How on earth did this get to court?

[Malh001]

I cannot imagine who on earth decided to prosecute, is this really what our taxes are being spent on?


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/8286...

[Legend83]

Tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime.

[Digga]

Trouble is with our legal system, there are now far too many people who get paid (in many cases handsomely) whether or not a case is viable, sensible, or moral. As long as it's 'legal' the system churns on and all the public servants and lawyers get paid by the taxpayer anyway. This is the next gravy train that needs to be derailled.

[Gargamel]

I heard this earlier on the Radio, the magistrate should be sent for 're - education' what the hell is going on here.

Perhaps the government would prefer it if she comitted suicide in a lane somewhere. Remember all tose calls from Labour Ministers for the populationt to NOT ignore crime and to stand up and be counted.

This is where it gets you.

Outrageous.

[Spiritual_Beggar]

And they wonder why we have such a problem with the Ferals at the moment.

What a disgrace! This just proves the current system IS broken.

[Digga]

Gargamel said:

Remember all tose calls from Labour Ministers for the populationt to NOT ignore crime and to stand up and be counted.

Government said:

Go on, 'ave a go, 'it 'im! I'll 'old yer coat.

If it gets out of 'and I'm right behind yer - I'll back y'up."

Yeah right.

[Road Pest]

Read it twice now, still struggling with it.

[Oakey]

The BBC article doesn't go into details about the woman so here's some more info from the local rag:

Local Rag said:

There, justices were told how the German-born grandmother had survived the Second World War in Berlin, but at the end of hostilities found herself in Communist East Germany.

She escaped over the Berlin Wall and then fell in love with and married a British Army Staff sergeant from the Royal Engineers before the couple came to Britain

As I said in the other thread I posted this story in, what self respecting 17 year old calls the police on an elderly woman and, more so, presses charges? I was 17, ten years ago, I would have been ridiculed, humiliated and embarassed for life had I done that. I would never live it down. I'd be a laughing stock.

[zcacogp]

Stories like this are getting more and more commonplace, and all seem to be as a direct result of the way the current administration has run-down this country.

The more such things are aired in public the more people will (hopefully) get disgusted with all that Labour stands for, and the quicker they will be to vote them out.

Disgusting? It certainly is.


Oli.

[FNG]

To the OP - this case got all the way to court because the CPS knew they'd get a conviction.

They obviously didn't care about the circumstances, the cumulative effect of these cases on the perpetrators and victims of such incidents, or the morality.

They could just see a nice fat conviction of a law-abiding person to bolster their stats.

Yay CPS.

[Legend83]

FNG said:

To the OP - this case got all the way to court because the CPS knew they'd get a conviction.

They obviously didn't care about the circumstances, the cumulative effect of these cases on the perpetrators and victims of such incidents, or the morality.

They could just see a nice fat conviction of a law-abiding person to bolster their stats.

Yay CPS.

Indeed - targets. What a wonderful concept.

[Malh001]

FNG said:

To the OP - this case got all the way to court because the CPS knew they'd get a conviction.

They obviously didn't care about the circumstances, the cumulative effect of these cases on the perpetrators and victims of such incidents, or the morality.

They could just see a nice fat conviction of a law-abiding person to bolster their stats.

Yay CPS.

I,m not criticizing them, but do the police not have any say in whether a case gets as far as the CPS?

I can imagine attending the scene and telling the 17 year old to ps off and stop being so stupid or is it now a case of "just following orders"?

[satchbot]

FFS this should never have reached court!

[Bluebarge]

Digga said:

Trouble is with our legal system, there are now far too many people who get paid (in many cases handsomely) whether or not a case is viable, sensible, or moral. As long as it's 'legal' the system churns on and all the public servants and lawyers get paid by the taxpayer anyway. This is the next gravy train that needs to be derailled.

It's the CPS who make these kinds of decisions. They seem to be getting it badly wrong on occasions. Too much of a silo mentality and not enough big picture. I suspect a target culture may have something to do with it (though happy to be corrected if that's not the case).

One would also have to point the finger at the police for even doing the paperwork to pass to the CPS, rather than having a "word" with the "victim" about his behaviour and investigating the claims of the "offender". That is definitely down to the target mentality and is a clear reason why the relationship between police and public in this country is breaking down. It needs mending, quick.

[Oakey]

Legend83 said:

FNG said:

To the OP - this case got all the way to court because the CPS knew they'd get a conviction.

They obviously didn't care about the circumstances, the cumulative effect of these cases on the perpetrators and victims of such incidents, or the morality.

They could just see a nice fat conviction of a law-abiding person to bolster their stats.

Yay CPS.

Indeed - targets. What a wonderful concept.

Yes, and it's for this reason if I'm ever in trouble again in the future I will lie through my teeth. Having had a conviction for assault (despite the 'victim' admitting he made the first move) and seeing the judge didn't give a toss about the circumstances, the fact there were no witnesses, just his word against mine, etc and still finding me guilty I realised the mistake I made was admitting I threw a punch back in retaliation. Had I just lied and denied it I'd have probably been much better off.

[Digga]

Bluebarge said:

Digga said:

Trouble is with our legal system, there are now far too many people who get paid (in many cases handsomely) whether or not a case is viable, sensible, or moral. As long as it's 'legal' the system churns on and all the public servants and lawyers get paid by the taxpayer anyway. This is the next gravy train that needs to be derailled.

It's the CPS who make these kinds of decisions. They seem to be getting it badly wrong on occasions. Too much of a silo mentality and not enough big picture. I suspect a target culture may have something to do with it (though happy to be corrected if that's not the case).

One would also have to point the finger at the police for even doing the paperwork to pass to the CPS, rather than having a "word" with the "victim" about his behaviour and investigating the claims of the "offender". That is definitely down to the target mentality and is a clear reason why the relationship between police and public in this country is breaking down. It needs mending, quick.

I's not just the CPS that are the issue.

There are armies of people who don't really have to give a fk about justice (as opposed to the law) but just turn up, get on with their st and let the state stump up their fee; lawyers, magistrates, judges whoever, they're all on a nice little no risk earner.

ETA: I also realise, from years talking to friends on the force over many years, that the CPS's other piece de reistance is losing files or bungling the filing of criminal cases which the Police have sweated blood to bring to court, thereby letting worthless scrotes off the hoot to reoffend.

Edited by Digga on Friday 2nd October 12:09

[Spiritual_Beggar]

Oakey said:

Legend83 said:

FNG said:

To the OP - this case got all the way to court because the CPS knew they'd get a conviction.

They obviously didn't care about the circumstances, the cumulative effect of these cases on the perpetrators and victims of such incidents, or the morality.

They could just see a nice fat conviction of a law-abiding person to bolster their stats.

Yay CPS.

Indeed - targets. What a wonderful concept.

Yes, and it's for this reason if I'm ever in trouble again in the future I will lie through my teeth. Having had a conviction for assault (despite the 'victim' admitting he made the first move) and seeing the judge didn't give a toss about the circumstances, the fact there were no witnesses, just his word against mine, etc and still finding me guilty I realised the mistake I made was admitting I threw a punch back in retaliation. Had I just lied and denied it I'd have probably been much better off.

It's brilliant isn't it.

So much for 'JUSTICE'.

[Oakey]

Spiritual_Beggar said:

Oakey said:

Legend83 said:

FNG said:

To the OP - this case got all the way to court because the CPS knew they'd get a conviction.

They obviously didn't care about the circumstances, the cumulative effect of these cases on the perpetrators and victims of such incidents, or the morality.

They could just see a nice fat conviction of a law-abiding person to bolster their stats.

Yay CPS.

Indeed - targets. What a wonderful concept.

Yes, and it's for this reason if I'm ever in trouble again in the future I will lie through my teeth. Having had a conviction for assault (despite the 'victim' admitting he made the first move) and seeing the judge didn't give a toss about the circumstances, the fact there were no witnesses, just his word against mine, etc and still finding me guilty I realised the mistake I made was admitting I threw a punch back in retaliation. Had I just lied and denied it I'd have probably been much better off.

It's brilliant isn't it.

So much for 'JUSTICE'.

Yes, I particularly liked the part where, after sitting in the cells for 12 hours, the CPS decided they weren't going ahead with a prosecution. Only for them to change their minds two weeks later. Awesome.

[Jasandjules]

Legend83 said:

Indeed - targets. What a wonderful concept.

Yes, they should be painted on the officers who arrested this lady, and the CPS who decided to proceed.

Now, it must be my eyesight failing me again, but I didn't see the bit where the report mentions the kids being arrested for throwing stones etc.. and what punishment they received...

[Hugo a Gogo]

bloody outrageous, "assault" ?

for god's sake don't let some officious little 'rules is rules' type (I can't think of any particular names ) come on and say "well she plead guilty"

why on earth is a pensioner being brought up for this?

(I agree about the 17yr old, how his mates don't rip the living piss out of him every minute of his life I don't know)

Local Rag said:

There, justices were told how the German-born grandmother had survived the Second World War in Berlin, but at the end of hostilities found herself in Communist East Germany.

She escaped over the Berlin Wall and then fell in love with and married a British Army Staff sergeant from the Royal Engineers before the couple came to Britain

BBC says she left in 1945, long before the Berlin wall

Edited by Hugo a Gogo on Friday 2nd October 13:03