[plumseverywhere]

It is really disgusting that they have got something of yours and the police refuse to act.

Helen

Infuriates me because its making certain traveller sectors into a lawless society, this is then a self perpetuating cycle as more crime is committed and the perpetrators know they can get away with it! My friend has called the police to the site where she lives and been told nothing can be done, I think the police are quite scared for their own health and safety based on issues that may have arisen in the past but where does that leave the lawabiding citizens? both traveller and non travellers who want a peaceful lawful way of life 


All the times I've been onto the site - both invited and unannounced - I've had nothing but a curious and quite friendly welcome. I'm known up there now but prior to this I'd have dozens of small children dash out to see the 'country woman in her car' and teenage lads asking dozens of questions about who did I want to see and how much did I want for my motor     Being friendly but firm in my responses bode me well - no, i don't want to sell them my husbands company car and I just wanted to say some of their Akita dogs were loose on the road and might get run over etc...on the way back out "did you find who you were looking for miss?  oh good...drive careful....bye".     Didn't need 8 armoured vehicles for that now did I 


I would really worry that they will move her on and you'll be too late - now that you know, you can bet they know you know!! 

[Roxy]

Oh, thats promising, that you know where Bella is.
Its well known that gypsies and police are not best buddies.  Councils have liaison officers, who are, lets say, trained  to deal with the travellers.  Maybe an idea to speak to them, and see if they could either go in alone to the traveller site, or go along with you?  That may be better than the Police?
Good luck, and hope you get Bella back soon.
With all the publicity, they hopefully will be glad to hand her back, no questions asked etc.!!

[SallyintNorth]

So glad to hear you have located Bella and she is alive.  Wishing you the very best of luck in now getting her home safely.

[suzanne@waterfall]

  Oh dear, I so want you to get Bella back.
Sure, if there is a type of farm shop maybe going there is not such a bad idea.
Poor Bella must be so lonely without her family and you without her. You could try I hear you have a goat for sale and I have just lost mine and I miss her terribly. How much is yours?
I'm sure most people fasting for Ramadan will be very particular about where there goats come from, so the travelers may have shot themselves in the foot and may be too pleased to find another option!!
I do wish you all the best and I will be thinking of you.
Suzanne.

[Victorian Farmer]

id pic you up and   dawn we would go ...........no think in this world would stop me ,iv done the lot so do yore best .i would fight there top man for that goat .

[Blinkers]

Keeping everything crossed for you and for Bella.......so, so hope you get her back 

[Bramblecot]

Glad you have traced Bella.  Don't let Kent police    s**t you.  You have a crime no. or copy of a report; they do not need any other confirmation from Essex police.  Tell them you are going to the site to retrieve your property from the burglar.  If you feel up to it, just go to the site with  friend asap and buy back Bella.  I know you should not have to do this, but it is your best chance of getting her back.  Justice is a separate matter  .  Good luck 

[luckylady]

If I'd had time to sit down today I'd have been on the edge of my seat wondering if you have Bella back yet.  Have been thinking of you whilst working with my animals today.  I would be beside myself if anyone stole mine.  Still hoping for Bella's safe return home.   

[jaykay]

The Police can't go in, they'd be attacked and badly hurt. And I know, where does that leave law-abiding citizens, but the police are people's dads and husbands too and should be able to go home at the end of their shift.

But you could go in, they won't hurt a woman. You might well have to buy Bella back, and yes, you shouldn't have to. But if you want her back.

I'd go in and ask someone who to talk to. Explain that you'd lost your goat, that you understood someone here had 'found' her and you'd be very willing to pay a reward to get her back as she was a pet, like a dog or horse to you. No accusations, leave a 'bridge' for them to back over.

I think you'll find someone will go and get the person who has 'found' her. Control your anger, be as pleased as if they had found her, name your reward, which may well have to be significant  Maybe about half what it might cost to buy her, hopefully the typical 'bird in the hand' attitude will win out.

Fingers crossed, I am gunning for you and Bella here 

And then beef up security significantly at your place, you don't want more visits 

[countrywoman]

The Police can't go in, they'd be attacked and badly hurt. And I know, where does that leave law-abiding citizens, but the police are people's dads and husbands too and should be able to go home at the end of their shift.

But you could go in, they won't hurt a woman. You might well have to buy Bella back, and yes, you shouldn't have to. But if you want her back.

I'd go in and ask someone who to talk to. Explain that you'd lost your goat, that you understood someone here had 'found' her and you'd be very willing to pay a reward to get her back as she was a pet, like a dog or horse to you. No accusations, leave a 'bridge' for them to back over.

I think you'll find someone will go and get the person who has 'found' her. Control your anger, be as pleased as if they had found her, name your reward, which may well have to be significant  Maybe about half what it might cost to buy her, hopefully the typical 'bird in the hand' attitude will win out.

Fingers crossed, I am gunning for you and Bella here 

And then beef up security significantly at your place, you don't want more visits 

I agree with all this - sad but true that the law has no-go areas. 
 
If it was me, I'd go myself (grey-haired old lady with arthritis) with a female friend, not trying to look tough.  Suggest they may have bought the goat in good faith and been conned into shelling out for a stolen goat so I'm happy to reimburse the cost.  I'd go with two bundles of notes, offer the first and if that doesn't work, offer the second or get female friend to dig in her pockets...
 
Good luck with whatever approach you use.  I'll be keeping fingers crossed! 
 
 

[lachlanandmarcus]

If you do go, and drive there, leave the car with someone in it or at the very least locked, dont drive it onto the site. One because it would be seen as more confrontational, but two because the kids on the site will have everything from on and in it within minutes.
Def better to approach on foot.
Re the other posts, I dont think people are suggesting police should take extraordinary risks eg going in alone, but the issue is that a high level of local crime increases further and further if they wont go onto sites at all without helicopters and armed backup to pursue someone who has stolen a lawnmower, as it takes 3 hours plus to get that response and the criminals knows they are then effectively untouchable.   Currently it is just a waste of money and police time to go in 4 hours later paying for armed officers and helicopters when 3 hours 50 minutes before the offender is whisked away in the back of a transit to a linked familys traveller site 10 miles away.
In other words, if the scenario was a dodgy bit of a notorious council estate, the police would maintain high visbility presence, and if the issues continued, problem residents would eventually be evicted and the situation addressed. The double standard is that many travellers sites are effectively no go areas for the police and that situation appears to be accepted by police/local authorities with the police happier to have a quieter life and allow the crime to continue rather than be accused of racism by policing actively.

[jaykay]

In other words, if the scenario was a dodgy bit of a notorious council estate, the police would maintain high visbility presence, and if the issues continued, problem residents would eventually be evicted and the situation addressed. The double standard is that many travellers sites are effectively no go areas for the police

The difference between these two is that, on the whole, on dodgy estates, the residents don't all act together to attack the police. On those that do, they are also no-go zones for unarmed officers. We have a society that bleats (the chattering classes most of all) at any roughness on the part of any authorities, but then wonders why those same authorities don't walk into places with perhaps a hundred armed adult men.

If we want such places (travellers sites and dodgy estates) policed properly then we have to be prepared to pay for enough officers and accept that it isn't going to be a pretty business.

How do I know all this. I was married to a dog handler for years and my heart was in my mouth every time a van with 'blues and twos' came roaring to a halt outside our house, hubby and dog jumped in and off they went to deal with ....... a 'disturbance'', a man with a knife, a man with a sword...and so on. Hubby (and the dog  ) were awarded the highest medal of bravery for tackling an armed man. But I (and most police families) think that they need to be armed and in greater numbers to deal with the things they routinely handle. And that they have to make the judgement call when all they are going to do is get hurt or killed and be no further forward.

If it takes too long to get armed back-up then we are not paying for enough armed officers.

[plumseverywhere]

It must be terrifying for the wives and families of armed police who have calls out like your husband then did, Jaykay     My husband went to school with a man who's now armed response unit in Toxteth, Liverpool - I wouldn't swap my life with his for the world.


The police here do try to keep a high profile around the site but they don't tend to go in for situations as I mentioned before (the dog attacks) however, there is often a car parked up at the entrance of the site - they give the kids sweets! How do I know this? My daughter goes to the site to play with her friends and has seen first hand how nicely the police interact with the traveller kids.
However when the education officer goes up to find out why some of the children aren't at school, he normally finds his tyres flat, aerial bent and a spud up the exhaust.
Its all about approach - personally I would go in IN my car with a friend, not park it outside because that's when you'll find your car being broken down into 'parts' - keep it in visual at all times 


I got followed home by the police helicopter first time I went to my friends trailor for a cuppa (going back 2 years now) - following day the police chopper was still showing me its presence as it circled our orchard while we picked plums! surreal!

[richmorpygmygoats]

This is awful news!!! Thoughts with you. There are some scum around!

[jaykay]

Agree about keeping the car within sight 

Hubby and dog weren't armed at the time  hence the medal!

Sorry, bit of a thread hijack. Really hoping you can get Bella back