Payal Kapadia’s ‘All We Imagine As Light’ disrupts popular narratives of Mumbai This article was originally published on The Conversation, an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts. Disclosure information is available on the original site. Anmol Dutta, PhD Candidate and Lecturer, Western University, The Conversation Dec 5, 2024 2:47 PM Dec 5, 2024 3:05 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message This article was originally published on The Conversation, an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts. Disclosure information is available on the original site. ___ Author: Anmol Dutta, PhD Candidate and Lecturer, Western University Indian filmmaker Payal Kapadia’s new film, All We Imagine as Light, won the prestigious Grand Prix award at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival in May. The film exhibits an Indianness that is distinctive from the one most frequently represented globally. Within mainstream Hindi cinema, India is often presented as a homogenous Hindu, upper-caste, middle-class Hindi-speaking nation. In western popular imaginations, on the other hand, India is often seen as exotic and over-the-top, or poor and backward. All We Imagine as Light tells a story of two migrant women from the southern Indian state of Kerala, Prabha (Kani Kusruti) and Anu (Divya Prabha) as they struggle to build a life in Mumbai. The kind of Mumbai shown in the film is one that has almost never been explored in Indian cinema. In the film, we see its characters contend with cultural and social isolation, gender inequalities and the challenges of Hindu-Muslim love in India. In this sense, the film does not try to appeal to the non-Indian, western gaze. Instead, All We Imagine as Light depicts a nuanced, complex migrant reality that touches on issues of gender, religion, caste, class, language and access. The refreshing portrayal of Mumbai, and largely of India, reveals an aspect of the nation’s cultural identity that has not been explored within the global space. Disrupting the ‘city of dreams’ All We Imagine as Light premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September. It then played at the South Asian Day celebrations at the Forest City Film Festival in London, Ont., where I was a guest speaker for a live Q&A following the screening. The lyrical, almost lulling pace of the film offers the unfamiliar viewer the time needed to adjust to the foreignness of this world. While it remains foreign to the viewer, it is the politics of the every day — the human yearning for light — that affords the film a humanistic vision, making it cross-culturally accessible. One of the primary themes in All We Imagine as Light is disrupting the trite romanticism of Mumbai as a city of dreams. Migrants from across India who come to Mumbai to live a better life experience a kind of disillusionment that is rarely, if ever, addressed in Indian popular culture. Instead, it shows Mumbai as what one of the migrant voice-overs in the film calls a “city of illusions.” All We Imagine as Light starts with disembodied migrant voices in different regional languages such as Tamil, Marathi, Gujarati and Bengali, among others. A montage of the city plays on-screen as viewers hear a voiceover of migrant workers expressing their disenchantment and the “otherness” experienced in Mumbai. A man says how, after living in Mumbai for 23 years, he still can’t call it his home. This feeling of un-homed in Mumbai is experienced through Prabha and Anu, who work as nurses in a hospital and are also roommates. The idea of being un-homed is most sharply portrayed when Prabha’s colleague and friend, Parvaty, is evicted from her house. As a widow, Parvaty has no paperwork to prove ownership of the shack she has lived in for years. In another scene, we see a billboard that promises a “new Mumbai” featuring a light-skinned, hence presumably upper-caste, upper-class, heterosexual couple photographed next to a luxury tower. Parvaty and Prabha helplessly stare at this billboard, eventually hurling stones at it, thus physically resisting everything that the billboard is representative of. As two women navigating life without husbands or any other male counterpart, this scene is significant. It becomes an active distortion of societal expectations and heteronormative ideals. Kapadia also uses Mumbai as a site to engage with the challenges of interfaith relationships in India. The panned shots of Mumbai’s busy streets show Muslim Shiaz following Hindu Anu through crowded streets until the couple find a space where they are not at risk of being seen together. The expectations and limitations the couple must navigate showcase the societal surveillance over Hindu-Muslim relationships in India. The politics of language in Indian cinema Cinema in India is considered to be one of the most significant political and socio-cultural spaces. While multiple regional cinemas exist within the nation, the most popular domain continues to be mainstream Hindi cinema, or Bollywood, which problematically assumes the universality of Hindi within the nation. Whenever most Indian films gain international attention, the implicit assumption is that they are a part of Bollywood, the mainstream cinema in Hindi. A recent example of such assumptions that every Indian film is a Bollywood film or in Hindi was seen when Rajamouli’s Telegu-language blockbuster, RRR, won an Oscar in 2023. The implicit language expectation when watching an Indian film is that it is in Hindi. It is important to note that while Hindi is one of the most widely spoken languages in India, there is no national language. Mumbai is home to Bollywood cinema, and therefore oftentimes presents Hindi as the chosen language. Kapadia does not conform to these mainstream expectations of language. She instead showcases the politics of speaking different regional languages in Mumbai. Malayalam, which is widely spoken in Kerela, is the film’s foremost language. Prabha, Anu and her boyfriend, Shiaz, speak Malayalam. Kapadia uses language as an effective tool to further convey the feeling of un-homed in Mumbai. In a conversation with Prabha, a doctor at the hospital, who is also from Kerala, addresses the discomfort that speaking in Hindi causes him; Malayalam, he says, offers him refuge. Viewers see how most characters are compelled to speak Hindi within the public space, furthering their alienation to the city. Speaking in Malayalam thus becomes a safe harbour for Prabha and Anu in All We Imagine as Light. Kapadia skillfully employs Hindi to denote the characters’ alienation. Malayalam, on the other hand, becomes emblematic of home. All We Imagine as Light is an example of a different kind of Indian cinema: one that goes beyond mainstream narratives, and offers viewers an insight into an India they often don’t get to see. The film’s success indicates that there is potential for an alternate cinema that tells a variety of stories, in a way that is attentive to cultural nuances, and still able to serve as a cultural ambassador around the world. ___ Anmol Dutta does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. ___ This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Disclosure information is available on the original site. Read the original article: https://theconversation.com/payal-kapadias-all-we-imagine-as-light-disrupts-popular-narratives-of-mumbai-242579 Anmol Dutta, PhD Candidate and Lecturer, Western University, The Conversation See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Get your daily Victoria news briefing Email Sign Up More Film News Exiled Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof's definition of home is shifting Dec 5, 2024 1:44 PM Q&A: Binoche and Fiennes on reuniting for ‘The Return' and fighting for meaningful movies Dec 5, 2024 1:23 PM Q&A: Binoche and Fiennes on reuniting for ‘The Return' and fighting for meaningful movies Dec 5, 2024 12:22 PMPrime Minister Anthony Albanese has "unequivocally" condemned a fire at a Melbourne synagogue that Victoria Police say was deliberately lit. Around 60 firefighters and 17 trucks were called to the Adass Israel synagogue at Ripponlea in Melbourne's south early on Friday morning after a large blaze engulfed the building. Victoria Police detective inspector Chris Murray told reporters a witness attending morning prayers at the synagogue had spotted two men wearing masks who "appeared to be spreading an accelerant" inside the building. Murray said it was clear an accelerant was used, but police are not yet sure what type. Source: AAP / Con Chronis Murray believed the incident — which is thought to be targeted — would have been captured on CCTV and said police were trying to obtain the footage to examine it in the hope it would provide further information. "We are throwing everything at this," he said. He said police had been told one witness had received an injury to his hand, though the extent of the injury was unknown. Fire Rescue Victoria's assistant chief fire officer Brayden Sinnamon said the building was "fully involved" in the fire, and the blaze severity was escalated, with crews using breathing apparatus. Is the war in Gaza hurting social cohesion in Australia? Some say there's a bigger threat 'Clearly aimed at creating fear': Anthony Albanese Earlier, Albanese said antisemitism had "absolutely no place in Australia". "This violence and intimidation and destruction at a place of worship is an outrage," he said in a statement shared on X. "This attack has risked lives and is clearly aimed at creating fear in the community. "This deliberate, unlawful act goes against everything we are as Australians and everything we have worked so hard to build as a nation." Opposition leader Peter Dutton said echoed Albanese's remarks, saying the attack had "no place" in Australia. "That has been a sad and shocking turn of events in Melbourne overnight," Dutton said. Source: AAP / Con Chronis 'Terrible attack' Jewish organisation, the New Israel Fund, said the "terrible attack" could not be tolerated as it welcomed bipartisan condemnation. "We must respond swiftly to ensure that Jewish Australians are protected and continue to feel safe and secure in the multicultural Australia that we all know and cherish," New Israel Fund executive director Michael Chaitow said in a statement. Australian Multicultural Foundation executive director Hass Dellal said antisemitism must not be tolerated and that it would be a "distressing time" for synagogue members and the broader Jewish community. “We are a multicultural and multifaith society where people have the right to practice and express their religion without fear of vilification or violence," Dellal said in a statement. This is not who we are as a multicultural nation." Police have asked anyone who witnessed the incident to come forward with information or dash cam/CCTV footage. The train level crossing at Glen Eira Road was blocked during the incident but has since opened.Jamichael Stillwell scores 22 to lead Milwaukee to 69-65 victory over St. Thomas-Minnesota
Davis scores 15, Southern Illinois knocks off Florida Tech 81-54Not all Thanksgivings are equal. Some we embrace. For others, we have to work harder to find our gratitude. If you fit into the latter category, I hope I can help. I’ll start with a strange analogy. When I was in college taking chemistry, during test time, I would be highly stressed. The subject did not appeal to my strengths. I started each test by writing in the corner “PV=NRT.” It was a small but essential equation that somehow fortified me. I called this my “think small strategy” because five letters and an equal sign anchored me. I found my way and was able to succeed. Between my friends and the Medium platform, where millions of writers share their words, I know many people can’t square today’s politics with gratitude. You don’t have to be in their shoes to understand the feeling, though I don’t agree with suggestions by some to “shut out the family” who, in their minds, voted wrong. Family triumphs over everything, and we should work to listen better and understand more, no matter how foreign the thinking is. And yes, “work” is the word. It’s not easy. If, however, you are considering family secession because gratitude is not within reach, my advice is, “Think small.” Find the moments and experiences in your life that you can embrace — the ones that go way beyond politics — and they can be very small. I’ll share some of mine. Dogs: A big blessing in my family has been two goldendoodles. Four years ago, I anticipated losing our most beloved dog, Nemo. For Thanksgiving, I wrote about anticipating the loss of Nemo’s happy howl. We all cried and welcomed our puppy-in-training, Teddy, to the mix. Growth: The following year, we had COVID. I felt trapped in my home as my husband and I watched seven seasons of Helen Mirren’s “Prime Suspect” series — brilliant but very dark. I also read Jim Rasenberger’s “America 1908,” which explored another challenging time when our nation was soul-searching. On that COVID Thanksgiving, I was irritable but rescued again by thinking small. I considered how COVID made our kids the grownups in the room. They had definitely matured, and now they sometimes give us advice. While we didn’t like being watched over, we were reassured that our future was in good hands. Memories: We’ve weathered back-to-back years of losing our treasured matriarchs. One matriarch was a music teacher and choir leader, and we sang our way toward honoring her memory. The other, my mother, was Curious George with the disposition of a saint. We laughed as we remembered her wanting an iPad so she could finally understand why the Shah of Iran was deposed. Of course, she couldn’t work the iPad, but my son stepped in to give her a history lesson. Last year, I almost skipped writing a Thanksgiving column. The rise in antisemitism and the fear pervading college campuses completely sapped my gratitude. Then came a “simple” gesture that rescued my faith. A group of 100 universities expedited admissions to Jewish students if they were looking to transfer to a safe haven. The coalition was a mix of faith-based, public and private, and historically black colleges and universities. That small gesture meant everything to me; I could write my column by going small. What if politics is stuck in your craw, and you can’t shake your mood? I offer this short answer: Start with the freedoms we are blessed to have and the value of a democracy where people get to vote. Then, proceed to the theme of “comebacks happen.” My final advice: Going small can also mean finding a local unrelated story that is so sweet it warms your heart and picks up your mood. Today’s winner was the story of a 5-year-old boy with autism who recently saved a family next door by waking up his father when, late at night, he noticed a fire burning. The father took action, fire trucks came, and the family and furry friends were saved while the house blazed. There are stories to be found that can make us smile. There are comebacks in the works that can create hope. Gratitude is within reach if we will it. Jill Ebstein is an author and the founder of Sized Right Marketing. She wrote this for InsideSources.com .
Money raised by Bloomerang clients grew 32% from 2023, double the industry average, reinforcing nonprofits using Bloomerang's Giving Platform are better equipped to raise more INDIANAPOLIS , Dec. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Bloomerang , the industry's leading donor, volunteer, and fundraising management platform, processed more than $56 million—a record-breaking amount—during GivingTuesday. Nonprofits using Bloomerang's Giving Platform saw increased giving momentum from 2023 with a 32% increase in overall dollars raised—double the overall nonprofit sector increase of 16%. Human services, animal welfare organizations, and educational institutions raised the largest sums. Bloomerang maintained 100% uptime during GivingTuesday, empowering nonprofit users to send 7.4 million emails to their supporters and pull over 750,000 reports on one of the busiest fundraising days of the year. "Nonprofits using Bloomerang shattered expectations this GivingTuesday, achieving double the growth of the industry average and securing average donation amounts three times higher than their peers. This incredible success demonstrates the undeniable power of technology to drive fundraising outcomes, even amidst economic uncertainty," said Dennis Fois , chief executive officer at Bloomerang. "Our platform delivered for clients when it mattered most—kicking off a promising start to the giving season." The number of donations made via a digital wallet—11,960—more than doubled from 2023, further proving the findings in Bloomerang's 2024 Generational Giving Report that digital wallets are an increasingly expected and common giving method. The average donation grew 10% to $349 , and 2,305 individual recurring donations were made during the day, a 25% increase from 2023, indicating an increasing preference for donors to provide on-going support to their preferred causes. "The GivingTuesday results highlight the incredible impact nonprofits can achieve with the right technology," said Tammy Hammond , chief product officer at Bloomerang. "The broad fundraising capabilities within Bloomerang make it easy for nonprofits to effectively raise more during impactful days, such as GivingTuesday. Our built-for-purpose platform is designed to support the entire donor journey, from building segmented lists to developing engaging donation forms, stewarding relationships following a donation, and beyond. Not only does it make giving easier for donors, but it also empowers nonprofits to forge longlasting, sustained relationships with the communities they serve." Bloomerang clients leveraged a range of giving platform features for their GivingTuesday campaigns such as Bloomerang's AI Content Assistant, Predictive Giving Insights and Dynamic Groups to segment donor outreach, peer-to-peer campaigns, customizable donation forms, text fundraising, and more. Bloomerang's end-to-end giving platform aids nonprofits in capitalizing on team strengths, tapping into the generosity of supporters, and maximizing impact. About Bloomerang : Bloomerang is the complete donor, volunteer, and fundraising management solution that helps nonprofits across the US deliver a better giving experience and create thriving organizations. Combining robust, simple-to-use technology with people-powered support and training, Bloomerang empowers nonprofits to work efficiently, improve their supporter relationships, and raise more. With Bloomerang, nonprofit professionals love their work and have another teammate in the cause. Bloomerang is a trusted and acclaimed partner for nonprofits. For more information about Bloomerang and to see why successful fundraisers recommend the solution to their peers, visit: https://bloomerang.com . SOURCE Bloomerang
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Ashlon Jackson scores career-best 30 points to lead No. 14 Duke past No. 10 Kansas 73-62Kobe Sanders tied a season high with 27 points as Nevada claimed fifth place in the Charleston Classic with a 90-78 victory over Oklahoma State Sunday afternoon in South Carolina. Sanders helped the Wolfpack (6-1) earn a second win following one-possession games against Vanderbilt and VCU. After hitting the decisive 3-pointer with five seconds left in Friday's 64-61 win over VCU, Sanders made 7 of 10 shots, hit three 3s and sank 10 of 13 free throws Sunday. Nick Davidson added 223 points as Nevada led by as many as 19 and shot 58.9 percent. Brandon Love contributed 11 on 5-of-5 shooting as the Wolfpack scored 46 points in the paint and scored at least 85 for the fourth time this season. Marchelus Avery led the Cowboys (4-2) with 15 points and Arturo Dean added 13. Robert Jennings and Abou Ousmane added 11 apiece but leading scorer Bryce Thompson was held to seven points on 1-of-9 shooting as Oklahoma State shot 42 percent and 73.2 percent (30-of-41) at the line. After Avery's 3 forged a 12-12 tie with 13:41 remaining, Nevada gradually gained separation. The Wolfpack took a 24-15 lead on Chuck Bailey's jumper in the paint with 8:28 left but the Cowboys inched back, getting within 33-31 on a dunk by Avery with 4:11 left. Another Bailey jumper staked Nevada to a 40-33 lead by halftime. Nevada began pulling away early in the second half as it scored eight in a row for a 52-40 lead on a basket by Love with 16:44 left. A 3 by Sanders opened a 62-43 lead with 14:06 remaining before Oklahoma State charged back. After Nevada made eight straight shots, the Cowboys countered with 11 straight points and trailed 62-54 with 11:19 left on a 3-pointer by Avery. Thompson made his first basket by sinking a jumper with 10:37 left to get Oklahoma State within 64-56 left, and Keller's triple cut the margin to 70-64 nearly three minutes later. The Cowboys were within 78-72 on a basket by Avery with 3:56 remaining, but he fouled out about a minute later and the Wolfpack outscored Oklahoma State 12-6 the rest of the way as Sanders sank five free throws. --Field Level MediaSpecial report looks at area blighted by anti-social behaviour and a McDonald's restaurant where much of the trouble is claimed to be centred around Residents in a South Liverpool neighbourhood say they are being "terrorised" as gangs of youths "smash cars, burn bins and intimidate people". Just last week, the ECHO reported on a delivery driver, working in Belle Vale , who "didn't leave his house for a week" after experiencing violent racist abuse , while last month, it was also reported on how a police officer in the area was hospitalised after being hit by a firework . Anti-social behaviour in Belle Vale has been going on "for years," claim locals, and youths in the area "rule the roost". Office workers in the area are said to be so scared that they will go for lunch "in packs", while the mum of a teenager who was stabbed to death in the area believes "another tragedy is coming". When the ECHO visited Belle Vale this week, several people were quick to mention the area around McDonald's on Childwall Valley Road, where they claim much of the trouble is centred around. One woman said: "I was walking past the McDonald's one evening last week when fireworks were shot at me. I was terrified." A spokesperson for McDonald's said it is committed to making its restaurants "a safe and welcoming environment for everyone." The spokesperson also added: "We have a zero-tolerance policy for anti-social behaviour, and the safety and security of our employees and customers remains our highest priority." While residents pointed out the area around the fast-food branch as a "hotspot", it's clear that anti-social behaviour is also being committed in other parts of the town. Jackie, who has lived in Belle Vale all her life, said: “Kids were setting bins on fire in the Morrisons the other week. Bus stops and cars have been smashed up too." Another woman the ECHO spoke to called Deborah, added: “Bins are constantly being set on fire in the park. I’m absolutely sick of the kids here and sick of the area. They all need to be given ASBOs.” One man said: “There’s not much around here for kids to do; if there was, we might not have all of this. It’s not just the boys causing trouble either - the girls are just as bad. Some of them are only about 11.” In 2018, 16-year-old Daniel Gee-Jamieson was stabbed to death on The Nook, a park off Belle Vale Road . He bled out following a pre-arranged "straightener". The teenager was unarmed but was stabbed in the leg in front of dozens of onlookers . Prosecutors said 17-year-old Owen Cousins was losing a "fistfight", so he pulled out a lock knife and stabbed Daniel in his left thigh. Liverpool Crown Court heard Daniel shouted "I've been stabbed", before fleeing to Belle Vale Road, where he collapsed in a pool of blood. In 2019, a jury acquitted Cousins of murder but found him guilty of manslaughter, by a majority of 9 to 1, after a 10-day trial and 13 and a half hours of deliberation. He was jailed for 11 years but has since been released on licence after serving half of his standard determinate sentence. Daniel's mum Mandy Jamieson told the ECHO she believes it is only a matter of time before the area falls victim to another tragedy. She said: “It’s coming, isn’t it? It’s got to be. Last time, it was Daniel and Brandon Regan, and for another mother to go through what me and Julie Regan have been through is wrong. You don’t want to walk in my shoes, it’s like living a life sentence." Speaking about anti-social behaviour in Belle Vale, she said: “This has been going on for years. These kids are still ruling the roost and what annoys me more than anything is that the area saw what I went through and parents still aren’t checking their kids." Mandy believes the area around the McDonald's is 'rife' for trouble. She added: "These kids think that they’re untouchable and that they can get away with anything." She also claimed that youths have been "terrorising office workers" in the area. She said: “They’re smashing the office workers’ cars up. I’ve spoken to some of these workers and they can’t even go for their lunch because they get abused and threats shouted at them - they have to go out in a pack. "Who wants to go to work and put up with that? All they want to do is go to work peacefully and not worry about getting their cars smashed." “Whenever I’m doing talks and adults are there, I always say: ‘Parents, do you know where your children are? Do you know who they’re hanging around with and what they’re doing?’ And even more importantly, ‘if you check your children for weapons, you can save another child’s life’. But sometimes, it feels like I’m butting my head against the wall. It should not take a tragedy for them to open their eyes." Mandy thinks the cause of local trouble is boredom. She continued: “I’ve said from day one that these kids are bored and have nothing to do. And all we’re doing is building more and more houses but no community centres or anything like that - nothing for the kids to do. So they then accumulate in gangs and they develop a gang mentality. “We need to bring back youth services - I’ve been saying it for years. The government says they haven’t got the money but they have money for other things. Children are our future and unless we put time and money into our kids, this situation is going to get worse. The Government can fix this but they don’t." She added: “I do feel for the kids, even after what happened with Daniel, because they don’t know any different. Not all kids are bad but they follow suit wherever they go. They need to be shown the right path and realise that they don’t have to hang around with idiots who manipulate you, and get you to do what they can’t do themselves. “We need to stop all of this but parents aren't doing anything. It takes a village to raise a child and our community needs to start standing up to these kids and taking it back." Ruth Bennett is the councillor for Belle Vale ward. She says that anti-social behaviour is committed by a "very small minority" of young people, but she encourages people to report any instances of ASB in the area. She said: “Combating anti-social behaviour in Belle Vale is a priority for the council and the councillors. "We work all year round with our youth groups; Netherley Youth and Community Initiative, the Woodlands Community Centre, St Cyril's Children & Youth Project and the Valley Theatre. They provide really valuable activities for our young people. Around Mischief Night, they put on diversionary tactics as well, to prevent young people from being drawn into any more anti-social behaviour. “We also support a detached youth team from Netherley Youth and Community Initiative, to engage with young people who may be out at night and bring them to the youth organisations. “The scenes we saw on the night around the McDonald’s and the Naylorsfield estate were really disgraceful and we condemn those actions, but it is a very, very small minority of young people. We’re currently working with partners, police and community organisations to develop a specific response to those scenes that we saw around Mischief Night. “We’re also going to be working to listen to residents’ concerns and feed back to the police as well. We want to ask residents to log and report incidents of ASB and they can do that by reporting online to the police, or they can contact us as their councillors as well." She added: "[ASB] was very much an issue around Mischief Night and around Bonfire Night and it has been an issue for the area in the past, and that’s why we work all year round with those youth organisations and really value the work that they do. It has been a long time since we’ve seen scenes like recent events in Belle Vale. “The police are really aware of all the issues and we would ask people to report any instances of ASB so that we can have that knowledge and police can act on those specific events. We are working very closely with the police, McDonald's and the shopping centre to make sure that people are safe. There is also CCTV in that area, which police can use to identify any offenders." Local Policing Inspector Steve Reilly said: “It is vital that we take a partnership approach to problem-solving in areas such as Belle Vale and Netherley, who suffer from anti-social behaviour and other issues. “To that end, we’re working closely alongside McDonalds and Belle Vale Shopping Centre to resolve issues, and identify offenders who we will put before the courts. Longer term, we are meeting with the council and local councillors to put together an ASB partnership meeting, working with local stakeholders including schools, so that we can explore diversionary activities, and where necessary to target offenders. “On 30 October, an officer was injured on Childwall Valley Road when a firework was recklessly fired at him, causing injuries. This was a disgraceful incident and thankfully, the officer in question is now back in work, but this could have had devastating consequences. The incident remains under investigation and we are making enquiries with local schools to identify the offender. “On the night in question, I introduced a Dispersal Zone in the area. Such an order allowed us to disperse groups of youths from the area and prevent further incidents and is a valuable tactic when such issues arise. We’d also encourage parents and guardians to know where your children are at night, and to discourage them from gathering in large numbers on the streets, as this can cause intimidation and distress to people in the area. “We spend a lot of time out in the community with our partners. Earlier this week, our Local Policing Sergeant Sadie Talbot visited Netherley Youth and Community Initiative to see their new building, and to meet with partners in relation to ASB in the area (see photo). Such community centres provide great opportunities for people in the area, including trip, activities, courses, breakfasts and after school clubs, and we’ll keep publicising them as much as we can to ensure residents realise what is out there. There is sometimes a misconception that community centres are a thing of the past, and we want everyone to know what is available. “Our officers and staff are all members of the community themselves, so we understand the impact that incidents of anti-social behaviour cause. Information is vital in our work, so please report any incidents or concerns to us, so we can focus on the right areas. I’d also remind people to always call 999 if a crime is in progress. You can pass any information via our social media desk @MerPolCC on Twitter or Merseyside Police Contact Centre on Facebook . “I’d also encourage residents and business owners in the area to sign up to the Nextdoor app, which is a fantastic new way for our officers and PCSOs to communicate with the communities they serve, from crime alerts, prevention advice and events.” A McDonald's spokesperson said: "We are committed to making our restaurants a safe and welcoming environment for everyone. We have a zero-tolerance policy for anti-social behaviour, and the safety and security of our employees and customers remains our highest priority. The restaurant team is currently exploring different ways we can work with local services to address the wider issue of anti-social behaviour in the area."