About this issue: Overview
Casting a hook into a murky pond is the method of the so-called paedophile hunters who pose as children online and wait for potential abusers to bite. But are these concerned, yet untrained, members of the public entitled to do what they feel the police are failing to? Gary Ryan meets one who believes it’s his duty, and hears from officials asking them to desist.
Also on our feature pages York vendor Liam interviews the Kaponay family who travel the world and home school their children, including published author Réka.
We’ve all wondered, what ever happened to The Krankies? They’re doing panto of course. This year the Scottish comedy duo joins a host of actors, soap stars and reality TV personalities who refuse to put their careers behind them. Richard Smirke goes backstage at theatres across the north.
On our news pages we hear about the cost of UK coal supply on an indigenous Colombian community and have news of our new podcast series. And in comment we hear from the Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, Debbie Abrahams, who calls on the government to fix Univeral Credit before the full roll out, while Ali Schofield wraps her head unsuccessfully around Sheffield’s plan to pave paradise and put up a parking lot.
In arts, books and entertainment we visit Quarry Hill in Cheshire where a conservation team has restored the mill owner’s home and a worker’s cottage, ask Yorkshire author Daisy Hildyard about her Second Body and review Noel Gallagher’s new album.
We also have a chat with Preston vendor Ian, one of the stars of our 2018 calendar which you have a chance of winning in our weekly competition. Of course, there’s our crossword and Sudoku too.