Locksmithing and Security

If you’ve read the local locksmiths page of the main site, you’ll have read the little rant there about traders and call centres who flood the internet with sites claiming to be local locksmiths. Of course they’re not. They won’t get to in any reasonable time; in fact they won’t get to you at all; they’ll sub the job out to the nearest botcher on their books.

If you actually want a local trader, you’re better off doing a little checking–on the number for example. If it’s not a London number (or your local area code) then they’re not a local locksmith. If there’s only a mobile number, then check the fax number. Check the coverage claimed. If it’s every postcode in London and the home counties, for example, then they’re not your local locksmith. If they haven’t provided a geographic address on their website, then they’re flouting the Electronic Trading law.

This extra little rant was because I just spotted a “Clapham Locksmith” web site that does give a geographic address, but it’s in North London in Muswell Hill! Now that’s the other side of London from Clapham; and London is quite a big city.

“The man on the Clapham omnibus” is one of those interesting legal phrases, along with “a reasonable man” and a “man of good character”. In the UK in the early 20th century, Clapham — where I happen to live and work — represented “ordinary” London, and a user of its public transport was a hypothetical someone against whom reasonable behaviour and expectations might be judged.

(Since then Clapham suffered a gradual decline and then a rapid boom in the yuppie years.)

“(Wo)Man of good character” is a phrase whereby the barristers and judges in a courtroom in the UK (and Canada?) can tell the jury that a witness or defendant doesn’t have a criminal record, or is a lying low-life who shouldn’t be believed, without actually mentioning a criminal record. The mad thing is that the judge can actually explain this to the jury.