| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 627.1 | | WIZZER::PARRY | Trevor Parry | Mon Mar 29 1993 16:03 | 22 |
| I think I missed the point here, was it sarcasm ?
The alternative is to chase the car until it crashes into someone
else's car and possibly injures an innocent person. I know I'd prefer
them to stop the chase.
If you expect them to chase the car until it crashes and then arrest
the culprits then you've got a damaged car that might not have been
damaged otherwise. Maybe the police recognised who was doing the
driving and just stopped chasing them and went round to their house
instead to wait for them ? That's what they did with mine. I got the
car back in one piece (apart from the vandalism the thieves caused),
noone got injured and the culprits spent the night in the cells.
The police know who is doing the joy-riding but can't do anything
because they are under age. That's not their fault, that's the way the
system works.
tp
(not an opposing view, but when you know the full details behind some
of the reports in the Gazette, you'll realize just how inaccurate it
is).
|
| 627.2 | Don't play into their hands. | KERNEL::LEYLANDS | Sharon Leyland | Mon Mar 29 1993 16:23 | 8 |
| I agree with Trevor. I have seen too many video's of "joy riders"
being chased by police, at very high speeds, until they crash into
something or someone.
Perhaps if the police DIDN'T jump in and chase them, the novelty might
just wear off! - just a thought.
Sharon
|
| 627.3 | Sarcasm...what an easy option... | FORTY2::WILKINS | | Mon Mar 29 1993 18:03 | 24 |
|
Re: .0
>> On Soap-Box <<
It has been reported many times by the press (multiple interviews
with so called "Joyriders" on Panorama etc.) that the enjoyment
of being chased by the Police is one reason for the increase
in this type of offence in the UK today. I agree wholeheartedly
with reply .1 - which would you rather have slightly
dissapointed and free joyriders or arrested joyriders and
dead bystanders ?
This sort of decision is one that Police Officers have to take
often within their working lives and I for one trust in their
ability as high speed pursuit drivers as *the* best assessment
of whether or not pursuit is a justified option. I am sure that
joyriders who are safely "catchable" will be caught and I'm sure
that they will remain in the majority.
>> Off Soap-Box <<
Kevin.
|
| 627.4 | | AUSSIE::GARSON | | Tue Mar 30 1993 00:36 | 4 |
| The real crime is the ease with which cars can be broken into and
hot-wired.
Prevention is better than cure!
|
| 627.5 | | ARNIES::SMITHP1 | The sparrow is a sign | Tue Mar 30 1993 12:57 | 40 |
| RE: Note 627.3 FORTY2::WILKINS
> It has been reported many times by the press (multiple interviews
> with so called "Joyriders" on Panorama etc.) that the enjoyment
> of being chased by the Police is one reason for the increase
> in this type of offence in the UK today. I agree wholeheartedly
> with reply .1 - which would you rather have slightly
> disappointed and free joyriders or arrested joyriders and
> dead bystanders ?
You're making the assumption that the result is one of two options.
Have you never heard of anyone being killed by joyriders who were
not being chased by the police? Have you never heard of police
stopping joyriders without a resulting crash? This car was found
burnt out relatively near the town centre, I don't think you could
say that the joyriders were disappointed. In fact all the prospective
joyriders in Basingstoke have now been given 'the white card' to go
out and do exactly the same thing. The more dangerously they drive,
the more are the chances of the police not pursuing.
> This sort of decision is one that Police Officers have to take
> often within their working lives and I for one trust in their
> ability as high speed pursuit drivers as *the* best assessment
> of whether or not pursuit is a justified option. I am sure that
> joyriders who are safely "catchable" will be caught and I'm sure
> that they will remain in the majority.
One of the weapons the police have in their fight against crime is
the personal radio. Close pursuit should not be necessary, as you
would have seen in these same documentaries that you mention.
Sarcasm may have taken over in .0, but I just found the article a typical
Basingstoke attitude towards law and order. In my opinion the local police
are now far more interested in the 'quick win' speeding/tyre/seatbelt type
offences rather than the time consuming court appearance, no guarantee of
a conviction, type. This lack of enthusiasm must be partly due to the
magistrates courts in this area, who seem to continually return offenders
straight back onto the streets.
p1
|
| 627.6 | a bit of action | WIZZER::PARRY | Trevor Parry | Tue Mar 30 1993 13:50 | 23 |
| What evidence do you have to support your opinion that the Police are not
interested in dealing with joyriders ?
They know of one person in Basingstoke who did more than 30 car thefts
last year but the system doesn't allow them to 'get' them. If you were
the Police, would you spend time on cases that can't be completed ?
There's also the question hinted at previously that people don't take
enough precautions when leaving their cars. Mine was locked but the
Autolok wasn't on it, I can't help thinking that had the Autolok been
there, it might not have been taken so easily (I wasn't using the car
at the time so it wasn't my fault :-)
So what can we do ? Perhaps a bit of public pressure on the culprit might
help, perhaps a few broken Bone ! Or more pressure on the Police ?
.5 has encouraged me to find out what happened to the forensic evidence
that should have come through by now, and to question the Police a bit
more, i.e. they claimed to have seen this person driving the car, yet
they don't have enough evidence to prosecute! Admittedly this has tainted
my confidence in the Police now. Does this mean that if they catch you
speeding, they can't prove it was you even if they see you get out of the
car, I don't think so. Someone has been fibbing to me.
tp
|
| 627.7 | shoot 'em | TRUCKS::BUSHEN_P | But I'm unlucky in cards _as well_ | Wed Mar 31 1993 15:26 | 10 |
| > in this type of offence in the UK today. I agree wholeheartedly
> with reply .1 - which would you rather have slightly
> dissapointed and free joyriders or arrested joyriders and
> dead bystanders ?
>
dead joyriders - shoot the b@st@rds that's what I say...
The Hanging Judge (Almost serious)
|
| 627.8 | Some real evidence of what's happening. | WIZZER::PARRY | Trevor Parry | Wed Mar 31 1993 18:26 | 14 |
| Just to provide some facts.
2 cars a day were stolen in Basingstoke in December 1992.
The police caught and charged 2 youths. Once admitted to over 40
thefts and was sentenced to 180 hours community service. The other one
has admitted to over 40 thefts aswell and is due to appear in court on
April 19th ( RE .7 for those who wish to be their to dish out their
own punishment :-) They are both unemployed and 17.
I'm pretty sure I can put this here 'cos they are appearing in open
court so anyone can go and listen and it might even be reported in the
Gazette one day.
tp
|