General News Thread

[leicsmac]

5 minutes ago, LCFCJohn said:

Social media but also gaming.

 

Imagine these guys have been brought up playing driving games. When you crash, a new life pops up and off you go again. Now when those of us who had games growing (games console games), we knew they were just games. Suddenly, the introduction of social media, videos glorifying what they have played with on their consoles, they just feel like they are in the game and invincible.

Think that's a bit more of a tenuous link tbh. 

 

Video games have been blamed for a lot of "diminished sense of reality" since they became even vaguely popular 40 years ago. Do think SM is the much bigger factor.

[Raj]

25 minutes ago, LCFCJohn said:

Didn’t know you had that career history. Fair play to you!

 

Honestly, just look at the photos of the 2 PCs compared to the photos of the 5. Doesn’t even need any words. 2 warm and genuinely caring, happy faces. And 5 wannabe gangsters.

Yep 5 years based at Spinney Hill and Keyham about 18 years ago.

Loved it BUT there is so much politics involved in policing and you really have to be a "yes Sir" No Sir" which most will know from my post i'm not!! ( I was good friends with an Inspector who ended up leaving the force to be a plumber as it was too political)

 

Gave up when i applied to be a full time copper and got rejected twice so the above just proved me right.

 

Great bunch of guys and gals though who had pride in what they were doing.

 

 

 

[davieG]

29 minutes ago, LCFCJohn said:

Agreed. As I say, there’s a place for basic use, being aware of what is happening in the local area etc.

 

But the vast majority, and the ones your mention specifically, I am yet to hear anyone have an argument for anything positive they add to society. All about influencers (talentless people who should get a real job) and damaging mental health, and now adding real dangers to our communities with the fire starting thing and now this driving stunt. 
 

We must sound about 60! Only early 30’s, promise!

when did 'influencers' become and acceptable career. But I guess like a lot of wanna be celebrities they only exist because they have a public sycophancy following.

[Trav Le Bleu]

25 minutes ago, Raj said:

Yep 5 years based at Spinney Hill and Keyham about 18 years ago.

Loved it BUT there is so much politics involved in policing and you really have to be a "yes Sir" No Sir" which most will know from my post i'm not!! ( I was good friends with an Inspector who ended up leaving the force to be a plumber as it was too political)

 

Gave up when i applied to be a full time copper and got rejected twice so the above just proved me right.

 

Great bunch of guys and gals though who had pride in what they were doing.

 

 

 

Many's the time I've been in trouble because of the thin brown line.

[kenny]

6 hours ago, Raj said:

 

 

You really presume the back seat passenger had no idea what they were going to be upto or had never done that before taking into account that could of the lads had already posed tiktoks of themselves being chased by cops.

 

 

 

I think the majority of people probably fall into this category and rightly so. Only 2 people were innocent in this incident (Just image though if the lads in the cars were non white natives...Jesus christ the backlash wouldnt have been worth thinking about)

Now been 12 arrests relating this including forearms and offences to an OCG. Safe to say these weren't pleasant people and their families almost certainly aren't either.

[leicsmac]

16 minutes ago, kenny said:

Now been 12 arrests relating this including forearms and offences to an OCG. Safe to say these weren't pleasant people and their families almost certainly aren't either.

Clearly we don't have the right to bare arms in the UK then, as well as bear arms. 

[filthyfox]

2 hours ago, Raj said:

Yep 5 years based at Spinney Hill and Keyham about 18 years ago.

Loved it BUT there is so much politics involved in policing and you really have to be a "yes Sir" No Sir" which most will know from my post i'm not!! ( I was good friends with an Inspector who ended up leaving the force to be a plumber as it was too political)

 

Gave up when i applied to be a full time copper and got rejected twice so the above just proved me right.

 

Great bunch of guys and gals though who had pride in what they were doing.

 

 

 

From an ex- copper...  you (ex)Specials are bloody amazing.

[kenny]

14 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

Clearly we don't have the right to bare arms in the UK then, as well as bear arms. 

And they say AI is taking our jobs. Can't even get autocorrect working properly!

[Corky]

On 23/08/2026 at 16:12, FoxesDeb said:

I appreciate the sensitivity, thank you.

 

And yes although different circumstances, maybe my situation affects my feelings about this type of thing, I don't know. I do think women feel more sympathy than men with these kinds of things, that's not a criticism just an observation. 

 

But yes I think we can all agree it's just a fvcking tragedy for all concerned, and very difficult for everyone involved. 

Most of us on here are a lot older than the boys in the car so will have been through that phase of life and, speaking genuinely, I doubt you would hear about a girl doing a similar thing. We are all familiar with the boy racer term. 

 

Social media is a cesspit but I reckon 10-12 year olds would know driving at a high speed the wrong way down the road is a ridiculously stupid and dangerous thing to do, let alone people nearly double that age.

 

I don't think people mean to be heartless deliberately but sometimes you despair at what goes on. Would be far better if nobody had been hurt and you could tear strips off them but, tragically, you can't.

[Raj]

27 minutes ago, filthyfox said:

From an ex- copper...  you (ex)Specials are bloody amazing.

😘

[ramboacdc]

Cleveland Police has launched a wide-scale investigation into the criminality which took place prior to the fatal crash that took the lives of seven, including PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough.

On the morning of Saturday 22 August, Cleveland Police received several reports of two vehicles being driven dangerously.

The first vehicle, which is believed to be a Volvo XC60, was witnessed to be ramming properties in the Middlesbrough area.

The second vehicle, a Volkswagen Passat, is believed to have been associated with the activities of the Volvo XC60.

Both vehicles were operating with cloned number plates to avoid detection but were picked up by the force’s automated number plate recognition technology.

The Volvo XC60 involved in the initial reports has been traced and recovered in Middlesbrough as part of the criminal investigation.

Throughout the course of the weekend Cleveland Police, supported by officers and staff from Durham, Northumbria and North Yorkshire Police, have worked tirelessly to establish the circumstances which led to the fatal collision.

Those enquires have resulted in the arrests of 12 people across Teesside.

Nine men and three women, aged between 19 and 61, have been arrested on suspicion of several offences.

Ranging from possession of a firearm to participating in the activities of an organised crime group.

At the current time, there is no evidence to indicate that filming of the activities that took place on Friday night and Saturday morning has taken place for the purposes of TikTok.

Four of the occupants of the Passat had previous police convictions.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/crgjqv6d8210t?post=asset%3Ad4634217-560f-4b0e-904a-fe6fc44c2445#post 

[FoyleFox]

On Sunday I did have full sympathy with the families of all impacted. I couldn't not, they'd all lost a son, brother, uncle etc. Seemingly all innocent victims of the crash and now grieving a loved one. 

 

After a selection of revelations yesterday and today's arrests, (I'm going to guess that lot who've been arrested are probably family members). I'm much less sympathetic. 

The lads in the car, 4 had a list of previous convictions, I'm willing to bet those arrested have too. The lads involved had no chance of a decent life if those arrested today were their role models. 

 

My heart goes out to the family, colleagues and friends of the police officers killed. 

Edited 24 August by FoyleFox

[ramboacdc]

30 minutes ago, ramboacdc said:

Cleveland Police has launched a wide-scale investigation into the criminality which took place prior to the fatal crash that took the lives of seven, including PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough.

On the morning of Saturday 22 August, Cleveland Police received several reports of two vehicles being driven dangerously.

The first vehicle, which is believed to be a Volvo XC60, was witnessed to be ramming properties in the Middlesbrough area.

The second vehicle, a Volkswagen Passat, is believed to have been associated with the activities of the Volvo XC60.

Both vehicles were operating with cloned number plates to avoid detection but were picked up by the force’s automated number plate recognition technology.

The Volvo XC60 involved in the initial reports has been traced and recovered in Middlesbrough as part of the criminal investigation.

Throughout the course of the weekend Cleveland Police, supported by officers and staff from Durham, Northumbria and North Yorkshire Police, have worked tirelessly to establish the circumstances which led to the fatal collision.

Those enquires have resulted in the arrests of 12 people across Teesside.

Nine men and three women, aged between 19 and 61, have been arrested on suspicion of several offences.

Ranging from possession of a firearm to participating in the activities of an organised crime group.

At the current time, there is no evidence to indicate that filming of the activities that took place on Friday night and Saturday morning has taken place for the purposes of TikTok.

Four of the occupants of the Passat had previous police convictions.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/crgjqv6d8210t?post=asset%3Ad4634217-560f-4b0e-904a-fe6fc44c2445#post 

Four of the five people in the Passat, which crashed into the police car on Saturday had previous convictions, including for assaulting police officers, Cleveland Police has revealed.

 

Cole Worthy, 17, had admitted offences including assault of a police officer, using abusive language to cause harassment, alarm and distress, and driving without a licence and insurance.

Makai Saddington, 18, had also been convicted of assaulting police officers, had pleaded guilty to racially aggravated harassment, and was caught with a knife and a class C drug.

Seventeen-year-old Theo Rae's offences included 12 for shoplifting, thefts from vehicles, assaulting a police officer and aggravated vehicle taking.

Jakub Matusiak, 23, had pleaded guilty to using a vehicle without insurance and driving without a licence.

Michael Robert Cahill, 23, had no convictions.

 

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/crgjqv6d8210t?post=asset%3Ae3de04b7-8c3b-4598-9620-fc409cec6b7f#post

 

 

 

A 24-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of participating in an organised crime group and possession of an offensive weapon and is currently in police custody;

A 19-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of participating in an organised crime group and possession of an offensive weapon and is currently in police custody;

A 30-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender and is in police custody;

A 35-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of participating in an organised crime group and possession of an offensive weapon and is in police custody;

A 21-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of participating in an organised crime group, possession of an offensive weapon and criminal damage. He has been remanded on recall to prison;

A 20-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of threats to cause criminal damage and public order and is in police custody;

A 61-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm without a certificate and has been released on conditional bail;

A 47-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm without a certificate, possession with intent to supply class A and class B drugs and possession of class C drugs and has been released on conditional bail;

An 18-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm without a certificate, possession with intent to supply class A and class B drugs and possession of class C drugs and has been released on unconditional bail;

A 39-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm without a certificate, possession with intent to supply class A and class B drugs and possession of class C drugs and has been released on conditional bail;

Cameron David George, a 26-year-old man of Micklow Close in Redcar, has been charged with possession with intent to supply class A and class B drugs and possession of criminal property;

A 39-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of threats to kill and has been released on conditional bail.

 

 

https://news.sky.com/story/a66-crash-latest-multiple-people-have-died-in-crash-after-police-pursued-suspicious-vehicle-13573322?postid=12278458#liveblog-body

Edited 24 August by ramboacdc

[Foxdiamond]

50 minutes ago, Corky said:

Most of us on here are a lot older than the boys in the car so will have been through that phase of life and, speaking genuinely, I doubt you would hear about a girl doing a similar thing. We are all familiar with the boy racer term. 

 

Social media is a cesspit but I reckon 10-12 year olds would know driving at a high speed the wrong way down the road is a ridiculously stupid and dangerous thing to do, let alone people nearly double that age.

 

I don't think people mean to be heartless deliberately but sometimes you despair at what goes on. Would be far better if nobody had been hurt and you could tear strips off them but, tragically, you can't.

Looking for any mitigation on the part of the idiots is pointless. They were a holes

[leicsmac]

... as fellow members of the Commonwealth, the UK couldn't lend Mr Carney the use of a Vanguard-class submarine with all armaments for a few months, could it? Might be helpful. 

[Rubbersoul]

Obviously it’s mainly just down to stupidity but I think we have a lot of young men that have given up on life or have a very nihilistic outlook on life 

[leicsmac]

10 minutes ago, Rubbersoul said:

Obviously it’s mainly just down to stupidity but I think we have a lot of young men that have given up on life or have a very nihilistic outlook on life 

And now, thanks in part to social media and some folks in power thinking they can use them as convenient tools to do nasty things to groups they don't like, those young men are making that nihilism everyone's problem. 

 

Edit: of course, places like Imperial Japan dealt with that issue by drafting practically all of the nihilistic and disaffected young men into the armed forces. Which, of course, ended grandly. 

Edited 24 August by leicsmac

[Trav Le Bleu]

One thing that has really annoyed me about the Teeside Crash is those pictures of the 5 divs.

 

I think 3 of them are doing a "gang sign" with their hands, but that sign in sign language is "I love you."

 

My wife, who is deaf, thought that maybe they were deaf, but I think not. The signs are being done very casually and not like you would if you meant it. But I can see why the gang psyche might adopt such a thing. I've got your back - you're my family - I love you. It's about belonging.

 

It's sad that something that should be beautiful is being used as something divisive and hateful - at least to outsiders.

 

Purely speculative of course, but I'm fairly confident in that speculation.

 

It also seems given the older women involved this was a matriarchal set-up. A grandma who dominated the family, built a house of cards and now it's all come down.

 

If these 12 people are removed from society, maybe some small good will have come from the officers' deaths, though it's no way enough.

 

Edited 24 August by Trav Le Bleu

[Izzy]

Mark Carney is a fvcking legend. What a guy.

[leicsmac]

3 minutes ago, Izzy said:

Mark Carney is a fvcking legend. What a guy.

The UK and the rest of the Commonwealth should be giving him as much diplomatic support as possible. 

 

It's long past time for the UK, and Burnham, to stop sitting on the fence so much. 

[Trav Le Bleu]

2 hours ago, leicsmac said:

The UK and the rest of the Commonwealth should be giving him as much diplomatic support as possible. 

 

It's long past time for the UK, and Burnham, to stop sitting on the fence so much. 

Not according to the Telegraph.

 

Headline news says Canada will suffer from trying to out tough Trump.

 

Edited 24 August by Trav Le Bleu

[leicsmac]

8 hours ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

Not according to the Telegraph.

 

Headline news says Canada will suffer from trying to out tough Trump.

 

Well, every nation has its fifth columnists, apparently Canada has plenty in Alberta and of course express any interest in the matter on social media and the algorithm will happily shove these self interested traitors in your face, bots or otherwise. 

[st albans fox]

13 hours ago, ramboacdc said:

Four of the five people in the Passat, which crashed into the police car on Saturday had previous convictions, including for assaulting police officers, Cleveland Police has revealed.

 

Cole Worthy, 17, had admitted offences including assault of a police officer, using abusive language to cause harassment, alarm and distress, and driving without a licence and insurance.

Makai Saddington, 18, had also been convicted of assaulting police officers, had pleaded guilty to racially aggravated harassment, and was caught with a knife and a class C drug.

Seventeen-year-old Theo Rae's offences included 12 for shoplifting, thefts from vehicles, assaulting a police officer and aggravated vehicle taking.

Jakub Matusiak, 23, had pleaded guilty to using a vehicle without insurance and driving without a licence.

Michael Robert Cahill, 23, had no convictions.

 

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/crgjqv6d8210t?post=asset%3Ae3de04b7-8c3b-4598-9620-fc409cec6b7f#post

 

 

 

A 24-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of participating in an organised crime group and possession of an offensive weapon and is currently in police custody;

A 19-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of participating in an organised crime group and possession of an offensive weapon and is currently in police custody;

A 30-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender and is in police custody;

A 35-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of participating in an organised crime group and possession of an offensive weapon and is in police custody;

A 21-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of participating in an organised crime group, possession of an offensive weapon and criminal damage. He has been remanded on recall to prison;

A 20-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of threats to cause criminal damage and public order and is in police custody;

A 61-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm without a certificate and has been released on conditional bail;

A 47-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm without a certificate, possession with intent to supply class A and class B drugs and possession of class C drugs and has been released on conditional bail;

An 18-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm without a certificate, possession with intent to supply class A and class B drugs and possession of class C drugs and has been released on unconditional bail;

A 39-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm without a certificate, possession with intent to supply class A and class B drugs and possession of class C drugs and has been released on conditional bail;

Cameron David George, a 26-year-old man of Micklow Close in Redcar, has been charged with possession with intent to supply class A and class B drugs and possession of criminal property;

A 39-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of threats to kill and has been released on conditional bail.

 

 

https://news.sky.com/story/a66-crash-latest-multiple-people-have-died-in-crash-after-police-pursued-suspicious-vehicle-13573322?postid=12278458#liveblog-body

Reading that, one of the dead 5 was 23 with no previous convictions.  Could be that he ended up wrong place, wrong time. 
Sad to say but society will be a better place with the deaths of the other 4. How awful to feel that way.   if Michael Cahill wasn’t a ‘wrong’un’ we’ll be reading about it in due course. 
 

Have all those arrests been made in response to the events of Sunday morning?  hope that police aren’t too worried to nick certain people to avoid negative local community reactions. 

[leicsmac]

27 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

Well, every nation has its fifth columnists, apparently Canada has plenty in Alberta and of course express any interest in the matter on social media and the algorithm will happily shove these self interested traitors in your face, bots or otherwise. 

But then there are better SM finds, too:

 

 

[davieG]