I've bleated on about crime and punishment before and as I sit here again tonight I realise that my spleen once again needs venting.

The data released this week revealing that police drivers have killed more 'innocent' civilians is hot news. What concerns me is not so much the data but the shallow response, the spin and the pussy footing around that we're seeing from politicians and the media.

The report by the Police Complaints Authority shows that deaths from pursuits have risen to 44 in 2001 compared with just 9 in 1997/8. The Authority makes many recommendations, many of which are sensible. Or are they?

Blame

The PCA is succumbing to the modern malaise for creating frameworks in which no one is allowed to take any initiative. They recommend that police cars without sirens or flashing lights shouldn't take part in pursuits. Why not? Police drivers are trained to drive at speed and anticipate the actions of other motorists. Sirens help but they don't alter the rules by which a driver will conduct himself. Sadly it's just the "Where there's blame there's a claim" culture that we're now subjected to via a media onslaught of greedy ambulance chasers and lazy journalists.

They go on to recommend that police control rooms should manage chases. No longer can the man on the ground in full view of the situation be granted the trust to make decisions in the heat of the moment.

Then we get to the crux of the matter. From the BBC website:

"A spokesman for the PCA said the deaths were mostly of those in the vehicles being chased, but sometimes also involved innocent passing drivers or bystanders. Most were on quiet or almost deserted roads, often on 30mph roads in towns, and many took place on Saturday and Sunday nights."

Yes, innocent motorists and bystanders are being killed as a result of these incidents - which of course is horrific - but the majority of those dying are those being chased. Whilst I'm not advocating that this is any sort of natural justice (or perhaps I am) it highlights the topsy-turvy and gut wrenchingly, namby-pamby society that we now tolerate in the UK.

Turn the Tables

Why aren't we more concerned that the police are having to chase more villains? Why aren't we concerned that the policemen's lives are in danger as they carry out their duty and attempt to protect society? Why are we concerned that those evading the law, blighting society and costing the tax payer millions are getting killed? They're the ones putting everyone's lives at risk, not the police. Perhaps we should be teaching joyriders and bank robbers advanced driving techniques and give them flashing lights, sirens and police outriders.

The police are having a hard enough time as it us currently with the Government using them as pawns in an attack on motorists. It's about time the media offered them some support. Problems with the policing of this country aren't the down to 'inefficiencies' within the police. It's not down to the management structure, the proportion of ethnic minorities in our forces nor the fact that policemen can now be a mere 5 foot 5. The blame is fairly and squarely at the feet of the scumbags who commit crime and make a mockery of our justice system. Blunkett seems blind to this fact.