IT’S good to know that fare-dodgers are being pulled up. In West Yorkshire, zero tolerance seems to be the order of the day. A commuter was taken to court for attempting a £1.20 journey to Leeds on a Northern Rail train with a £1.10 ticket, according to The Guardian (Feb 10). Magistrates cleared her of any wrongdoing and Northern Rail accepted the verdict, but said it would not be deterred from similar prosecutions.
One prosecution for burglary appears unlikely this week due to the artistic limitations of Norfolk police. An e-fit picture of a suspect was drawn up based on a description given by Kim Rule, the licensee of the pub the man burgled, but bore more resemblance to a Martian wearing a moustache from a Christmas cracker than to a human, says The Sun (Feb 9). “The police only had long moustaches on the system so they cut it,” said Ms Rule.
Something else up for the cut is the humble queue, says The Times (Feb 9). Ministers can now avoid the embarrassment of unsightly lines of people outside newly-opened NHS dentists’ surgeries since they’ve been banned. Primary care trusts have been told to ensure that future registrations take place only over the phone or by appointment.
Dorset police are certainly not queueing up to come to the aid of a retailer in Bournemouth, says The Daily Telegraph (Feb 9). Shopkeepers are furious after being told that they needn’t bother calling out the police over the theft of goods worth under £75. The owners of a pet shop in the area emphasised the impact that the theft of goods worth that amount could have. “That is the equivalent of three and a half rabbits or 11 hamsters for us,” they said.
An “explicit” children’s sex education book has also left a bad taste in the mouths of parents, The Sunday Telegraph (Feb 12) says. One chapter reads: “Not everyone likes oral sex. Not everyone likes ham and cheese sarnies either.” Something for you to chew over on Valentine’s Day.