Incompetence and thieving bastards

Forgive the indelicate subject heading but I am seething, incandescent and disgusted.  Here's why:

Late last September a good friend was involved in a road traffic accident, not held ultimately blameworthy but there just to coincidence of being in the wrong place at the wrong time and a victim of another's stupidity/carelessness/lack of consideration.  Attending police decided to impound all the vehicles involved for subsequent forensic examination leaving my friend to make his own way home some fifty miles away, obviously he could only take immediate personal possessions from the vehicle.

As we all know and some have had the misfortune of experience, it is generally understood that the wheels of anything remotely connected with due process, the police and the justice system move exceeding slow.  Some four months after the accident date permission was given to remove property from the vehicle, not so the vehicle as the insurers had declared it to be an uneconomic repair or what is commonly referred to as a 'write off'.

The written off vehicle was a late Ford Transit van, slightly unusual that their was additional seating for a further three passengers behind the driver with an enclosed van body section behind that.  This particular model of the Transit is not a common model and had taken a lot of searching to find one in a very good condition.  The prime purpose of this vehicle was to act as a transporter for a racing sidecar along with much necessary equipment associated with racing.  There was little concern about the vehicle's contents as assurances were given by the police that it would be stored in a secure facility.

Fast forward to a day or so ago when the owner travelled to where the van was stored to remove the contents, naturally he was delighted at being able to retrieve everything at long last.  Having arrived at the secure storage facility he was shocked and dumbfounded to discover that the van was empty, everything had been removed.  After recovering from his shock he was naturally angry, very angry because the only thing that was not in the van at the time of the accident was the actual sidecar and tools.  Amongst the missing items presumed stolen by some feral lowlife was both driver and passengers racing leathers, helmets, boots, gloves, a large heavy duty awning, chairs, portable gas stoves and kitchen equipment etc, bedding and lots more besides.  All of the clothing and racewear is very easily recognisable as it is personalised for the team and very distinctive, it probably has been dumped somewhere.  Those items altogether cost close to two thousand pounds. . The value of other items stolen could amount to twice that sum.

The team have worked very hard to be able to afford the missing items and sponsor notwithstanding they will find replacing them very difficult especially seeing that the 2012 racing season begins in eight weeks time.  It would seem at present that the police have admitted liability and will compensate the team for their loss.  It cannot be imagined that there losses will be made good before the season begins, things regrettably do not work like that.

The low level that once Great Britain has sunk to beggars personal belief, nothing is no longer safe from thieving scum no matter where.  The morals, principles and values which were once a matter of national pride have vanished probably for ever.  Frankly I am disgusted by the present situation, so much so that I left England a few years ago because I am ashamed of the place.

There is just one more insult to add to the injury of their loss - the vehicle's insurers will pay out what they consider to be a fair price for its loss.  That sum will in no way imaginable purchase a replacement in similar condition leaving the late owners even more money to find for another.  The insurance companies with this sharp practice are in my mind no better than the light fingered thieves who looted the vehicle.

The time is overdue for great changes in the UK to address the current society, politicians and their collective morals and principles because the present day ills lie firmly at their feet.