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Buzz Feed
11 hours ago
- General
- Buzz Feed
27 Problem-Solvers For The Things You've Been Putting Off
A weekly meal planner you can use to streamline grocery shopping, slash bills, and save a ton of time. It's like having a culinary wingman, especially for those days when you just can't deal with the mental gymnastics of meal planning. A kitchen-safe locking container so you can put your device in phone jail and keep it safe from your wandering hands. And it's not just for phones — stash away your gaming controllers, snacks, or even cash if you need a little reward system to keep yourself motivated. A pair of moisturizing booties to intensely hydrate and repair your dry, rough, cracked feet. If you don't want to deal with those foot peel masks that can take up to a week for the final result, give these a try — they'll make your piggies baby soft in only 30 minutes! An all-in-one spackle kit because you can't hide that hole in the wall you made when you decided to rearrange your whole bedroom at 3 a.m. behind a picture frame forever (speaking for myself, TBH 🫣). This kit comes with everything you need to fill, smooth, and repair those unsightly dents. Gone are the days of needing to be a DIY expert like Bob the Builder to tackle home repairs! Built's "Puff Protein Bars" to make hitting your protein goal a little bit more satisfying. Instead of choking down yet another boring boiled egg, treat yourself to a salted caramel Puff! It's a chocolate-covered marshmallow dream, but with a fab twist: 17 grams of protein are packed into each bar. They're perfect for tossing in your bag for a post-workout snack or a sweet pick-me-up during a busy day. A nifty marshmallow whip maker so you can go a bit longer before restocking your $$$ face wash by turning your regular cleanser into an irresistibly fluffy foam. Simply add a smidge of cleanser, a splash of water, and pump away until you've got a cloud-like concoction. Not only does this make washing your face feel fun, but it's also a savvy way to get your products to last a very long time. A low-profile under-the-desk elliptical if the main reason you've been pushing off going to the gym is because you just want to collapse onto your bed after working for 8 hours straight. This allows you to sneak in some cardio right from your chair. Plus, its low-impact design gives your joints a break as you pedal and power through your tasks. Naked Sundays sunscreen mist with SPF 50, because I know you aren't reapplying your sun protection throughout the day like you should be. It's a super-fine mist that doesn't leave any greasiness or white cast (it can even be applied over makeup!) and adds a burst of hydration using hyaluronic acid, watermelon extract, and kakadu plum. Just a clear, effortless spritz and you're good to ✨ glow ✨. And for your body, Skylar Scent-Screen that smells like a dreamy blend of cotton candy, coconut milk, and pure vanilla, so you'll look forward to reapplying just for the scent alone. It's a lightweight formula with a subtle shimmer, leaving you with that glowy, goddess-like aura all day long. A set of fast-acting cleaning K-Cups because you probably didn't even think your machine needed cleaning until now. Just pop the pod in and brew like you're making your normal cup of coffee and watch all the gunk come out that you didn't know was in there. And for your insulated tumblers, a box of bottle cleaning tablets specifically designed to get rid of those lingering matcha latte stains inside your precious Stanley cup. Just fill the bottle with warm water, drop in the tablet, and let it stand for 15–30 minutes. The results: a sparkly clean cup with no scrubbing required. A bottle of Elizavecca Hair Treatment if it's been a minute since you went to the salon and your hair is BEGGING for a treatment. It instantly smoothes and detangles, and you'll notice way less frizz, giving you that sleek, polished look with minimal effort. Think Olaplex (without the $$$). A reviewer-beloved veggie chopper that'll help you fly through making dinner because (in my opinion) prepping your fresh ingredients is the most time-consuming part. This handy gadget allows you to chop, slice, and julienne your veggies in record time. This chopper also features a built-in storage container to prevent messy countertops. And a two-stage knife-sharpener ready to sharpen all of your dull kitchen knives so you won't have to struggle thinly slicing a ribeye to make your Philly cheesesteak sandwich. A neck and shoulder relaxer if you don't have the time or money for visiting a chiropractor to address that persistent shoulder pain from being hunched over a laptop all day. It may look a at first glance, but it's here to help soothe neck stiffness and shoulder tension in as little as 10 minutes. An Angry Mama microwave cleaner for when you've had enough of your instant noodles having a faint tang from the burnt-on spaghetti sauce. All you have to do is fill her up with water and vinegar, pop her in the microwave, and within minutes the steam will soften up all the stuck-on food and you can wipe it away with ease. A pack of dishwasher cleaning tablets, because you wouldn't shower in a dirty bathroom, so why would you eat off of plates that were cleaned in a dirty dishwasher? Just pop these in and run a cycle like normal, then sit back while it scrubs away all the gunk and grime. And a pack of washing machine cleaning tablets, since the same machine that you use to clean your undies and the pee-drenched doggy bed could use some TLC. Trust me, you won't regret it. Heyhae gel nail wraps so you can jazz up your manicure without the pricey salon visits. No need to juggle bottles of polish or buy a UV lamp — these wraps cure effortlessly in sunlight. Plus, they're designed to be easily stretchable, ensuring perfect coverage on every nail. Reviewers say it takes about 10 minutes in the sun to cure, and you can expect about a week of wear. A pool cleaner device that passively does all the dirty work for you while you sit pretty and sunbathe. This skimmer sits on the pool's perimeter and scoops up fallen twigs, leaves, and maybe the occasional froggy. A convenient, no-scrub Wet & Forget cleaner you only have to use ONCE a week to maintain a squeaky clean shower. This bleach-free cleaner removes soap scum, mildew, and hard water deposits from glass or tile surfaces without any overpowering odors. Just spray it on, walk away, and rinse it off the next day — easy peasy. A robotic vacuum that'll stay on top of all the pet hair and dirt that gets tracked around your home. This handy guy features an infrared sensor for avoiding obstacles, which means it knows to avoid crashing into chew toys and furniture. And if you hate emptying vacuum bins (who doesn't?) you'll love the self-emptying feature. A hairbrush cleaning tool here to effectively remove all those strands, fuzzies, and buildup from your bristles so that when you lend it to someone (or just leave it sitting out), it'll actually look like a styling tool and not a mini Chewbacca. A Litter Genie — the ultimate waste disposal system to combat lingering unpleasant smells. To use, simply scoop clumps from the litter box and drop them into the pail, then pull the handle to seal in the contents. The pail can hold up to two week's worth of liter from a single-cat household, making it perfect for when you rather not walk what feels like half a mile just to go to the trash chute. An easy-to-use ear-washing bottle because you've been saying "huh" more often than usual lately. It might be time to ditch those cotton swabs that only seem to push wax deeper in instead of out. This handy tool flushes out all those little nuggets and gunk like hitting the jackpot in your very own earwax gold mine. A laundry folding board if you're guilty of letting that pile of clothes on your bed or in the chair in the corner of your room get bigger and bigger. With just a few quick flips and folds, every piece of laundry — be it a T-shirt, sweater, or even bath towels — will come out perfectly neat and crisp. This board ensures your clothes are folded uniformly so they stack up easily and take up significantly less room. A slide-away storage bag because you've uttered "I'll clean it up later" after playtime way too many times. Simply gather up all of your little one's toys, place them on the mat, and use the drawstring to neatly deposit everything into the basket.
Time of India
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Mattel is combining film and television units to create Mattel Studios
HighlightsToy maker Mattel is merging its film and television divisions to establish Mattel Studios, aiming to create entertainment centered around its iconic brands, following the success of the 'Barbie' movie. Robbie Brenner has been appointed as president and chief content officer of Mattel Studios, reporting directly to chairman and chief executive officer Ynon Kreiz. Upcoming projects from Mattel Studios include a live-action 'Masters of the Universe' film set for June 2026, a 'Matchbox' theatrical release in fall 2026, and an animated movie featuring 'Bob the Builder' with actor Anthony Ramos. Toy maker Mattel is combining its film and television units to form Mattel Studios , it said on Monday, as the company seeks to produce entertainment driven by its brands and potentially repeat the commercial success of the "Barbie" movie. Mattel Films President Robbie Brenner , who joined the company in 2018, was named president and chief content officer of the combined unit. She will report to the company's chairman and chief executive officer, Ynon Kreiz. "Our vision for Mattel Studios is to collaborate with leading creators to make standout quality content based on Mattel's iconic brands that will resonate in culture and appeal to global audiences," Kreiz said in a statement. Mattel's biggest brand is Barbie and its portfolio also includes Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price, American Girl, Matchbox , Masters of the Universe , Polly Pocket and Uno. "Barbie," the 2023 film starring Margo Robbie and Ryan Gosling, grossed more than $1.4 billion in worldwide box office and received nine Oscar nominations. Mattel plans to release "Masters of the Universe," a live-action film inspired by the He-Man action figures, in June 2026, and "Matchbox," based on its miniature cars, is slated for a fall 2026 theatrical release The company has also developed television content like the animated series "Hot Wheels Let's Race" and "Masters of the Universe: Revolution." Jennifer Breslow, who previously was president of television and digital media at Legendary Entertainment, was named head of television at Mattel Studios. Other upcoming projects include "Bob the Builder," the brand's first animated theatrical movie featuring actor and singer Anthony Ramos voicing the lead character. Mattel also has a live-action "Polly Pocket" film in its pipeline, based on the tiny 1980s dolls.
Scotsman
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Scotsman
How I exposed police failings over 'non-crime hate incident' recorded against me
Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Tomorrow night the Free Speech Union, on whose Scottish Advisory Council I am very pleased to sit, will host a meeting in Edinburgh on the topic 'Policing priorities in Scotland: the free speech perspective'. Leading experts from legal and policing circles will come together to discuss how the police in Scotland balance hate crime legislation with the overriding need to protect free speech. It is a timely event when these debates have become ever more intense. It is now a year since Scotland's hate crime laws were introduced, but we have yet to see a single case come to court of an individual accused of the new crime of 'stirring up' hatred, and accordingly it's impossible to know how the courts will interpret the legislation, and where the line will be drawn between fair comment and hate speech. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In the meantime, there remain concerns that the legislation's very existence is having a chilling effect on what individuals are prepared to say, particularly in heated and highly contested areas of public discourse such as around gender. No one in Scotland has yet been prosecuted for the new offence of 'stirring up' hatred, introduced in April last year (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell) | Getty Images Whistling Bob the Builder One area of considerable controversy which I am sure will be discussed tomorrow evening is the existence of 'non-crime hate incidents' (NCHIs), which are recorded by the police when an individual makes a statement deemed to be hateful by a member of the public, which does not meet the threshold of a hate crime. This has no legal effect, and the circumstances of some are simply bizarre. Toby Young of the Free Speech Union has reported one case of a man in Bedfordshire who had an NCHI recorded against him after his neighbour reported him to the police for continually whistling the theme tune to Bob the Builder. Regular readers of this column will recall I had my own experience with Police Scotland and an NCHI last year. I had shared on social media an article written by my fellow columnist Susan Dalgety in which she was critical of the Scottish Government for producing a 'non-binary action plan'. My post was reported to the police by a trans rights activist. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Police Scotland determined, correctly, that no crime had been committed (it would have been absurd had any other conclusion been reached) but nevertheless, in line with their policy, recorded a NCHI. Three grounds for complaint Having obtained legal advice with the assistance of the Free Speech Union, I complained to Police Scotland on three grounds. Firstly, that the recording of an NCHI was unlawful as it contravened both the Human Rights Act and the Data Protection Act, and was an illegitimate interference with my legally protected right to freedom of expression. Secondly, that the policy of recording NCHIs was itself unlawful as a breach of free speech. And thirdly, that the policy was not being consistently applied, as a different approach had been taken in relation to comments on social media made by others, including the former SNP First Minister Humza Yousaf and writer JK Rowling. Police Scotland rejected all three of my complaints. I then referred the matter to the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC), which last month upheld them all, issuing three reconsideration directions to the police, to which they must respond within two months. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad What is striking about the PIRC report is what it tells us about how my original complaint was addressed by Police Scotland. My detailed legal arguments in relation to the unlawfulness of their policy were simply not responded to in any meaningful way. Police wilfully withheld information The inspector who replied to my original complaint had made enquiries with the police's legal services department to seek an assessment on whether the hate crime national guidance was lawful, but no detailed response as to the rationale on the legality of the policy was ever actually produced to him. What is worse, the inspector noted in the complaint handling form that a response to me would 'provide enough explanation as to why policy is not contrary to law, but will not provide every reason. This would allow Police Scotland to retain their legal arguments should (the applicant) or other pursue legal action'. In other words, Police Scotland were wilfully withholding information that might support their argument, because of their concern that this might weaken their position should I decide to pursue subsequent legal proceedings against them. PIRC found that this response was 'not in the spirit of the complaint process'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad There was similar criticism from PIRC of the police's response to my third complaint, in relation to the unfair and inconsistent application of the policy. The inspector confirmed to PIRC that he did not receive guidance on this from senior officers. In the words of PIRC, this was 'a significant shortcoming in the complaint inquiry in establishing material facts'. Outlawing non-crime hate incidents I should hear within a few weeks a more detailed account from Police Scotland, but what we have learned thus far discloses a level of dysfunction within the organisation that must be deeply concerning. I am also very much aware that a Member of the Scottish Parliament has a public platform and position which many others do not benefit from, and I can only shudder to think how someone without that standing might be treated when it comes to complaints against the police, if that is how seriously they take complaints from me. In the meantime, the Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp MP is tabling an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill at Westminster to make it illegal in almost all circumstances for the police to collect or retain personal data about hate incidents where no crime has been committed. It is good to see my party signalling that it wants to bring an end to the existence of Orwellian NCHIs. They serve little purpose, and my own experience proves that even the police have little understanding of how to deal with them.
USA Today
05-04-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Headphones, tantrums and call buttons: Why travelers are losing it in the air
Headphones, tantrums and call buttons: Why travelers are losing it in the air Show Caption Hide Caption How biometrics make airport experiences smoother for travelers Biometrics like face scanning and fingerprints are becoming more common, streamlining the airport experience for travelers everywhere. Selfishness and a lack of consideration for others are contributing to the rise of entitled behavior on airplanes. Crowded planes, stress, and the pandemic are some of the factors that might be contributing to this behavior. Experts suggest staying calm, showing empathy, and directly addressing the issue with the entitled passenger. On a recent flight from Dublin to Istanbul, I heard the unmistakable soundtrack to the kids' TV show "Bob the Builder" blasting through my noise-canceling earbuds. That's funny, I thought. My "Bob the Builder" phase ended when my daughter graduated from kindergarten. And then I realized that the sounds of "Can we fix it? Yes we can!" were actually broadcasting from the row behind me. A mom was playing it for her toddler so loud I could hear it through my Pixel Buds. I asked Mom if she could fix my problem by asking Junior to wear a headset, and thankfully, she said, "Yes, I can." She gave her boy a pair of headphones, and everyone else enjoyed a quiet flight. Check out Elliott Confidential, the newsletter the travel industry doesn't want you to read. Each issue is filled with breaking news, deep insights, and exclusive strategies for becoming a better traveler. But don't tell anyone! But that got me thinking about entitled and inconsiderate behavior on a plane. I'm not the only one who has dealt with a fellow passenger playing entertainment at top volume. In fact, read any news report of a flight diversion, and chances are there's a thoughtless passenger behind it – someone who didn't want to share the overhead bin space, insisted on jamming their seat all the way back, or didn't want to wait to use the bathroom. Why are passengers acting so badly? And what can you do if you're seated next to an entitled traveler? What's wrong with these people? "There's a societal trend toward selfishness – it's 'me-first' and 'me-only,'" said Lori Freemire, a Denver-based flight attendant. "There's little regard for the gate agents or crew trying to do their jobs." Thomas Plante, a professor of psychology at Santa Clara University, said passengers are becoming narcissists. "More and more people think that the world revolves around them and that people should cater to their needs," he told me. "Frankly, it's breathtaking." I'll say. Although my story had a happy ending, others don't. On a recent flight from Seattle to Dallas, Rachel Wagner had the misfortune of sitting next to a passenger who seemed oblivious to the concept of common courtesy. The passenger immediately began watching a movie on her phone − without a headset. Wagner politely asked the passenger if she had earbuds, but the woman replied 'no' and continued watching her movie. After takeoff, Wagner, who was wearing noise-canceling earbuds, could still hear the movie. Again, she politely asked the passenger if she had earbuds. 'Why don't you just get your own plane!' the woman snapped. Oh, and here's the kicker: Wagner is an etiquette expert, so you know she was extra-polite when she asked. In retrospect, she said, she should have gotten a flight attendant to intervene instead of dealing with the entitled passenger herself. That's sound advice. Flying with an infectious disease in 2025: Do's and don'ts Why are passengers acting like this? Experts say there are reasons for this shift in attitudes when traveling by plane – and specifically, this entitled behavior. Crowded planes. Airlines are flying with record load factors, which means there are more passengers on each flight. Add the loss of personal space because of shrinking seat sizes, and up go the chances you'll be seated next to an irritated – and irritating – passenger. Airlines are flying with record load factors, which means there are more passengers on each flight. Add the loss of personal space because of shrinking seat sizes, and up go the chances you'll be seated next to an irritated – and irritating – passenger. The pandemic . Lockdowns and travel restrictions seem to have changed the way many people behave in public spaces, experts say. 'It's like people just don't care as much about accommodating the people around them to make everyone's experience better,' said Larry Snider, vice president of operations at Casago, a vacation rental company. . Lockdowns and travel restrictions seem to have changed the way many people behave in public spaces, experts say. 'It's like people just don't care as much about accommodating the people around them to make everyone's experience better,' said Larry Snider, vice president of operations at Casago, a vacation rental company. Stress. The discomfort of modern air travel, with its tight schedules, cramped seating and endless lines, can turn even the most even-tempered passenger into a raging monster. "'I've observed that the uptick in demanding passenger behavior can be partly attributed to the stress of navigating heightened regulations and expectations in the travel industry," said Vlad Vynohradov, a transportation logistics expert. The discomfort of modern air travel, with its tight schedules, cramped seating and endless lines, can turn even the most even-tempered passenger into a raging monster. "'I've observed that the uptick in demanding passenger behavior can be partly attributed to the stress of navigating heightened regulations and expectations in the travel industry," said Vlad Vynohradov, a transportation logistics expert. Rising ticket prices. 'Passengers paying higher prices are also expecting better service,' noted Mike Taylor, who heads up travel research at J.D. Power. That's not all. Facebook, Instagram and X have nurtured a culture of complaints. Passengers know that if they take to X or Facebook to complain about their flight experience, they are likely to get a response from the airline. "Social media has set the stage for the go-nuclear mentality," said Susan Sherren, who runs the travel agency Couture Trips. Bottom line: Air travelers are more self-absorbed and stressed than ever. And it shows. Vivian Au, a flight behavior expert and founder of Air Corporate, says passenger demands have spiked in the past year. For example, on the Los Angeles to New York routes, the flight attendant call button is getting pushed 40% more often than in 2023. "First-class travelers now demand responses in under two minutes," she told me. What if you're seated next to an entitled passenger? If you fly, chances are at some point you'll be sitting next to someone who does something objectionable as if they own the plane. Charlie Neville, marketing director at JayWay Travel, said preparation and patience are key when dealing with these problem passengers. "I'd recommend adopting a more mindful approach to travel – accepting that delays and hiccups are part of the journey and staying calm through it all," he said. Being in a good mind space ensures that when you run into someone who is entitled, you'll be better able to handle them without getting emotionally involved. "When dealing with demanding passengers, staying calm and addressing the situation with facts rather than emotions can be highly effective in de-escalating a situation,' added Ryan Saroli, CEO of Flygreen, a jet chartering service. You'll also want to show some empathy, experts said. Joanna Teljeur, a spokeswoman for AirAdvisor, said your seatmate who is having a meltdown and jabbing the flight attendant call button is also human. "Empathy in all situations is important," Teljeur said. It may actually be the first step to resolving the problem. I prefer the direct approach: Take a deep breath and politely but directly ask the entitled passenger to stop behaving like a toddler. Unless, of course, they are a toddler, in which case you'd take it up with Mom, as I did on my flight to Turkey. And if none of that works? Then it's OK for you to push the flight attendant call button – and ask a crew member for help. Here they come! If you think this discussion is theoretical or a repeat of something I've recently written, I've got news for you: This upcoming summer travel season, which may be the busiest one on record, promises to be full of entitled passenger incidents. Other than deep breathing exercises and a quality headset, I'm not sure if there's a way to prepare for the Summer of the Entitled Passenger. (Oh no, did I just coin a term? I hope not.) Maybe there's a way to fix this problem. Airlines can start offering a humane amount of personal space again, just like they did before the unfortunate deregulation of the airline industry. They can ensure their passengers have enough food and water instead of trying to sell them everything. They can stop charging junk fees for a reserved seat or luggage. If they did that, I bet the entitled passengers would disappear overnight. Christopher Elliott is an author, consumer advocate, and journalist. He founded Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that helps solve consumer problems. He publishes Elliott Confidential, a travel newsletter, and the Elliott Report, a news site about customer service. If you need help with a consumer problem, you can reach him here or email him at chris@
Telegraph
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
The White House is right: freedom of speech is under threat in Britain like never before
On reflection, I have decided we should just give up and cancel April Fools' Day. Pranks are an endangered species in the spring of 2025. There's far too much competition from real life. Let's try a little test, folks. Which of these is an April Fool? Four-year-old suspended from nursery for 'abuse against sexual orientation and gender identity' at an age when most small boys still happily identify as a tractor. Highly respected professor denounced and cast out by her university for stating biological facts. A family on horseback allegedly menaced by two men and the wife later summoned to the police station for describing the pair who terrified them as ' effing pikeys '. A grandmother visited by plain-clothes policemen because she posted a private message criticising a Labour councillor. A builder in Bedfordshire who got a police record for racial hatred after whistling the Bob the Builder theme tune at his neighbours. OK, Bob's treatment of Wendy could be seen as a tad misogynist, perhaps, but how is it racist? Muck the Digger – is he a member of the traveller community? Surely, I hear you wail, that last one can't be true? Amazing to report, but all of them happened. No wonder that when I woke up today, I sleepily assumed the story that Nestlé is renaming Quality Street 'E-Quality Street' to mark five years since George Floyd's death was yet another craven corporate capitulation to identity politics. Yes, I'd been had – more fool me – but it's easy to be deceived when so much of our national life has turned into a sinister joke. Only it gets harder to laugh, I find, when you learn that our most valuable ally, the United States, is so 'concerned about freedom of expression in the United Kingdom' that our Prime Minister's hopes of avoiding tariffs are said to have been kyboshed by the woke idiocy championed by our lower-sixth-form government. Soft authoritarianism and the infiltration of a warped, anti-white, anti-straight, anti-Christian, anti-democratic creed of 'protected characteristics' into British institutions may well end up costing this beleaguered nation billions of pounds. Literally billions – thanks, Labour! Of course, this could yet prove to be Trump putting on a hard-man display for his domestic audience, but it's not difficult to understand why the current American administration views the spread of Orwellian non-crime crimes in the UK with such disbelief and hostility. I, too, despise what we have become. In particular, I despair of the betrayal of our wartime generation who sacrificed their lives; not for freedom, it turns out, but so that tabarded fools with lanyards can casually criminalise decent people for offensive thoughts and make themselves feel virtuous. You don't have to search hard for the latest insane examples of police over-reach or Marxist social engineering. Maxie Allen, a producer for Times Radio, and his partner, Rosalind Levine, must have found it surreal when they opened the door of their Borehamwood home to find six police officers standing there. This quintessentially liberal, middle-class couple were arrested in front of their distraught young daughter and taken to the police station, where they were kept in separate cells for eight hours for… for what exactly? For upsetting the powers that be at their elder daughter's primary school by complaining when an interim head teacher was appointed without proper accountability. Maxie and Rosalind sent an awful lot of disgruntled emails and shared some spicy, aggrieved comments in a parents' WhatsApp group. Nothing you wouldn't find in any similar group around the country. They were banned from school premises, and were unable to supervise their epileptic daughter's medication. Questioned on suspicion of harassment, malicious communications and causing a nuisance on school property, they had literally done nothing illegal. After a five-week investigation – into what exactly? – the police concluded there should be no further action. It should never have been a matter for the police at all, as Jonathan Ash-Edwards, the police and crime commissioner for Hertfordshire, acknowledged at the weekend, let alone the cue for a terrifying, drugs-raid-style operation by multiple officers Ironically, Rosalind Levine had predicted her own fate after she and her partner were sent a warning letter. In a WhatsApp group, she quipped: 'Can you imagine what the 'action' is? Hello, 999, one of the school mums said something mean about me in a school mum WhatsApp group. Please can you arrest them? ' Humour, the traditional first line of defence for British people, can hardly keep pace with our new Stasi police state. In an even more sinister development, a Hertfordshire county councillor, Michelle Vince, was warned by police that she could be investigated if she continued to help the parents. Cllr Vince rightly said the case raised 'serious questions about police taking away democratic rights' from elected representatives. How dare the police threaten a councillor speaking up for her voters; who do they think they are? Invariably, these stories end up following the same depressing pattern. There is a squall of media indignation from people like me, a police force may admit things could have been handled better while insisting it was the correct procedure to arrest X (like hell it was). A few politicians will say the case raises serious questions about what the police are actually policing, adding that forces should focus on the things that really matter to voters. Given sufficient noise, a senior copper such as Andy Prophet will issue a blandly reassuring statement: 'As the new Chief Constable for Hertfordshire, my priorities are to fight crime, arrest criminals and build public trust and confidence. We will do this by tackling violent and sexual crime, street robbery, burglary, car and shop theft. I am equally focused on supporting my officers and staff in the difficult judgments they have to make on our behalf every day.' Blah, blah, blah… and then it's straight back to policing tweets and private behaviour, arresting journalists at a Just Stop Oil protest and throwing them in a cell (because they're the problem, obviously), and generally advancing a progressive 'social justice' agenda that no one voted for. Plod has catastrophically lost the plot, I'm afraid. As dire clear-up rates reveal, police have largely forgotten that their job is to enforce the law against crimes that have taken place. Not to persecute people for imaginary crimes which might take place. How do I know this? Well, let's take a closer look at Hertfordshire's Andy Prophet, shall we? When he was Deputy Chief Constable of Essex, Prophet was one of the main officers banging the drum for the National Police Chiefs' Council's Police Race Action Plan. The plan's main theme is that the police must be 'actively anti-racist' to address so-called disparities in the criminal justice system. To be fair to Mr Prophet, he's not the only one. Every chief constable in the country is signed up to this divisive nonsense and is rolling out training courses for officers, who are told they do not have to treat ethnic minorities the same as other members of the public. Arrest rates should be 'equalised' between groups, even when one group is, for instance, committing considerably more machete crime or female genital mutilation than another. I can't think why, can you? The College of Policing, a quango employing 600 people and costing the taxpayer £45 million a year, is responsible for this ideologically motivated, anti-British madness. The college drives hate law and thought policing into tactical operations through targets, training and indoctrination; a stated objective of its Leadership Programme is 'creating a culture of inclusion and diversity'. As one senior officer explained: 'Hate crime is a growth industry because it helps reinforce the College of Policing's diversity ideology. The more hate crime they record, the better they can show there is a problem in society, which justifies them ignoring traditional crime… and directing resources to policing opinions. What you have to understand, Allison, is they want people to be afraid of saying things.' This is exactly the same arrogant mindset we find at the Sentencing Council, another powerful quango which just narrowly failed to destroy equality before the law with the introduction of special consideration by judges for certain 'protected characteristics'. The Government and Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood have tried to take credit for getting the council to stand down with the threat of emergency legislation. Don't believe it, Labour loves that stuff. Full credit belongs to Robert Jenrick, whose promise of an injunction at the final hour saved the UK from this pernicious two-tier sentencing. The shadow justice secretary is doing his best to stick up for the majority of British people, but the police are marching to a different drummer. Increasingly, their values are not our values, their loyalty is not to us. We cannot put up with this outrageous abuse of police power much longer, I think. Too many people like Maxie Allen and Rosalind Levine have suffered unforgivable, shattering ordeals at the hands of their constabulary. Common sense must be restored to policing; complaints from people with hurt feelings need to be binned, as does the Leftist ideology which is underpinning this grotesque misuse of police time. The abolition of the College of Policing must wait for the next government, but, in the meantime, politicians should scrutinise their edicts and ask, 'How do they serve the public interest?' That will embolden constables and sergeants to start saying no to what many call 'this woke crap'; they are only following the orders of their deluded bosses. We used to respect and trust our police; increasingly we find them farcical or chilling. How sad. I hear that there may be a misfeasance in public office claim brought against senior officers of Hertfordshire Police. Good. If Mr Allen and Ms Levine wish to pursue one, many of us would gladly help crowdfund them. (A huge thank-you to everyone who generously offered financial assistance in my own case against Essex Police.) I urge everyone to support the work of the Free Speech Union; they are helping thousands of scared individuals to fight back. Police must be shown that they are not above the law; officers who order the arrest of people who have clearly committed no crime should themselves be charged with an offence. Let them think twice in future before despatching six men to harass an innocent family. 'No free trade without free speech.' It should be a source of national shame that the United States is using that as a bargaining tool against this country. What on earth have we become? Understandably, many will complain about US interference in our democracy, but Keir Starmer was lying when he shot back at JD Vance in the Oval Office, 'We've had free speech for a very long time, it will last a long time, and we are very proud of that.' Free speech is under threat as never before in Starmer's Stasi Britain. If the Prime Minister is forced to tell police to lay off the thought crimes to save billions in tariffs, what a remarkable deal that would be. I'm just looking forward to the time when, once again, sanity is restored, police solve crimes and every day is not April Fools' Day.
