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Police appeal for calm

POLICE chief Julian Kirby has appealed for calm in Devizes following the killing of Barry Cooper.

Tensions were running high following the death of the 28-year-old on Saturday.

On Monday night seven people from Devizes were arrested for public order offences including three members of Mr Cooper's family and they appeared before Chippenham Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Superintendent Kirby, who is commander of the county police division, said: "We have put extra officers on to the streets of Devizes this week to provide reassurance to the public. These extra officers have come from all over the county.

"Barry Cooper was well known in the town and emotions are running high.

"In these circumstances the very best way of preventing any further disorder or crime is to have a high visible and robust police presence.

"The officers have a clear remit from me that they will not tolerate crime and antisocial behaviour, however well intentioned the reasons are.

"Taking the law into their own hands never ever helps.

"A man has been charged with the murder of Barry Cooper and it's in the interests of the family of Barry and the people of Devizes for calm to be retained and for the focus for the police to be supporting the family and with the investigation."

Barry Cooper's father, Michael Cooper, re-iterated this message.

He said: "We loved Barry dearly and will miss him desperately but I must ask everyone in the town to keep calm following his death and to help the police with their inquiries in whatever way they can."

Devizes MP Michael Ancram said the stabbing highlighted the increase in knife crime in the country.

He said: "Obviously this is a very sad time for the family of Barry Cooper and all our thoughts go out to them.

"At the same time this is a symptom of a very worrying trend in our society, not just in Devizes but more widely, and we all really must address the whole problem of knife crime in a way that it has not been addressed in the last few years.

"We must make it clear to anyone carrying a knife that the penalties are very severe."

Devizes mayor Jane Burton also sent her condolences to the Coopers. She said: "I feel sorry for the family of Mr Cooper at losing a son and a brother. It's an awful thing to happen and nobody should die in that way.

"A lot of other crime has decreased in Devizes but to have two violent deaths in Devizes in the last ten months is awful. I am impressed with the police response and the increased police presence in the town, I'm sure that has given residents confidence."

9:15am Thursday 3rd July 2008

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Posted by: doug, devizes on 12:20pm Thu 3 Jul 08
makes me sick that all is being said about barry half you people dont even know him or rest of his family he was just a kid that messed up got into drugs and as we all know he not the only one n this town but he robbed people and took from shops but thats about it would never hurt anyone he was a man that would run away from his own shadow i know he hurt some people by taking there stuff but he would never go out and rape your daughter or able to beat any one up my heart goes out to his mum and rest of family because scum like the people that killed him are the real problem here
Posted by: angel636, bristol on 1:15pm Thu 3 Jul 08
doug wrote:
makes me sick that all is being said about barry half you people dont even know him or rest of his family he was just a kid that messed up got into drugs and as we all know he not the only one n this town but he robbed people and took from shops but thats about it would never hurt anyone he was a man that would run away from his own shadow i know he hurt some people by taking there stuff but he would never go out and rape your daughter or able to beat any one up my heart goes out to his mum and rest of family because scum like the people that killed him are the real problem here
I couldn't have put it better myself.
Just hope they catch everyone who was involved.
Posted by: mcr, devizes on 2:43pm Thu 3 Jul 08
I've lived in devizes for 13 yrs and have never even heard Barry's name mentioned, so he couldn't have been as bad as people are making him out to be. I hope they lock the ******* up for good who did this.
Posted by: Chris on 2:56pm Thu 3 Jul 08
Ancram is wrong - I understand Barry was stabbed with a pair of scissors.

Before knives and swords people used rocks and clubs to kill people. Prohibitation of knives will not stop the problem. What is needed is a change in people's attitudes towards one another, including respect.

I think MCR, you have led a shelterd life. I have lost count of the number of times I have heard the name of Barry, Timothy, Kevin, Jason and even Missy Cooper used in connection with crime.
Posted by: walter, wilshur on 5:12pm Thu 3 Jul 08
So Doug thinks robbing people and stealing from shops is OK? Not so long ago they used to string 'em up! Pity we don't now.
Posted by: Ged, Chippenham on 5:19pm Thu 3 Jul 08
walter wrote:
So Doug thinks robbing people and stealing from shops is OK? Not so long ago they used to string 'em up! Pity we don't now.
Walter once again proving that sensitivity isn't his strongest attribute
Posted by: DingDonG, Wilds of Wiltshire on 8:05pm Thu 3 Jul 08
On Monday night seven people from Devizes were arrested for public order offences including three members of Mr Cooper's family and they appeared before Chippenham Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
What a lovely family ? Hope they have £500 handy when they go back before the beak.
Posted by: Cady, wilts on 10:12pm Thu 3 Jul 08
/
Posted by: walter, wilshur on 2:03pm Fri 4 Jul 08
Ged wrote:
walter wrote: So Doug thinks robbing people and stealing from shops is OK? Not so long ago they used to string 'em up! Pity we don't now.
Walter once again proving that sensitivity isn't his strongest attribute
Any more from you, Ged, and the wife's mother will be calling. And afore you laugh, she was chucked out of the French Foreign Legion for brutality.
Posted by: miss nash, devizes on 8:32am Sat 5 Jul 08
Chris wrote:
Ancram is wrong - I understand Barry was stabbed with a pair of scissors. Before knives and swords people used rocks and clubs to kill people. Prohibitation of knives will not stop the problem. What is needed is a change in people's attitudes towards one another, including respect. I think MCR, you have led a shelterd life. I have lost count of the number of times I have heard the name of Barry, Timothy, Kevin, Jason and even Missy Cooper used in connection with crime.
Lets not forget that there not the only people who affend in devizes! The town is full of crime and and the coopers boys are only a small part of it! so I suggest u start reading the rest of the paper. I totally agree with doug Barry I couldnt of put it better everything he said was so true. I think jail is far to good for Karl Quincey he should be locked in a room with the coopers boys and see how bullying really feels as that wat that W***er really is.
Posted by: miss nash, devizes on 8:36am Sat 5 Jul 08
DingDonG wrote:
On Monday night seven people from Devizes were arrested for public order offences including three members of Mr Cooper's family and they appeared before Chippenham Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
What a lovely family ? Hope they have £500 handy when they go back before the beak.
WHAT U ON! Their brother has just been stabbed to death and u write crap like that! I totally understand y they have done this! I admit it sud b left in the hands of the police but they just want 2 find out who was involved with their brothers death and rightly so!
Posted by: devizes unknown, devizes on 10:14am Sat 5 Jul 08
i think everyone should stand back for 5 mins and read wat your all putting. the coopers are bad news but no one deserves to die like the way barry did.
BUT at momement with most people on her saying he is this he is that and coopers are this and coopers are that, every one is condonning that the stabbing was ok so lets all go and do or their saying the coopers are rite in wat they do, WELL LISTEN UP NO ONE IS IN THE RITE AT THE MOMENT YEAH BARRY GOT STABBED AND YEAH THEY ARE ALL UP SET BUT CHRIST EVERYONE GET A GRIP AND STAY IN AND GREIVE FOR HIM NOT GO OUT AND CAUSE MORE PROBLEMS FOR THIS WAT WAS A LOVELY LITTLE TOWN. AND THOSE WHO ARE SAYING WELL DONE BARRY AND COPPERS ARE TRASH STOP IT ONE FOR THE MOTHER AS SHE IS HURTING AND DOESNT WANT TO SEE THESE COMMENTS ALSO ITS GIVING THE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE STABBING AN IDEA THAT WERE SAYING DO IT AGAIN. EVERYONE IN THIS TOWN HAS HAD ENOUGH OF THIS BEHAVIOUR FROM BOTH SIDES. ITS ABOUT TIME THEY ALL SORTED THEIRSELVES OUT.
Posted by: Ged, Chippenham on 5:13pm Sun 6 Jul 08
walter wrote:
Ged wrote:
walter wrote: So Doug thinks robbing people and stealing from shops is OK? Not so long ago they used to string 'em up! Pity we don't now.
Walter once again proving that sensitivity isn't his strongest attribute
Any more from you, Ged, and the wife's mother will be calling. And afore you laugh, she was chucked out of the French Foreign Legion for brutality.
I know a Solicitor like that!
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