I have just been sent the following e-mail
which I've copied and pasted below. Probably an urban legend but it's still funny because of its un-PC-ness.

Standard length-based disclaimer applies. Here goes:



A Sarcastic Email Sent To Police To Complain About Young Yobs Has Become A Massive Hit On The Internet. But Now Its Author Fears That Its Success Could Put Him And His Family At Risk

THE EMAIL was never meant to be seen in public.

But its outpouring of frustration to police has struck a chord with thousands after it fell into the hands of someone who posted it on the internet.

The letter, which refers to local youths in Leith, Edinburgh, as "walking abortions" and "failed medical experiments", has proved a sensation.

But the partner of the note's author now says they fear they may be identified and the targets of his sarcasm may take revenge.

The email is understood to have been sent to Lothian and Borders Police HQ by the man after he tried unsuccessfully to report the youths in his street over the phone.

Police responded within 24 hours with an email from the local community beat officer offering to meet the resident.

However this brought another sarcastic note criticising the 16-hour delay.

The second note again refers to local youths in derogatory terms and accuses police of being concerned with "far more serious crimes such as smoking in a public place or being Muslim without due care and attention".

Yesterday the partner of the author said he was shocked to discover the correspondence had become public entertainment.

The woman said: "We never sent it to anyone but the station so the leak has come from the police.

"These are local kids and we are worried they will identify us."

Lothian and Borders Police refused to comment on the source of the leak, saying the author had not complained to them about it.

A spokesman said: "A complaint regarding youths playing football in a street in north Leith was received.

"The community beat officer has met with the resident and outlined the police response to this issue."

1.. THE COMPLAINT

Dear Sir/madam/ automated telephone answering service

Having spent the past twenty minutes waiting for someone at Leith police station to pick up a telephone I have decided to abandon the idea and try emailing you instead. Perhaps you would be so kind as to pass this on to your colleagues in Leith by means of smoke signal, carrier pigeon or ouija board.

As I'm writing this e-mail there are eleven failed medical experiments (I think you call them youths) in West Cromwell Street which is just off Commercial Street in Leith. Six of them seem happy enough to play a game which involves kicking a football against an iron gate with the force of a meteorite. This causes an earth shattering CLANG! which rings throughout the entire building. This game is now in its third week and as I am unsure how the scoring sytem works, I have no idea if it will end any time soon.

The remaining five walking abortions are happily rummaging through several bags of rubbish and items of furniture that someone has so thoughtfully dumped beside the wheelie bins.

One of them has found a saw and is setting about a discarded chair like a beaver on speed. I fear that it's only a matter of time before they turn their limited attention to the bottle of calor gas between the two bins.

If they could be relied on to only blow their own arms and legs off then I would happily leave them to it. I would even go so far as to lend them the matches. Unfortunately they are far more likely to blow up half the street with them and I've just finished decorating the kitchen.

What I suggest is this. After replying to this email with worthless assurances that the matter is being looked into and will be dealt with, why not leave it until the one night of the year (probably bath night) when there are no mutants around then drive up the street in a panda car before doing a three-point turn and disappearing again. This will of course serve no other purpose than to remind us what policemen actually look like.

I trust that when I take a clawhammer to the skull of one of these throwbacks you'll do me the same courtesy of giving me a four-month head start before coming to arrest me.

I remain sir, your obedient servant, Mr X

2.. THE REPLY

Dear Mr X,

I have read your email and understand your frustration at the problems caused by youth playing in the area and the problems you encountered in trying to contact the police.

As the Community Beat Officer for your street I would like to extend an offer of discussing the matter fully with you.

Should you wish to discuss the matter, please provide contact details (address/telephone number) and when may be suitable.

Regards, PC Y Community Beat Officer

3.. THE REACTION

Dear PC Y

First of all I would like to thank you for the speedy response to my original email. 16 hours and 38 minutes must be a personal record for Leith Police station and rest assured that I will forward these details to Norris McWhirter for inclusion in his next book.

Secondly I was delighted to hear that our street has its own communitybeat officer. May I be the first to congratulate you on your covert skills. In the five or so years I have lived in West Cromwell Street, I have never seen you. Do you hide up a tree or have you gone deep undercover and infiltrated the gang itself?

Are you the one with the acne and the moustache on his forehead or the one with achin like a wash hand basin?

It's surely only a matter of time before you are headhunted by MI5. Whilst I realise that there may be far more serious crimes taking place in Leith such as smoking in a public place or being Muslim without due care and attention, is it too much to ask for a policeman to explain (using words of no more than two syllables at a time) to these t***s that they might want to play their strange football game elsewhere.

The pitch behind the Citadel or the one at DKs are both within spitting distance as is the bottom of the Albert Dock.

Should you wish to discuss these you should feel free to contact me. If after 25 minutes I have still failed to answer, I'll buy you a large one in the Compass Bar.

Regards Mr X

P.S If you think that this is sarcasm, think yourself lucky that you don't work for the cleansing department.
( K2k6 has a proper job these days, Tue 27 Nov 2007, 14:59, 7 replies)

This one's
been doing the rounds in Edinburgh for a few weeks - I would LOVE to see what he said to the cleansing department!

EDIT: Also made an appearance in the local newspaper so may be a real story!
(TheWeeWitch hasn't been here much recently .., Tue 27 Nov 2007, 15:10, closed)

This is absolutely genuine.
I have a mate who's a copper and he sent me this before it appeared in the Evening News. A wasted talent.
(Reverend Fister "a disciplined fuckwit", Tue 27 Nov 2007, 15:26, closed)

LMAO
Totally wasted talent: you're not wrong there.

I bet the bobbies were pissing themselves laughing over that... but unable to say so.
( Humpty Dumpty was Pushed Is unaware of having any limits., Tue 27 Nov 2007, 15:47, closed)

I think
we should perhaps try to track down Mr X and invite him to become a b3tard and contribute to QOTW!
( K2k6 has a proper job these days, Tue 27 Nov 2007, 16:00, closed)

Maybe...
He's here already....?
( Pooflake braces for an onslaught..., Tue 27 Nov 2007, 16:01, closed)

I think it might be this guy
He could be lying of course, but I've read his stuff for a few years, and it seems very much in his style.
(w0rmwood pearl, Tue 27 Nov 2007, 17:02, closed)

Definitely true
It must be it was in the Daily Record
(calcio1, Tue 27 Nov 2007, 20:45, closed)