Do you think the UK police are wasting their time?

Question

Nicking small time kids instead of going after "real" criminals?

After all it seems to me that it doesn´t matter sort of crime you commit in England, you don´t get the hard punishment you deserve, therefore small time stuff will increase as there is no real deterrent. This leads to bigger crimes.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/itn/20080825/tuk-government-too-quick-to-criminalise-dba1618.html

Answer 1

Going after "real" criminals in this day and age amounts to career suicide.

They have that kind of power, unfortunately.

edit; sadly, it's getting to the point in which we are actually being forced to fight fire with fire.

Answer 2

"The best way to avoid a criminal record is not to break the law. The law-abiding majority want to see crimes dealt with effectively and Fixed Penalty Notices and cautions are part of this process.

"They allow police to deal swiftly with low-level offending, freeing them up to spend more time on frontline duties and more time investigating violent, dangerous and serious offences."

That's the way!

"Small time kids" as you call them grow up into Big-time crims if they are allowed to get away with it!

Answer 3

they are wasting their time because they have no back up in the courts, that's were the problem lies there's no proper sentencing, lots of villains walk free giving the police the V sign. It is good when the solicitors are provided free off charge to the criminal element.(good old taxpayers)

Answer 4

I have very little faith in the Police - they do seem very interested in getting easy results.

Woud be interesting to hear from Police Officers on how they feel about the spiralling gang and knife cultures.

I don't see things getting better and with the recession zooming in at a frightening rate, my feelings are not good about the state of law and order in the UK

Answer 5

Why what do you want them to do? Just let the scumbags get away with it? THAT will lead to bigger crimes becasue they know nothing will happen.

The whole thing is a mess. You could murder somebody and rob a bank on the same day in this country, with the safety of knowing you'll never do your whole life in prison. Bring back the death penalty is what I say.

Answer 6

Yes, half the time Police waste there time about some crimes, but crime is crime.

btw- the law protects the crimminals. lol

it all in who you know and blow in the court and legal system . lesson in life.

Answer 7

Interesting question, with no obvious answer.

I am a serving, frontline officer in the UK. I used to get annoyed at having to chase government targets on a monthly basis in order to keep my job. Now I just accept it and continue. Too many people blame the police and do not understand the real reasons the police do what they do. Thanks to legislation like the NCRS (national crime recording standards), if a crime is reported to an officer and the officer believes on the balance of probabilities that the accusation is true, then the officer has to report it. Example.... A 12 year old child pushes another 12 year old over and that child gets a cut hand. Result.....A crime report of assault. It is almost impossible for an officer to treat these types of jobs without having to officially report the crime because an offence has been committed. We no longer have the power of discretion(thanks Labour), the proper way to deal with this type of situation, and many others like it, is to record the crime, arrest the offender. Then take the offender to a station (under arrest), then let the legal process begin its long haul of paperwork with the ultimate possibility of the child getting a criminal record for something as silly as a schoolyard scuffle.

There are many other factors that need to be considered in the way the police are run. Some of these need to stop now and change for the better. Some of the changes would need to be.....

A proper promotion process whereby constables with good al round knowledge and ability get forwarded for promotion instead of the current situation where a constable can, after 2 years, pass an exam and put on some stripes!

Give back officer the power of discretion.

Abolish stop an account paperwork.

Look at the NCRS standards and allow officers to scrap jobs at source without having to resort to lengthy report writing.

Give officers the Taser.

Give officers better vehicles, instead of woefully rubbish Vauxhall corsa's etc.

Provide dedicated 24hr prisoner processing teams, this will allow an officer to get back on the beat faster.

The list is endless.

Have a star

Answer 8

The police are doing a good job,it is the w@nkers at the CPS,and the dogooders.that are wasting the police time allowing these criminals to go free even with a good case against them.

Answer 9

'Real criminals'

Define...

Answer 10

The police are not wasting their time. They are doing their job. If someone makes a complaint about a criminal offence we have to investigate it. If it is something trivial or very minor then we will do our best to offer words of advice rather than arrest.

To fully investigate something takes a lot of time. Complainant Statement (1 hour), Witness statements (1 hour each), arrest (1 hour), pre interview paperwork (30 minutes), interview (30 minutes), post interview paperwork (1 hour), charging decision (1-5 hours) then a file (1 hour to a whole shift for a full file). Total of 6 - 21 hours work.

With the amount of time it can take you can see why the police would not simply arrest "small time kids" out of choice. Words of advice save time for everyone involved. We don't enjoy giving kids criminal records. Police officers are real people under the uniform and a lot of cops have kids themselves who may not be little angels.

BUT if people complain we have to deal with it. Don't knock the police, knock the people who insist on "small time" matters being dealt with by arrest.

Answer 11

Minor crimes can be just as devastating for the victims as major ones. I agree that the punishment in this country is far to lenient. This is down to the government and the do gooders. The Police are doing their best with the limited resources that they have and there is far to much red tape and paperwork.

Answer 12

The Police Forces need to be reorganised and supported better. At the present Time it is Fragmented . PCSOs should be abolished in favour of Fully trained Police . The force should be encouraged towards bonding as a Team . The Idea that there has to be Muslim Association abhors me as this is Religion. What next?  A Christian or Hindoo or Buddhist or Jewish etc . When a Black Police Association began I reluctantly accepted the fact that at least its membership could be Muslim,Christian or Sikh etc. Now its a particular  Religion ? It creates divisions and distrust . The Force should work as a Team.It could be a reason for alienating Public opinion.