Police scared of robbers or H & S officials
Discussion
I read yesterday of an armoured van robbery at a sub-post office. Sawn-off shotguns produced. Husband throws bags of cash over glass barrier and the post-mistress activates alarm whilst lying on the ground; robbers left. 999 called. Later, another 999 call is made.
15 minutes later, no police: ambulance arrives. 20 minutes later, still no police though a police van drives by without stopping.
Some time later a plain-clothes cop arrives as he had heard the shout on his radio. He radioed control to say the perps had left and within seconds, two vans full of cops arrive.
When asked why it took so long to respond, they said they had been waiting two streets away until they were sure the robbers had gone. Their inspector said the health and safety of his officers was his prime concern. No mention of the health and safety of the victims.
No doubt they were waiting for an armed response unit. For over half an hour??
After an official complaint, the victims were invited to the police station to watch a video on health and safety. They declined……..
So, it looks like "armed robber" is quite a good career move.
15 minutes later, no police: ambulance arrives. 20 minutes later, still no police though a police van drives by without stopping.
Some time later a plain-clothes cop arrives as he had heard the shout on his radio. He radioed control to say the perps had left and within seconds, two vans full of cops arrive.
When asked why it took so long to respond, they said they had been waiting two streets away until they were sure the robbers had gone. Their inspector said the health and safety of his officers was his prime concern. No mention of the health and safety of the victims.
No doubt they were waiting for an armed response unit. For over half an hour??
After an official complaint, the victims were invited to the police station to watch a video on health and safety. They declined……..
So, it looks like "armed robber" is quite a good career move.
What would unarmed officers be able to do against armed robbers.
cause the robbers to panic and barricade themselves inside the post office creating a hostage situation and putting those inside the post office in even greater danger.
get shot at and possibly injured or killed.
panic the robbers in to shooting someone in the post office.
The robbers created the situation. At the point they got their guns out in the post office, the cops could do nothing without endangering those within the post office.
By letting the robbers leave the post office, those within are safe. The unarmed officers are also safe.
Did the report happen to suggest a mini-army of armed officers was waiting to take-out the crims once they were on the move or on safer ground?????
cause the robbers to panic and barricade themselves inside the post office creating a hostage situation and putting those inside the post office in even greater danger. get shot at and possibly injured or killed. panic the robbers in to shooting someone in the post office. The robbers created the situation. At the point they got their guns out in the post office, the cops could do nothing without endangering those within the post office.
By letting the robbers leave the post office, those within are safe. The unarmed officers are also safe.
Did the report happen to suggest a mini-army of armed officers was waiting to take-out the crims once they were on the move or on safer ground?????
swilly said:
What would unarmed officers be able to do against armed robbers.
The robbers created the situation. At the point they got their guns out in the post office, the cops could do nothing without endangering those within the post office.
By letting the robbers leave the post office, those within are safe. The unarmed officers are also safe.
Did the report happen to suggest a mini-army of armed officers was waiting to take-out the crims once they were on the move or on safer ground?????
Have you been reading the ACPO firearms manual?
You should be a Silver commander Swilly (top marks)
deeen said:
All good points. So why were there no armed BIB waiting outside for them?
Because unless there is a tip off that is going to happen (which does not happen very often with reliable information), it will be down to the nearest ARV to attend.
By the time information has come through the system to control room and an ARV has been dispatched the time delay will be at least 3 or 4 minutes.
How long does it take to rob a post Office?
If the ARV happens to be in the same street, they may stand a chance.
No ARV will take on this situation alone unless they happen to come across it. They are not allowed to without the approval of the Silver commander.
The real facts of the matter are that it takes seconds to rob a post office and escape, perhaps less than a minute.
The offenders have usually gone a long way by the time the Police are informed!
Tafia said:
No doubt they were waiting for an armed response unit. For over half an hour??
Bit unfair without knowing the full details.....
If in central London, Manchester, Nottingham or Liverpool yes.....
If in the middle of the Scottish Highlands....
imo anybody who uses a firearm to perpetrate a crime,(even a dummy block of wood) should be banged up a minimum of 25 years, no excuses, no parole......
Well I don't agree with arming all police. But Gone, your 3 / 4 minutes seems to have turned into over half an hour here. Surely in that time they could at least have found something (car, bike, helicopter) to track the getaway vehicle?
Maybe they did... there is not enough information here to get the whole picture, I guess.
Maybe they did... there is not enough information here to get the whole picture, I guess.
kevinday said:
time to arm all of the police .
I thought about this and have come to the conclusion that this is not a good idea, the escalation from criminal types (who do not seem to have a problem getting illegal firearms) would create more risk.
there is no escalation, the bad guys have them already... its time to catch up....
swilly said:
What would unarmed officers be able to do against armed robbers.
The robbers created the situation. At the point they got their guns out in the post office, the cops could do nothing without endangering those within the post office.
Seems to me the post office occupants were already in great danger and two vans full of policemen left them to it.
What about the sound of distant sirens to allow the perps to escape without barricading themselves in?
gone said:
All good points. So why were there no armed BIB waiting outside for them?
Because unless there is a tip off that is going to happen (which does not happen very often with reliable information), it will be down to the nearest ARV to attend.
By the time information has come through the system to control room and an ARV has been dispatched the time delay will be at least 3 or 4 minutes.
How long does it take to rob a post Office?
Report said the police didn't show up for over 20 minutes!
Wacky Racer said:
No doubt they were waiting for an armed response unit. For over half an hour??
Bit unfair without knowing the full details.....
If in central London, Manchester, Nottingham or Liverpool yes.....
If in the middle of the Scottish Highlands....
imo anybody who uses a firearm to perpetrate a crime,(even a dummy block of wood) should be banged up a minimum of 25 years, no excuses, no parole......
Incident was in Bury, Manchester.
ca092003 said:
This strikes me as similar to the people who are members of the TA who then refuse to serve their country when they are needed.
The role of the police is to deal with crime. Or am I missing something?
Send the local unarmed plod into the Post Office to be wasted by some scumbag who panics. Strange attitude. Like people who watch the news and hear of another of our soldiers killed in Iraq and say "well that's his job isn't it"?
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