Gill Nuttall – PR & Marketing Manager

Much has been written this week about our beautiful game, and I don’t propose to make comment on Suarez and Terry.

Today I am concentrating on Esteban Alvarado,  Alkmaar’s goalkeeper who was sent off for kicking pitch invader.

Having watched the coverage of this incident I find it incredible that the “fan” was allowed to get anywhere near the pitch. The steward (ONE steward!) appears to have made a half hearted attempt to stop him from running onto the pitch, but clearly needs to get himself to the gym a bit more often.

So there is lesson number one, a few more stewards and make sure they are up to the job. I guess lesson number two is the question of alcohol at football grounds. As a football fan myself, I have never fully understood the concept of going to a football game, getting hopelessly drunk, spending 80 of the 90 minutes travelling back and forth to the toilets and being unable to remember the result of the game.

So, given that the ‘fan’ appeared to have been under the influence, maybe that is something that the higher echelons of football could consider, along with everything else they have to deal with? I.E. If a fan comes to the bar for yet another drink, having already had 20 pints previously, maybe they should be refused that last drink. I turn now to the issue of the attack itself. Right now, I can’t imagine what my reaction would be if I were to be on a football pitch and suddenly I was attacked by a drunken hooligan. I am pretty sure however, that in that very moment, it would be of a similar reaction to that of Alvarado’s – I would probably have done exactly the same thing.

As far as the sending off is concerned this was violent conduct on the field of play therefore according to the rules of the game a red card is warranted but I don’t think it was envisaged to be in these circumstances.

I suppose the question has to be does the reasonable person perceive this to be reasonable force used by the goalkeeper in fear of an attack and was his reaction proportionate to what he thought would happen to him from being attacked by the pitch invader.

Paula Bridge – Personal Injury Consultant

The Daily Telegraph reported yesterday that “a year-long inquiry into standards of care for the elderly at home has uncovered “appalling” evidence of pensioners being deprived of food and drink, handled roughly, humiliated and even robbed.”

This is another example of the forgotten age.

Elderly vulnerable people don’t seem to have had a voice in recent years and the treatment displayed by some, not all carers have been tantamount to criminality.

The lack of training and resources for home carers has meant that some have as little as fifteen minutes to check on a resident and prepare a meal. The pressures this causes has led to communication and basic humanity failings.

Ralli has received numerous examples of abusive behaviour of elderly patients in nursing and care homes; this unfortunately is a familiar theme. Families do need to stand up for their relatives and give them a voice; it is the only way the system will ever change.

It is important to highlight the appalling failures in the standard of care and where appropriate report the offenders to their governing body.

It is not enough for the trusts to acknowledge and provide “customer care training “. They have to take a strong stance to stamp it out of the profession, many of whom do a fantastic job but unfortunately become tainted by the repeating scandal.

Where conduct has been vindictive and humiliating charges of assault and battery should be considered. It is important to drum home the seriousness of the situation and give the victims a voice and their dignity back.

Stuart Page – Associate

Any measures to decrease the level of dangerous offending are to be welcomed.

In relation to adult offenders the sentencing measures are quite clear and have been endorsed by the Sentencing Guidelines Council that where a knife is used by an adult offender in circumstances where there is a threat or causation of fear then a sentence in excess of 6 months imprisonment is the starting point.

However, one must think if a young person is being bullied and picked on and even assaulted then will the fear that he has on a daily basis be more than the fear of the possibility of going to custody for two to four months.

Stephen Fox (Senior Partner)

In response to the article Wanted: Costa del Crime fugitives.

Do criminals suddenly stop committing offences when they go to Spain?

Given that the Spanish authorities know who they are, should not the Spanish police be keeping a close watch on their activities in Spain?

So far as alleged offences here are concerned we can extradite offenders from a fellow EU country and if the Spanish police were keeping tabs on the individuals we would know where they are.Aren’t the true reasons for the problems based in lack of funds, apathy and the Spanish scoring points over Gibraltar?

If there is no will there will not be a way.

Gill Nuttall – PR & Marketing Manager

Yesterday, I followed a lot of the Commons debate on Hillsborough via Twitter.  It was useful to follow certain people and pick out some of the salient points of the debate.

Joey Barton now uses Twitter and unlike some of his colleagues in the world of football,   he has endeared himself to many people over the last few months. He is quickly reinventing himself as a real deep thinker, and not only about the game.   He recently got rid of a very flash car and several very expensive watches,  saying that had he not been a footballer, he would never had been able to have those things in the first place.  A recent BBC article  suggested he might rival Eric Cantona as a philosophical spokesman.

Joey was one of the people I was following on Twitter during the debate yesterday and by 11pm last night, I found myself in a real quandary. He spoke with such passion  (well as much as one can in 140 characters!) and I thought back to the days of his brutal tackle on Etuhu, the attack on Dabo, the prison sentence he received after being found guilty of common assault and affray, and I wondered what had happened to this young man.   As a football player I’ve always liked him, as a human being, I had my doubts.

But Joey has endeared himself to me through his use of Twitter and I particularly like his outspokenness and last night when he said he’d cried, another little part of me liked him a little bit more.

A couple of weeks ago Ralli were cited as one of the top ten firms to make good use of Twitter and long may that continue.

If Joey Barton can reinvent himself through the platform of social media, there is hope for everyone.

Stuart Page – Associate & Serious Crime Solicitor

The Guardian reports today that Blackburn manager Steve Kean has been banned for 18 months for drink-driving.

Claims that his drinks had been spiked following a Manchester United match were thrown out in court.

The Blackburn manager initially told the police he had not drunk any alcohol that day. After he was found to have 65 milligrams of alcohol in his breath – the legal limit being 35 – he admitted drinking over a three-hour period, having two and a half glasses of red wine with Ferguson followed by a bottle of beer with some friends.

Clearly here a Judge has made a decision on the facts of what he has heard and has chosen to believe the prosecution version.

The police officer who arrested Mr Kean would have had to make a preliminary assessment that he had been drinking before asking him to take a roadside breath test.

We don’t know from the article what the police officer said about Mr Kean’s demeanour.

Laced drinks is a very difficult defence to run as you would usually have to call in your defence evidence that although you were over the limit you would have feelings of having had alcohol and then that it would not be unreasonable in all the circumstances for a court to conclude that your drinks had been laced.

In this case mr keane was just under twice the legal limit.

iSolicitors

Download our dedicated driving app, Keep Your Licence, today.

Maria Penny (Associate & Personal Injury Solicitor)

It was reported this weekend that The Blue Cross charity are calling for changes to made to the Dangerous Dogs Act.

The Blue Cross charity says the law is not working and it is time to shift the emphasis away from certain types of dog and place responsibility on owners.

The Act came into force in August 1991 after a dog attack in Bradford left a six-year-old child with serious injuries.

Personally, I think the proposed law reform is long overdue.

The Dog Control Bill passed the report stage in the House of Lords in July 2011. Under the new Bill, dog control notices will address problematic behaviour at an early stage, regardless of the breed of dog involved. Such notices will focus on responsibility of the dog owner as opposed to a particular breed. The Bill will reach the final stage in the House of Lords after the summer recess and will then move to the House of Commons for further consideration.

Any dog, as stated, can be dangerous and much depends on the way the dog has been handled and raised by it’s owner.  To single out specific breeds as being dangerous, whilst at the time may have seemed the most appropriate step, ignored the real issue and has served to create a new generation of young dog owners who see breeds such as the pit bull as a status symbol.

In any case the owner or the person in control of the dog at the time of an incident occurring should be held responsible and although owners of dogs not specified in the Dangerous Dogs Act can still be prosecuted a shift in emphasis may aid better understanding of dog behaviour and more responsible ownership.

The proposed legislation will look to monitor the behaviour of any dog from a young age if certain types of behaviour are noted.  Exactly how this will be enforced on a day to day basis remains to be seen but I hope the new bill will address some of the issues, if not all, of dog handling which will hopefully lead to a reduction in the number of dog bite incidents.

Stephen Fox (Senior Partner)

Who ever suggested that either criminality or greed was the sole province of the poor?

People know right from wrong but believing the rules shouldn’t apply to them also applies irrespective of one’s so called position in society. That said how can we expect lazy, selfish, arrogant, complaining parents who have no sense of ‘the family’ and who don’t put the education of the children above their own next pint, fag or fix to do any better than they are!

This does not just apply to the financially poorer parts of our society but to all those who seem totally devoid of decency and morality they just put themselves first all the time. The world is not about you or me it is about the next person in line!

Chris MacCafferty – Business Litigation & Professional Negligence Solicitor

We are receiving a number of enquires from people that do have insurance but the claim against their policy has been rejected.

Ultimately you may succeed with the insurance claim but if you do not and have not made a claim against the Police Authority you may be in difficulties.

The lesson: Protect your position; make a claim against the Police Authority; or at least intimate a claim and seek to reach agreement with the Police Authority that the 14 day deadline is extended pending resolution of the insurance claim.

You really do not want to discover your insurers are not going to pay out after the deadline for submitting a claim to the Police Authority.

For further information or should require assistance please contact Christopher MacCafferty on 0161 615 0677 or via e-mail to christopher.maccafferty@ralli.co.uk or Michael Forrester 0161 615 0670 or via e-mail to Michael.forrester@ralli.co.uk.

We will be publicising details of the court results throughout the day via various media channels

The criminals who attempted to destroy the spirit of Greater Manchester have failed with communities from every background including the business community standing against them in solidarity. The support shown to the police has been overwhelming.

You are encouraged to continue business as usual while considering the safety of yourself and your staff

You are reminded of the following precautionary measures:

1 Where possible retail premises should be suitably staffed with security guards during opening times
2 Ensure staff report any suspicious activity to security and/or police
3 Consider regular checks of the building and surrounding area
4 Identify areas that are vulnerable to forced entry
5 Make sure all service doors are kept locked and secure when not in use
6 Ensure your CCTV system is fully operational
7 In case of an emergency ensure there is a record of the names of key holders who can be contacted
8 Consider removing high value goods from display windows overnight
9 Consider keeping as little cash as possible on the premises
10 Ensure that your premises are secure and, if fitted, your alarm systems are fully operational
11 Ensure that staff are not alone when opening and closing premises
12 Police have released images of people suspected of carrying out criminal damage and disorder in Manchester and Salford earlier this week www.flickr.com/photos/gmpwanted
13 If you have information please email fib.communityintelligenceteam@gmp.pnn.police.uk or call 0161 872 5050.
14 In an emergency, where there is threat to life or a crime in progress, call 999
15 For specific advice regarding security arrangements around your premises please contact your local authority.

We are working on a specific Crimestoppers campaign to tap into the mood of the public details of which will be released tomorrow.