Do the police actually DO anything?

[zcacogp]

Chaps,

Inflammatory title, I know, but I'm currently being (once again) annoyed by the way my local police deal with crime in my area.

Story goes like this.

We had a friend from Malaysia staying for a couple of weeks.

While he was here, he was mugged while walking back to our house. He is a smallish chap, and was approached by two much bigger chaps who asked the time. He told them the time, whereupon they grabbed him punched him in the head and tried to steal his rucksack. It was dusk, early evening, in a residential area.

He may be small but he has a loud voice and runs fast. He ran very quickly back to our house, we heard him coming and opened the door, and he ran in. Two people in the house got a good look at his attackers, as did Robin (guy being mugged).

I called the police. Police arrived within minutes. They took Robin on a tour of the local area. Two culprits are spotted at a bus stop. Robin points them out to police. Police ask whether he is 100% sure. He is. Police drive 'round again to see whether Robin spots them again. Robin does. Police get two other officers to arrest the culprits. Culprits are taken to local police station and questioned.

So, pretty clear-cut you may think. Crime happened, culprits arrested. Nothing left to know or see.

Robin goes back to Malaysia.

5 weeks later (yesterday), local police write to Robin (at our address, as this was his address while in the UK.)

Letter says (and I quote) "In respect of the above crime report this letter is to inform you that at this stage the suspect has been given a Formal Warning. Investigations are still ongoing." Signed by a Police Community Support Officer, from the "Victim Focus Unit".

Why a "Formal Warning", and is this anything more than the telling-off it sounds? What 'investigations' are there left to do? The crime has happened. There is nothing left to know, or investigate. It's not like there is a long trail that a detective can follow, or a load of evidence to examine. It's as simple as it looks. What more can be done? What is there left to say or do? Why have the culprits not been charged?

Are the police really doing as little as they appear to? And how much does it cost a "Victim Focus Unit" to run per year?

Am I disgusted?


Oli.

[mckln335]

The way the pigs police this country is absolutely criminal IMO

[lazyitus]

IMO, they are generally a shabbily run organisation that wear fancy dress.

[smilerbaker]

I'll just point you to this

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

So no, it appears not

[_Batty_]

yes but think of all the paperwork an arrest would warrant, and then you have to think all the jails are already full.....

[Hollywood Wheels]

Man is 'mugged'. Police arrive within minutes, take details from victim, and catch the suspects red handed. They arrest suspects and take statements. CPS are then consulted and won't charge.

So the Police 'do nothing'?

Another pointless rant by someone who has no idea at all about how our Police and legal system work, or the political chains that bind them...

[Nick P]

mckln335 said:

The way the pigs police this country is absolutely criminal IMO

a harsh and childish statement IMO.

[silversun]

Hollywood Wheels said:

Man is 'mugged'. Police arrive within minutes, take details from victim, and catch the suspects red handed. They arrest suspects and take statements. CPS are then consulted and won't charge.

So the Police 'do nothing'?

Another pointless rant by someone who has no idea at all about how our Police and legal system work, or the political chains that bind them...

Yes, especially as the letter states the investigation is ongoing. What was the OP expecting? Instant execution of suspects?

Saying the Police have "done nothing" is misleading and untrue as far as I can see.

[Simpo Two]

Hollywood Wheels said:

So the Police 'do nothing'?

Well for a 'formal warning' - gosh oo-er - they may as well not exist and save us some council tax. Not their fault as you say, but an incredibly expensive way of saying 'naughty boy'.

It's a pity the 'politcal chains that bind them' don't seem to apply to motoring offences, when you cna be fined for eating an apple.

[zcacogp]

Hollywood Wheels said:

Man is 'mugged'. Police arrive within minutes, take details from victim, and catch the suspects red handed. They arrest suspects and take statements. CPS are then consulted and won't charge.

So the Police 'do nothing'?

Another pointless rant by someone who has no idea at all about how our Police and legal system work, or the political chains that bind them...

HW - those points are well made, and the police are to be praised for this. (I was genuinely surprised and impressed by the speed of response.) Credit where credit is due.

However, this is somewhat rendered pointless by the events further down the chain. What is the point in swiftly responding and catching the culprits if nothing further happens to them? (Note, before you jump on this as well, I don't know that nothing further is going to happen, but it is very much the impression that I get.)

Robin's comments after the incident was "See Oli, your taxpayers' dollars are being well spent. Very well spent."

My immediate response was "I bet you that nothing further comes of it, and the muggers will end up scot free, unpunished."

I fear that future events will prove me correct.


Oli.

[silversun]

mckln335 said:

The way the pigs police this country is absolutely criminal IMO

Would you prefer the kind of policing seen in some third world countries then?

[zcacogp]

Simpo Two said:

It's a pity the 'politcal chains that bind them' don't seem to apply to motoring offences, when you cna be fined for eating an apple.

Simpo Two, while I wholeheartedly agree, I was kind of hoping that this discussion wouldn't run down this track. Such complaints are rife on here (and very well justified), but I would rather keep this one 'on track.'


Oli.

[kiwisr]

silversun said:

mckln335 said:

The way the pigs police this country is absolutely criminal IMO

Would you prefer the kind of policing seen in some third world countries then?

In many respects yes.

[silversun]

kiwisr said:

silversun said:

mckln335 said:

The way the pigs police this country is absolutely criminal IMO

Would you prefer the kind of policing seen in some third world countries then?

In many respects yes.

Seriously?

[maxrider]

Hollywood Wheels said:

Man is 'mugged'. Police arrive within minutes, take details from victim, and catch the suspects red handed. They arrest suspects and take statements. CPS are then consulted and won't charge.

So the Police 'do nothing'?

Another pointless rant by someone who has no idea at all about how our Police and legal system work, or the political chains that bind them...

Why won't the CPS charge? Let me guess, 'lack of evidence'?

I could do with a few quid extra, can I try this too, it seems quite easy looking in from the 'outside', hell I could even take a kitchen knife with me to intimidate further, that seems to be the done thing now, in the highly unlikely event I do get caught wonder what'll happen?

This is NOT an anti-police comment, just a bewildered-by-the-whole-stupid-system comment

[zcacogp]

silversun said:

Would you prefer the kind of policing seen in some third world countries then?

Like, perhaps, the last time I was in Nepal (country of my birth), where I was attacked in not dissimilar circumstances and had a number of possessions stolen.

Report made to the police within 40 minutes of the attack. Good description of the attacker given, along with description of items stolen.

Policeman arrives at the door of the place I was staying later that day, saying that they went to the home of the man I described, one of the items stolen was found in his possession, the man was immediately taken into custody.

Upon 'questioning', he revealed the identity of the person who he had sold the other items to, who was also visited, items recovered, and that man taken into custody.

All items returned to me within 10 hours of the incident, along with a personal apology from the police that the incident had happened at all.

Perp and 'fence' arrested and 'questioned'.

I am told they both went to jail.

So, would I rather we had third-wold policing? Emphatically, yes.


Oli.

Edited by zcacogp on Thursday 30th August 11:49

[Hollywood Wheels]

Oli, cheers for the response, and I apologise for my initial 'dig'. My point was, the Police DID do something, rather alot actually. To get a response from Officers within minutes in this day and age is excellent, wouldn't you agree? What I'm saying is that it WON'T have been the Police who make those charging decisions. Perhaps the formal warning went to the kid who didn't strike your friend, and the ongoing investigation is regarding the actual main offender?

I'm afraid that after years of constant criticism the great british public is now getting the policing it deserves. People can't have it both ways. Give Police proper powers and control over their own charging policies, and stop the daily-mail sensationalism, massively exaggerating minor stories.

All we ever read about is the tiny minority of screw-ups by Police, we never hear of the thousands of heroic stories and hard work being carried out every day....

[Vesuvius 996]

zcacogp said:

silversun said:

Would you prefer the kind of policing seen in some third world countries then?

Like, perhaps, the last time I was in Nepal (country of my birth), where I was attacked in not dissimilar circumstances and had a number of possessions stolen.

Report made to the police within 40 minutes of the attack. Good description of the attacker given, along with description of items stolen.

Policeman arrives at the door of the place I was staying later that day, saying that they went to the home of the man I described, one of the items stolen was found in his possession, the man was immediately taken into custody.

Upon 'questioning', he revealed the identity of the person who he had sold the other items to, who was also visited, items recovered, and that man taken into custody.

All items returned to me within 10 hours of the incident, along with a personal apology from the police that the incident had happened at all.

Perp and 'fence' arrested and 'questioned'.

I am told they both went to jail.

So, would I rather we had third-wold policing? Emphatically, yes.


Oli.

Edited by zcacogp on Thursday 30th August 11:49

Good result.


On a slightly related topic, I bought some car wash mitts last week. Proper lambswool ones. Four of them. Put them in the communal garage downstairs at my flat where I park my car.

Went away for a few days, came back, and two of them had gone.

Anyway, this morning, one of the residents of the block was downstairs washing his Vectra. With a very familiar looking wash mitt.

I am currently working out what revenge to dish out. Current thinking is posting a massive turd in an envlope into his letter box.

Any other suggestions?

[kiwisr]

silversun said:

kiwisr said:

silversun said:

mckln335 said:

The way the pigs police this country is absolutely criminal IMO

Would you prefer the kind of policing seen in some third world countries then?

In many respects yes.

Seriously?

Having had experience of police forces in a few developing countries (3rd world is not really PC, nor relevant since the demise of the communist bloc) they have many benefits.

Now I'm not talking African nations where many of the police are used as political tools by despots to act as "stormtroopers" to execute and torture people, I'm talking about much of the type of policing done in Asia.

A lot of the police forces are very much more aware of the local goings-on, are not hamstrung by paperwork and silly laws. And victims carry all the rights while the prisoners generally have none.

PS : And before anyone bleats on about innocent people being stitched up it just doesn't generally happen. The only real problems I've seen have been around corruption and the ability to buy your way out of prosecution, although in many cases this has to be with the approval of the victim or victims family.

Edited by kiwisr on Thursday 30th August 12:01

[silversun]

zcacogp said:

So, would I rather we had third-wold policing? Emphatically, yes.

OK, well, while I'm pleased that Nepal has such a good clear up rate with regard to crime, I don't believe this is the case in many other countries so I'd hesitate to demand the kind of policing in those places.

Anyhoo, I've gone OT and I don't want to derail the topic so
I think I'll leave it there.