Passport Control

Zargonian · Post by **Zargonian** » 17 May 2005, 08:15

Hello everyone, what a great forum! I think it's a great read when I'm ahem working.

I've been in Porty most of my life and I've been reading about the troubles on the streets and the mayhem at nights.

I'd like to propose a form of passport control for visitors to Porty.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 17 May 2005, 09:19

Nice to have you join us Zargonian

Is a passport control not intended to keep out undesirable aliens? Or are Zargonians desirable?

Zargonian · Post by **Zargonian** » 17 May 2005, 09:28

If we had passport control, it would be for undesirables.
The Zargonian's are a friendly race, and are indeed welcome throughout the universe. Come to think of it, it was the only nick I could remember from a long time ago!

bellybabe · Post by **bellybabe** » 17 May 2005, 09:42

Welcome to the forum, Zargonian. Looking at your other posts, I sense you're on a mission! Were you thinking Big Brother Biometric style ones, or will plain ones do? We could add a visa system to it too. I'm sure we'd find enugh nosy people to staff the border - "What is your purpose in Portobello? How long do you intend to stay for? Have you ever been involved in any neddish activity, worked for Punch pubs, or cycled on the promenade? Will you be visiting our local shops or do you prefer superstores? Will you park considerately? Will you appreciate our speed bumps? Do you blah blah blah...?".

DG · Post by DG » 17 May 2005, 09:47

Welcome to the forum, Zargonian

I think that any idea for some control over escalating youth and gang problems is worth debating. However, can't help thinking that it is time there was some action put in place. How far can this go? My mum recently had a horrific experience on a bus from Tranant to Edinburgh involving a large group of teenagers causing havoc, terrorising the passengers, reducing an elderly lady to tears with fear and when the Musselburgh police came on they did not remove the culprits - so the whole thing continued. My mum and her friend were verbally abused while bottles and condoms were thrown about. And guess what

?! The group of youths were from PORTOBELLO! Well, what a surprise

When my mum phoned me when she got home she stopped the conversation to tell me that her bed was shaking. Then she realised that it was her. She had been so frightened

What is happening to our community?!

DG

foxy · Post by **foxy** » 17 May 2005, 09:57

Zargonian, welcome

Your assumption seems to be that the neds are all on the outside..what about the ones within

Zargonian · Post by **Zargonian** » 17 May 2005, 10:13

Aye, there are neds within also,
the ones within, need a holiday on Anthrax Island.

Zargonian · Post by **Zargonian** » 17 May 2005, 13:04

Well, if we can't implement passport control.

We need more policing.
We need more responsible parents, and more laws to look after the good people. A start would be a more visible Police force, instead of just turning up when the troubles there.
And of course by the time they do turn up, the troublesome ones have gone!

The authorities need to listen and invest in their communities. Instead of just talking and having meetings.
I've seen members of the authorities having a pint in the Forresters, maybe they should have a drink on a Friday / Saturday night in Portobello.
And see for themselves.
Ooops I'm ranting....

bellybabe · Post by **bellybabe** » 17 May 2005, 13:09

BTW DG I'm sorry to hear your mum had such a traumatic experience. I hope she's feeling better now - it must have been very frightening.
BB

DG · Post by DG » 17 May 2005, 13:58

Thanks, BB. She is in the process of meeting up with various police officials to discuss her complaint about how this was handled and how no-one on the bus felt protected or considered when the police finally arrived. She is also aware of how luck she was as she did speak up several times and ask the youths to stop. In the defence of some of the youths, she did say that there were a couple of girls who were apologising to others for their friends behaviours. One girl finally put her arms around the older lady who was crying and shaking telling her she would not be hurt. Horrible experience for anyone. This incident happened at tea-time on a Friday night.

DG

Gemini · Post by **Gemini** » 18 May 2005, 12:12

My Mum got a bit of a shock last Friday night.

Her Bedroom Window overlooks the small residential car park, around 7.00pm ish. a police car pulled up in front of the window - two pc's got out,opened the boot and pulled out two rifles - then proceeded to load them with bullets, covered the rifles with their leather protectors and proceeded on up Portobello Road.

Nothing as horrific as DG's Mum's experience, what an ordeal for her and
the others at the bus stop.

BBC : http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/4558155.stm

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 18 May 2005, 12:27

Gemini wrote:My Mum got a bit of a shock last Friday night.
Her Bedroom Window overlooks the small residential car park, around 7.00pm ish. a police car pulled up in front of the window - two pc's got out,opened the boot and pulled out two rifles - then proceeded to load them with bullets, covered the rifles with their leather protectors and proceeded on up Portobello Road.

Gemini, when is the message going to sink in? The Police are obvioulsy after you and are staking out your mum's, as they have heard you are visiting. Go careful there girl.

BTW what are you up to tonight?

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 18 May 2005, 13:14

Gemini wrote:My Mum got a bit of a shock last Friday night.

Her Bedroom Window overlooks the small residential car park, around 7.00pm ish. a police car pulled up in front of the window - two pc's got out,opened the boot and pulled out two rifles - then proceeded to load them with bullets, covered the rifles with their leather protectors and proceeded on up Portobello Road.

Nothing as horrific as DG's Mum's experience, what an ordeal for her and
the others at the bus stop.

Sounds like the preliminaries to what I posted on the Kings Road.... thread later on on Friday night about police and guns in Pittville Street! I wonder what on earth it was all about?

PS That link is presumably to do with the PF of England & Wales rather than the Scottish Police Federation?

foxy · Post by **foxy** » 19 May 2005, 22:07

Speaking of passport control, I recently had to apply for new passports for my 2 kids in their own names, so that they can travel abroad without me.
What a nightmare exercise in form filling, even athough they had already been named on my passport. Thankfully it will be 5 years before they need new ones and then they'll be old enough to do it themselves.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 20 May 2005, 08:20

I'm in the process of having to renew my passport Foxy and apply for one for my son in his own right for the first time. Like your kids, he had always been on my passport. I doubt they could have made the form and the many pages of instructions that accompany it any more difficult to follow

Now I've just got to get my act together and get a friendly neighbour

to spend some of her time filling in a page of details too.

Gemini · Post by **Gemini** » 20 May 2005, 10:52

Porty wrote:
Gemini wrote:My Mum got a bit of a shock last Friday night.
Her Bedroom Window overlooks the small residential car park, around 7.00pm ish. a police car pulled up in front of the window - two pc's got out,opened the boot and pulled out two rifles - then proceeded to load them with bullets, covered the rifles with their leather protectors and proceeded on up Portobello Road.
Gemini, when is the message going to sink in? The Police are obvioulsy after you and are staking out your mum's, as they have heard you are visiting. Go careful there girl.

They obviously have guessed that I am a socialist

BTW what are you up to tonight?

Just the usual, needlepoint, pickling beetroot