Police investigate deliberate fire in Tain
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The Guardian
7 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Hackney birdsong? Stolen Lime bikes the new sound of summer in the city
Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep. Was that exhausting to read? Well, imagine if that noise was the soundtrack to your summer. To the ire of many city dwellers this year, it is. The piercing and persistent sound, something akin to a half-bothered fire alarm you accidentally set off, has been everywhere. Its origin? Lime e-bikes, specifically the stolen variety. The bikes, which have become ubiquitous in London and other cities, cost 27p a minute to ride, plus a £1 unlock fee in the capital. Those hoping to get around without paying a penny have resorted to naughtier (and noisier) ways of doing so. There are video tutorials available online on how to break into Lime e-bikes. When someone manages to bypass their lock and ride around for free, it emits a continuous beep, beep, beep sound. The noise is supposed to be a deterrent – a sonic advertisement to all who pass by that the rider is a cheat – but considering how prevalent it has become, it seems as though boosting a bike has become not only an acceptable course of action but even a lifestyle choice. On a balmy Friday afternoon in lush and leafy Clissold Park in east London, I played the beep, beep, beep sound to sun seekers, who recognised it instantly. During the course of our conversation, offending e-bikes sped around people, including children, along the park's paths. Ellie Roberts said she heard the sound daily, describing it as the 'birdsong of Hackney'. 'It doesn't keep me up but it bothers me,' said Roberts, 47, who works in advertising. 'It's an indication of low-level crime on an ongoing basis.' Her friend, Sinead McKenna, 49, is more fond of the persistent sound. 'I quite like it, it's the sound of the summer,' said the solicitor. Schoolkids are often seen whizzing around on the beeping bikes, despite under-18s being banned from using the service. 'I genuinely like [the sound] because I think if I was a kid, that's what I'd do,' said McKenna, laughing. 'It's the fact that Lime is making a lot of money and they have a responsibility. I don't blame the kids for it.' There was little sympathy for Lime in evidence. 'Why is it that they can make money off public space?' said Sebastian Eyre, 34, who runs a pizza company. 'I don't actually mind [the sound] because it's usually kids. Lime have done their evil, so let the kids get a free ride.' Eyre, who lives in Sydenham, said he heard the dreaded beep, beep, beep 'a couple times a day'. He reckons in his pocket of south-east London people are riding stolen bikes 'nine time out of ten', based on how often he hears the sound. A small stroll outside the park, on a road where cafes and bakeries that are the calling card of gentrification lie, Lime bikes were also seen whizzing up and down. Clad in Lycra and a bike helmet seldom seen on those zipping around on Lime e-bikes, John Villeneau said there had been a 'massive increase' in the number of them available in the area. 'If you just go to any of the pubs, there used to be a group of 10 bikes outside. Now, there's like 50. There's just hundreds of bikes outside on a Friday night because everyone Limes it up and Limes it back,' said the 59-year-old non-practising solicitor. He said he hears the beep, beep, beep sound a lot but doesn't mind it. 'If you're forced to take a Lime bike and not pay for it and you have to put up with that noise yourself, who cares? I don't care,' he said. He has given the e-bikes a go himself, but he's not a big fan. 'I'm not keen. They're expensive and I can't be bothered. The last couple of times I've ridden them into town, you have to go to a designated place and all that crap.' Jane, 68, a former teacher, who did not want to provide her last name, visited Clissold Park for the first time in over a year since moving out of the area. She said she had heard the beep, beep, beep sound twice since entering the park. The current stereotype seems to be that it is only young boys who drive the e-bikes recklessly, but Jane thinks this is incorrect. 'I don't think it's just young people, I don't think it's just young boys or young men. I think it's everybody,' she said. 'When you get on those bikes, everybody turns very selfish.' A Lime spokesperson said: 'We know that the vast majority of people use our bikes responsibly, and we take instances of them being stolen, damaged or misused very seriously. Previously, our hardware team has successfully delivered several targeted improvements to stop bikes being used fraudulently. 'We are developing further measures to counter the latest attempts to damage and fraudulently use vehicles. We are also working with TfL and local authorities to hold offenders to account and we urge the public to report any incidents they see, including time and location, so we can take appropriate action.'
BBC News
7 minutes ago
- BBC News
Tributes paid to Amazon driver who died in crash with train
Tributes have been paid to a man who died when a train collided with a van in Hatcher, 23, was killed at the scene when the Amazon delivery van he was driving was struck at a level crossing on Lower Road, in Teynham, on 13 Hatcher's family said: "Brandon was a dad, partner, son, brother, grandson and uncle, amongst being a great friend to many who he came into contact with in his life."We are deeply saddened by his passing at such a tragically young age in an accident that could have been so easily avoided. Southeastern, which operates trains in the area, said it was "deeply saddened" following the family added: "We will remember him for his humour, laid back look on life, his smile and love for his family."They also called for "learning" from the incident, that prevents "this sort of tragedy" from happening again. An Amazon spokesperson said: "This is a terrible incident and our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the delivery driver's family and loved ones during this difficult time."We will work with police and the delivery service provider as they investigate."Steve White, Southeastern managing director, said the company was "fully assisting the Rail Accident Investigation Branch with their investigation to understand exactly what happened".
BBC News
7 minutes ago
- BBC News
West Midlands Police VR training helps fight crimes against women
Virtual reality technology is being used to train new police officers to provide an insight into male crimes against Midlands Police has said it is the first force in the UK to partner with training provider Calico, to deliver the interactive sessions to 700 new recruits by wear virtual reality headsets, which places them in the shoes of a woman travelling through Birmingham after force said the classes were part of a wider approach to address crimes such as stalking, harassment, rape and domestic abuse. The simulation allows officers to make decisions throughout, following four different routes through the city via park, taxi, and each scene, users hear the real voices and lived experiences of women, which helps them fully immerse themselves in the experience and understand the incident from the victim's point of Midlands Police said its male officers were benefiting the most from the project. PC Aaron Whittingslow said: "I've never experienced the world as a woman does. "The session has thrown me into that world through the virtual reality goggles and we've had some good discussions with female colleagues."It's really made me think about how I'd support victims, how my actions may be perceived and, as a new dad, the kind of world my daughter will grow up in."The force said while colleagues already completed a variety of training to ensure they were able to tackle violence against women and girls (VAWG), this scheme would better equip officers to protect victims. Assistant Chief Constable Jen Mattinson, force lead for VAWG said: "I'm proud to see West Midlands Police leading the way by providing training opportunities like this, in our committed approach to tackling violence against women and girls."This session is one of many tools that we are investing in as a force, to protect the communities we serve, and we will continually invest time, money and effort to combat VAWG." Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
