Wallingford
Bridge jumping an 'idiotic practice'
POLICE and local authorities have united in a bid to stop the summer madness of people jumping off Wallingford Bridge into the River Thames.
The police, Wallingford Town Council and South Oxfordshire District Council warned young people ready to throw themselves off the bridge into the river during hot weather that they could kill themselves.
The police also warned there would be on-the-spot fines for people caught throwing things at boats and intimidating the public from the bridge and riverside.
Bridge jumping constantly prompts pleas for people to be more sensible.
| Everyone is very concerned that there could be serious or fatal injuries from this idiotic practice | | Mark Bradfield, of Thames Valley Police |
|
Mark Bradfield, for Thames Valley Police, said: "Everyone is very concerned that there could be serious or fatal injuries from this idiotic practice.
"There are often bikes, trolleys and other objects in the river that people could land on, the river is high at the moment and the currents are strong, and there are boats passing through the bridge all the time.
"Alcohol is often a factor and that reduces people's ability to weigh up risks properly and certainly increases the risk of drowning.
"We are appealing to people to be sensible and not risk serious injury."
"We have had incidents of things being thrown at the boats and of abuse from people on the riverbank - the police will deal with these very forcibly."
Deputy mayor Dee Cripps appealed for people to stop bridge jumping and South Oxfordshire District Council safety officer Hillary Green backed the plea.
Ms Cripps said: "We are trying to attract more tourists to Wallingford and many come in via the river.
"This sort of behaviour does nothing to enhance Wallingford's reputation."
11:00am Tuesday 8th July 2008
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CommentPosted by: anon, Wallingford on 1:44pm Tue 8 Jul 08
So all of a sudden the "police presence" will dish out fines and stop people jumping off the bridge, and yet at the same time there's no police around at weekends or evenings to stop the fighting and vandalism.
Great.......great planning as ever. Talk about ignoring the REAL issues!!
So all of a sudden the "police presence" will dish out fines and stop people jumping off the bridge, and yet at the same time there's no police around at weekends or evenings to stop the fighting and vandalism.
Great.......great planning as ever. Talk about ignoring the REAL issues!!
Posted by: Marcus, Wallingford on 2:16pm Tue 8 Jul 08
For heavens sake this is just evolution before our very eyes. It’s just natural selection working to remove the idiots from society before they contaminate the gene pool. Let it be, eventually the bridge jumping idiots will be phased out. Don’t interfere with nature!
For heavens sake this is just evolution before our very eyes. It’s just natural selection working to remove the idiots from society before they contaminate the gene pool. Let it be, eventually the bridge jumping idiots will be phased out. Don’t interfere with nature!
Posted by: a, Wallingford on 3:51pm Tue 8 Jul 08
Just get the Coroner to mark the death certificate as 'Suicide' - job done
Just get the Coroner to mark the death certificate as 'Suicide' - job done
Posted by: penny, wallingford on 4:29pm Tue 8 Jul 08
Don’t you just love those presumptuous idiots who think they speak for you!!
To quote……Mark Bradfield, for Thames Valley Police, said: "Everyone is very concerned that there could be serious or fatal injuries from this idiotic practice.
Sorry Mr Bradfield what gives YOU the right to speak for ME. I am not the slightest concerned, let alone very concerned. I commend the previous posts. Let the idiots kill themselves if they want to.
Don’t you just love those presumptuous idiots who think they speak for you!!
To quote……Mark Bradfield, for Thames Valley Police, said: "Everyone is very concerned that there could be serious or fatal injuries from this idiotic practice.
Sorry Mr Bradfield what gives YOU the right to speak for ME. I am not the slightest concerned, let alone very concerned. I commend the previous posts. Let the idiots kill themselves if they want to.
Posted by: barry didcot - people's mayor of didcot, barry island, Didcot on 2:34am Thu 10 Jul 08
bridge jumping is, like, really cool. It's like, a real, like, buzz?
bridge jumping is, like, really cool. It's like, a real, like, buzz?
Posted by: Dr G, Oxford on 8:41am Fri 11 Jul 08
[quote][bold]barry didcot - people's mayor of didcot[/bold] wrote:
bridge jumping is, like, really cool. It's like, a real, like, buzz? [/quote] Don't take this comment too seriously, as many of you know Barry is a severely disturbed patient in Littlemore who sadly because of Human Rights now has access to a computer!!
barry didcot - people's mayor of didcot wrote:
bridge jumping is, like, really cool. It's like, a real, like, buzz?
Don't take this comment too seriously, as many of you know Barry is a severely disturbed patient in Littlemore who sadly because of Human Rights now has access to a computer!!
Posted by: Angry Angus, marshon on 3:02pm Fri 11 Jul 08
I agree that jumping off the bridge in wally is stupid,
and i would never do it again! or off henley bridge again!!
lucky to miss all the trolleys and bicycles and boats! and that was on my way to the bridge.
I agree that jumping off the bridge in wally is stupid,
and i would never do it again! or off henley bridge again!!
lucky to miss all the trolleys and bicycles and boats! and that was on my way to the bridge.
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