Local News

Sensationalist headline in local rag

02/06/10 - 2 comments

Yet again those folks at the Daily Mail Group have ignored actual facts in favour of a headline that will sell papers.

On Monday's bank holiday it seems a woman in Wonford managed to get hold of what appears to be a handgun (there has been no confirmation from what we can read between the lines of whether it was real or not) and called police out to come and get her or she would go out and start shooting people in the street.

At this point it's safe to say she was probably drunk, stupid or had mental health issues.

The police responded by getting the chopper out, sprinkling a healthy dosing of officers on the ground and six firearms officers turned up, who proceeded to disarm the woman with a baton round.

The headline the Echo went for "Woman is shot by police marksman in Heath Road, Wonford" gives the distinct impression of a much more fatal outcome (can something be more fatal? - Ed) than the story reveals.

Maybe we watch far too much TV, but that headline gives the impression of a lone sniper on a hillside taking out the target with a well placed bullet between the eyes. Maybe it's just us, but then again, "Woman disarmed with baton round in Heath Road, Wonford" probably won't sell as many papers.

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