Raoul Moat lost it after finding out his girlfriend was having an affair. He is believed to have shot three people, killing one. He has a bit of a grudge against the police and has threatened to kill them.
The police arent having much luck catching him (they've already deployed 160 armed officers in their search) so have called in the army to help find him (though he will undoubtedly be shot on sight once he is found). I think these actions may be a bit hysterical and over the top paranoia by both the press and the police?

Your thoughts?

All news is hyped up now. With dedicated 24 hour programs they need to fill the space and out do other channels.

I don't see this guy coming in easy, but you never know.

Moat is definitely dangerous - and definitely not stupid... The authorities knew he had a planned intention two days before he was released from prison..

Why weren't the victims informed..?? Who will be held accountable..??

I believe that the total overkill of adjacent constabularies - PSNI armoured vehicles & RAF Tornado fighter jets being involved in the search is their way of saying 'We messed up..'

I wouldn't call him Rambo - but he definitely seems to know what he's doing..

He seemed to have quite a normal life before all hell broke loose... Owning his own business etc...

Sounds like they've found him, watching live now

[update] Police are now confirming it is him, a witness says he's holding a gun to his head while police negotiate.

On a side note, I love how he's on the run for a week and Charnel opens a topic less than an hour before he's found!

Thanks deV.. on Sky News now... channel 501..

[EDIT] It seems he's holding a gun to his own head...

Channel 517, Sky News HD :P

deV - you got it first... Carry on with your commentary if you wish to the non UK members.. no point both of us doing this...

Typical 24 hour news now, repeating the same thing over and over and over and over and over and over

Seems thats the same the world over - on the main point ,to save my tax being paid for a trial ( which lets be honest ) is a forgone conclusion let him kill himself if thats what he wants i just cant condone murder just because his girlfriend was seeing someone else

Just been announced they are moving the media 10 miles back. So no more 'new' updates for a while then.

hmmm... what don't they want us to see..?? I hope the Sky reporter in the house above the 'operation' has the b**ls to stay put...

Must be difficult for the police to do their job with the huge media presence (same goes for the army) They have enough to worry about without having to worry about the safety of the reporters and how their actions will look on camera.

I totally agree dEV... but 10 miles..?? The logistics of packing up and travelling the distance noted is slightly absurd IMO..

Can't the snipers shoot his shotgun or something like that? I've seen that happen in a televised American incident Though he may have some explosives on him, considering the threats he made earlier against police officers?

That's an option ADL, but seeing as he's surrounded without a hostage, and his only weapon appears to be a shotgun (short range) he's no danger to anyone but himself. The police can take their time and try to take him alive which ultimately is their aim.

Paul Gasgoine...??? Where the hell did that come from...??

For our non-UK Darksiders, Gazza has apparently turned up at the siege (not our GaZa ^^^)

I dare saw he got pissed and he's lost on his way home via another drunk driving charge.

^^^

His let off clause... and no body armour...

[EDIT] you were right dEV - Gazza is making a d**k of himself... causing a problem allegedly....

[2nd EDIT] 10 mile exclusion zone for aircraft only... not on the ground media...

Sorry.. new post...

It's been nearly 4 hours from stand-off ... I really hope this can be a non-violent resolution to finality..

Yes.. he's killed people - and yes - somewhere else in the world he'd probably have been shot dead already.. but this is the UK and if the result ends in Moat going to jail for the rest of his life I'm happy with that...

People want realisation that they can be secure in the fact that the authorities can show restraint in the hardest of times..
Show the local public that they are in control for the public interest.. and the future..

It'll make me sleep better at night ...

It is only the illusion of security.

And that is your opinion LT... not fact...

Yours is also opinion, not fact.

It's like you have a lock on your door and you think you're safe, but if someone really wants to get into your house all they have to do is break the window or drive a car through the front of the building. Security is a state of mind, not a physical condition.

Absolutely correct..

There still at it, but its ok Gaza is an aquaintance and wants to talk to him

Gaza

I can assure you - it wasn't me ... there's at least 27 miles of Irish Sea and a few miles of motorway betwixt us...



Back to Betty Ford methinks...

Hopefully not driving himself there..

Northumbria? From the first post I thought it was going to be Texas or something Perhaps I should watch the news a bit more.

It's OK Hash... you've been busy....

[update] shots have been fired..

Allegedly ... a group of Police Officers have ambushed him physically .. more to follow..


[EDIT] Moat has been shot and is recieving treatment...

[2nd EDIT] Ambulance is leaving the scene with escort en route to a Newcastle Hospital...

Charnel - you're a jinx..!!!

He's dead... not the ending I wanted..

[EDIT] suicide..

Only Hash could miss this story, it's been plastered over every newspaper and has dominated the TV news for a week!

I'm not surprised with the ending. He clearly didn't want to get captured/returned to prison and he feels he's got nothing left. Another easy way out.

Since most people ultimately value their freedom, I am not surprised.

Considering he was probably facing a life sentence for murder and 2 attempted murders. Then again this is the UK, he's probably be out on probation in 10 years.

Thats what the police tell us anyway There were two shots... guess he must have missed the first time

He would have been a god in prison having shot that policeman

Well at least we arent all gonna have to pay for the scumbag to live in the luxury known as british prison.

skynews story

Kneejerk trigger pulling upon hearing a shot ring out isn't unusual.

@dEV: I don't watch much telly, it's mostly rubbish. Nor do I buy newspapers. But that's because I don't care what new hair style David Beckham's got or how drunk such and such a celebrity got the night before.

I agree, but false statements made by the police isn't either.

Sadly, that's true.

Just seen this pic on the BBC News page:



I imagine he's yelling at the cameraman to clear the area, but it's an unfortunate freeze frame!

well better he is dead than anyone else regardless of how it happened after all he was a cold blooded killer, killing someone because they are dating your ex?
shooting and trying to kill your ex?
shooting a policeman because your ex said she was dating one?
no loss to society there! police did all they could from what i heard on the radio and he had hours to surrender he didnt want to!
holding a gun on himself to try and gain a little more attention, no pity for him what so ever, should have been shot on sight IMHO. not as if there was any doubt in his guilt!

Only someone who has had that luxury could possibly comment on the conditions inside imho

personal experience no aquinted with those who have had yes.
They tell me about having Tv and playstations in their cells which are more like comfortable rooms have access to many educational courses and of course are well fed, add to the fact that prisoners can and do claim Unemployment benefit and sick pay and one even manages to have his very own blog although admittedly through proxy by mail, and he even mentions use of playstations in the latest entry(9 july 2010)on balance when compared to some of the conditions that innocent pensioners live in the uk i would call this Luxury.

Don't you think that if the guy gets close enough to be shot at with that tazer, then the one with the rifle isn't doing his job right?

I won't get started on the state of prisons. I've ranted about it on here once before.

He's dead. Shot himself, best thing he could have done......Tax payers money saved.

Well After spending a few years at her majesties displeasure..I can tell ya its no Picnic....How ever I have to say I agree with the statements above..I would have been happier if he had been shot on sight.There was No doubt in anyones mind he was a cold blooded Killer/Murderer and as such, put himself outside the realms of humanity...He was a Bully who got his cummupance..

The taxpayer will now probably have to foot the bill for a massive 4 year inquiry on the tazering and why he ended up brown bread.

How much do you think the week long search will cost us?!

I'm not sure... but not to go slightly off topic.. Matt Baggett (Chief Constable PSNI) stated today that the cost of the Police presence at the previous 3 nights of rioting in Belfast - and the control of it - cost the same as a new wing of a hospital or the building of a new school..

So back on topic - A hell of a lot... !!