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Acid attacks in the UK are becoming increasingly common. The reason is simple but the timing isn't. In the UK, guns are generally illegal and gun ownership is more of a touchy subject than in the US. I understand that criminals with guns receive a mandatory five year prison sentence. Strict gun control has pushed most criminals to knives. However, after mandatory sentences for knife ownership, criminals are now choosing to injure victims with acid.
Although gun and knife injuries may require extensive rehabilitation, partial recovery from acid attack may be more costly. One victim required 40 operations and continues to receive frequent, lifelong surgery to alleviate complications such as scar tissue on windpipe.
Attackers and victims have a wide variety of backgrounds. In a very English manner, two attackers who were obviously paid, said sorry before attacking one victim. One attacker was a very minor celebrity before and after attacking people in a nightclub and there have been numerous attacks in Scotland. Some incidents are "honor" attacks among immigrants who, for whatever reason, fail to assimilate. However, there has been an increase in acid attacks among ethnic minorities in East London.
The BBC reports that:
The Met Police is "seeing some links" between criminal gangs and the recent spike in acid attacks in London, a senior officer has said.
Deputy Commissioner Craig Mackey said the force was "seeing a move across" to gang members using acid and corrosive fluids in attacks.
But he cautioned evidence was limited as "it's a small data set".
On Monday, MPs debated measures, including tougher sentences, for attacks involving corrosive substances.
The government has also proposed classifying such substances as dangerous weapons.
The deputy commissioner supported efforts to tackle the issue, saying some of the substances are "not even defined by law".
"The impact this sort of attack has on people is extraordinary," he said.
"Many of us have been unfortunate to see quite a bit in our services but acid attacks are really extraordinary and strike at something quite horrific in people's psyche."
Although many incidences are inter-gang attacks (or a brief campaign against food delivery), there are also incidences where acid attack occurs in conjunction with robbery. One pernicious trend is around moped and scooters which are relatively cheap, relatively fast and cut through traffic. They are relatively easy to steal and it is almost impossible to halt a theft in progress. Well, moped crime now occurs in conjunction with acid attack. Variants include using acid to steal a moped from a rider and using a moped to exit the scene of an acid attack.
London police now have 1000 anti-acid kits and every police car will carry 5 liters of water. Although this is useful for acid attacks against police, it does nothing to halt worsening injuries prior to emergency response. This is of particular concern when acceptable response time for emergency services is re-defined in response to failing targets. The most recent incident, which occurred within 100 metres of the local fire department, incurred a 20 minute response from police.
Although there is a strong political reaction that something must be done, these incidences overshadow a police pursuit death in the vicinity which has similarities to a death in 2011 which sparked rioting in multiple English cities.
(Score: 2, Interesting) by Demena on Friday July 28 2017, @11:06AM (8 children)
Nope, not confused. Got news for you, I walked in non-human shoes long enough. I am certainly not racist. I will leave that nasty characteristic for you. There is evidence enough in your post. I have been a minority. I have been one of only two members of a minority (parent and child) where a majority felt it was their right and obligation to beat and burn me, and, as a child I believed that they were right and just to do so. So, yes, I know the effects of racism. More than you do maybe. You have directed personal insults and scathing comments based on assumptions about me that you have no cause to make, that is not accurate nor rational nor wise. But all that is personal and nothing to do with reason or the subject of the article so I doubt it will sway you. You have fallen for the 'hate' meme. I choose not to do so. Good luck to you.
There is one responsibility that is attached to human rights. That responsibility is to recognise the human rights and dignity of everyone you meet, encounter or deal with. Do you not see that? I am glad to have no privilege with you, I don't want privilege with anyone so that is just fine and you showed none (no privilege to me) in your post. Again, that is fine. But you did allow yourself privilege to insult someone you don't know on the basis of your imaginings. How does that sit with human rights and dignity?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 28 2017, @11:14PM
OMG!! Lizard person! Alert! It's one of the Lizard People! AAAAAaaaaarrrrgghhhhhhhh!!
(Score: 2) by aristarchus on Saturday July 29 2017, @04:44AM (6 children)
Poor, poor Demena! Cannot see that my taking him/her to task is the essence of respect and the recognition of dignity. If what you thought was of no consequence (and you are coming close), there would be no reason to rebut you. It is only the respect I have for you that justifies the insults, you vile scum of humanity! Yes, I do not know you, but I do know that you get upset when someone makes fun of your username, which just smells to high heaven of white privilege. And you know, I imagine nothing about you. I am just laying out the logical consequences of your ill thought out post about how "everyone has privilege", and evidently you agree with me. So play the victim, you idiot, you turd, you fellow-traveller of the powers-that-be! It will do you no good. Instead, think about what you are saying before you say it. And think how others will receive what you say. I do this all the time, you vomitous mass of Bantha droppings! See? It's not that hard.
(Score: 1) by Demena on Saturday July 29 2017, @05:17AM (5 children)
Err... It is you that is playing the victim. Protective of my user name is 'white'? You cannot see that stretch? Would picking a famous white name as a nom de plume would be what? You are being silly. So full of twisted hate. Everyone has privilege even if it is only playing the victim card. Your success in life depends on how well you play your cards irrespective of who dealt them. Everyone gets a different deck. You don't get to pick the deck but you pick which cards to play. If you really do care then try playing different cards, after all this is supposed to be a friendly game. You and your causes gain nothing by alienating me. You would have more to gain with a friendly explanation as why I am incorrect. But I don't think I am.
Anyway, your biggest enemy is not me. There is too much resemblance between "Make America great again!" and "Deutschland uber allies!" for my liking and you know what happened to all minorities there. I am watching it happen again. Yes, it is a change of topic but only because I should not be your worry. You have real ones.
(Score: 1, Troll) by aristarchus on Saturday July 29 2017, @06:27AM (2 children)
Are you so sure? Your original post on this came across as flat out white privilege. Of course I will alienate you, if that is what you are. Who wants to be friends or allies with racists? And there are flacking Nazis right here in river city? We give them no quarter. But you, in your post, were offering aid and comfort to the racists. Do you not see that? If you don't, you are too stupid to be a useful ally, and so if we gain nothing by alienating you, we gain something by alienating those who would agree with you, you fucking racist son of a diabolical mating of European Reich doctrine stemming from the Pax Romana and the Jewish conceit that they are the chosen people.
There are no chosen people. Everyone is just as fucked as everyone else, and unless we co-operate on the principles of liberty, equality, and Fraterinite', well no one will give a damn about what happened to us. Which side are you on Demena? We will mark you down in the book. Where are you going to make your stand, with the Nazis, or with the Free world? Not that difficult of a choice. Do you need me to insult you further? I can, you yellow-bellied toad of inconsistent bowel movements!
(Score: 1) by Demena on Sunday July 30 2017, @10:29AM (1 child)
Which side am I on?
That side. The side you claim to be on. But you don't care do you?
You have made yourself clear that I disgust you. I suspect you will pursue my posts like a dog does a rabbit. To find any hint of fault that you may. Should I then remove my presence? Disappear down the rabbit hike? Would that please you? Would such a petty victory make you happy? To have "stuck it to the white guy"?
You don't match your words do you. (Rhetorical question)
(Score: 2) by aristarchus on Sunday July 30 2017, @10:45AM
You don't know me, Demana! I will take your word that we are on the same side, the right side. Just don't be a sucker for racists anymore, M'kay?
(Score: 2) by tangomargarine on Wednesday August 02 2017, @09:03PM (1 child)
Just going to sneak in a point of interest here:
Wasn't a Nazi thing at all. But I know what you were going for.
"Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"
(Score: 1) by Demena on Wednesday August 02 2017, @10:29PM
I understand this, but it was the way the National Socialists used it.