Yet another event that reinforces my dislike for the UK

Hanuman · 13-09-23, 06:58 AM

This may be TL;DR, apologies

Back in June, my car was vandalised while I was overseas. The police were involved, and the vandals, two teenagers, were apprehended after something like 14 cars were damaged.

The police took photos, but nobody has seen these.
The police left messages, but not through letter boxes.
The PC directly handling the case has departed the police service, and someone new has taken on the task of investigating.

Said new person has determined that the damage to my vehicle occurred subsequent to this event. He’s studied the photos. He’s made a written statement to that effect. A crime number has been provided.
The CCTV footage from the cameras that overlook the location was never collected, and has since been overwritten. There was little effort made to contact anyone.

There has been no further communication forthcoming.
Such is the mediocre state of policing in the U.K.

Maybe if I were to shout a few unverified pronouns, I might get a full armed response.

It’s little wonder if people who aren’t protected by the law feel little need to abide by it.

John. · 13-09-23, 09:58 PM

I suppose it might depend on where in the "UK" you are....or not as the case may be?!

Ringmaster · 14-09-23, 07:29 PM

Sadly, your experience of our Bobbies is not uncommon nowadays...

A whole variety of reasons for this will be offered by a variety of sources.

With the proposed Energy Bill it looks like the thin blue lines will be spending more of their time escorting dangerous citizens to prison for refusing a Smart Meter...

BackintheFold · 17-09-23, 02:03 PM

What's this?
I refuse a smart meter because i don't want to give yet more control to someone who can then remotely switch off my power..

Ringmaster · 17-09-23, 03:42 PM

I'm afraid so. Proposals will allow the imposition of a £15000 fine and/or up to 12 months in prison for not complying with energy efficiency requirements..

They don't explain what happens if you cannot afford the necessary upgrades..
Probably forced into loans or compulsory purchase of one's property.

Of course, ministers currently say they have no such intentions, so why include such wording in the bill?

Remember folks, the road to hell is paved with good intentions....

BackintheFold · 18-09-23, 09:05 AM

>Is it compulsory to have a smart meter 2023?
Smart meters are NOT mandatory... unless yours is faulty or at the end of its life. If you live in England, Scotland or Wales and your existing meter is faulty or at the end of its working life, it'll need to be replaced – and most suppliers don't install traditional energy meters anymore.

From a google search...
So of course it will be only a matter of time before the companies just say "oh its at end of life" or "its faulty"...

I rented my house out to a family of 6.
When I moved back in, it was just two of us.
The water company INSISTED my meter was broken and unde-reading.
I explained once but then gave up-as it would seem like l was trying to hide something.

They replaced the mater, at a cost of what, £300?
And it read exactly the same as the one they removed. About four years of profit gone there.

EDIT
https://fullfact.org/law/energy-bill...inal-offences/

Ringmaster · 18-09-23, 07:07 PM

At least the water company contacted you...

Before I sold my flat I moved back in with my folks months before the sale. I was gutting the place and doing it up.

Water company asked me for a reading one day and the meter was all 00000..
A few days after that I get a letter asking me to call them urgently only to start getting interrogated by someone when I did so.
Did I live there? How many people were living there? etc etc.

I explained the situation and got an 'Oh'.. The nincompoops had just gone ahead and replaced the meter without asking questions...

Hanuman · 19-09-23, 03:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ringmaster

At least the water company contacted you...

I explained the situation and got an 'Oh'.. The nincompoops had just gone ahead and replaced the meter without asking questions...

Does that not amount to trespass?

Ringmaster · 20-09-23, 12:41 PM

The water meter was under the public pavement so they were within their rights....

I see the PM has hinted today that he may water down some of the net zero criteria, such as imprisonment for not insulating properly, as he recognizes the costs involved. He's suddenly 'listening to what people are saying on the doorsteps'... allegedly.

17-09-23, 02:03 PM	#4
BackintheFold Senior Member Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Near an MB ur Quattro Posts: 1,177	What's this? I refuse a smart meter because i don't want to give yet more control to someone who can then remotely switch off my power.. __________________ 2006 A3 (daily drive) 1987 MB ur

18-09-23, 09:05 AM	#6
BackintheFold Senior Member Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Near an MB ur Quattro Posts: 1,177	>Is it compulsory to have a smart meter 2023? Smart meters are NOT mandatory... unless yours is faulty or at the end of its life. If you live in England, Scotland or Wales and your existing meter is faulty or at the end of its working life, it'll need to be replaced – and most suppliers don't install traditional energy meters anymore. From a google search... So of course it will be only a matter of time before the companies just say "oh its at end of life" or "its faulty"... I rented my house out to a family of 6. When I moved back in, it was just two of us. The water company INSISTED my meter was broken and unde-reading. I explained once but then gave up-as it would seem like l was trying to hide something. They replaced the mater, at a cost of what, £300? And it read exactly the same as the one they removed. About four years of profit gone there. EDIT https://fullfact.org/law/energy-bill...inal-offences/ __________________ 2006 A3 (daily drive) 1987 MB ur Last edited by BackintheFold; 18-09-23 at 12:38 PM.

13-09-23, 09:58 PM	#2
John. 4 ring whore! Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Scottish Borders. Posts: 7,525	I suppose it might depend on where in the "UK" you are....or not as the case may be?!

14-09-23, 07:29 PM	#3
Ringmaster Senior Member Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1,334	Sadly, your experience of our Bobbies is not uncommon nowadays... A whole variety of reasons for this will be offered by a variety of sources. With the proposed Energy Bill it looks like the thin blue lines will be spending more of their time escorting dangerous citizens to prison for refusing a Smart Meter...

17-09-23, 03:42 PM	#5
Ringmaster Senior Member Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1,334	I'm afraid so. Proposals will allow the imposition of a £15000 fine and/or up to 12 months in prison for not complying with energy efficiency requirements.. They don't explain what happens if you cannot afford the necessary upgrades.. Probably forced into loans or compulsory purchase of one's property. Of course, ministers currently say they have no such intentions, so why include such wording in the bill? Remember folks, the road to hell is paved with good intentions....

18-09-23, 07:07 PM	#7
Ringmaster Senior Member Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1,334	At least the water company contacted you... Before I sold my flat I moved back in with my folks months before the sale. I was gutting the place and doing it up. Water company asked me for a reading one day and the meter was all 00000.. A few days after that I get a letter asking me to call them urgently only to start getting interrogated by someone when I did so. Did I live there? How many people were living there? etc etc. I explained the situation and got an 'Oh'.. The nincompoops had just gone ahead and replaced the meter without asking questions...

20-09-23, 12:41 PM	#9
Ringmaster Senior Member Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1,334	The water meter was under the public pavement so they were within their rights.... I see the PM has hinted today that he may water down some of the net zero criteria, such as imprisonment for not insulating properly, as he recognizes the costs involved. He's suddenly 'listening to what people are saying on the doorsteps'... allegedly.