Street scum

[Blaze]

One bad apple doesn't mean the whole barrel is bad. Most police officers are there to uphold the law but also to help people, and they have some very difficult situations to deal with. Try telling a mother her son has been killed in a motorbike accident, or that her children have died in a fire ....

Another thing you have overlooked, hughnique : There have been many changes since the 70s, the Police and criminal Evidence Act (1984) for starters. It's very likely the court procedure and sentencing has changed too.

One of purposes of the CPS is to make sure that the police have presented enough evidence to convict. If they haven't, or the file is badly presented, it will be thrown back at them (find more evidence or drop it). Once the file gets to court, the game can change : unreliable or discredited witnesses, a weak or a strong barrister/solicitor, and so on .... As for disclosure, that you can probably find all that on the CPS website !

The rags will publish stories to sell papers and make money - many readers aren't interested in the truth, just the oooh aaaah effect.

[rabbit]

What is concerning is the amount of crime committed by travellers. Let’s not forget the PC who was dragged to his death. I have had 3 burglaries by travellers. On the last occasion the oik was in my house when my wife returned. Fortunately the police were superb and they were caught and had my tv etc along with the spoils of several other burglaries in the boot of their car and served 18mths. I learnt a lot from the police on the crimes the local traveller community were responsible for. It is time that these lawless brigands were taken to task.

[Hotrodder]

There has been a dark blue van driving down our lane at night with no lights. A day or two before, we found a dust bin full of tools stood just off the edge of the lane near our post box. It occurred to me that someone might have been nicking stuff from the neighbour across the road so took it across to see if the stuff was his. Yes it was. He hadn't yet noticed the theft. Adding two and two and spotting the van with no lights it would seem the thieves are out doing a bit of pre-Xmas liberating of saleable items. I have fabricated steel bar security doors to my workshop with inaccessible locks but it still makes me feel uneasy knowing there are thieves about. My OH read out to me from another forum people are being targeted while out loading shopping into their cars. Various methods are being used.
Be vigilant. And don't expect any kind of useful response from cops, either side of the Channel.

[niemeyjt]

Furious viewers of 24 Hours in Police Custody demand 'JUSTICE' after hero father who ran burglars off the road is jailed for 22 months... while the crooks are spared prison - as well-wishers launch GoFundMe page to help family

source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... rison.html

[Wilbro]

I have no time or sympathy for these scrotes. The sentences, or lack of and failures to prosecute are a disgrace in the UK. What also gets up my nose is when watching the UK police programmes and when the police have just arrested some lowlife they say "we have apprehended this gentleman". What? Scumbag is usually more appropriate.

[hughnique]

I have no time or sympathy for these scrotes. The sentences, or lack of and failures to prosecute are a disgrace in the UK. What also gets up my nose is when watching the UK police programmes and when the police have just arrested some lowlife they say "we have apprehended this gentleman". What? Scumbag is usually more appropriate.

Either that or it's mate, or fella, or some other endearing title, good job I'm not the arresting officer there would be too many bleeps on the sound. The repercussions on the victim are that having had their car nicked they are left to deal with all the crap the insurance company has to throw at them including excess and loss of NCB / malus. Total farce as far as these scumbags are concerned, just look at the 2 innocent little angels on the link that J provided, how could you send them to prison it would be horrendous for them

[beejay]

The programme is repeated tonight 30th November.

I live near the locality and remember the incident being discussed at the time. There is some doubt whether the motor bike was rammed as an imprint from the car's bumper was found on the rear of it indicating contact was made at some point. Watch the programme and draw your own conclusion.

Sentencing was a joke in both cases.

[Polarengineer]

What if...
One of the lads was a police infiltrator trying to get evidence on a big organization? Let him off to get on with the job so the other must go too.
This authorative lad then reports the chelsea tractor driver attempted to kill the two lads?
Nah...but, who knows? You won't find out reading the DM.

[MAD87]

This supposition that the minute you come into the hands of a nice policeman, you will be dealt with within the parameters of the law, should you be charged is absolute bullshit, firstly the CPS will troll through everything so as to compile a prosecution based merely on the worst scenario, which carries the highest sentence available, therefore handling stolen goods, becomes conspiracy to steal, assault becomes an affray, and so on.

B0llocks.

[Hotrodder]

No matter how you slice it, there is little or no respect for the law, the criminal justice system, or the cops themselves. The crims and the general public alike see the law & the courts as a sick joke. A firm hand is needed and way stiffer sentences that act as a deterrent rather than a slap on the wrist after finding that an offender has dozens of similar offences on record.