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

[Alex Deane]

The police attitude is very strange, given that the school's comments explicitly make it clear that they BEGAN with stooges but moved on to members of the public - the statement deliberately just ignores that.

[Jonathan 25]

It makes no difference whether exchanges between students and smokers were stage managed or not. Making a video like this sends out the message, that its ok to harrass and to assault. Clearly if there is robbery, assault or harassment of people that smoke in Medway it will be the likes of Rachel Noxons fault for encouraging such behaviour in this video.
A video of this kind is inciting hate crime
The police and the school should be ashamed.

[K2]

Ah huh, such a vitriolic response for those who are so wrapped up in themselves. Open your mind, get out the front door and live a little. Get things in perspective. These are young people who have yet to form coherent arguments, give them a break. With the freedom of speech we are allowed in this country who knows what they may achieve in the future. This is not 1930-45 no blackshirts around now. Stop reading the Daily Mail and think for yourself. One who is so wrapped up in oneself makes a very small parcel. I am a self confessed fascist and I certainly do not find this behaviour in any way 'outrageous'. But then I guess I would? That's an expert talking, get off the band wagon. Methinks you are amateurs. As for you Mr Deane, I feel you may be inciting the great unwashed for your own means. Sir, I find that you have the temerity to include 'Chief of Staff' as one of your roles. This is a highly respected position within the Armed Forces. I find it misused all to often by greasy coves such as yourself. By those who are merely answer the phone and lick stamps. To all those made incandescent by the actions of a few 'kids' I would suggest go out and fight in a real war.

[PJH]

"Ah huh, such a vitriolic response for those who are so wrapped up in themselves"

I think you'll find it's the anti-smokers who are wrapped up in themselves.

"These are young people who have yet to form coherent arguments, give them a break."

We aren't the ones indoctrinating them, depriving them of the opportunity to form their own opinions - they'll never form coherent arguments if all they hear is pseudo-scientific arguments as to why they should believe what they're told to believe.

It's not us who need to "open our minds" - it's those who are closing the minds of the young, who not only need to open theirs, but to allow the next generation to have to opportunity to open theirs also.

[Dave Atherton]

@K2

I am trying to work if your post is satire or serious, I will assume serious.

"I am a self confessed fascist" Tick

Blackshirts on a point of information were an Italian creation in 1919 and adopted by Moseley's British Union of Fascists. The Nazis were and wore Brownshirts.

"get out the front door and live a little"

Not when there is apparent incitement to assault smokers, dangerous occupation. Also on private property out of sight of the Hundred Hoo school children a landlord is not allowed the discretion to allow the consumption of a legal substance.

Like many anti smokers when all else fails, resort to cheap abuse and limp ad hominems. I guess it saves having to resort to a coherent argument.

K2 I believe is the 2nd highest mountain in the world behind Everest, your pitch has not even made base camp.

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