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HAVE YOUR SAY

SHOULD HOODED YOUTHS BE BANNED FROM OUR STREETS AND SHOPS?

Thugs in hoodies are terrorising law-abiding citizens

Sunday March 30,2008

By James Murray, Dave Roberrs and Matt Drake

Comment Speech Bubble Have your say(60)

GANGS of hoodies are bringing terror to our streets, menacing communities, instilling fear and putting at risk the peaceful way most of us want to be allowed to live our lives.

Scores of families and young people in Birmingham and the surrounding area have had restaurant trips ruined by masked robbers.

In a rampage of crime lasting months the gang has robbed 19 McDonald’s under the illusion that they are untouchable.

Police have found it difficult to catch the four youths because of they hide their faces with hoodies and balaclavas.

The gang members, believed to be aged between 15 and their early 20s, have struck terror into the hearts of restaurant workers in the Midlands.

Knowing they will be picked up on security cameras, they raise their hoods as they approach the restaurants. Once inside, some pull on balaclavas.

Then one of them will leap over the counter to hold a knife at the throat of one of the terrified staff and demand that the tills are opened.

The hooded tops and balaclavas are key parts of their kit during these raids

At the same time, two others jump up on the counter and shout at customers to run out, but they order staff to stay at their posts so the tills can be operated.

The fourth stays in the dining area to make sure customers leave quickly while the tills are emptied. A source said:

“They use the same method most of the time and it has proved to be highly effective. The hoodie tops and the balaclavas are key parts of their kit to avoid detection.

“They get a few thousand pounds in each raid and they seem to have a good knowledge of security measures.

“It is fair to say that scores of people have been traumatised by their robberies. Some staff have been left shaking and crying, but none of them has been stabbed or beaten up.”

Do YOU think youths in hoodies should be banned from our streets and shops? Should law-abiding citizens be forced into a state of siege?

Have YOUR say...

CRASH HELMET VS TURBAN...

22.07.08, 5:15pm

Whoever said that they have seen signs in shops (and banks) banning crash helmets but had not seen anyone dare ban a turban, can I ask them if they have seen a turban that has a full-face visor that hides the wearer's view?

No.

They haven't.

Idiot.

• Posted by: Mickey_G • Report Comment

LET US SEE YOUR FACES

20.04.08, 5:29am

We have the right to know what others look like. If someone wishes to hide their face we also have the right to be suspicious.

These rights are not intended to be racist or to cast scorn on any religious beliefs.

So I would ask all to understand that most of those who cover their face are honest people and further request that they help our police by co-operating with an unfortunately nessessery ban.

• Posted by: albertthedog • Report Comment

HOODIES ONLY HAVE ONE MOTIVE.

16.04.08, 4:05pm

Youths congregating outside shop doorways on a baking hot summer day wearing hoods are a dead giveaway. Ban them, and if their little ears get cold in winter - tough! But I really can't believe they're that delicate.

I'm not sure the army would welcome them though. Why should they police these reprobates? But, on balance, maybe they should keep the hoods - a lot of them are just SO ugly!

• Posted by: Margs53 • Report Comment

I AGREE WITH THE BLOKE BELOW...

11.04.08, 12:07pm

You cannot ban hoodies or balaclavas without banning burkas. Certain shops have notices saying no crash helmets to be worn but they dare not mention turbans. Mind you, I have yet to hear of a Sikh armed robber or to be more precise, an "Ahmed robber" (the old jokes are the best)

• Posted by: Zeigfreid • Report Comment

SHOULD HOODED YOUTHS BE BANNED FROM OUR STREETS AND SHOPS?

09.04.08, 9:07pm

Yes, no Hoddies, Also no berkers, or its ok for our hoodies and its ok for our burkers don,t have double standards.

• Posted by: mrnewsreader • Report Comment

HOOD YOUTHS AND FACE COVERINGS.

07.04.08, 2:53pm

All face coverings should be banned otherwise it makes a mockery of the idea of CCTV deterring crime.

Some shopping centers already ban hoodies, ti should be made a universal law. No hoodies except whilst exposed to inclement weather. Once on buses, trains or inside closed areas the hoods and face coverings , balacalavas etc, disepear.

Its not an infringement of human rights its a case of crime prevention and possibly health and safety of other people.

• Posted by: RosieInLondon • Report Comment