TrafPol are your days numbered

[XM5ER]

Emma Reynolds of Manchester Scameraship said:

Guest65097: I have read that it costs £100,000 to operate a camera, would that not be better spent on a traffic policeman? Emma_Reynolds: Under the new National Policing Plan 2004 -2007 road traffic enforcement is excluded from the list of key priorities,so that the police could be freed up for other demands.

Discuss.

[mondeoman]

And there you have the single most important reason why road deaths are on teh increase ... who cares what or how they drive (uninsured, untaxed, un MOT'd, cloned) when the chances of being nabbed have just been reduced to zero ..... Forget speeding, forget DD, BRING BACK TRAFPOL

I know for sure, that for me at least, I'd be a lot more circumspect about my speed if I thought there was a realistic chance of trafpol being about. Cameras? PAH!

[james_j]

It's pretty clear that the government would prefer to automate as much control as possible over our lives.

Naturally, they will tell the BIB that their manpower will be diverted to "other matters", they don't want to disaffect them at this stage. It's only later, once the deed is done, that the true intention will emerge...that of a reduced police force.

[cazzo]

james_j said:

It's pretty clear that the government would prefer to automate as much control as possible over our lives. Naturally, they will tell the BIB that their manpower will be diverted to "other matters", they don't want to disaffect them at this stage. It's only later, once the deed is done, that the true intention will emerge...that of a reduced police force.

A bit O/T but it seems they are trying to do the same with the armed forces, following last weeks announcement about using more high-tech equipment.

Only thing is once we're all replaced by robots then what do we all do?

[streaky]

james_j said:

It's pretty clear that the government would prefer to automate as much control as possible over our lives. Naturally, they will tell the BIB that their manpower will be diverted to "other matters", they don't want to disaffect them at this stage. It's only later, once the deed is done, that the true intention will emerge...that of a reduced police force.

Well, they'll need someone to fight wars once they've eliminated the Forces. Oh, silly of me; the European Army will do that! Oh, silly of me; the Europeans (aka Germany & France) won't fight anyone. Well the evidence of the past 1,000 years is that the French seldom fight, but when they do they lose. The Germans? Well, that's another matter, but they've legislated against war so it's not an issue!

Cynic, moi? - Streaky

[hornet]

XM5ER said:

[quote=Emma Reynolds of Manchester Scameraship ] Emma_Reynolds: Under the new National Policing Plan 2004 -2007 road traffic enforcement is excluded from the list of key priorities,so that the police could be freed up for other demands.

Like catching burglars and reducing gun crime. Oh, wait.....

That is not a slur on the BiB by the way, rather the powers that be. I'd imagine the plod on the front line are as sick of targets and initiatives as the rest of us.

[XM5ER]

Bumped as I would like one of our resident BiB to tell us what this means. Please.

[MoJocvh]

Once the constabluaries(?) are dependant on the income from "automated" traffic control to fund such things as PAY and PENSIONS then the trap will have been well and trully closed. All central gov needs to do then is cut back and "squeeze" them and bingo self funding police forces!!

MoJo.

[spaximus]

I don't think the police will ever be self financing, however the start of the big cuts are already here. As you say the cost of a copper is £100000 per year and that is probably a low estimate. They only have to work for 25 years then index linked pension.
Now the goverment have already said they are introducing motorway wardens, whatever you call them, who will be employed by the highways agency, who will work till they are 70 years old will not get the same pension etc etc. They have also got, in Avon, a band of pretend police officers who look like cops but are not trained to the same standards or have the same powers, but again do not retire after 25 years etc etc. This will become like the traffic wardens who were employed by the police IIRC who are now employed by which ever company/council who is the cheapest.
You will end up with a smaller police force doing only serious crimes, murder etc, and other less demanding jobs being farmed out to companies. It will not be long before companies like the one who runs the congestion charging, are running the speed cameras as well. The overall cost will come down for the real police but they will be involved less and less in our daily lives, but the others will become more involved in getting more money out of us. It is scary but if you look at OCP in Robocop that is the future.