Police resource allocation

[blademan]

It is becoming increasingly obvious from the many posts here, both from PH'ers and our resident BiB, that the Police resources are being focussed away from the crimes which have the most profound effect on peoples lives,such as burglary, mugging, rape etc,and towards the crimes which are the current most politically correct to be seen dealt with, such as speeding, traffic "offences", mobile phone use whilst driving, alleged racism etc etc. May I ask you all, particularly BiB (Streetcop, you can use the words "in my personal opinion of course, and not those of the Police service in general") what you think are the crimes which should receive the Police's more immediate attention, ideally in ascending order. Although I understand that this may be a difficult question to answer honestly, I think we would all be interested in your replies. Responses from fellow PH'ers will be interesting too. Together they will provide the BiB with a guage of public opinion as to what we think the Police should be focussing on if only their hands were not tied. TBH I think they will probably know already Hope this question has been phrased politically correct enough

[Tonyrec]

Seeing as this is a Petrolheads Forum then i believe that its only natural that its based around the Motorist and Driving related issues.
Ive got many friends who work on Burglary Squads, Robbery Squads, Anti-Terrorism etc and they do a fantastic job....get lots of good results but it never reaches the News front the same as motoring misdameaners.In fact, due to the sensitive nature of the work nobody gets to hear about it.Theres not really a forum for them to ply their trade and get the message accross.

The public only hear what they are told or from their own experience.

Someone said to me many years ago that being a Policeman is like wetting yourself with black trousers on. You get a nice warm feeling inside but at the end of the day, nobody really notices.

So true.

[blademan]

Tonyrec said:

Seeing as this is a Petrolheads Forum then i believe that its only natural that its based around the Motorist and Driving related issues. Ive got many friends who work on Burglary Squads, Robbery Squads, Anti-Terrorism etc and they do a fantastic job....get lots of good results but it never reaches the News front the same as motoring misdameaners.In fact, due to the sensitive nature of the work nobody gets to hear about it.Theres not really a forum for them to ply their trade and get the message accross. The public only hear what they are told or from their own experience. Someone said to me many years ago that being a Policeman is like wetting yourself with black trousers on. You get a nice warm feeling inside but at the end of the day, nobody really notices. So true.

message received and understood Tonyrec

[Streetcop]

I'll tell you what people are bothered about; (not in any order)

1) Nuisance youths...drinking, causing damage, noisy

2) speeding cars, boy racers

3) car crime, theft from cars mainly

People aren't really concerned about muggings, raping or burglars....(apart from when they are getting a ticket in the back of a police car)

Street

[turbobloke]

Streetcop said:

I'll tell you what people are bothered about; (not in any order) 1) Nuisance youths...drinking, causing damage, noisy 2) speeding cars, boy racers 3) car crime, theft from cars mainly People aren't really concerned about muggings, raping or burglars....(apart from when they are getting a ticket in the back of a police car) Street

Not so, there have been many on-line polls like this one from Dorset, can send the saved web page as this just looks like I typed it in:

OPINION POLL RESULTS
The priorities for the police so far (in order of importance).
Tackling Youth Crime
Drug Related Crime
Tackling violent crime
Working with other agencies to improve community safety
Responding to emergency calls
Tackling burglary of peoples homes
Tackling motor vehicle crime
Policing ethnic communities
Promote and improve road safety
Improved service to victims of crime.

So apart from social work, look what came last.

[danhay]

I witnessed today an example of top quality policing.

I work in a building opposite the Brighton Centre, and when I went out for lunch I witnessed a mass migration of Pro and Anti Hunt protestors attempting to congregate in the area. There was a distinct feeling of "it's going to kick off" but thanks to good strategic management by the Police, there was relatively little trouble.

They prevented a build up of opposing protestors on the seafront, while still allowing a legitimate demonstration to pass in front of the venue.

It's just a shame that the rest of the time when the Prime Minister is not present that the area is notorious for violent and drink related crime. I appreciate it's not the fault of the Police as they are clearly under resourced (except when TBlair is in town!)

[Streetcop]

turbobloke said:

Streetcop said: I'll tell you what people are bothered about; (not in any order) 1) Nuisance youths...drinking, causing damage, noisy 2) speeding cars, boy racers 3) car crime, theft from cars mainly People aren't really concerned about muggings, raping or burglars....(apart from when they are getting a ticket in the back of a police car) Street Not so, there have been many on-line polls

While I'm not saying what you've writted is wrong...polls are polls...

I'm writing about what I get called to and what messages I get on the station answerphone and word back from residents meetings etc etc

Street

[towman]

Streetcop said:

I'm writing about what I get called to and what messages I get on the station answerphone and word back from residents meetings etc etc Street

I appreciate that, but rapes and muggings generally happen to "other people". Therefore people quite letimately see "nuisance crimes" as something which has a direct effect on their quality of life.

Steve