Government wats us to intervene?

Question

Jacqui Smith wants people to intervene when they see a crime occuring, how about hiring more real police to do the job, Has this government lost control of the country

Answer 1

What we need is more, many more police patrolling the streets, not members of the public doing their job for them.

Considering that criminals have more rights than the victim in this country, what are the chances of that member of the public who intervenes getting arrested and charged?

Answer 2

Yes, of course I will intervene if I saw a crime being committed - I really fancy the thought that I may get stabbed myself/beaten up/sued because I hurt the offender or whatever other nasty that may befall me if I did! Is this woman serious??

Wonder what she would do if confronted with the situation?

Answer 3

I'll assume from the arrogance of not stating your country in your question that you can only think we will automatically know you're talking about the U.S.

Answer 4

Bad idea to intervene actually. There have been cases of burglars suing the home owner when they fell of his roof.

Answer 5

I think it is right to ask people to intervene. The cut backs in the police over the years has only reflected our voting patterns in that we often vote in those who will save us money.

It is unreasonable to expect a police officer to be on every street, (this is the only way that crime would be deterred by a police presence) as the cost would be astronomical. More efficient and cost effective ways of policing the streets have been developed over the years and one of these is CCTV. Nevertheless, many complain about this as an intrusion on our privacy. If there were enough police officers on the street to deter crime, would this not be seen as an intrusion of privacy? Whilst I admit that CCTV could often be used to much better effect, it has become fairly acceptable.

The local Police Authority raises about 1/4 of it's budget through Council tax, yet we complain when it is too high. If we wanted more police on the streets, we should be willing to pay for them. In the meantime, we have to live with the system we have. If there is a crime going on in front of you, would you let it happen? If you did, does this not mean you are therefore an accomplice if you do nothing?

Answer 6

I get bad press - but even i wouldn't suggest they are encouraging us; they are merely stating we have a right to defend ourselves - which should always have been the case.

Answer 7

I think I'll pass on intervening; I quite like my intestines in one piece.

Answer 8

Please excuse me for throwing my American 2 cents in. If you are a member of a society any society then you have a responsibility to help maintain that society. It is your responsibility to intervene as much as possible consistent with your personal and sociatial safety when possible. No amount of government can do the job if its citizens are totally passive. If you as British or we as Americans do not step up to enforce both custom and law then our nations are done for and might as well be consigned to the scrap heaps of history today!

Answer 9

Jacqui Smith is plain nuts.  I'm a pensioner aged 67 and there ain't no way I'm gonna mess with some teen goon holding a ten inch blade in my face.

Get lost.

Call the fuzz - it's their job. . . .

Answer 10

They must think we're all idiots. Who in their right mind would step in as a "have a go hero" in this day and age.

Besides the obvious you'd probably get a knife shoved in your belly, even if you lived to tell the tale, the local plod would be straight around to arrest you. It's their immediate response to any member of the public who tries to intervene or even tries to defend themselves when they are being attacked.

Answer 11

When was the right to protect once self and property taken away from the people to be given to the police that show up only after the fact ? The people are the country and government . All the rest are crooked thugs .

Answer 12

I assume Ms. Smith has a bodyguard assigned to her or is always surrounded by people for her to feel invulnerable.  I agree we need more police to do the job in areas that are high risk.  I do not believe that this Government has lost control of the country but I do believe that in our attempt to be so politically correct we have allowed the offender to successfully sue victims etc., etc.

I also believe that it was detrimental to remove the local bobby and his police house from the community as these police officers had a feel for their area and knew the people who were troublemakers and where he had support.  Local knowledge is invaluable.

Answer 13

The quickest way to get arrested in the UK is to stop a criminal pusuing his trade , after all you are interfering with his human rights to rob or maim you .

Answer 14

Yes!  I'm struggling to pay £140 a month council tax, like a lot of people, and we should be seeing results.  I'd like to see Ms Smith intervene if there was a crime occurring in front of her!  These politicians are deluded and don't live in the real world.  The other week around the corner from me an 82 year old lady was stabbed to death in her own home. Years ago it would have shocked the nation but now it's just another knife crime.  We need a "real" person who knows what it's like to live amongst this crime to run the country, not a bunch of "think they know it all's".  The trouble is these criminals aren't afraid to go to prison because it's not a hard life inside these days and some actually enjoy it!.  Take away ALL privileges I say and if you kill someone life should mean life whatever your age.

Answer 15

And when you intervene, the criminal presses charges against you.  Jacqui Smith needs to allow people to arm themselves against criminals, end the pathetic handgun ban, and allow people to kill if it is justified.  It is always better to kill a robber outright so they cannot sue you later if you take out a kneecap or whatever.

Answer 16

That would cost money and the last thing the British public want to do is actually pay for services.  Governments only reflect the views of the people who elect them.  We had to put up with 15 years of Tory misrule because people thought Labour would put taxes up.  Then "New" Labour claimed they were the party of low taxation and people voted for them.  Now Nick Clegg has jumped on the bandwagon.

If you continue to vote for whichever party offers to do the job the cheapest, it's going to get worse.

Strange supercal assumes that a question naming the British Home Secretary and appearing on the UK & Ireland site must refer to the US.  Presumably he works for American Intelligence.