Talk:Ray Mallon

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i believe in the wiki concept and made wholesale changes to the previous version because it was inaccurate and incomplete. Some of the inaccuracies were minor but the sort of thing an encyclopedia should get right. Mallon was born in 1955 for example, not 1956. he was born in Thornaby not Gateshead, the director of robocop was Paul Verhoeven, not Peter Weller.

There were also very serious inaccuracies. Mallon was never accused of allegedly dealing heroin. Also he was never attributed with creating police community support officers. This was a Government initiative, Mallon was responsible for community wardens which are completely different as they are local authority controlled rather than run by the police.

I have added a section on his early life and police career because I feel it is interesting to the reader but also essential information in understanding history.

For example, the previous version stated Mallon first came to national prominence in 1997 at Middlesbrough. This is wrong because Mallon was the subject of a nationally broadcast TV documentary in 1996 because of the impact he had in Hartlepool. This is an importnat chapter because it was when Mallon's methods were first compared with those of Bill Bratton in New York and the phrases "Zero Tolerance' and "Robocop' first started to be introduced.

I have added further information about Lancet. This is an investigation which polarised opinion so I have tried to outline its genesis. It is untrue, for example, to say Lancet was set up to investigate allegations against Mallon.

In the early stages Mallon actually brought forward evidence for Lancet and was praised by his bosses for doing so. It was later, when Lancet was up and running, that he himself came under investigation.

Finally, for accuracy and completness, I have added more about his time as Mayor because this involves far more than just law and order issues.

I have tried to avoid emotive or speculative comment and relied instead on facts as reported by various outlets, quoting these sources where necessary.

I would welcome any constructive comment or addition.

lonewoolfLonewoolf 20:34, 1 May 2007 (UTC)

Hello, your article does seem far from neutral regarding Mallon, in fact the tone is almost supportive. The criticisms should be extended regarding his request to NATO to air-strike the Grove Hill region of Middlesbrough, how he was embarrassingly portrayed on the BBC's document on Psyche and yes how he is commonly perceived in the area outside his stoical proletariat supporters. Because I among myriad of other residents of the region are ashamed he is our mayor, he is inarticulate and only represents one social group. Plus you could say rumours revolved around his 'heroin dealing' there is plenty of sources you could cite, perhaps one of Jimmy Carr's from the Town Hall a few months ago would be an amusing diversion. This article is miles, light-years in fact epochs away from neutrality. So Lonewoolf without being too uncouth, book up your ideas and display some decorum for this forum.

And lets not forget how he referred to Berwick Hills Estate as the most filthy place he had ever set eyes on. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 193.173.109.55 (talk)