morgan the malignant, but it sounds as though the free sherry isn't exactly packing them in.
Hardly surprising.
DeleteBetween them Capon and Caiaphas were the final nails in the coffin lid.
I understand that attendance at Llandaff Cathedral is in the many hundreds across all of the services on a Sunday. Attendance is now growing and there is a very positive and welcoming vibe in the place.
DeleteNot sure the sherry was ever intended to pack them in - that particular service has always been a wee bit niche, but nice that they have opportunity for a little hospitality. Many of the more catholic parishes in London serve a glass of sherry after the mass, so I thought the readership here would be delighted to read about this.
Look for the positive.
LG
What you understand and what the publicly available YouTube videos reveal are at odds.
DeleteIf you're so confident of your understanding of the situation, why don't you challenge slippery Dick to publish the weekly Communicant numbers?
Someone of your long standing commitment to the Cathedral will remember that was the case before the dud Capon stopped it in December 2015 (due to contributors to AB's blog monitoring and pointing out the rapid and terminal decline taking place due to his spite along with that of Peggy the Pilate).
Go on LG, wield some of that considerable influence you would have us all believe that you wield in Llandaff.
While you're at it LG, why not ask for the number of those who can be bothered to register on the Cathedral's Electoral roll too?
DeleteOh my, I don’t pretend to real there, any influence support least of all in Llandaff
DeleteLG
English is definitely not your strong suit. Forget the third rate Oxford Polytechnic, did you even manage a GCSE?
DeleteOh dear, I’m all fingers and thumbs in that particular post.
DeleteLG
I know Menai bach, I'm an embrassment to myself, you old minx.
DeleteLG
It's remarkable what passes as fact around here. I've just sat here and counted nearly 60 in a particularly restricted shot of the 11am on last week's live stream so safe to assume a far healthier number behind the camera, previous streams appear similar, and the last 9am I attended was absolutely heaving...
DeleteI suppose it would be a stupid question to ask if anyone has actually set foot in the building and seen this for themselves?
Sticky Wicket
Thank you Sticky. That's also been my experience of the Cathedral. Very healthy congregations, a warm welcome and a more relaxed feel to the place. Now that Richard is there, you can tell the place is prayed in once again. Probably the first Dean in many years to take prayer so seriously. Things are on the up. It's a joy to be a member there.
DeleteLG
Christian teacher faces ban from the profession for failing to call a girl a boy, in a girls school.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/05/22/joshua-sutcliffe-teacher-who-misgendered-pupil-banned/
The TRA is a disgrace and should itself be banned.
Pandering to these sad deluded muddled children with mental health issues is not the answer.
Bewildered
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/05/23/teacher-sacked-misgendering-pupil/
DeleteChristian teacher "misgendered" pupil.
"I was told to call her a him. I couldn't go along with it".
Well done Sir but common sense now costs you your job in the woke teaching profession.
Bewildered
LG. I don't understand your last contribution .
ReplyDeleteNo worry
DeleteLG
Why are the police to blame? The boys who very sadly died were two up on an electric bike travelling at speed so a bad ending was likely for them or others - other children for instance. If the police did not pursue them we would be saying 'why don't the police stop them, etc,,,,'
DeleteLW
If the Police could be ars*d to patrol the streets and get out on a beat rather than surrender the streets to the hooligans since they closed Ely police station to the public many years ago, this tragedy might never have happened at all.
DeleteThe number of illegal electric scooters, scramblers and quadbikes ridden/driven around the West side of Cardiff, often wheelieing and speeding on the pavements, is beyond.
I have little sympathy either for the idiots on the scooter or the duplicitous police.
The police were caught on CCTV pursuing them despite them denying they did so. In any case, their pursuit was utterly ineffective because they failed to catch them. Now they claim there was no police vehicle or officers in the street where the incident occurred and the two teenagers died.
DeleteThe teenagers were idiots but the police can't have it both ways either.
Bewildered
Isn't CCTV a wonderful addition to our society?
ReplyDeletehttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-65687785
Especially when it helps catch out duplicitous Plod of the South Wales Constabulary!
Alun Michael must be furious with his Chief Constable for all the egg he now has on his face. Another socialist failure from the Cardiff Bay trough.
Alun Michael has been a complete plonker for years, a hopeless MP, a hopeless First Minister and now a hopeless Police Commissioner as well as vastly overpaid.
DeleteOne of Bazza's mates in the Taffia.
It didn't take Canoness Jan Gould very long to get her name into the media.
DeleteOne wonders if the two teenagers on the scooter were members of her Sunday school?
Having seen the released CCTV of the chase South Wales Police claimed never happened, I will never again believe a word from them without independent verifiable objective evidence.
DeleteHow long will it be, if ever, before we see the unedited footage from the body cameras of the officers in pursuit in the van?
Not holding my breath.
Bewildered
Plod in south Wales are lying scum and not to be trusted.
DeleteThey will always close ranks and screw you over.
Latest update.
Deletehttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-wales-65690565
South Wales Police avoiding questions.
Sounds all too familiar.
Plod not to be trusted.
Modern slavery statistics.
ReplyDeleteHardly surprising to learn muslim states are among the worst.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/climate-and-people/modern-slavery-human-trafficking-forced-labour/
Not a peep on the issue from Black Lives Matter or the Church of England.
When is Justin Welby going to announce spending £100 million on helping those who are still alive and experiencing these dreadful conditions today?
@ Ancient Briton
ReplyDeleteAge, experience and wisdom stopped me from retorting to the ignorant comments of Zebedee, Bewildered and Martha reference the tragedy in Ely, Cardiff, and their slagging off - typically without knowledge, evidence or information - of South Wales Police. I was so, so tempted to jump in with my own (perhaps better) understanding of what happened. As anyone who watched the CCTV footage will have immediately noted was that (a) this was not a Police vehicle pursuit (no sirens, blue lights and the non aggressive, -30 mph speed etc) and (b) some half a mile away from the crash scene. And even then, the police van was halted some way away from the fatal accident (inexperienced, illegal cyclist) by road bollards so no involvement at the scene of the teenager's tragic loss of control.
There is a massive difference - huge in fact - between a police vehicle following a suspect vehicle for observation and a hot 'pursuit'.
The suggestion that SW Police is now referred to the IOPC is also negative comment. It is MANDATORY on any police force to report itself in such matters. It has acted with propriety. In short, AB, the truth will out ... and you will find that there may well have been very good reason for SW Police not to answer all the Day 1 media questions. It was then still a live investigation.
Who are your commentators Zebedee, Martha, Bewildered, etc. to cajole you and your readers into their Police-hostile views? But more particularly, AB, where do you currently stand as proprietor, editor, etc. of a once well-reputed Blog-site in allowing your site to become voicepiece for such tirade ... something contrary to the views and opinions of the greater majority of Welsh population.
No national newspaper 'Letters Editor' would publish their comments while sub judicie live issue and facts not known: where, unless you have lowered yourself to Twitter sewage rank do you justify use of the AB site for such ill-informed, leftie, bile.
Once the true (examined) facts are know, I assume you as Blog-publisher, Zebedee, Martha, Bewildered and Jack-the-Ripper will be the first to open a new Blog site called 'Oooooops - Sorry'
I remind to new readers, I am not a former copper. I happen to be called Will and I am old. Hence Old Bill
Old Bill
Old Bill, you're very late to the party, many of us concluded years ago that AB's articles never have substance in fact - they're the 'theological'(hardly) equivalent of the Daiy Mail.
DeleteLG
Old Bill, I too am old but may perhaps lack your experience and wisdom. As stated in the introductory notes any comments submitted are the responsibility of the contributor(s) and will not necessarily reflect the views of the blog owner.
ReplyDeleteMany comments received could be classed as off topic but I am encouraged by readers to take a broad approach which obviously leaves me open to criticism.
After your stern admonishment I am sure you will not expect me to comment on the matters you raise but can assure you that I have no plans to open a new Blog site called 'Oooooops - Sorry'.
Since the subject is off topic the matter is now closed.