Should the police use Psychics and Mediums during Investigations? Specifically to help find missing persons?

Today I have been mostly talking to what some (quite wrongly) would expect me to refer to as ‘The Enemy’

I got into a discussion which spanned three forums and facebook about whether or not Psychics or Mediums should be used in missing persons cases – specifically a current case of a missing child in America – which made me examine my own feelings on the subject, how I as a mother would feel if it was my little girl who was missing.

No matter who you are, what you do or how you slice it the evidence remains the same. No amount of hope, desperation or any other negative emotion will change the fact that there is no evidence of the existence of spirit.  Okay, so maybe there have been cases of accurate information being received from Psychics in police cases, but just how many letters and phone calls do we not hear about? How many times are the police prevented from pursuing a legitimate lead because the resources they have are being used chasing up a lead provided by a misinformed medium? They are after all human, surely even mediums will admit to getting it wrong sometimes?

Is it better to look for a missing person using proven and scientific methods,  or an unqualified person using an unproven skill to gain unverifiable information from an unknown source?

Even more surprisingly, the mediums and their supporters agreed that the first choice was definitely better, but they agreed that the second could give a lot of comfort.. Granted, but for how long? And..

Doesn’t that just make the whole thing a placebo?

Again.. a resounding agreement.. surprisingly. The general feeling was that a placebo isnt a bad thing, if its used correctly – I wholeheartedly agree that placebos are fantastic, conventional medicine relies on them, as do the majority of alternative medicines and therapies.

Being me I did a little more digging. Apparently the police actually have a register of psychics and mediums who can be called upon to assist in cases – allegedly, don’t know how true that one is because it came from a newspaper website. Problem I have with that is that anyone can call themselves a medium in this country without having to prove their worth, or even be licensed. Hopefully the petition will rectify that one..

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/PsychicTesting/

If you havent signed it already..

So off I wandered, pondering as I went.. got distracted by other conversations, got called closed minded minded again again..

I came back a little later to a  conversation about the Swine Flu epidemic, which is quite scarily getting closer to home. Curious, I asked  ‘If you had to travel to a place where the ‘Flu was virile, would you consult a medium or psychic to find out if you were likely to become infected?’

The answer? a resounding ‘No! I wouldnt dream of it’

It  disturbed me to find that the people who would place the responsibility of helping to find a lost child in a psychics hands would not take the advice of the same psychics when it concerned their own wellbeing.

I didnt need to ask why, the people involved wasted no time in informing me that the advice or information given by psychics is.. well, sometimes inaccurate, and as such shouldnt be taken that seriously – remember, these people are actually mediums.

In this country, its illegal to charge for this possibly inaccurate information unless you say its for entertainment. You can give inaccurate, misleading information you claim is directly from the dead though – thats okay, as long as you give it for free. No matter how sensitive it is.

I went on to ask a medium specifically if she ever had to give information that was  sensitive? how did she deal with it?

She replied that she would withhold information if she thought it would cause heartbreak, and that she only used her gift to bring happiness to others.. Im not condeming her, I like her honesty.

It does pose the question however, as well as the scientific testing for mediums and psychics that we are currently campaigning for, should we also ask that psychics and mediums undergo some kind of counsilling training?

So, I ask again:

Should the police use Psychics and Mediums during Investigations? Specifically to help find missing persons?

I’ll leave you to think about that one..

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/PsychicTesting/

The Petition for Scientific Testing of Mediums and Psychics by Law.

The segments of society today who procure the services of an individual who allegedly ‘communes with the dead’ have a very good reason (in their own mind, at least) for doing so. This reason undoubtedly varies between individuals, but will at least touch on one of the following:

1. Grief. The need for closure after the loss of a loved one. Many people feel the need for one last conversation, or need an answer to a question or maybe even to say things that were left unsaid during their loved ones lifetime.

2. Advice. Psychics are often called on to give advice on all manner of very important issues, including personal, financial matters etc.

There are far too many other reasons to list here, but after making enquiries counseling and advice appear to be the most common.

In 1951, a new Act of Government was brought into Law in the United Kingdom. The aptly named Fraudulent Mediums Act 1951 aimed to curb the multi-million pound psychic and medium industry from taking advantage of, and generally exploiting the naive, the vulnerable and desperate and the grieving. Very few people were brought to justice under this law, and therefore in October 2008 The Fraudulent Mediums Act was abolished, and the industry was then ‘governed’ by the new Consumer Laws.

For the unenlightened, (which again through my own enquiries I have found to be just about everyone in the country, including the officials that are meant to enforce the laws) the part of these laws that actually deals with psychics and mediums is the Unfair Commercial Practices Directives.

Mediums, Psychics, Clairvoyants… Call them what you will, allegedly offer a service for financial gain. For a Medium, Psychic etc to not actually breaking the law they must prove they are really providing the service they claim to be.

I would never claim to be a scientist. I have, however being studying unknown phenomena for over three decades. This does not in any way make me an expert, but does mean I have taken the time to find out a lot of facts. One of the most important facts I have found is that most people who fall into the category of Medium, Psychic etc. claim to speak to the dead. Another Fact I’ve also come across on a regular basis is that in all the years of research into the existence of any part of the psyche, personality, soul etc. AFTER the death of a living organism has come up with absolutely no evidence whatsoever, medically, psychologically or otherwise. This quite obviously means that no person practicing within the realms of psychics, mediums etc can prove they are providing that particular service, and therefore cannot legally charge for it.

There is, however, a loophole, and this loophole is now used extensively throughout the industry. All anyone need do is provide a disclaimer that the service, be it clairvoyance, tarot reading or any other type of psychic or mediumistic activity is actually for entertainment only. This then covers anyone under the current directive to basically say and do whatever they want.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t protect the consumer. As detailed before, the main reasons why people seek the assistance of psychics and mediums are grief and for advice. This means that the consumer in these cases are vulnerable and desperate, and in truth in most cases desperately hoping for a message from a loved one that has passed over. This in itself leaves the medium or psychic in a position of power that is all too easy to exploit.

Apart from the instances of cold and hot reading, and the instances where consumers have actually been researched before given a reading, there is the possibility that accurate information may be given to a consumer during a reading that would suggest that the reader had some means of gaining this information from an unknown source. This however does not rule out the possibility of some form of Extra Sensory Perception coming into play.

Another field where mediums and psychics have found a foothold is the area of paranormal investigation. It seems that the world is awash with unregistered and unmonitored individuals who are free to conduct whatever tests, ‘vigils’, and investigations whenever and however they choose to. Usually the most important source of information or piece of equipment these groups have is their resident psychic, medium or sensitive. The really scary aspect to this is that under present law anyone can gain access to peoples homes, inform them that there is an ‘evil’ presence, a ‘grounded soul’ or even a ‘Demon’ in their homes. Sound far fetched? Then read on…

During my years as an investigator I have come across many horror stories, enough in fact for me to now refer to them as ‘clean up cases’. A case that springs to mind is a public house in South Yorkshire where a medium had claimed that an upstairs cupboard was a ‘portal to the other side’ and ‘negative energy was cascading back into the house’. The medium then claimed to be able to close this ‘portal’ and charged the manager for the ritual. On another occasion, I was contacted by a lady from Rotherham, who having suffered from a variety of serious and very painful gynecological problems for which she had undergone surgery had ended up on strong painkillers and antidepressants. Due to a number of hallucinatory experiences she had, she contacted a medium who claimed the ladies fourteen year old daughter was harboring a demon. I referred her back to her GP, where her medication was altered and up until me losing touch with her last year she was receiving counseling and progressing very well. The case I’m working on currently involves 23 separate alleged paranormal phenomena, one of which is reputed to be a demon. When asked why the client thought there was a demon present, he replied that a mediums face had changed during a ‘trance’, and he had been told that the demon had caused this. He also claims this demon has influenced his moods since then…

I have no evidence to suggest that among the many frauds real mediums don’t exist. What I do know is that within the industry individuals are operating with less than average morals. Giving the vulnerable and naïve false information for financial gain is illegal. Psychologically damaging the already vulnerable and naïve for free is, it would seem, acceptable under current law. We propose a change.

From April 2009, The Petition for Scientific Testing of Mediums and Psychics By Law is available to sign on the British Government Website

http://number10.gov/PsychicTesting/

This petition is also being promoted nationally via the media and websites and similar causes, and calls for government legislation for scientific testing of all individuals who work or refer to themselves as mediums, psychics, healers or spiritualists etc. for financial gain.

The wording of the petition is as follows:

“We the undersigned petition Her Majesties Government to initiate an accreditation scheme for mediums, psychics, healers and other paranormal practitioners, which would determine whether a ‘psychic’ individual truly exhibits abilities unexplainable in terms of current scientific laws.

While the request for such assessment seems both outlandish and Draconian, we ask to raise this petition in recognition that many psychic practitioners charge substantial sums of money for their services to an often vulnerable customer base; most notably the elderly, the bereaved and the seriously ill.

It is noted that the Office of Fair Trading deems false psychic readings to be a major area of fraudulent activity – costing its victims around £140 million per annum…”

Please support this petition. It takes two minutes to sign at http://number10.gov/PsychicTesting/

And as it’s a petition we actively encourage everyone to support it in any way they can, or link to the sites.

More information can be found on the UPIA website or by contacting Dave Sadler, Kirst D’Raven or Steven Mera at the contact details available at www.upia.co.uk

Kirst D’Raven.

Hallowe’en is one of those times of year that you either love or hate – I personally love it, not for its over Americanised trick or treat tradition, its Pagan roots or its rich Celtic history – not even for the rehashed and repeated horrorfest of blood spattered and gore infested pap served up on TV, but because Im lucky enough to be able to get the chance to rip the piss out of the barmpots who call into the radio phone in which we have been taking part for the last two years on Hallam, Viking and Aire FMs ‘Confessional’ Show with Ian and Vix.

Hallowe’en is a pretty dire time for serious paranormal investigators. The press misrepresenting and twisting your comments regarding local phenomena, and you can barely step out of the front door without tripping over some no mark paranormal tourism company, hell bent on relieving the unsuspecting public of their hard earned in return for ‘Pay-Per-Boo’  ‘Vigils’ in ‘Haunted’ locations…

This year however, I was lucky. The press have been quite happy to print mine and UPIAs comments very faithfully, and as I mentioned before Ian and Vix know not to expect any woo-woo from us, and quite like the fact that we offer the rational side of paranormal investigation. Unfortunately that hasnt been the case for some of the other, more influential outlets. I am talking of course about Most Haunted Live.

I cant watch it – Ive tried. I seem to suffer some kind of allergic reaction characterised by a shocked pallor, uncontrollable arm movements, Tourrettes like symptoms and an overwhelming feeling of sickness at the mere thought of watching it, but millions still do, and millions are still being mislead that this is actually what paranormal investigation is all about.

I have however tried to keep abreast of what they have been up to down in Denbighshire, partly because Im a nosey cow, and partly because one of the first texts that came into Hallam Fm on the 30th was asking if the person, someone called Tracey I believe, who had just appeared on MHL claiming to be the leader of UPIA North Wales was in any way associated with UPIA.

The resounding answer (which I actually managed without swearing live across the UK airwaves) was of course ‘Is she heck as like!! UPIA are a serious investigation and reasearch group, not a mockery of a sham of an untruth!!’

This little incident did however draw my attention to some of the other reports of the shenanigans going down in deepest Wales, and for once, instead of being amused and slightly pissed off by the inane rambling of mediums, unproductive investigation technique and downright pisspoor acting skills of the crew and cast, I found myself deeply disturbed and horrified.

Firstly, the fact that the whole week long debacle had been subtitled ‘Village of the Damned’ cant have done anything for the areas street cred. Apparently it refers to the dubious, and probably unproven legend that witches practiced satanism in the area and it is now cursed. Three points should be made here:

1. Witches? by witches do we mean the people who were persecuted and executed as witches during the Witchtrials, when anyone who was classed as an ousider, was old, deformed, ugly, had a cat, a wart or a basic knowledge of the medicinal properties of herbs or refused to give up their beliefs in the ‘old religion’ was prime target for a quick prod and torture session?

2. Witches that practise Satanism? Surely witches practice Witchcraft? You know – like Pagans practice Paganism, Christians practice Christianity? Satanists practice Satanism?

3. One of the most important facts you find when studying any area of the Occult or Magic is just how difficult it is to find real information. Theres a reason for this. Its Secret. Theres also a reason why its secret. The Church doesnt approve. Thus, anyone who knows anything about the occult, Satanism, Magic etc also knows that if any form of practice, celebration or whatever had been performed in that area then nobody would know about it. Ever.

4. Curses. I like curses, they are interesting, but then Im interested in psychology as a whole. The interesting thing about curses is they only work if you believe in them. Thats because its a psychological thing. If you can make a person believe they are going to die, certain physiological factors come into play which could actually cause death – but only if the person BELIEVES. Now, lets apply this to a place as opposed to a person… err.. doesnt work, does it? The pace cant believe in the curse, the place is not a sentient being.

So, since we have that out of the way, and discovered that logically theres really no reason to believe that any activity of a paranormal nature is likely to occur there – or from what I can gather has even been reported there, at least not that could be associated with any occult practices, what next?

Ah yes, the Asylum..

Its a sad fact that in this day and age people do still fear mental illness – for obvious reasons, of course, we wouldnt want it to happen to ourselves or our loved ones, much in the same way we wouldnt want to be afflicted with cancer, pain or even an ingrowing toenail. What I find even sadder is the stigma which is still attached to psychiatric patients and their families. The ignorant attitude of some individuals that all psychiatric patients are dangerous, and must be restrained with medication, appliances or padded cells. The Selfish and heartless attitude that mental illness is something that we should be ashamed of, that our sick, chemically imbalanced, depressed fellows should be hidden away and not spoken of… this is 2008. This is not the age of Bedlam. Victoria is no longer on the Throne.

I must admit that through the media and education, society has gradually become more tolerant, and the Victorian attitude somewhat less apparent these days. People who as little as fifty years ago would have been ushered out of the eyesight of others are now accepted freely among us – and rightly so too! Illness is nothing to be ashamed of, being different is not a crime.

So why in these enlightened times were Most Haunted allowed to show footage of people in straitjackets, in padded cells, rocking in corners? And did I not read somewhere that one of the experiments conducted featured members of the crew in similar circumstances?

Just for this one stupid, insensitive, heartless act this programme should be removed from the listings.

I read somewhere a statement from Antix productions (who make MHL) that their approach to filming the investigation at the asylum would be ‘sympathetic and sensitive to the feelings of the families of patients and the patients themselves, past and present’ or words to that effect. Hmmmm… Maybe there was a typo there, maybe they meant ‘pathetic and insensitive’. Denbigh closed in 1997, I think its safe to say that there are still people who will have been offended by those scenes.

The other irrational, irrelevant and irresponsible acts included over the seven days the programme was on air are kind of pale in comparison to this, but I’ll include them anyway.

1. Invoking Satan, using the Satanic Bible – presumably the one readily available and written by Anton LaVey? – I actually own the book, cant remember it saying how to do that, although its a long time since I read it. And did I hear that the ‘protection’ used while this invocation was performed was a circle of salt? Just in case the Devil hates salt? Surely the Devil is pure evil, wouldnt think a little salt would bother him..

2. Performing ‘Voodoo’ rituals using a poppet or likeness into which pins were inserted to cause pain to, in this case, the teams “medium”. Im told the medium actually had to be told where the pins were being inserted too, which is a bit disconcerting as I would have expected any medium who was worth his special most haunted devil repelling salt to have somehow ‘Known’ (said in a spooky voice) one way or another..

3. Performing Seances. Seances arent actually used as part of serious paranormal research, neither are tabletilting, ouija boards, mediums.. in fact any means of gaining information that doesnt have at least some scientific or logical evidence to back it up. This kind of Victorian pastime is usually used by people who are hoping to provide entertainment to the masses.

4. Exorcism. Im still looking into the actual ins and outs of this one. An exorcism is a religious rite which can only be performed by an ordained and trained priest. The rite must be sanctioned by the bishop of the diocese, and is only ever used as a last resort, and is considered a placebo. The person performing the exorcism must have exhausted all other ways – medical, psychological, environmental etc – to resolve the problems being experienced.

However..

Recent research and experimentation by UPIA has revealed that there are ways and means one can implicate to become regarded as an exorcist, and if one was so inclined possibly make some cash out of it – which is quite disturbing.

All in all, the whole thing seems to have proved to be a shambles from start to finish. Local councils are up in arms.. traders in fear of their livelyhood.. disgruntled residents horrified – not to mention the horrendous way the patients and families have been portrayed and the ancient beliefs and religions of many people made a mockery of – all this AND shown at such a time and glorified in such ways to actively encourage people – particularly the young and unstable – to go wandering around derilict buildings recreating this drivel! I say the young and unstable because to be frank you’d have to be to believe it in the first place.

Personally, If I were involved with Most Haunted I’d give up the Ghost, so to speak. At the very least public apologies should be made for their irresponsible attitude, their insensitivity, their wrongful portrayal of investigative procedure and religious ritual. Not to mention for the damage they are doing to the field of paranormal investigation as a whole. This is without the obvious mention of the fact that from now on, a warning should be broadcast throughout the programme, informing viewers that this programme should be viewed for what it really is – Entertainment Only, and pretty dire entertainment at that..

Still, I had a pretty good Hallowe’en, as a whole

I have not viewed this programme for a number of years, due to the highly dubious content of the show, so my opinion maybe slightly biased. This aside, due to the locallity of the programme, and my associations with local venues, I felt I should watch given the knowledge of the appalling standards set by Most Haunted.

A week of stupidity greeted my eyes, refraining from hurling my hand control at the TV, but still I watched agape.

The use of seances and Ouija boards, as well as the pre watershed content, to me in the digital age encouraged wanna be experts and children to hang around dangerous, disused buildings at night.

The use of Voodoo dolls, witchcraft and raising the devil using a satanic bible ( which no satanist has ever done)as well as other occult matter in mine and others eyes, has made a mockery of ancient religions in many areas.

So to the hospital, and mustn’t the families of those ex patients viewing be overjoyed with the shows practices. Using religious rights in an area where in the past, the reports of paranormal activity, has only been related to the building, in no way witches, this an area of mythology and folklore, but now giving the town of Denbigh a stigmata it will not soon relinquish. Yes tourism may be boosted, but on the evidence of a fraudulant TV programme, earning a lot of money out of the towns good people and name.

Already groups of Most Haunted chasing wannabees are splashed all over the internet to pay them money to visit Denbighs locations.

Consumer laws state ‘ You cannot charge for a service you can not prove you are performin’ Therefore these profiteering people and mediums which travel in their wake are breaking laws which are being overlooked.

And my personnal favourite. An Exorcist…..

An exorcism to clear evil influences, again consumer laws, and misleading the public comes into play.

An exorcism is a religious blessing which can only be performed by an ordained priest, who has specific permission from the diocese bishop. This permission is generally given as a last resort after counsilling, psychiatric and medical approaches have failed to achieve any change in a case. This generally works as a placebo. At presentthe catholic church has 13 ordained exorcists, controlled by the Vatican. 3 Protestant (exorcists) deliverance ministers and since the 1600′s no orthadox ministers. Therefore Who was the exorcist, why was he paraded as such, and why have most haunted stooped to these levels?

The UPIA are currently undertaking an experiment to see how quickly and what procedures are in place to become a recognised exorcist, outside of reality.

Overall I feel sorry for those misled by Most Haunted, Upset by its content and its continued forays into faked and fraudulent practices, and the fan base it has created. Especially my and other UPIA members thoughts go out to residents of the town, and family and friends of the hospitals former patients.

Regards

Dave Sadler
www.upia.co.uk

Made me giggle a bit, actually..

well no it didnt, it made me squirm.

Just to get you up to spec, yesterdays Sunday Life programme featured a brief article about the current UFO flap – well, why not? even This Morning did a bit didnt they? everybody seems to be jumping on the bandwagon.. or saucer..

Firstly, Id like to point out that I do know a little about UFOlogy – Not like you’d call me a Trekkie or anything, but I have studied the subject, seen a few cases and its also a major part of the Paranormal Investigators course I hold a qualification in. I also know personally quite a few full blown, hatwearing UFOlogists, one of whom predicted the UFO flap ages before its advent, and even went as far as to submit his predictions to the media, sadly to no avail because the media still seem to favour the barmpots view..

So, since I was up and I do have to at least show a little interest in the subject, and since it was Sunday Life, which surely meant an above average, unbiased report I dutifully blew the dust from the remote control, and got my daughter to show me how to turn the TV on.

The first thing that struck me was the fact that the editor had decided to add background music to the article. Why do the media always do this? No one deemed it neccessary to read the recent story of the couple in court for faking the fellas death to the haunting theme of ’I am sailing’, so why feel the need to accompany anything paranormal related with ‘appropriate’ spooky music? 

So, as I whistled along to the theme from ‘The X Files’, I began to wonder why I had bothered at all. Firstly, we were treated to some spectacular footage of.. well, two stars actually while the witness, a lady from Leeds who recorded the footage on her mobile phone wittered excitedly in the background about how ‘They’ kept visiting her. Cut to the ladies sister, who said ‘ We thought she was drunk’ (??) ‘I told her to get herself a coffee and go to bed’.. Oh, I love a credible witness..

Next, a UFOlogist from Yorkshire, who spoke in detail about a case on Ilkley Moor which involved the actual photo of an alien!! Really famous case – you must’ve heard of it? NO? me neither – and I live a stones throw from Ilkley Moor AND have an interest in local UFOlogy.

Next up, Mr Nick Pope, dragged from his very busy schedule of having his say on everything from Channel 5s ‘Britains Closest Encounters’ to absolutely any newsaper or television report he can possibly stick his  opinion on – this guy would turn up if you dropped a Jaffa Cake, and would have it classified and be calling for a government investigation before it hit the ground, he really is a top man in his field. So Mr Pope discussed various topics of UFOlogical interest, dont know what they were because I had to go and let the dog back in so I missed most of his contribution, but he did say he believed there were other life forms out there.

Reading through this, you may have noticed a common theme – all these so called experts and witnesses are self confessed believers in extraterrestrial intelligence. Do we not think this could be interprated as a little biased?

The last person to be interviewed was David Clarke, a lecturer from Hallam Uni in Sheffield, author and avid UFOlogist. Dr Clarke put a completely unbiased view out there, commenting that the only thing that would make him believe in UFO’s would be recovered wreckage that had been studied by the Worlds top scientists and found to be without a doubt not of this Earth. He also pointed out the tendency of the press to sensationalise paranormal reports in the papers – a fact that really irks all serious researchers and investigators.

The report wound up by cutting back to the other three interviewees. The lady from Leeds informing us all that she would be ready when ‘They’ came back, the Ufologist – who incidentally was Bahr’t ‘At at Ilkley Moor – who stressed that visitors from other worlds were very real.

I cant remember all Nick Popes exact words, but they were somethin along the lines of ‘ Yes, I believe theres something out there, there is far too much evidence to say there isnt, but no real proof..’

Heres a direct quote from the Queens English English Dictionary:

Evidence n an outward sign; proof, testimony, esp matter submitted in court to determine the truth of alleged facts. *vt to demonstrate clearly; to give proof of or evidence for.

So, what exactly does this mean? Do we believe the ex MOD official with a long background of UFOlogy who doesnt know his evidence from proof, or that they are actually the same thing? Do I need to call directory Enquiries for Will Smiths number, just in case?

Ive got to say, the programme left me cold, much in the same way as pictures of ‘orbs’ make me sneeze, or Most Haunted makes me gag.

Surely, there are more investigators and UFOlogists out there who could give an unbiased view? Or at least have a fair balance of witness/believer/ sceptic.

Needless to say the D’Raven TV set will remain untouched until such a time as the editors, producers.. whoever it is that ‘does the do’ at least attempt to portray Ufology, Paranormal Investigation and all its associated subjects with less sensationalism, more dignity and a little more respect.

Especially if your a no mark, untrained, saddo, most haunted wannabe or an orb chasing, mist picture displaying barmpot, who runs around pretending to be a paranormal investigator or a medium or some such drivel, charging unsuspecting members of the public to attend ‘invos’ or ‘vigewals’or whatever you call them, where everybody sits around a table pushing a glass, or a planchette, or wobbling the table and claiming the ghost of great uncle Albert is actually causing the movement – thus causing the very few surviving real serious investigators not to be taken seriously..

And while we are on the subject – question for the media? why do you always print the barmpot reports and not contact real researchers to give an accurate opinion??? stop filling the publics mind with crap and start reporting some bloody sensible explainations! okay – deep breath..

The reason for my rant? or inane ramblings as some may perceive this little essay.. Ive just being updating the paranormal news section of the sypr forum, and yet again what do I find?? go on.. I’ll give you three guesses.. okay, I’ll just tell you. A load of crap, thats what I find..

Dont get me wrong here.

South Yorkshire (which is where I come from, incidentally) is absolutely jammed to bursting with the type of “paranormal Investigation” groups that partake of the activities listed above, it had absolutely no para related news whatsoever, slightly surprising considering the recent UFO flap.

But some of the other stories.. jeez..

Take for example, the recent photograph taken by some para group at a battlefield somewhere – supposed to be a ghost soldier? looks more like a light shining through a hedge to me..

I believe there were three seperate groups charging members of the public for ‘ghosthunting nights’ – this really bites my er.. well.. What are the public actually paying for here? no, thats a serious question – if you know can you let me know? As far as I can see, the venues they were meant to be investigating actually had no real evidence of being haunted anyway – how do I know?

Because there IS no real evidence that anywhere is haunted.

You have to apply logic here… centuries of scientific research has failed to come up with anything at all to prove that anything lives on after the earthly body dies, so how can anyone truly say they have evidence of a haunt? well, they can’t, can they?

And the UFO reports? caused by the release of MOD files, (Very cleverly predicted by my best mate Dave Sadler, who is a proper paranormal investigator, and who actually said there would be a flap as soon as he heard the files were being released) The release of these files brought people out of the woodwork to either a, report their sightings cos they feel more comfortable reporting them now everybody else is or b, make up sightings to report because they saw a UFO related report on the news..  (seem far fetched? sadly not, Im afraid. Ive been actively investigating the paranormal for eight years now, and I can guarantee that if certain films – Poltergeist, Sixth Sense etc. are shown on tv, we’ll get at least one report of someone witnessing similar phenomena..)

But lets delve a little further..

Have you ever noticed, if you watch the popular tv series, or read the papers just how these investigations are conducted?

Typical scenario: Group of people sit around a table, one of them usually calls themself a medium. Everyone puts their hands on a table / glass / planchette if they are using a ouija board and they call out for ‘any spirits in the room to make themselves known.’ 

Point one. If I was a spirit Id be sat in a corner laughing my head off at this point.

At this, something generally happens. Either the glass, table or planchette moves.

Point two. If I was a spirit, I wouldnt move anything.. Id still be laughing me head off at all these weirdos sat around a table concentrating.

Point three. Something I have noticed here is just how many spelling mistakes there are if the group are using a ouija board.. especially if everyones got their eyes shut.. hmm..

After a few moments of the ‘medium’ giving some long, drawn out account of someone (who no one else can actually see) birth, life and usually violent end..

Point four. This account usually takes one of two forms, either its easily looked up on the Internet or you cant find records of the person they are waffling on about.

..then everyone goes home and looks at their photos that they took on the night.

Which brings me nicely to ‘Orbs’

Im not even going to try to explain, Ill just let you look at the false positives section at www.sypr.co.uk and let you make your own mind up, but just for your information – I took all the photos on there, so Im either right when I say they are caused by natural means, or Im in control of the spirits.. which Im not..

And anyway, orbs can be another rant for another day…