Woman given a criminal record - for selling fruit and veg in Imperial measurements.

[Blackleaf]

In what sounds like something that would happen in Communist China or NAZI Germany, a woman gets criminal record - for selling fruit and vegetables on her market stall in Imperial measures.

She was charged under the Weights and Measures Act - even though the EU said that Britain is allowed to continue using Imperial measurements.

Most British people only think in Imperial measurements and struggle using Metric measures.


Metric martyr trader gets criminal record for selling fruit and veg by the pound on stall set up by mother during the Blitz

By Rebecca Camber
09th October 2008
Daily Mail

A market trader was convicted yesterday of selling fruit and vegetables using imperial measures – even though the EU says it should not be an offence.

Metric martyr Janet Devers, 64, said she had been made a 'scapegoat' after being sentenced for selling goods on her market stall in pounds rather than kilos.

The mother of two fought back tears as she was ordered by magistrates to pay almost £5,000 in costs and told she would have a criminal record after being found guilty of eight offences under the Weights and Measures Act.

The metric martyr: Janet Devers has been convicted of selling vegetables on her stall in pounds rather than kilos


As part of the landmark case, the greengrocer was also convicted of selling vegetables for £1 a bowl rather than counting them out individually – a practice commonplace amongst Britain's 40,000 market traders who use bowls to help customers baffled by grams and kilograms.

Now the pensioner, from Wanstead, East London, faces financial ruin as the costs of fighting the case could see her lose her market stall in nearby Dalston.

It has been in the family for more than 60 years since her mother Irene Hunt became one of the first woman to run a stall in the East End during the Blitz.

The verdict, which has outraged campaigners, comes a year after EU said it would no longer force Britain to adopt the metric system of weights and measures.

It became illegal to sell any goods in Britain in non-metric weights and measures under the EU's compulsory metrication policy in 2000.

In September last year, Gunther Verheugen, European Commission vice president for enterprise and industry, said Brussels never intended to criminalise those who sold in pounds and ounces.

But the laws under which Mrs Devers was prosecuted are still on the UK statute books.

Just a few days after Mr Verheugen made his remarks trading standards officials from Hackney Council, supported by two police officers, arrived at Mrs Devers's market stall to confiscate two sets of imperial, non-metric scales.

Today, at Thames Magistrates' Court, in the first UK prosecution since the EU ruling, she was convicted of using imperial scales without an official stamp and selling scotch bonnet peppers, okra, pak choi and peppers in bowls for £1 without giving the quantity or weight of produce in the bowl.

The pensioner was given a two-year conditional discharge, although magistrates accepted that she was only trying to offer customers value for money.

Dr Patrick Davies, chairman of the bench, said: 'We note that you said you were doing this in the interests of your customers, although you ought to have known you were breaking the law in doing so.'

Outside court Mrs Devers said: 'I'm incredibly worried about my financial future. I can't believe they prosecuted me for something that every market trader in London - in the UK - is doing. I've been made a scapegoat.

'The fact that they have given me a conditional discharge just shows that they think it is a big mistake to take me to court.

'Having a criminal record means I can't go and see my cousins in America. My daughter wants to go and live out there which means I might not see her. It's farcical.'

A spokesman for Hackney Council said: 'We are satisfied with the outcome of this case, but regret that legal action is required. It would have been much better if Mrs Devers had complied with the law 18 months ago.'

Anyone wanting to contribute to Mrs Devers's costs can send donations to the Metric Martyrs Defence Fund, PO Box 526, Sunderland, SR1 3YS.

READERS' COMMENTS

I have never read such nonsense Mrs Devers needs to tell those silly fools that took her to court to stick it where the sun dont shine! I am extremely cross that they waste taxpayers hard earned money on cases like this they need to get real!
- Lucy Smith, Gloucestershire
*************************************

Perhaps Mrs Devers' fine will be paid by the British government, you know, that benevolent organisation that, within days, is to free the terrorist who survived SAS storming of Iranian Embassy, allow him to live in Britain and pay him benefits for the rest of his life. But then, he's paid his debt to society while that career criminal, Mrs Devers, is yet to learn right from wrong.
- Bill, Jarrow, Tyne & Wear
**********************************

How much longer must we, the people of England, have to suffer these pathetic little council jobsworths?
And how much longer must we suffer their treacherous Labour masters?
Whilever they pander to, and kiss the backsides of their EU masters, we are all doomed.
It doesnt matter who is in power, be it Labour or Tory, they are all the same - the greatest traitors this country and its people have ever had to suffered.
Time for a new party, one that will willingly stick two fingers up to the EU.
One that will take care of its pensioners.
One that will properly punish the criminal and miscreant.
Recall our Armies from wars that have little to do with us and let the religiously-backward morons kill each other, thereby saving the lives of our soldiers and saving us a financial fortune.
Reverse immigration,.
Lower taxes.
Attack the Utility and petrol companies.
And give England back to those that have silently suffered for so long - the English.
Anyone with me?
- Tony Barratt, Rotherham. England
******************************************************

This country has well and truly gone to the dogs! An immigrant family are housed in a million pound private house funded by the taxpayer and an honest market trader is fined for selling food in imperial measurements! Gordon Brown, what on earth are you doing to this once great country???????????
- Chel, Midlands, 8/10/2008
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What an appalling situation...what has happened to the UK and common-sense? What has happened to Mrs Devers is just wrong and cruel.

Here in France we receive weekly leaflets from the supermarkets. I have noticed that these carry adverts for TVs which show screen sizes in INCHES !!!!! - and in small writing underneath the French word for inches (Pouces) is printed.......In France - selling items marked in INCHES - and the UK Jackboots are prosecuting a UK citizen for selling items measured in our centuries old system of weights and measures. I really think the UK has gone stark raving mad - and it's time these little Hitlers were made to feel and look like the nasty, stupid, mindless idiots they are.

When will there be a revolution - come on UK citizens - start protesting about what's happening to you all.

Anne Smith, France
**************************************

The only one who deserves a criminal record is Gordon Brown. Having just read the story of the Afghan family reaping the rewards of 'Benefit Britain', and other stories telling of ridiculous sentences for stabbing someone, it makes me sick that honest, hardworking people like this woman are being penalised for this rubbish.
- Sara, Sydney, Australia,
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I have no sympathy for the British people any more. The majority of the population are dumb enough to keep voting in the same stupid, Europe loving, suck ups that have made it a criminal offence to sell in the traditional English measurements. Where is the economic freedom in forbidding private businesses from selling their products in a measure that they see fit. Next they will say that receipts have to be all the same colour and packaging will have to be written in all the different languages of the EU. If people could experience America they would realise what real freedom is. My state of Georgia will have more rights and freedoms within the US than the UK will have as a so called 'nation state' in the EU tyranny.
- John Raybould, Zebulon, USA (expat),
*********************************************

dailymail.co.uk

 

[Praxius]

Try living in Quebec and running your business mostly in English.

McKibbin's Pub faces fines for English signs
http://www.canada.com/montrealgazet...=1b02d3f4-ecca-49b8-82a6-53c607c91b14&k=75392

McKibbins Irish Pub in Montreal will challenge an order from Quebec's language police to remove antique advertising posters from the popular Bishop Street night spot.

Inspectors from Office de la langue française have ordered McKibbins to remove advertisments for Guiness Dublin 1759 Ireland Trademark, Palethorpes Pork Pies, and St. James Gate Dublin - products that have not been available for more than a century.

On Feb 6, the Office de la langue française informed McKibbin's owners that, under article 58 of the language charter, too much English was being spoken among the staff.

"We advise you that the law requires the French language to be predominant in public signs and commercial advertising; if another language is used at the same time, French must be given overall priority, the visual impact of the French text has to be much more important," the notice also read.

McKibbin's could be fined as much as $1,500 for each infraction.......

^ How retarded is that?

Added:

If people want to use a certain language or a certain measurment or whatever.... they should god damn well be allowed to do so without having to have some politically correct assclowns running around telling you what you should or shouldn't be doing. The money put towards these idiots could be used for better things.

If someone wants to protect or promote a certain kind of way of measuring or talking, then advertise, or promote it in some other way..... but don't force your way of life onto others just because you think your way of life is going down the crapper because it's not popular.

If it's not popular, then there's probably a reason for it.

Friggin tyrants.

 

[scratch]

Try living in Quebec and running your business mostly in English.

McKibbin's Pub faces fines for English signs
http://www.canada.com/montrealgazet...=1b02d3f4-ecca-49b8-82a6-53c607c91b14&k=75392



^ How retarded is that?

Added:

If people want to use a certain language or a certain measurment or whatever.... they should god damn well be allowed to do so without having to have some politically correct assclowns running around telling you what you should or shouldn't be doing. The money put towards these idiots could be used for better things.

If someone wants to protect or promote a certain kind of way of measuring or talking, then advertise, or promote it in some other way..... but don't force your way of life onto others just because you think your way of life is going down the crapper because it's not popular.

If it's not popular, then there's probably a reason for it.

Friggin tyrants.

Prax,

All of this is disgraceful and childish on the part of the authorities. The money and time spent could be better used elsewhere.

Reference to Quebec....it reminds me of what happened after Bill 101 was passed. We called those who were to do the monitoring to safeguard the law "The Language Police".
Haven't heard about many instances going down this way but it is the way it is....sad and irresponsible.

Not a proud day for my province.

 

[Praxius]

Prax,

All of this is disgraceful and childish on the part of the authorities. The money and time spent could be better used elsewhere.

Reference to Quebec....it reminds me of what happened after Bill 101 was passed. We called those who were to do the monitoring to safeguard the law "The Language Police".
Haven't heard about many instances going down this way but it is the way it is....sad and irresponsible.

Not a proud day for my province.

I just see it as if you want people to respect and adopt to the French culture, then respect other's culture who are coming into the province..... if they are not feeling like they're being attacked or punished for being who they are, then they might be more accepting to adopt the french culture as their own...... forcing people to do something or face being fined or charged for doing what they are used to feels like an attack.... and when somenoe is being attacked, they normally defend and then you have more conflict and less people understanding the situation..... or sympathizing.

People who are english speaking or otherwise tend to move to Quebec because they like the culture, the way of life, etc..... but when you have a province that has a long history of fighting assemilation trying to assemilate those who come to live there.... that to me seems like a contradiction, doesn't help anybody and adds more to the divisions as both sides feel they are being attacked.

Added:

If people come into Quebec to live and work, I don't feel they need to be forced to adopt to the culture in order to protect it..... the longer they live there the more they will adopt natually. Attack them and there will be more resistence.

 

[scratch]

I just see it as if you want people to respect and adopt to the French culture, then respect other's culture who are coming into the province..... if they are not feeling like they're being attacked or punished for being who they are, then they might be more accepting to adopt the french culture as their own...... forcing people to do something or face being fined or charged for doing what they are used to feels like an attack.... and when somenoe is being attacked, they normally defend and then you have more conflict and less people understanding the situation..... or sympathizing.

People who are english speaking or otherwise tend to move to Quebec because they like the culture, the way of life, etc..... but when you have a province that has a long history of fighting assemilation trying to assemilate those who come to live there.... that to me seems like a contradiction, doesn't help anybody and adds more to the divisions as both sides feel they are being attacked.

Added:

If people come into Quebec to live and work, I don't feel they need to be forced to adopt to the culture in order to protect it..... the longer they live there the more they will adopt natually. Attack them and there will be more resistence.

Prax,

I totally agree with you. While growing up in Quebec I never faced the problems that are prevalent today, nor did any of my friends, whether they were French or English. Assimilation was not an issue. Language was not an issue for we were all bilingual. After Bill 101 was passed I personally and my friends and/or colleagues didn't automatically split into separate factions.
Life went on much as it had before.

You may find it interesting that the bill was not popular with a lot of people, both French and English, perhaps we could see that it would be changed and hardened to what it is today.

Jean Charest was the new light for many but over time his ideology has changed. That disappointed me.

Now as you have so aptly put it, those that have made the choice to go to Quebec are facing great challenges. This is due in part to the disproportion of those whose mother tongue is French (and their wish to preserve it) and the balance of Anglo-America. Six to seven million versus three hundred and twenty-five million.

Action had to be taken and we can all see the result of that.

This will not change. It's adapt or leave.

Now....

It has been my experience in the years that I have lived in Ontario, that those who were originally from Quebec gave up everything that was part of their heritage without a second thought.
Was this forced upon them?
Were they tired of the oppression in Quebec? I don't know.

This Quiet Revolution has been around for quite some time, yet is discarded once outside of the province. It's perplexing.

Quebec is continuously evolving and has a higher standard of living today than in any other time in their history. They have a very high percentage of university educated people.

They are rivaling the silicone valley south of the border.

Quebecers have great pride in what they have accomplished and will not relinquish that.

It is sometimes quite complex. Perhaps a mentality thing. I have never lost mine.

It is a distinct society to be sure. And is that a bad thing?

I think not.

Regards,

scratch

 

[Praxius]

Fair enough..... I understand where you are coming from with what you say.

One thing though, as a loose example, is that in Cape Breton, NS., a decade or two ago the amount of people who still spoke Gaelic was pretty small and dropping...... but they, over time, started to promote the language, open up classes and tutors to help spread the interest around.

There is no law that I am aware of that protects this language, yet in the last couple of years, the desire to learn the language has been growing considerably..... in fact there are some teachers of the language from Cape Breton that are getting people from all around the world to be taught via the internet and video conference.

To me, in order to preserve a culture, way of life or language, it all boils down to the approach one takes. Maybe the officials in Quebec should take a look at how this has worked and see if there is a way to use some of those principles to help preserve their heritage if they feel it is threatened.

*shrugs*

 

[scratch]

Fair enough..... I understand where you are coming from with what you say.

One thing though, as a loose example, is that in Cape Breton, NS., a decade or two ago the amount of people who still spoke Gaelic was pretty small and dropping...... but they, over time, started to promote the language, open up classes and tutors to help spread the interest around.

There is no law that I am aware of that protects this language, yet in the last couple of years, the desire to learn the language has been growing considerably..... in fact there are some teachers of the language from Cape Breton that are getting people from all around the world to be taught via the internet and video conference.

To me, in order to preserve a culture, way of life or language, it all boils down to the approach one takes. Maybe the officials in Quebec should take a look at how this has worked and see if there is a way to use some of those principles to help preserve their heritage if they feel it is threatened.

*shrugs*

A good programme.
A good suggestion.