'Quiet Argument' Leads to Bloody Mess in Winton, Bournemouth

Browsing through local news stories on Monday morning, I was shocked and surprised to see a story about a man having his face slashed in a quiet neighbourhood. There was a part of me thinking, 'I wonder if it was near me.'

To my horror, it was! The tree-lined environs of Maxwell Road, Winton, opposite a popular park which families frequent, witnessed a scene usually reserved for the less desirable parts of the town. If that sounds snobbish then maybe it is, however, factually, it's not a churlish statement to make.

These type of incidents are rare in Winton. Even the described nature of the event ensured the attack was almost in keeping with the surroundings. On a quiet Saturday morning, one resident working in their front garden at the time told the Echo, “I did not hear anything at first,” he said. “It must have been a very quiet argument.”

Perhaps we shouldn't over-react to this incident. According to crime statistics from Dorset Police, violent crime fell 14% between April 2007 and April 2008. Incidences of 'violence against the person' are listed as falling 16%.

It should also be mentioned that the men involved in the stabbing are alleged to have been known to each other, with the perpetrator fleeing in the direction of Charminster Road. Despite this caveat, no one wants to witness a couple of mates wielding various sharp instruments at each other over a supposedly quiet tiff in a residential street where families are likely to be nearby.

Let's hope this story is a one-off and not indicative of the oft described 'Broken Britain' encroaching upon this pleasant suburb of Bournemouth.

Bournemouth and Dorset Ready to Show Its Support for England

Let's get past the slightly jingoistic title of this blog and its sub-text and permit ourselves to revel in a minor victory over political correctness. Whilst other areas of the country are banning people wearing England football shirts in pubs this summer, Dorset Police and pubs and clubs in the conurbation have hit back.

The police and local bar owners have revealed their stance, stating that they'll be more than happy for people to nail their national colours to the mast.

A spokesperson for the force told the Daily Echo that their approach will be "proportionate and intelligence led", adding "Our priority is to ensure that all people wishing to celebrate the tournament can do so and in a way that is safe and enjoyable for all".

In other areas, police have already sounded out certain parts of the country where they believe shirt-wearing fans could cause trouble. The Metropolitan Police have already issued warnings to pubs screening forthcoming World Cup matches in Croydon, urging them to apply dress codes that outlaw England shirts. The authorities in the capital have claimed they're desperate to avoid outbreaks of violence, especially if England lose.

It would be nice if those of us who wish to swill imported lager and wear a garment that was probably stitched abroad could support our national side in peace. We're not all members of the English Defence League (EDL) and we're not about to march through Bournemouth Square declaring white supremacy.

In an age where the loss of English national pride is mourned as culture becomes a homogenised, Americanised gloop, it would make a refreshing change if we could still cling to the typical elements of our Englishness-namely throwing up in a heap after a defeat on penalties as we relentlessly berate our footballing icons.

In that spirit, well done to Will Bowling, manager of Dukes in Barrack Road, Christchurch for upholding these rights of passage as we prepare for another summer of potential heartbreak. His establishment will assess the risks of individual matches and act accordingly.

Minus the occasional oddball, Mr. Bowling offered this insightful nugget, stating "To be honest I would think more trouble comes out of the club games."

Car stickers and flags should be compulsory for all. Yellow Buses should be painted with the St. George's cross. Most importantly, we should be able to proudly bear the Three Lions. After all, win or lose, the shirts will probably disappear as a throng of heavily tattooed, corpulent torsos will emerge, ready to cheer on or chastise in symptomatic fashion.