Slashdot Mirror

Firearm Offences in England & Wales :
Data involves ALL crimes involving a firearm.
Page 23 of http://rds.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs09/hosb1109chap3.pdf
Page 5 of http://rds.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs10/hosb1210chap1.pdf
Page 55 of https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/116483/hosb0212.pdf

Homicide :
It is accurate to state that in England and Wales "A separate offence is recorded for each victim of homicide, so that in an incident in which several people are killed, the number of homicides counted is the total number of persons killed". However it would appear that the FBI also records Homicides based on the number of Victims, not the number of people involved in committing the Homicide, so I am not sure how we are substantially under reporting the issue when compared to the USA.

England & Wales :
Footnote 1, page 32 : https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/116483/hosb0212.pdf
USA :
http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2011/crime-in-the-u.s.-2011/violent-crime/murder
http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2011/crime-in-the-u.s.-2011/tables/expanded-homicide-data-table-8

http://www.raspberrypi.org/archives/2569

More interesting question is around import duty. I think I read (possibly when last trying to work out where the f*ck my OpenPandora was) that there's different import duties on finished electrical good and components (these being more expensive). Even assuming assembly cost is the same, it means it always costs more to assemble in the UK.

Except that the Raspberry Pi foundation have never been able to point to any of these so-called duties. A question was asked in parliament and the minister replied that nobody in his department had any idea what they were talking about. Bear in mind that the Raspberry Pi foundation is run by engineers and programmers, not by people with a background in navigating import procedures.

A quick search of the UK trade tariff shows that there is no tariff on these sorts of components from any country. VAT applies, but will be the same amount for non-EU imports, EU 'acquisitions' (the technical term for imports within the common market) or UK purchases and only the administration differs. If you set the date back a year or look at other types of ICs you get the same result - no tariff.

the UK is the same, it's all about being distracted from driving, using a phone/txting etc is just a specific examples

https://www.gov.uk/using-mobile-phones-when-driving-the-law

I've seen people applying makeup, eating, even reading a book (I kid not) never mind reading instructions or a map... they'll still pull you if the officer thinks you're driving distracted.

Incorrect unless the highway code has changed since I took my test (a possibility, I admit).

https://www.gov.uk/speed-limits - about as definitive a reference as you can get ;-)

Of course in the US the car is king, but the UK Highways code suggests that you :

"do not treat speed limits as a target. It is often not appropriate or safe to drive at the maximum speed limit"
"take the road and traffic conditions into account. Be prepared for unexpected or difficult situations ... Be prepared to adjust your speed as a precaution"
"where there are junctions, be prepared for road users emerging"
"be prepared to stop at traffic control systems, road works, pedestrian crossings or traffic lights as necessary"

https://www.gov.uk/general-rules-all-drivers-riders-103-to-158/general-advice-144-to-158

I think that pretty much covers everyone who is complaining about amber lights, indeed if a traffic light is green, there is only one way the light is going to go - and it's not to blue.

They trotted out the old CCTV thing, so I'm guessing they're a Mail reader.

Well, whaddya know?

It was probably just an isolated incident of a bobby getting uppity, since Swiss army knives are explicitly categorised as legal to carry in public if you have good reason. Perhaps aforementioned bobby thought carrying one in a car in case of fruit cravings wasn't justified... personally I don't see the problem with keeping one in the glove box. In any event, this sort of sensationalism is just what we've come to expect from that squalid little rag; I wouldn't be surprised one bit to find a rant about most disabled people being benefit cheats on the next page.

Developing a new high speed rail network - London to Birmingham..
"Construction along the line is due to start in 2017 and be completed by 2025. The first train services will run between London and Birmingham from 2026." https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/developing-a-new-high-speed-rail-network

Add in the delays and 2033 looks possible! - Would you believe England used to rule 3/4 of the planet?

Come join the civilised world:

https://www.gov.uk/alcohol-young-people-law

"However if you’re 16 or 17 and accompanied by an adult, you can drink (but not buy) beer, wine or cider with a meal."

"It’s illegal to give alcohol to children under 5."

It's even better in the UK, where for a small illness you can't be required to visit a doctor.

It's the first thing on the Government page about sick leave: https://www.gov.uk/taking-sick-leave "Employees only need a fit note from a doctor after 7 days off work sick and have the right to use their statutory holiday entitlement during their sickness."

Be careful with what you've agreed to, you may find you have explicitly or inadvertently agreed to long credit periods. They may have payment policies somewhere - perhaps on their requestion orders.

That said, there's a good chance that the reason your bills are so late is because either you do not know their procedures or you've slipped through the cracks when admin departments have been merged i.e. nobody there knows who is supposed to be authorising payment. Confirm all the details including your credit terms, address and FAO to send the bill to, and from whom you need purchase requestion orders - which you should send a copy of with your invoice.

Here in UK, and perhaps lots of other places, by statute (and therefore by default, though obviously it is better to state it on the invoices and contracts anyway) you are entitled to apply a high interest rate (currently 8.5%) on late commercial payments (B2B only). This is often good just to have as a negotiating point. An alternative (or combination) may be to offer early payment discounts, though bigger business are often wise to this and they wont pay early unless the discount is higher than their cost of capital (unlikely), and to make matters worse they'll often just see the discounted amount and pay that even when late.

Of course you should consider the impact with your relationship with the client.

Lastly, you could farm it out by factoring your invoices. Your bank or other company will pay you a % of the invoices immediately in return for a cut. There is a "no recourse" option whereby they'll not take the money back from you and will chase the debts for you - of course in return for a bigger cut. This has obvious cashflow advantages, but also that cut might actually be cheaper than your regular borrowing. More to the point perhaps, if the position is getting to the point where you don't want to work for them anymore, this gives the option of keeping the client.

The police's discretion in the UK is at least partly codified, it's not really the decision of individual officers. I think that's how it should be. Sometimes the laws are written to mean no crime is committed if the suspect changes their behaviour -- e.g. "failing to surrender alcohol in a restricted drinking zone".

We probably need to be careful with language, and in any case I don't know much about this -- I've never had a warning, caution or similar.

See https://www.gov.uk/caution-warning-penalty

In any case, after an arrest it's for the public prosecutor to decide whether to press charges.

The UK govt has been surprisingly good about listening to advice from tech advisors. open.gov.uk itself is the result of advice from some guy called Tim Berners-Lee. The new gov.uk site is also a great sign of the government finally starting to get it.