Benefit Street Where 90% Of The People Claim...

[trt]

If they are stupid enough to take part in a CH4 documentary about benefits they deserve to be belittled!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2534110/Theyve-just-tried-make-look-like-slums-Jobless-stars-Benefits-Street-documentary-accuse-Channel-4-manipulative-stitch-up.html

[jno]

it was a question, Baldric, not a statement.

Of course naomi hasn't answered it; the questions of other people are not to be answered...

[bravejordy]

Having taken part in a documentary similar to this one, back in 1985 (TV Eye - Tees Street Isn't Working) in which the street I lived in at the time was deemed statistically to be the worst street in the whole of Europe for unemployment, I can confirm there is indeed a lot of "spinning" and exaggeration on the programme makers part. In the TV Eye documentary, it was claimed there was only one person in full-time employment, who was blind and ironically, worked in the Jobcentre. Two years earlier, there'd been another documentary of the area made by Granada Television (World In Action - On The Scrapheap) that gave the impression that most of the residents of my street were scavengers that lived off the local landfill. Having lived in that particular street for 36 years, I can tell you that none of those claims were true. Those TV companies just wanted to paint a gloomy picture of our street and I suspect the same is true of the documentary that aired last night.

Shortly after the TV Eye documentary aired, I can remember receiving letters from total strangers, well meaning but quite offensive all the same, asking me how I could possibly live in a street like that. One even suggested the suicide rate must be quite high in my area. The truth is the street wasn't like that at all and if the Council hadn't decided to pull the houses down in 1994, I'd probably still be living there to this day. They were the best neighbours you could ever meet who always looked out for each other. Basically, the point I'm trying to make is I wouldn't take what you saw in that documentary last night as factual. I agree there are people who claim benefits that they're probably not entitled to but these kind of documentaries are filled with so much BS it reflects badly on the genuine claimants. Let's face it, this documentary made the residents look like complete idiots. For instance, there was one guy who supposedly couldn't work and was on incapacity benefits, yet seemed quite capable enough to do odd jobs for a neighbour. Personally, I find it hard to believe if this is true, the guy would agree to take part in a documentary in which he pretty much exposes himself as a benefit cheat.

Then there was his friend who revealed how he lines a bag with a special foil he buys on the Internet, to outwit the stores security systems when he goes on his shoplifting sprees. And now he's telling the world and its dog his dirty little tricks of the trade? Then we see the two of them on the bus removing the security tags. Seriously? I felt like a lot of this documentary was "staged" even down to the police helicopter hovering in the sky, which I felt was just coincidence and not that it was there specifically for that guy who'd broke bail. Those helicopters aren't cheap and I'd hate to think the police would be wasting public funds on a nobody like him. But again this goes back to my point about those documentary makers exaggerating everything and distorting the truth.

[DrFilth]

> For instance, there was one guy who supposedly couldn't work and was on incapacity benefits, yet seemed quite capable enough to do odd jobs for a neighbour. Personally, I find it hard to believe if this is true, the guy would agree to take part in a documentary in which he pretty much exposes himself as a benefit cheat. <

this person has no chance atos are finding the sick fit to work so if they have him on camera the dwp and atos will sort him out , in fact he will probably have to pay money back from his benefit if he still gets any sort of payment.

[anneasquith]

very true trigger, I don't hate them. I don't know anyone who at 5 years old says ' I think ill be an alcoholic/drug addict, and abuse the benefit system.

[browntrout]

it's all very well saying "they should get a job". but would you employ them. That'll be a no, then.

[naomi24]

jno, I'll answer your question - as stupid as it is - and then perhaps you'll grow up and put your claws away. I have no control over this thread, and despite my reputation that I'm told on good authority everyone knows about, I'm nowhere near tough enough to be a bouncer.

[naomi24]

browntrout, I would happily employ the man who was going round houses selling small items for 50p each.

[browntrout]

OK Naomi, maybe, just maybe, him. mind you, that he gave the fraudsters freebies doesn't say a lot about his judgement.

[naomi24]

True - but he clearly has a good heart.

[Sqad]

Filthy

\\\\ Personally, I find it hard to believe if this is true, the guy would agree to take part in a documentary in which he pretty much exposes himself as a benefit cheat. \\\\

You better believe that many of these people are completely stupid...

Remember some years ago, Tommy Smith the Liverpool footballer in front of millions of viewers on TV and whilst on a disability benefit, ran from the centre circle to the penalty spot and banged in a penalty and then ran back to the centre circle.
He was amazed that there was a public outcry.

[DrFilth]

sqad that was from bravejordy post above hence the > < before and after the words.

> Tommy Smith the Liverpool footballer in front of millions of viewers on TV and whilst on a disability benefit, ran from the centre circle to the penalty spot and banged in a penalty and then ran back to the centre circle. <

did he blame the tablets he was on -)

[Sqad]

Filthy...LOL

[tamborine]

Lots of tax payers have to PLAN child bearing around their careers and affordability after their exes. Its unfair to TP having to support ever increasing SS families. SS families dont wed to further increase their claims as singles.

If HRights average SS income across EU states as SS income, am sure lots more people would work.

[browntrout]

We could make being a chav a criminal offence. on conviction (which would be pretty well automatic) they would be imprisoned on an obsolete cruise ship. when said ship is full ( and I mean really full) it will be towed out into the atlantic where the RAF will use it for bombing practice.

[tamborine]

Get the calculators - lol

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/10391238/Benefits-in-Europe-country-by-country.html

[trt]

That link was interesting tamborine, no wonder they all want to come here!

[viv38]

jake the peg - my parents who are in their 80's are most certainly NOT a burden on society! I am fuming at that remark, do you plan never to be a pensioner then?? See how you feel if when you are when people tell you that you are a burden on society!! My Dad worked well into his 70's and had NEVER taken anything from the state. He earned his pension by paying into it all these years. He is a proud man, like many others and for you to call him a burden on society has really, reallyy p****d me off ! How dare you ?????

[tamborine]

Jake has benefitted without thinking of hard worked TPayers contributing to his health, welfare & education, beginning 1911. Best to educate than be cross ;0)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Insurance

You can google NHS 1948.

[TWR]

One way to curb these Scroots, do not give them money, food / gas / elect tokens should sort it I'm sure.