[nmilton]

I get the impression from people I know in the police that they get just as frustrated as we do ! Half the time they *know* (or have a good idea) who committed a particular crime but because of some stupid laws that seem designed to protect criminals or lack of evidence that will stand up in court they can't do a lot about it. That said I do agree with your comments and hope that they don't try and use the motorist to sort out their lack of funding from the central coffers.

[mel]

Yes. Agree, and have you ever noticed how daft a fat ginger WPC looks in black flame proof swat team overalls.....I saw one skip across the road infront of me yesterday and what was intended to look functional and intimidating had me in stiches, I couldn't help but wonder if her girly pink scrunchy was also flame proof.

[AndrewD]

You might laugh at her Mel, but ask yourself if you'd want to do her job, facing armed/dangerous people a lot of the time...

[mph]

quote: The police need to get their act together, and adopt a radical policy change in law enforcement methods. The present obsession with motorists may generate revenue, but it is alienating a great number of the general public, and generating a lot of negative P.R. for the police force. Get back on the beat lads.

Totally agree. The police force have lost a lot of credibility with the public over the last few years. It may not be fair to lay the blame entirely at their flat feet, but then life isn't fair. Ask a motorist or a victim of burglary.

[john robson]

I work on a large division of one of the largest forces in the U.K. there are 15 traffic officers in our unit (3 per shift) there are about 55 for the rest of the division (per shift) most running from job to job as we are they very rarely target motorists that is up to traffic I personally gave out 8 fixed penalty tickets last month , other officers on the unit about the same. Where is this public perception comming from that the motorist is persecuted. O.K. gatso offences may be up but with the exception of one officer in our unit that is entirely civilian staff. The only motorists I 'persecute' are the ones who break the rules and then the majority of them get verbal advice. Yes most of us are pi%^&*d off. Mainly with a legal system that seems to be stacked against the honest in society and in favour of letting off the criminals. Bobbies on the beat is not the answer, most of the time they are useless, criminals no longer walk round in stripped tops carrying swag bags. Stop wasting money on trying to rehabilitate career criminals once they get caught give them a decent prison sentence. In reality it is cheaper to keep them behind bars than in a council house producing the next generation of criminals. Right whinge over!! over to you!!

[mel]

Andrew, I did for 9 years !!!! Thats why I find it incredible that any organisation is prepared to put people so poorly prepared and un suitable in to that position for the sake of political correctness. Anyway sexist moan over. For the record I am no longer prepared to put myself in that position because over a long drawn out period the cancer of mismanagement, budget driven maning decisions, poorly directed "initiatives", and general apathy from above to tackle grass roots issues through fear of harming ones "career prospects" ate away at me and sapped my spirit. I will also confess I wanted to earn a real living ) live in a house in a "nice" area and most impotantly run the car I wanted to !

[nmilton]

I think the point about motorists feeling persecuted isn't solely the fault of the police - it's a combination of increasing motoring costs and an ever growing number of stealth Gatsos combined with constant messages about speeding being a crime which should be punished by a public flogging !! Frankly it's hard work being a motorist these days !! However, rightly or wrongly, the police force are perceived to be going after easy targets, such as motorists, because they don't stand a chance of arresting and successfully prosecuting burglars, muggers, car thieves, etc. It's the lack of results in clearing up these "personal" crimes which affect people the most which undoubtedly account for the way most people feel about the police force today.

[mph]

quote:Bobbies on the beat is not the answer, most of the time they are useless

Perhaps it's more the image than the reality. The sight of a policeman didn't automatically signify a crime investigation, it was more of a reassuring concept. Now the majority of the general public are only exposed to the police as a result of a crime committed against themselves, their family or their property. They seldom receive a satisfactory outcome, and this translates into negative empathy. A rethink is needed, and the police force can take an active role by being more vocal in their criticism of shortcomings in the present legal system. Public opinion would be firmly behind them. Even me.

[GasBlaster]

Interesting thread this. I am a self confessed speeder (this is not admissible, JR, becasue you haven't cautioned me!!) but I won't blame the cops for ticketing me if I ever get done. It will have been my own fault for not spotting them! As JR points out, most police time seems to be spent on 'proper' criminals. But most of us are law-abiding except for motoring offences. The only time we interface with the police is over motoring matters, so in our petrol-addled perception that is all police do! Interestingly, I understand Guilliani's famous New York zero-telerance policy practically wiped out lots of petty criminality. But this included motoring offences too. One good one - get caught drink driving in NY and your car gets confiscated. For good, and on first offence!

[Don]

quote:Interestingly, I understand Guilliani's famous New York zero-telerance ... get caught drink driving in NY and your car gets confiscated. For good, and on first offence!

Wow. Good thing too, largely. I lived in New Jersey for a while and the number of people who would get s***faced in the bar and then drive on home barely able to see was astonishing. It was like stepping back 20 years...

[GasBlaster]

I sympathise with the NJ bit - I lived there too for a while. Worst drink driving I ever saw however was in my local village in the UK. Local yokels would stagger out of the pub at closing time, collapse into their cars and then weave home using the hedges as guide rails. Very scary. I never once saw a copper about, but they would have had a field day. Question for JR: why don't traffic police set up shop down the road from country pubs at closing time?

[john robson]

I do when I get the chance apart from the red light area's where the have a bit of 'dutch courage' before trying to pick up a prostitute they are about the best places. Most night clubs etc are too expensive for people to get pissed, and usually some martyr says they will drive and stays sober the old die hards are still the best.

[mel]

quote:I do when I get the chance apart from the red light area's where the have a bit of 'dutch courage' before trying to pick up a prostitute they are about the best places.

Two birds with one stone so to speak !!! I like it far better than GATSO's for getting the fines revenue up for the Government. Easy pickings but twice the paperwork. Edited by mel on Monday 23 July 13:23

[trefor]

Let's face it, any drink driver should be caught and banned whether they are driving down a country lane or across town. I agree that you're more likely to kill someone in town, but that's not the point - both are being very stupid. Trefor/.

[sjm]

I think the overwhelming cause of anger, apethy, mistrust of the police does come from the over use of Gatsos. Regardless of who puts them up, or maintains them or sends out the ticket, it's seen as part of a money raising effort by the goverments law enforcing agencies, and unfortunately for the police they are the most obvious law enforcement agency of the goverment. Most people I know that have been nicked for a traffic offence by a police officer as opposed to a camera, are not as negative about it. At least if you're dealing with a person they can explain what you were doing wrong and why you're getting done for it. As well as that you are normally aware that you have been caught straight away and probably know that you were breaking the law so it doesn't seem so underhand. I travel up and down the country every week, and if I get a notice through saying I was photographed doing 70mph on the A4353637 in Middlesex, I've got no idea where that is, can't remember the road and have no defence. More cops less cameras. sjm