BiB a "minor irritant" ... says Leicestershire DCC
Discussion
thisislondon.co.uk said:
A senior officer said today that he fears the police have become a "minor irritant" and "almost an irrelevance" to criminal gangs.
David Lindley, deputy chief constable of Leicestershire Police, said his force has to "dip in and out" of investigations, while a shortage of police officers means that fewer arrests are being made.
His comments were made in an interview with a local news paper and published today.
They are timed to coincide with a meeting of Leicestershire Police Authority tomorrow.
The authority is expected to vote on whether to increase the force's council tax precept by as much as 16.45 per cent.
Mr Lindley said to the Leicester Mercury: "We have mapped out the extent of serious and organised crime and we are now in the teens for the number of violent gangs.
"We are not talking about a few kids squaring up to each other - these are people for whom violence is a part of their criminality.
"I do not want to give names because I do not want to give these people the 'street credibility' they want.
"We are dipping in and out of these investigations instead of sticking with it all the way through, so we are always reacting instead of getting ahead of these people.
"These are the bad guys and they are falling out with each other for commercial, criminal reasons.
"It might just be criminals involved with other criminals but we have to get involved. My fear is that, to these people, the police are a minor irritant to their criminal activities, almost an irrelevance.
"I don't mind using those phrases because I hope they will have some impact in the community. The line we have always taken is that we are determined not to end up like Nottingham did.
"We vigorously investigate these incidents, even though we rarely get any co-operation from the 'aggrieved'."
"It's great we are seeing the economic revival of the city centre but that is at risk if violent, organised crime and gun crime take hold."
He added: "I was the one who said to colleagues that the cracks were starting to appear.
"We have seen a reduction in the number of arrests, not because our officers are less productive, but simply because there are fewer of them."
David Lindley, deputy chief constable of Leicestershire Police, said his force has to "dip in and out" of investigations, while a shortage of police officers means that fewer arrests are being made.
His comments were made in an interview with a local news paper and published today.
They are timed to coincide with a meeting of Leicestershire Police Authority tomorrow.
The authority is expected to vote on whether to increase the force's council tax precept by as much as 16.45 per cent.
Mr Lindley said to the Leicester Mercury: "We have mapped out the extent of serious and organised crime and we are now in the teens for the number of violent gangs.
"We are not talking about a few kids squaring up to each other - these are people for whom violence is a part of their criminality.
"I do not want to give names because I do not want to give these people the 'street credibility' they want.
"We are dipping in and out of these investigations instead of sticking with it all the way through, so we are always reacting instead of getting ahead of these people.
"These are the bad guys and they are falling out with each other for commercial, criminal reasons.
"It might just be criminals involved with other criminals but we have to get involved. My fear is that, to these people, the police are a minor irritant to their criminal activities, almost an irrelevance.
"I don't mind using those phrases because I hope they will have some impact in the community. The line we have always taken is that we are determined not to end up like Nottingham did.
"We vigorously investigate these incidents, even though we rarely get any co-operation from the 'aggrieved'."
"It's great we are seeing the economic revival of the city centre but that is at risk if violent, organised crime and gun crime take hold."
He added: "I was the one who said to colleagues that the cracks were starting to appear.
"We have seen a reduction in the number of arrests, not because our officers are less productive, but simply because there are fewer of them."
voyds9 said:
streaky said:
And here was me thinking he was saying it because it's true - Streaky
It may well be true, but will he spend the extra funding chasing these career criminals or spend it chasing the generally law abiding masses.Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff