How effective are the Police?
Poll: How effective are the Police?
Total Members Polled: 103
Discussion
MODS PLEASE DON'T MOVE TO SP&L AS IT WILL SKEW THE ANSWERS.
I was listening to news quiz during my daily dog walk, and one of guests launched into a diatribe about how crap the police are in general and that their ineffectiveness would not be tolerated in any other government agency - one of the examples given was that a WPC refused to take some prints from a burglary because it would mean she would have had to stand on a chair, which was dangerous. At the time I was quite annoyed at what he was saying (thinking it an unfair criticism), but then he asked the question.
"How many of you have been burgled/robbed/assaulted and the police NEVER found the culprit or your stuff"
I have to say, that in the two burglaries and one attempted car theft I've been subjected to, my answer was never.
It got me wondering what other peoples experiences are compared to the official detection rates.
I was listening to news quiz during my daily dog walk, and one of guests launched into a diatribe about how crap the police are in general and that their ineffectiveness would not be tolerated in any other government agency - one of the examples given was that a WPC refused to take some prints from a burglary because it would mean she would have had to stand on a chair, which was dangerous. At the time I was quite annoyed at what he was saying (thinking it an unfair criticism), but then he asked the question.
"How many of you have been burgled/robbed/assaulted and the police NEVER found the culprit or your stuff"
I have to say, that in the two burglaries and one attempted car theft I've been subjected to, my answer was never.
It got me wondering what other peoples experiences are compared to the official detection rates.
Edited by rhinochopig on Thursday 15th October 11:39
Well, my garage was broken into.
It took me four days of hassle just to get plod to come out. I had some lovely footprints and some even better fingerprints saved for them on items in the garage. Police decided they didn't need those. I haven't heard since, but as it's only been four years I can't blame them (nor have I had any replies to my letters to them asking WTF is going on).
It took me four days of hassle just to get plod to come out. I had some lovely footprints and some even better fingerprints saved for them on items in the garage. Police decided they didn't need those. I haven't heard since, but as it's only been four years I can't blame them (nor have I had any replies to my letters to them asking WTF is going on).
I came home from work one lunchtime to find a hole in my front door, they hadn't got in but I phoned the police anyway. Turned out the scrote managed to get into 3 other houses in the street but was apprehended in the 4th. The scene of crime officer was round within an hour (after she'd finished at the other houses), CID arrived about an hour after that and I received a phone call about a week later saying that the guy they caught had been to court and was sentenced to 18 months. 
Very impressed with the way the whole thing was handled and how I was kept informed. What I wasn't impressed with was the idiots down at my local branch of a well known building supply firm when I went to purchase a bit of wood to board the door up with... but that's another story!
Very impressed with the way the whole thing was handled and how I was kept informed. What I wasn't impressed with was the idiots down at my local branch of a well known building supply firm when I went to purchase a bit of wood to board the door up with... but that's another story!
Edited by spitfire-ian on Thursday 15th October 11:45
Parents house broken into twice whilst I was at college a few years ago. The first time no-one was found or even questioned even with fingerprints.
The second time I got home just in time to see him bounce over the back fence, I knew of this lad, local scum bag. I gave the police names, addresses rough age etc. Nothing happened, I still see him around these days, always gives me a knowing cheeky smile and I feel like ripping his head off every time
.
Around a year ago the back window got put through on my MR2 on my drive and obviously dinted the engine cover. I was in when this happened along with a few mates, we saw a load of young lads (16-18) sprint past the lounge window after we heard the bang. I know it sounds like vigilante and looking back it was wrong, But we caught 2 lads and rang the police.( 1 of the lads confessed) The plod told us to let them go as we couldn't do it. The police said they would be straight round to have a look and take statements etc. They Never turned up. No contact even to this day. We must have rang 3 times that night. Not impressed.
Although I'm sure the police do a great job in other areas. Just not in my experience.
The second time I got home just in time to see him bounce over the back fence, I knew of this lad, local scum bag. I gave the police names, addresses rough age etc. Nothing happened, I still see him around these days, always gives me a knowing cheeky smile and I feel like ripping his head off every time
. Around a year ago the back window got put through on my MR2 on my drive and obviously dinted the engine cover. I was in when this happened along with a few mates, we saw a load of young lads (16-18) sprint past the lounge window after we heard the bang. I know it sounds like vigilante and looking back it was wrong, But we caught 2 lads and rang the police.( 1 of the lads confessed) The plod told us to let them go as we couldn't do it. The police said they would be straight round to have a look and take statements etc. They Never turned up. No contact even to this day. We must have rang 3 times that night. Not impressed.
Although I'm sure the police do a great job in other areas. Just not in my experience.
Edited by Devilstreak on Thursday 15th October 11:53
Sisters landrover was stolen from outside her house...
Later on that week unique and identifyable parts turned up on ebay...
Police did nothing...
Apparently they knew who it was and were building a case to search his property..
Two months later they went to his house (where the photos of my sisters stuff had clearly been taken), and found nothing...
So he got let off scott free...
Later on that week unique and identifyable parts turned up on ebay...
Police did nothing...
Apparently they knew who it was and were building a case to search his property..
Two months later they went to his house (where the photos of my sisters stuff had clearly been taken), and found nothing...
So he got let off scott free...
A couple I made deliveries to in Hereford had people break into their home, they called the police (whilst the intruders were stil there) and were told someone would be with them within 48 hours to take a statement and to just hide and not intervene.
Police never bothered turning up at all and the thieves were luckily scared off by their neighbour who turned up to do some "clay-pigeon shooting"
Our house was broken into 3 days after we moved in, called the police as there was blood on the broken glass and fingers prints on the windowsill, they never came and simply gave a reference number.
They've been pretty good at harassing me for having a sports car though and making up laws to try and scare me
Police never bothered turning up at all and the thieves were luckily scared off by their neighbour who turned up to do some "clay-pigeon shooting"
Our house was broken into 3 days after we moved in, called the police as there was blood on the broken glass and fingers prints on the windowsill, they never came and simply gave a reference number.
They've been pretty good at harassing me for having a sports car though and making up laws to try and scare me
Edited by Monki on Thursday 15th October 12:00
Personally, never. Cars damaged and the usual low grade stuff has never been solved, or indeed investigated as far as I know. Nobody came round to look at anything or take prints etc. Excellent service in delivering the crime number and "you have been a victim of crime, how can we help" type leaflets.
Mothers car was stolen when I were a wee nipper, and involved in three armed robberies. They caught him and he went down for a bit...
Mothers car was stolen when I were a wee nipper, and involved in three armed robberies. They caught him and he went down for a bit...
Jasandjules said:
Well, my garage was broken into.
It took me four days of hassle just to get plod to come out. I had some lovely footprints and some even better fingerprints saved for them on items in the garage. Police decided they didn't need those. I haven't heard since, but as it's only been four years I can't blame them (nor have I had any replies to my letters to them asking WTF is going on).
I suppose if you get stopped by the police for any reason while in your car, it's a good opportunity to ask them. It took me four days of hassle just to get plod to come out. I had some lovely footprints and some even better fingerprints saved for them on items in the garage. Police decided they didn't need those. I haven't heard since, but as it's only been four years I can't blame them (nor have I had any replies to my letters to them asking WTF is going on).
I had the front bumper stolen off of my M3.
I reported it and they did speak to my neighbors but no one had seen anything so it stopped there, not really a great deal else they could do
A friends car was vandalized and they refused to watch the CCTV from the shop over the road, which I thought was a bit slack.
I reported it and they did speak to my neighbors but no one had seen anything so it stopped there, not really a great deal else they could do
A friends car was vandalized and they refused to watch the CCTV from the shop over the road, which I thought was a bit slack.
Munter said:
There are simply not enough of them to be effective. So I don't blame the actual coppers. But the people who decided the current numbers were enough.
I think as well, the CPS and magistrates have a lot to answer for, my car got broken into and all my car audio was nicked (this was about 5 years ago), BiB turned up then sent a lady to fingerprint my car (Soco?), no real prints and BiB said not much chance of solvingDid some investigation of my own into local hoodrats and kept getting the same name, spoke to BiB who suddenly sparked up a bit and went and searched the house of said scummer, sure enough, my sub, amp and headunit found in his wardrobe, along with a whole load of other items
Went to court expecting him to be sent down as he had been caught many times before, he coughed to like 20 other burglarys before court and as such was given a suspended sentence and community service, the BiB seemed to be as annoyed as I was, especially as he smiled at me on the way out of court, I then had to live in the area knowing he was still about...
The fact that the Police had to keep my property until the Court case and then subsequently lost it somehow is a different matter
My old house got broken into, they took my housmates tv, stereo and other electrical goods. She rang the police who turned up a week later asking about said burglary. Pointless!
Unless I need a crime number or have just witnessed a murder or something I'm very reluctant to ring the police.
Unless I need a crime number or have just witnessed a murder or something I'm very reluctant to ring the police.
Technonotice said:
Unless I need a crime number or have just witnessed a murder or something I'm very reluctant to ring the police.
D'oh!This is why we don't have enough police. Report everything and it'll become clear in the statistics that theres a lot of crime going on thats not being delt with. Et voila number crunchers realise we need more police.
If we cover up the crime who's to know it exists...
Munter said:
Technonotice said:
Unless I need a crime number or have just witnessed a murder or something I'm very reluctant to ring the police.
D'oh!This is why we don't have enough police. Report everything and it'll become clear in the statistics that theres a lot of crime going on thats not being delt with. Et voila number crunchers realise we need more police.
If we cover up the crime who's to know it exists...
Technonotice said:
Munter said:
Technonotice said:
Unless I need a crime number or have just witnessed a murder or something I'm very reluctant to ring the police.
D'oh!This is why we don't have enough police. Report everything and it'll become clear in the statistics that theres a lot of crime going on thats not being delt with. Et voila number crunchers realise we need more police.
If we cover up the crime who's to know it exists...
heads in charge will not change a thing.Not quite something that the Police can 'solve' but I and my wife are currently being targeted by someone (we know who). Its a particularly nasty spiteful crime targeting our cars and has been ongoing for 6 months.
Its still going on even now and has currently cost me over £200 in criminal damage, but the Police currently have sent a letter to everyone in the street. Like I said, not expecting CID and 24 hour undercover support, but as of next week it will be 7 months worth of targeting and seriously don't know what we can do.
Solved? Nah, not around here.
On a separate note - anyone know anything about CCTV systems? Recommended suppliers for a home?
Its still going on even now and has currently cost me over £200 in criminal damage, but the Police currently have sent a letter to everyone in the street. Like I said, not expecting CID and 24 hour undercover support, but as of next week it will be 7 months worth of targeting and seriously don't know what we can do.
Solved? Nah, not around here.
On a separate note - anyone know anything about CCTV systems? Recommended suppliers for a home?
My flat in edinburgh got broken into.
Phoned the police, 2 of them turned up withing a couple of hours. Noted what was gone and then accussed me of being a drug dealer. Several hours later those 2 horrible specimens left and I fully expected never to see or hear anything again.
But supprisingly some very nice forensic people turned up later, finger prints and boot marks from the door all duly taken.
2 weeks later someone visited and told me they knew who had stolen my stuff and he was already awaiting sentencing for other crimes, but that it was very unlikely i'd ever get my stuff back(the chap was a smack head who'd sold all my stuff in the pub for buttons).
I think the police try to do a very difficult job and I never expect them to retrieve anything for anyone. Its just a shame that so many of them are such collossal dheads, but then I suppose the nature of the job attracts people with complexs.
Phoned the police, 2 of them turned up withing a couple of hours. Noted what was gone and then accussed me of being a drug dealer. Several hours later those 2 horrible specimens left and I fully expected never to see or hear anything again.
But supprisingly some very nice forensic people turned up later, finger prints and boot marks from the door all duly taken.
2 weeks later someone visited and told me they knew who had stolen my stuff and he was already awaiting sentencing for other crimes, but that it was very unlikely i'd ever get my stuff back(the chap was a smack head who'd sold all my stuff in the pub for buttons).
I think the police try to do a very difficult job and I never expect them to retrieve anything for anyone. Its just a shame that so many of them are such collossal d
heads, but then I suppose the nature of the job attracts people with complexs.Edited by threesixty on Thursday 15th October 13:27
Munter said:
Technonotice said:
Munter said:
Technonotice said:
Unless I need a crime number or have just witnessed a murder or something I'm very reluctant to ring the police.
D'oh!This is why we don't have enough police. Report everything and it'll become clear in the statistics that theres a lot of crime going on thats not being delt with. Et voila number crunchers realise we need more police.
If we cover up the crime who's to know it exists...
heads in charge will not change a thing.http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-237...
'A black youth worker today criticised the police for damaging race relations after he was handcuffed and detained for watching a stop-and-search.'
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