RAF Marham knife incident

[turmo]

I'd imagine quite a few military and family members, as well as the local community, will report seeing a car parked on the perimeter and use up security staff time and energy that could be used more productively.

That just sounds like the reactionary effect that Bad Guys want to generate. 'Oh I better stay at home like a good little mouse'. Get out and there and continue living life as normal, that's how we made it through forty years of 'The Troubles' in NI.

Anyway people shouldn't be parking at the fence, for lots of reasons other than security-scares. If you don't fancy being a locally-considerate spotter and walking to the base, why not park-up a few miles out on the departure line and grab some gear-up shots. Much tidier! I don't understand this obsession with photographing aeroplanes with their gear down, it's like taking photos of cars with their bonnets up

[Thunder]

Did people stop going into Hyde Park in 1982, in case other people mistook them for the IRA??

I would still go, however maybe be a bit more thoughtful than usual about what you're doing and where you park. Would it even harm to contact the MGR even the local police and give them your car reg and personnel details beforehand, at least that way if anyone did phone in they would be able to discount it.

Common sense prevails ............

[Jackaroo]

Good point Turmo I would normally park up at Chalk Lane but as you say planes with wheels down aren't as attractive as blasting off from departure end...Chalk Lane is far from the main entrance and sensitive areas. I was thinking of trying further down on the A1122 toward Fincham. By the way whoever it was who put Thunder & Lightnings site together and put in the research needs a big pat on the back. A fine work.

Look I don't want to cause grief I just wondered if we, the military aviation enthusiast community could contribute toward helping the security services keep HM forces personnel safe in an increasingly unsafe world...

[Jackaroo]

Thanks Thunder yes I was considering calling RAF Marham in the AM to confirm if my visit would be causing a security issue. I am being thoughtful, hence the posts.

[Thunder]

I think we all have a duty to keep others safe regardless of who they are or who we are. If you see something that you think is suspicious then you phone it in using 101 or 999. Being armed with a DSLR and probably a Tele lens, photographic evidence can also be obtained. Now I'm not saying to go all Ninja and put yourself into a situation that may prove dangerous, as I said earlier 'common sense prevails '. However if I was standing at the fence and was approached by a stranger asking dozens of questions about based units, movements, shift change times, daily rituals , off base movements of personnel etc etc....... it would ring a few alarm bells in my head, and therefore I would report it asap.

[page_verify]

Jackeroo, my reply wasn't meant to be patronising, my apologies if you read it that way. Instead, I tried to help write your question in a different point of view. I'm sure whatever it is you do that requires you to have SC clearance helps us all remember that sadly the general public, including RAF families, don't have the "stiff upper lip" attitude that the British used to have when as a society we got on with life during the Troubles and to some degree the Cold War. Now, the media has made almost everyone expect life to be as calm as a mill pond and therefore get very sensitive the moment anything does happen. My suggestion was that while alerting the RAF station's security would normally be sufficient, I wonder whether right now we need to spare a thought for the families that are probably still in shock at what's just happened?

[Jackaroo]

Ok page_verify fair enough and fair comment.

Thunder, I imagine being dressed as a cabbage standing in a field next to military establishment holding what looks from a distance to be a "long" would be a poor career move...

Having said that I have seen plenty of fellow enthusiasts on my travels indulging in such activity...

[slogen51]

I'd imagine quite a few military and family members, as well as the local community, will report seeing a car parked on the perimeter and use up security staff time and energy that could be used more productively.

That just sounds like the reactionary effect that Bad Guys want to generate. 'Oh I better stay at home like a good little mouse'. Get out and there and continue living life as normal, that's how we made it through forty years of 'The Troubles' in NI.

Anyway people shouldn't be parking at the fence, for lots of reasons other than security-scares. If you don't fancy being a locally-considerate spotter and walking to the base, why not park-up a few miles out on the departure line and grab some gear-up shots. Much tidier! I don't understand this obsession with photographing aeroplanes with their gear down, it's like taking photos of cars with their bonnets up

So taking pictures of planes in a field down wind of departures is not an obsession? We all have an obsession on here - it's planes and whether it wheels up or wheels down just keep calm and carry on (sensibly)

[Thunder]

and what did just happen?? The police seem to be remaining very tight lipped on just what exactly they are investigating.

I've never been to Marham, but I assume that standing at the fenceline you would be well away from the MQ's and any off base infrastructure, therefore well away from any personnel and dependents?

[Vulcanone]

Odd that no crimes are solved and filed in 7 days isn't it

[Vulcanone]

jem60

Not intentionally being facetious.

However, I would ask if you would be able to instantly remember who had assaulted you? had a similar incident happened??

As having been down that road and punched in the head from behind outside a London tube staion back in 1998 I can't say I was able too instantly paint an efit of the (insert offensive words of choice) english gentleman with a mental health issue that was responsible.

And despite having broken glasses the Policeman saying oh did you see your attacker..... Was somewhat interesting!!
As for your suggesting last week the victim might have made it up. Really ? after what happened to Lee Rigby??


Oh then again maybe it was a dream I had in 1998

[Mike]

I must admit that it is incredibly strange that the e-fit pictures have taken a whole week to be published - these two nutters aren't going to still be in the Marham area now - are they?

I'm sorry to hear about your incident, Vulcanone.

[Vulcanone]

Thanks Mike

Jem I agree that it happens, but It is just odd that with all the events in Europe going on that anyone would waste Police time with this

Tim

[Thunder]

It's what attention seekers do, they use current situations to makes things seem more plausible and serious. Lets face it "RAF serviceman mugged by baseball cap wearing teenager" doesn't have the same wow factor.

Did a threat happen (I'm not going to use the word attack as it looks like he wasn't attacked) maybe, was it terrorist related and by that I mean ISIS related I highly doubt it. Not all service personnel are law abiding people whom deserve our respect, remember that the police said the day after there was other possible motives being investigated, why would they say that?

[roughcutter]

I recall a few years ago the RAF Coningsby Spotter Watch scheme was launched. Organised by an RAF Police officer based at Coningsby who was also a member of this (FC) forum, local spotters could register with the scheme and were issued with an ID card of sorts with a list of phone numbers to alert the authorities if anything was amiss. Is this watch scheme still in around and if not, then in these dangerous times, would it not be a good idea to resurrect it again or something similar to cover all the bases?

[mirage41]

I, and a number of my colleagues, were the first members of Cpl. Steves Coningsby Spotter Watch - you would complete an A4 sheet with name and who/what/where you were (full car details), and return to Steve either directly or via The Guardroom.

Before FC started by the way.

We would receive regular security visits, and on more than one occassion the Station Warrant Officer would call and express his delight that we were known to be a further set of eyes.

Steve was subsequently allowed to extend his service, was promoted Sergeant, and posted Cranwell SIB. Sadly, as no one picked up after Steve, the system slipped away. We did though see Steve from time to time thereafter, when he popped down to CG1.

To date, we communicate very well with HM Police Force and the military security personnel during their regular visits.

[page_verify]

I was involved in a similar scheme blimey 14 years ago at a large Cotswolds air base. While things might've changed since then, they probably have, there's a balance that the stations have to manage which we might overlook. While they always appreciate an extra set of "friendly" eyes around their perimeter, they can't and don't want to encourage people who they know are happy to go out of their way to help to expose themselves to known dangers. For example, when there was a protest we were told to stay away rather than try and be helpful as there were some "protesters" who would've happily introduced themselves to base sympthasiers with their hammers, crow bars, spray paint and size 10 boots. Likewise, when something a bit unusual around the perimeter these days, I can't imagine they'll be encouraging people to go and keep an eye out for them.

[TankBuster]

A couple of men fitting the description of the Marham suspects have recently been spotted lurking around Colchester Barracks...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-36924274

TankBuster

[Vulcanone]

BBC now reporting that Norfolk Police have said there is no connection with the Marham incident

Tim

[Gary]

Had a tour of Marham yesterday, in the guardroom there are a couple of flyers up asking for witnesses. The base is still on a very high security level because of the incident along with the Op shader link and the all the F-35 prep

Not linked but I did notice the new RAF flight suit doesn't have a name tag area now and only two areas for Velcro, one on the left hand breast and right hand shoulder