Smokers harrassed - with the encouragement of a school, and the co-operation of the police

Students at the Hundred of Hoo Comprehensive School in Medway have been running up to smokers in the street, shouting "ciggy busters" and snatching their cigarettes from them. And filming themselves doing it. Should you wish to, you can find these self-righteous little vigilantes on YouTube.

Here's a quote from the responsible "adult" from the school in the write-up in the Medway Messenger:

I was scared about doing something so crazy on the street - I mean you can get arrested.

And should be.

And here's a quote from the write-up at This is Kent:

Kent police in Medway were made aware of the planned filming, prior to the event taking place.

And didn't stop it!?

Disconcerting, isn't it, that rather than seeking to dissuade young people from exercising their authoritarian views in a way that frankly amounts to straightforward robbery, a school in this country is encouraging them to do so and empowering them with video equipment, funding and a rent-a-prat "teacher" to boot? We supposedly live in a pluralist society, in which the views and wishes of a minority can be respected. Live and let live. Instead, the "tolerance" of these self-appointed minor Stasi of course extends solely to the things of which they approve. Beyond that, they film themselves cackling away as they intrude upon and assault those with whom they disagree. It is with good reason Winston Smith and co constantly fear betrayal by the youth League and the Junior Spies, as children swallow Big Brother's propaganda most keenly in 1984.

Lest you think that I'm misinterpreting a set-up which occurred as part of a drama exercise, this quote from the teacher makes it clear that the "ciggy busters" extended their attacks beyond their own stool pigeons:

I knew we could not really go and film in public and attack people in that way and take goods off of them, so we devised a cunning plan.

We planted some people and we started with them. People were watching and following us and at the end we tried with some other people.

So you did go and attack people "in that way" and "take goods off of (ahem, from) them." Name and shame time: the school's "mentor" for the project is Italian media artist Margherita Gramegna. Perhaps in Italy "media artist" is how one spells "idiot."

This is a remarkable and quite disgraceful story. Law-abiding people in Kent are being robbed on the street, with the tacit approval of the local constabulary. The mob action is part of an ongoing scheme from the school and is going to continue in September.

Shame on you, Kent Police. Shame on you, the school!

By Alex Deane

Hat tip: Phil

Comments

[startledcod]

Shouldn't this possibly be considered a hate crime. "Hate crimes (also known as bias-motivated crimes) occur when a perpetrator targets a victim because of his or her perceived membership in a certain social group, usually defined by racial group, religion, sexual orientation, disability, class, ethnicity, nationality, age, gender, gender identity".

Unquestionably it is a 'bias-motivated' crime and there is an arguable case for saying that smokers suffer from te disability of addiction.

I think Plod should be heading to the school to make some arrests for common assualt and robbery aggravated by hate.

[Dave Atherton]

Alex, this is a valuable contribution to the debate. Most anti smoking rhetoric tends to be hyperbole but as you rightly point out it appears harassment is now physical.

The British Medical Journal has a blog and Professor Ruth Malone was inviting readers to come up new language for a smoke free Brave New World. "In keeping with this theme, editor Ruth Malone raises the issue of how important language is in defining and framing the tobacco pandemic and challenges readers to share their own creative ideas for “language weapons.” This strikes me as Orwellian Newspeak.

Anti smoker advocates make no secret in their wish to have the segregation and apartheid of smokers.

For those with a real penchant for anti smoking can I recommend the latest video game for the computer. The idea is simple, every time a smoker pops up on your screen, shoot them. The blood effects are quite good too.

Of course whenever you have a debate on smoking on an open forum you have people feel it their public duty to point out "Smoke in your own home. Get cancer. Die." and "let's have free loaded pistols for use by these smokers there too so that they can end their pathetic lives in a dignified way and save us and our already burdened health systems a lot of problems." That was from the Daily Telegraph two days ago.

I am sure if these remarks were aimed at ethnic minorities and gay people there quite rightly would be outrage. Now we have state sanction from the police and schools, definitely the way forward.

Dave Atherton

Director
Freedom2Choose

http://www.purely-games.com/smoker_sniper_game.html

http://blogs.bmj.com/tc/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/philipjohnston/7949524/Smokers-could-breathe-life-back-into-pubs.html#disqus_thread

[Dick Puddlecote]

Truly staggering!

[neil]

This is appalling. Have the victims reported the robberies to the police?

[PJH]

Her address: margheritagramegna@yahoo.co.uk
School's address: office@hohschool.co.uk

I've emailed both asking what the fuck they think they're playing at.

I feel a FOIA question coming on regarding the school's involvement in this.

[Dick Puddlecote]

Neil, I'm wondering if one needs to be the victim oneself to report a crime, which this is.

Perhaps a complaint could be registered with Kent Police. What's your expert opinion, Alex?

[Bucko]

This is a totally unbeleiveable step. Its now state sponsored thuggery.
I,ve done my own peice on this and included the schools email address office@hohschool.co.uk, so people can get in touch and vent their spleen. I would advise everyone who is capeable and inclined, to get off an email to these hideous people.

[Alex Deane]

One's entitled to ask the police what their policy is on such an issue (especially as they plan to do this AGAIN in September) - and one could report an offence if a witness or a victim

[G D]

According to OFSTED this schhol is under Special Measures and the report can be found here:

http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/oxedu_reports/download/%28id%29/121912/%28as%29/118799_346439.pdf

It mentions the 6th form doing an anti-smoking film as part of it's media studies.

I really don't think OFSTED should condone such uncontrolled activity by the pupils at a school that is under scrutiny for poor performance.

[Dave Atherton]

One can also contact Medway Police.

Email : enquiries@kent.pnn.police.uk
Telephone : 01634 891055

Write to : Medway Police Station
Purser Way
Gillingham
Kent ME7 1NE

Minicom : 01634 333111

[alastair]

That is quite outrageous. I'm no smoker (it's a dirty, smelly habit, and I'll thank you not to smoke near me - or to pay my laundry bills if you insist on doing so), but I certainly wouldn't support this kind of behaviour.

Worth pointing out, though, that if there is no expectation that a police officer will make an arrest, you can make one yourself, then hand the arrested suspect over to the police officers (or at the police station).

[Alex Deane]

Here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yB5wjn4fdcc&NR=1

[PJH]

@alistair: "Worth pointing out, though, that if there is no expectation that a police officer will make an arrest, you can make one yourself, then hand the arrested suspect over to the police officers (or at the police station)."

..and then get arrested yourself for assault / deprivation of liberty / whatever they can pin on you.

Do you really expect citizen's arrest to be valid these days? Your word against theirs, and since it's evident that you've committed a crime (by dragging them there) and it's not evident that the person you've dragged has committed a crime, you're the one going to be put in the cells.

[PT Barnum]

Given that all we smokers are such craven and venal addicts, it's only a matter of time before one of us, when robbed of our drug by one of these vigilantes, fights back. The risk assessment by the school therefore seems somewhat inadequate. Smokers kill, you know.

Seriously, this is very alarming. Take away the school involvement and this is Happy Slapping, ie a crime.

[Ethan]

Indoctrinate the young, encourage them to criticise their elders....ah yes I know where I've heard about that before. Pol Pot - The Killing Fields. Cambodia oh yes. So anti smoking fascists is that now your business model? Do let me know how your 'Year Zero' strategy works out.
Ignorant of history the fascist zealots of the anti smoking camp are condemned to repeat it. Shame on Kent Police for allowing this outrage. Would the plod have intervened had it been the BNP running amok taking away Burkhas and Niquabs? I doubt it.

A word of advice kiddly winkles - try that stunt with me and you won't like the response.

[David Cooper]

It is bad enough to hear tales of how parents find themselves browbeaten at home by children whose impressionable minds have been filled with propaganda about vegetarianism, man made global warming or indeed smoking. Perhaps an incident such as this might be the tipping point for the Coalition to take a very careful look at teacher training colleges (the mentor here may have been an Italian media artist but the buck would surely stop with the Head) and shake out the political correctness with which they have been infected.

[Jacky]

The teacher concerned with organising this sorry little exercise should be firmly disciplined. What happens if one of the members of the public targeted later discovers that their purse, or their wallet, or their mobile phone has also gone missing? The police, shamefully, may tacitly approve of the cigarette-stealing but I bet that doesn’t extend to purse-stealing, too. Faced with such an allegation, even if the students concerned are not responsible, the teacher has encouraged them to place themselves in pole position of being suspected of the crime. I bet that possibility wasn’t covered in the risk assessment. Smokers in the area who were victims of this should check their belongings very thoroughly and report any losses to the police immediately.

[The Talking Clock]

Nazi Germany starting, right there.

They'll probably burn a few books next, then we're really doomed.

[Nick S]

The Medway area seems to have its own peculiar rules.

Anyone else confused by the fact that you cannot take a picture of a chip shop in the Medway towns without being arrested as a terrorist but you can legally assault people.

http://monaxle.com/2009/07/08/section-44-in-chatham-high-street/

[Phil Johnson]

I have sent "a better medway" the following:-

To whomever be in charge,

Dear Sir/Madam,
I have read the reports in the Kent Times & Medway Messenger about the discrimination aginst smokers and the outlaw tactics used to promote smoking cessation.
http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/news/Students-bust-smokers-action-packed-movie/article-2489342-detail/article.html
The video, freely available to watch is here:- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yB5wjn4fdcc&NR=1

Do you now purport to educate the young and mindless into the ways of thuggery, theft, robbery and many other crimes in your bid to improve smoking cessation programmes. Does it not matter to you, as a funded quango, that you are teaching the youth of today about 'incitement to hatred'? Does it not bother you that you are amplifying discrimination?
I suggest you read this link:- http://freedom-2-choose.blogspot.com/2010/08/ciggy-bustin-bstards.html
and see what people think of this atrocious activity. To admit that you funded the filming is unbelievable and shows that you, in reality, are no better than the gutter press who feed off such wrongful doings on a daily basis.
To support open warfare on our streets is irresponsible and makes you look as stupid as these indoctrinated kids in the film. WShat would have done had one of these 'smoke vigilantes' been knocked out by an angry smoker defending not only his property (the cigarette) but his right to smoke? Would you want the smoker prosecuted for defending himself against the marauding mass?
What's next on the agenda to intimidate a minority faction? Dustcarts patrolling the streets to chuck smokers in? Stun Guns to stop smokers lighting up. You ought to be thoroughly ashamed of yourselves for backing such a hairbrained scheme as this, no, less, prosecuted for incitement of civil unrest.
Yours sincerely
Phil Johnson,
Chairman,
freedom2choose.info
T: 0116-2997760 M: 07773926818

[Tonyc]

In the light of reports that mobile phones are dangerous to health, especially for the young, perhaps you should organise groups to go round the streets snatching their lethal iPhones out of their grubby little hands. Why should the rest of us have to put up with second-hand brain tumours from their phones?

[Phil johnson]

I have now sent the following to Medway plod:-

Dear Sirs,

On this day, Thursday 19/08/2010, I wish to bring formal charges against one Margherita Gramegna, media artist of The Hundred of Hoo Comprehensive School, Rochester, Kent & the organisation known as "A Better Medway", these disgraceful antics, having come to light on U-TUBE (Ref)
http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/news/Students-bust-smokers-action-packed-movie/article-2489342-detail/article.html
clearly show incitement to commit a number of crimes, those being:-
ambushing innocent people
theft of peoples property
intimidation
vigilante style raids on person/s
discrimination against a minority faction
inciting hatred toward smokers

What I find even more unbelievable is that this was going on with the approval of Kent Police, after being assured this morning by that very body (telephone) that kent Police were totally unaware of such proceedings! Ref:- "Kent police in Medway were made aware of the planned filming, prior to the event taking place.
ref: http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/news/Students-bust-smokers-action-packed-movie/article-2489342-detail/article.html

Support also came from "A Better Medway" – a joint initiative between the council and NHS Medway that encourages healthy living – which part-funded the project, paying for filming equipment. Does encouraging healthy living include harassment, intimidation and possibly giving some one a heart attack as a vigilante anti smoker swoops from where-ever to commit robbery?

Sixth form students at The Hundred of Hoo School filmed an anti-smoking movie with their mentor, media artist Margherita Gramegna, in which they mobbed unsuspecting smokers and nabbed their cigarettes. Yes, initially they used 'plants', but, "....and at the end we tried with some other people and they were very happy."
Pray tell, had a smoker clouted one of these irresponsible illegal street thugs for attempting to steal his/her cigarette, would you arrest the smoker or the vigilante?

This is a remarkable and quite disgraceful story. Law-abiding people in Kent are being robbed on the street, with the tacit approval of the local constabulary. The mob action is part of an ongoing scheme from the school and is going to continue in September.

Therefore I re-iterate my request for formal charges to be brought aginst both parties on the above stated grounds and I look forward to your reply with interest.
Yours sincerely

Phil Johnson (a very concerned citizen)
37,Windley Road,
Leicester.
LE2 6QX
T: 0116-2997760...M: 07773-926818

[Purlieu]

I fucking hate political correctness

[Joan]

It had to happen, I'm surprised it's taken this long, and is anyone even remotely surprised that the police have done/will do nothing.

It shows the mentality of those like the 'so-called' teacher who organised this. This useless article of a woman must be aware that not everyone they attack is going to take it laying down, or do they pick their targets carefully? I wonder if they would've attacked a young, hefty built man who dared to light a cigarette in their midst, I don't think so, I think they very carefully targeted their marks.

I know if it had happened to me I'd have defended myself no matter that I'd have probably been prosecuted. Pity some of the victims didn't wait on the kids that did it and snatch their drugs/drinks.

I wonder if the parents of these mindless idiot kids knew of the project, knew that their little darlings were being exposed to a slap by one of those they attacked? If they did then they should be prosecuted for putting their children in harms way, reckles endangerment. If I was one of the parents I'd want the teacher prosecuted for endangering my kid.

I don't suppose there's any chance of the MSM taking this up and actually condemning the attacks.

[andy5759]

This has been coming for a long time. Schools have been indoctrinating our children for years; climate change, vegetarianism, secularism, multi-culturalism, health fascism - all are blights on our once "free" country.

Oh well, I wasn't using my civil liberties anyway.

It's a free country - they can ban what they want.