The ‘Swasie’ Column
“he says it how it is” by Swasie Turner MBE
A Council TOTALLY DEVOID of respect Abhorrent classification of
Disabled people being classed as ‘Goods’!
During nearly 30 years as a front line cop I can lady taxi driver used her initiative to make things of policing the patch during my service as
honestly state that I rigorously and impartially easier (and safer) for her disabled passenger a Police sergeant. Rightly or wrongly, Taxi
imposed the law of the land to the best of that she was conveying to collect her pension drivers are many times the butt of peoplesʼ
my ability. However, I was never afraid to from the townʼs post office. jokes and critique, but I am also aware of how
use my initiative when dealing with various extremely kind and helpful the vast majority of
miscreants, major or minor, in one way or Using her ʻnouseʼ the considerate driver pulled these drivers actually are, especially towards
another, even, if by doing so, I were to invoke out of the line of traffic and into the safe haven the disabled fraternity. Many may not know
the wrath of my senior officers! When most of of a LAY-BY and stopped directly outside the that on numerous occasions these drivers
the countryʼs traffic legislation was governed door of the post office. She then assisted her unhesitatingly will drive to the local chemists
and enforced by the Police and (proper) fully invalid passenger together with her walking for prescriptions for those who are unable to
trained Traffic Wardens, initiative did prevail frame to alight from the vehicle. Yes, there were make it for one reason or another, they assist
on many occasions. However, since then we double yellow lines but the lay-by was empty inebriated passengers to their homes after a
now have an army of brain dead jobsworths, and completely clear, but the time was 9-23 am! nightʼs heavy drinking (only for some of them
totally devoid of any compassion, sympathy
Oh my goodness, this meant that ʻloading and to express their gratitude by subjecting them
or understanding, that have manifested
unloadingʼ was restricted as it was before the to verbal abuse or even violence for their
themselves to bring about making obscene
dreaded nine thirty! kindness!) and the same drivers never hesitate
sums of money for their unscrupulous masters
to assist anyone in distress. Many, many times
in the nationʼs local authorities. Consideration
The taxi driverʼs totally sensible, not to during my police career, I have been more than
and initiative then instantly evaporated in the
mention kind and humanitarian, operation extremely grateful for the timely intervention
name of financial greed by all of our Town Hall
took approximately a minute or so to get the and assistance of taxi drivers when I have been
despots who rule the roost over us, the ever
frail old lady out of her taxi and safely onto the trying to apprehend a violent prisoner or dealing
frustrated and concerned Mr and Mrs Joe
pavement. I have seen the photograph and it with a traffic accident. There is no doubt that
Public. ʻStreet Enforcersʼ are now recruited
clearly shows the vehicle to be a taxi, it also on such occasions I have probably been saved
with the sole intention of ensuring that council
clearly shows the driver holding the walking from injury due to their assistance. I always
coffers are swelled by the rigid, Jack Booted
frame as well as assisting her elderly passenger insisted that my officers used their own initiative
enforcement of legislation regarding the parking
from the vehicle. More importantly, it also and discretion whenever the situation required.
of vehicles, however mild or imperative the
shows that by using her initiative to pull into the Sadly, due to a gratuitous act of violence whilst
needs of the poor frustrated and constantly
(completely empty) lay-by, the taxi had in no serving on the ʻthin blue lineʼ I too am disabled.
ripped off motorist. Without doubt, I am all
way compromised the flow of traffic or public
in favour of eliminating blatant abuse of the
safety and also, the post office can clearly be I vehemently resent responsible people, especially
law by selfish and inconsiderate people who
seen alongside the vehicle. The next place to those in authority in our corridors of power who
are just anti authority and just couldnʼt give a
deposit her elderly charge would have been have the offensive audacity, to compare disabled,
damn for anyone but themselves. I certainly
a long way from the post office, too far for the frail and vulnerable people as ʻgoodsʼ to be loaded
agree with the unhesitating hounding and
lady to have walked across busy main roads! or unloaded, double lines or not.
prosecution of those fit and able-bodied people
Once assured of the old ladyʼs safety, the
who are just too bone idle to park legitimately
driver then drove off. However, secreted some I deem such people as the lady taxi driver using
and insist on parking on ʻDisabledʼ bays to
distance away was the councilʼs pet little spy her initiative to save the old lady a lengthy,
save walking too far. However, there is now
car who photographed what, to a normal human and probably physically impossible walk from
unfortunately, an uncompromising army of
being, would be a saintly little saga worthy of a distant ʻlawfulʼ venue to be congratulated
ʻprogrammedʼ wardens, totally devoid of
nothing less than a congratulatory accolade. and commended for her selfless consideration
discretion and initiative who just can not under
Not a chance! Instead, as a consequence of her and kindness, not penalised by a greedy and
any circumstances, refrain from endearing
kindly deed, some days later the hard working, unscrupulously inconsiderate and insensitive
themselves to their equally despotic masters in
legitimately registered taxi driver was surprised member of the Chairbourne Infantry whose sad
City Hall. They ruthlessly dish out on the spot
to receive through the post, a grossly insensitive role is of pen pushing and revelling in his or
fines like confetti for even the most trivial of
ʻPenalty Chargeʼ issued courtesy of the Taliban her pathetic power over those who are not only
ʻmisdemeanoursʼ! To add insult to injury and
(or Wirral Borough Council as they are known). doing their jobs, but doing them in a caring and
also make the ʻmeshʼ in the grubby, money
Was the notice congratulating the caring driver selfless way. It is high time that those fit and able-
spinning little net smaller! There is now a highly
for ensuring the safety of her disabled, elderly bodied people in their Ivory Towers considered
surreptitious new kid on the ʻSting the Motoristʼ
passenger? Not at all, the hapless ʻCriminalʼ the needs of the disabled, above the chance to
(whoever they are) block! A very expensive
was informed that a penalty charge of £70 was grab a few measly pounds from those who try
surveillance car is now roaming the roads of
now payable. The penalty charge has become their best to make life as comfortable and safe for
the Wirral Peninsular with the blessing of its
payable because the ʻparkingʼ contravention them as they can. Shame on you Wirral Council.
unscrupulous and greedy council, paid for
was recorded by an……ʼapproved deviceʼ. I
with many thousands of pounds of council tax
know this area well, having been in charge Copyright 2009 Swasie Turner MBE
payersʼ money! The little white car is marked
with Wirral Council livery and is fitted with an
extending periscope containing a camera which,
when the periscope is extended to 20 feet or
more can photograph a number of various
scenarios. The cameras are easily capable
of ʻseeingʼ into bedroom windows of houses
so who is to say (and who is to know) what
could “inadvertently” be seen via such a private
intrusion?? - and therefore, what guarantee
do we have that this canʼt, and wonʼt, occur?
The vehicle can park quite normally amongst
a line of cars and raise its periscope to ʻspyʼ a
full 360 degrees whilst secreted between larger
vehicles. Recently, a most unsavoury incident
occurred in Wallasey when an extremely kind
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