Look, you lot, this isn’t big and it isn’t clever. This morning, I spotted the following tweet in my timeline, from PC Simon Bytheway, the local Neighbourhood Police Officer for Brownhills, who operates out of Brownhills Police Station, opposite the Hussey Arms.
http://twitter.com/BrownhillsNNPT/status/363201116520976384
The officer is a good copper clearly experiencing some frustration with the situation. The flags in question aren’t even particularly reusable – they’re not Union flags, but the police force insignia.
C’mon you muppets – it’s just mindless theft. Picture supplied by West Midlands Police.
Nicky Biddlestone, from the Corporate Communications Department, wrote to me later in the day:
Hi Bob
The flag has been stolen at least twice in the last 6 months, and three or four times in the past. Obviously these flags are expensive, and this is an unnecessary waste of tax payers money to replace.
I would be really grateful if you could raise this on your blog either appealing for witnesses or to the person (or persons) who have been removing the flags.
Kind regards
Nicky Biddlestone
Communications Officer
Corporate Communications Department
West Midlands Police
Whilst this may seem amusing, it’s an utterly senseless action that is costing West Midlands Police money at a time when they least have it to spare, and there are far more pressing things for our coppers to be dealing with than this.
Please, if you have any information about the thefts, please Walsall Police on the 101 number or 0345 113 5000. You could even speak to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
This kind of arseholery is why we never get nice nice things… and I certainly don’t endorse the following.
Capture the flag IRL. Level: Brownhills
— Autodespair (@autodespair) August 2, 2013