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Wivenhoe: Youngsters at risk from tombstoning
YOUNGSTERS have been risking their lives by jumping off a quay.
Police have been called out several times to reports of thrillseekers clambering over railings to take the plunge from Wivenhoe's waterfront.
Shocked residents have even spotted parents encouraging their children to make the three metre-plus drop from West Quay.
In a bid to discourage the practice, dubbed "tombstoning," a ladder that the jumpers used as an escape route has recently been removed.
Two men, John Castleman, 48, and Kelvin Rothwell, 43, died last year after jumping off Clacton Pier in a tombstoning stunt.
County councillor Julie Young said, though the pier was far higher than the quay, the dangers of jumping in could be just as great.
"This is really foolish behaviour and we are very concerned about the possibility of fatalities," said Mrs Young, who represents the Wivenhoe St Andrew's division on the council.
"The activity is not restricted to young people who may not understand the dangers but adults are also involved, even encouraging children to do this.
"Policing in Wivenhoe has been stepped up on a Friday and Saturday night to cope with the antisocial behaviour of some young people in the community, and now police resources must be targeted around curbing this activity.
"I really wish to warn everyone not to do this as the dangers involved are too big a risk."
The tombstoning problem was raised at a recent meeting of Wivenhoe's neighbourhood action panel.
10:27pm Monday 19th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Ginsters Dragon, Wivenhoe on 9:29pm Mon 19 May 08
"Policing in Wivenhoe has been stepped up on a Friday and Saturday night to cope with the antisocial behaviour of some young people in the community, and now police resources must be targeted around curbing this activity."
The police "operation" on Friday (operation milking the overtime), was a laughable overeaction. Quite literally in fact, I witnessed a number of sensible law abiding adults (of which I count myself as one) laughing in total disbelief.
The "anti-social behaviour" consisted of a bunch of 14 year old kids hanging around outside the Co-op swigging, amongst other intoxicating substances, Iron-Bru and Diet Coke.
There have been a number of serious instances in Wivenhoe in recent months but, in sharp contrast to Friday's kiddies tea party, the local plod didn't feel the need to respond in numbers. Could that because drunk or drugged up 18-30 year olds might actually be genuinely dangerous.
For those wanting the details - perhaps you're interested in where your taxes are going - my girlfriend and I counted eight PC's, two cars and a paddy waggon..... Perhaps they missed out on Manchester and were itching for some action!
"Policing in Wivenhoe has been stepped up on a Friday and Saturday night to cope with the antisocial behaviour of some young people in the community, and now police resources must be targeted around curbing this activity."
The police "operation" on Friday (operation milking the overtime), was a laughable overeaction. Quite literally in fact, I witnessed a number of sensible law abiding adults (of which I count myself as one) laughing in total disbelief.
The "anti-social behaviour" consisted of a bunch of 14 year old kids hanging around outside the Co-op swigging, amongst other intoxicating substances, Iron-Bru and Diet Coke.
There have been a number of serious instances in Wivenhoe in recent months but, in sharp contrast to Friday's kiddies tea party, the local plod didn't feel the need to respond in numbers. Could that because drunk or drugged up 18-30 year olds might actually be genuinely dangerous.
For those wanting the details - perhaps you're interested in where your taxes are going - my girlfriend and I counted eight PC's, two cars and a paddy waggon..... Perhaps they missed out on Manchester and were itching for some action!
Posted by: Wiseguy, Colchester on 10:21pm Mon 19 May 08
Actually, the entire police prescence in Wivenhoe last Friday night was provided by the Specials, so the cost to the tax payer was the princely sum of half a tank of diesel. And because they didn't have Ginsters Dragon's amazing ability to detect crime before it happened, yes, they probably were checking areas for disorder that only contained youngsters. Which is whom all the complaints have been about in the first place. Hey ho, as an old Sgt said to me when I started my training, one thing about being a copper is that everyone knows how to do your job better...NOT!
Actually, the entire police prescence in Wivenhoe last Friday night was provided by the Specials, so the cost to the tax payer was the princely sum of half a tank of diesel. And because they didn't have Ginsters Dragon's amazing ability to detect crime before it happened, yes, they probably were checking areas for disorder that only contained youngsters. Which is whom all the complaints have been about in the first place. Hey ho, as an old Sgt said to me when I started my training, one thing about being a copper is that everyone knows how to do your job better...NOT!
Posted by: Citizen 139 on 10:06am Tue 20 May 08
Like lemmings to the slaughter, let them continue jumping and ensure that the parents are forced to pay any medical bills.
Why should taxpayers fork out for their medical care when they eventually injure themselves for being so stupid?
I guarantee that if one of them becomes injured, they'll take legal action against the council because there wasn't enough protection to prevent them from jumping.
Like lemmings to the slaughter, let them continue jumping and ensure that the parents are forced to pay any medical bills.
Why should taxpayers fork out for their medical care when they eventually injure themselves for being so stupid?
I guarantee that if one of them becomes injured, they'll take legal action against the council because there wasn't enough protection to prevent them from jumping.
Posted by: snackajack, colchester on 10:27am Tue 20 May 08
What complete idiots! i do not know what the fascination of tombstoning is!the injured get no sympathy from me, it is there family i feel sorry for as they selfishly risk there lives.
What complete idiots! i do not know what the fascination of tombstoning is!the injured get no sympathy from me, it is there family i feel sorry for as they selfishly risk there lives.
Posted by: Gideon Smythe, Wivenhoe on 2:01pm Tue 20 May 08
Tombstoning? This was happening outside my house and all I saw was a bunch of kids, diving into the water on a hot day and generally having a bit of a laugh.
Admittedly they were very noisy (which irritated me a bit I suppose) and I assumed that half of Essex Constabulary had turned out to ask them to calm down a bit. But indulging in a dangerous activity? No, just kids having a laugh. Perhaps we'd prefer them to hang around outside the park smoking and drinking or, worse, stay indoors playing computer games and not learning the art of social interaction.
One of them may well injure themselves soon. But that's what being young is all about. I fell off my bicycle loads of times when I was young, perhaps we should ban them as well, just in case.
Finally, removing the steps. Wonderful idea, how are people supposed to moor there now?
Tombstoning? This was happening outside my house and all I saw was a bunch of kids, diving into the water on a hot day and generally having a bit of a laugh.
Admittedly they were very noisy (which irritated me a bit I suppose) and I assumed that half of Essex Constabulary had turned out to ask them to calm down a bit. But indulging in a dangerous activity? No, just kids having a laugh. Perhaps we'd prefer them to hang around outside the park smoking and drinking or, worse, stay indoors playing computer games and not learning the art of social interaction.
One of them may well injure themselves soon. But that's what being young is all about. I fell off my bicycle loads of times when I was young, perhaps we should ban them as well, just in case.
Finally, removing the steps. Wonderful idea, how are people supposed to moor there now?
Posted by: Red Tape, Colchester on 5:04pm Tue 20 May 08
"In a bid to discourage the practice, dubbed "tombstoning," a ladder that the jumpers used as an escape route has recently been removed."
Yep that'll stop them - they'll all drown!
"In a bid to discourage the practice, dubbed "tombstoning," a ladder that the jumpers used as an escape route has recently been removed."
Yep that'll stop them - they'll all drown!
Posted by: Ginsters Dragon, Wivenhoe on 10:35am Wed 21 May 08
A wiseguy copper hey, that's a first.
Using your flawed logic we'd have to have armies of PC's hanging around on every street corner just in case. Still, beats working for living I suppose.
I'll take your word that the [bold]eight[/bold] officers were all specials, but even if they're cheap it still doesn't detract from the argument about wasted resources. Whilst they were exercising their "authority" without due cause they weren't available to be something more useful.
Sadly I'm frequently disappointed by the poor calibre of police recruit and it's exacerbated by the fact that it's seen as taboo to dare to criticise them.
Await the tired old refrain: "We're there for your protection and you'd be the first to call on us if needed"
A wiseguy copper hey, that's a first.
Using your flawed logic we'd have to have armies of PC's hanging around on every street corner just in case. Still, beats working for living I suppose.
I'll take your word that the
eight officers were all specials, but even if they're cheap it still doesn't detract from the argument about wasted resources. Whilst they were exercising their "authority" without due cause they weren't available to be something more useful.
Sadly I'm frequently disappointed by the poor calibre of police recruit and it's exacerbated by the fact that it's seen as taboo to dare to criticise them.
Await the tired old refrain: "We're there for your protection and you'd be the first to call on us if needed"
Posted by: resident, wivenhoe on 2:54pm Wed 21 May 08
As a resident living on the quay side I really do sympathise with the other residents who live near to where the ladders are located. We are not talking about a few young children having innocent fun with their families. We are talking about large groups of 15-20 older teenagers congregating for the whole day screaming, swearing and generally driving people out of their own homes to go elsewhere for the day. I have seen first hand and on a regular basis the same teenagers abusing the residents, throwing bag fulls of rubbish onto the pathway or into the river, using tennis rackets to aim stones at the swans and people in their boats and vandalism of the residents property. This antisocial behaviour needs to be stopped and it seems as if there is only one reason why they congregate there and that is to use the ladder.
As for the parents encouraging this behaviour perhaps they spend some time with them and take them swimming to a local pool instead. I hear the pool in Brightlingsea which is looking likely to close because of under use could do with their custom. If not we can only question how they would feel if 20 adults camped up in their garden for the day spreading rubbish and breaking their furniture?
If boats want to moor then they can use the sailing club where there are ample facilities.
It is worth pointing out that only half the ladder has been removed and in case of an emergency it would still be possible to climb up and anyone using the water should of course be wearing a life jacket.
Finally there have been various incidents of people tomb stoning and severely injuring themselves. This is nothing like falling off a bike. These kids are jumping into water when they have no idea what is at the bottom with sharp objects sticking out that could severely injure them not to mention the cleanliness of the water. If one of them does have an accident the council will be the first to blame for allowing them to jump there in the first place.
Wivenhoe is a beautiful peacful place and we would like to see it stay that way. So we really are behind the police in their difficult task.
As a resident living on the quay side I really do sympathise with the other residents who live near to where the ladders are located. We are not talking about a few young children having innocent fun with their families. We are talking about large groups of 15-20 older teenagers congregating for the whole day screaming, swearing and generally driving people out of their own homes to go elsewhere for the day. I have seen first hand and on a regular basis the same teenagers abusing the residents, throwing bag fulls of rubbish onto the pathway or into the river, using tennis rackets to aim stones at the swans and people in their boats and vandalism of the residents property. This antisocial behaviour needs to be stopped and it seems as if there is only one reason why they congregate there and that is to use the ladder.
As for the parents encouraging this behaviour perhaps they spend some time with them and take them swimming to a local pool instead. I hear the pool in Brightlingsea which is looking likely to close because of under use could do with their custom. If not we can only question how they would feel if 20 adults camped up in their garden for the day spreading rubbish and breaking their furniture?
If boats want to moor then they can use the sailing club where there are ample facilities.
It is worth pointing out that only half the ladder has been removed and in case of an emergency it would still be possible to climb up and anyone using the water should of course be wearing a life jacket.
Finally there have been various incidents of people tomb stoning and severely injuring themselves. This is nothing like falling off a bike. These kids are jumping into water when they have no idea what is at the bottom with sharp objects sticking out that could severely injure them not to mention the cleanliness of the water. If one of them does have an accident the council will be the first to blame for allowing them to jump there in the first place.
Wivenhoe is a beautiful peacful place and we would like to see it stay that way. So we really are behind the police in their difficult task.
Posted by: wq, wivenhoe on 3:26pm Wed 21 May 08
Excellent - I agree with Resident above . And I think Ginsters Dragon is being very short sighted .
Excellent - I agree with Resident above . And I think Ginsters Dragon is being very short sighted .
Posted by: Ginsters Dragon, Wivenhoe on 4:18pm Wed 21 May 08
I don't disagree with resident, but he or she is making a totally seperate point. My issue is with the politically exepient errant nonsense coming out of the mouth of Councillor Julie Young.
As for "wiseguy", I wouldn't expect any other response from a copper (you do tend to blindly support your own). If you adopt his approach to crime prevention you'd have to flood the streets with thousands of officers hanging around on street corners 'just in case'. Still, beats working I guess.
I'll have to take his word that the [bold]eight[/bold] police officers swaggering around outside the Co-op were specials. But even if they were it's still a waste of resources.... They could have been doing something useful.
I don't disagree with resident, but he or she is making a totally seperate point. My issue is with the politically exepient errant nonsense coming out of the mouth of Councillor Julie Young.
As for "wiseguy", I wouldn't expect any other response from a copper (you do tend to blindly support your own). If you adopt his approach to crime prevention you'd have to flood the streets with thousands of officers hanging around on street corners 'just in case'. Still, beats working I guess.
I'll have to take his word that the
eight police officers swaggering around outside the Co-op were specials. But even if they were it's still a waste of resources.... They could have been doing something useful.
Posted by: Ginsters Dragon, Wivenhoe on 4:20pm Wed 21 May 08
I don't disagree with resident, but he or she is making a totally seperate point. My issue is with the politically exepient errant nonsense coming out of the mouth of Councillor Julie Young.
As for "wiseguy", I wouldn't expect any other response from a copper (you do tend to blindly support your own). If you adopt his approach to crime prevention you'd have to flood the streets with thousands of officers hanging around on street corners 'just in case'. Still, beats working I guess.
I'll have to take his word that the [bold]eight[/bold] police officers swaggering around outside the Co-op were specials. But even if they were it's still a waste of resources.... They could have been doing something useful.
I don't disagree with resident, but he or she is making a totally seperate point. My issue is with the politically exepient errant nonsense coming out of the mouth of Councillor Julie Young.
As for "wiseguy", I wouldn't expect any other response from a copper (you do tend to blindly support your own). If you adopt his approach to crime prevention you'd have to flood the streets with thousands of officers hanging around on street corners 'just in case'. Still, beats working I guess.
I'll have to take his word that the
eight police officers swaggering around outside the Co-op were specials. But even if they were it's still a waste of resources.... They could have been doing something useful.
Posted by: Ginsters Dragon, Wivenhoe on 4:33pm Wed 21 May 08
And I agree with resident too, they're making an entirely seperate and unrelated point.
The issue I have is with the politically expedient, errant nonsense coming out of the mouth of Councillor Young.
I can't say I'm surprised by Wiseguy's attitude - I'll resist the urge to comment on the appropriateness, or otherwise, of his chosen moniker considering his profession.
Coppers do tend to blindly stick up for their own. If we were to adopt his preferred model of crime prevention we'd have to flood the streets with officers "just in case"! Still, beats working I guess.
I'll have to take his word that the [bold]eight[/bold] coppers swaggering around outside the Co-Op last Friday were all specials. But even if they were it's still a waste of resources. They could have been doing something useful.
And I agree with resident too, they're making an entirely seperate and unrelated point.
The issue I have is with the politically expedient, errant nonsense coming out of the mouth of Councillor Young.
I can't say I'm surprised by Wiseguy's attitude - I'll resist the urge to comment on the appropriateness, or otherwise, of his chosen moniker considering his profession.
Coppers do tend to blindly stick up for their own. If we were to adopt his preferred model of crime prevention we'd have to flood the streets with officers "just in case"! Still, beats working I guess.
I'll have to take his word that the
eight coppers swaggering around outside the Co-Op last Friday were all specials. But even if they were it's still a waste of resources. They could have been doing something useful.
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