Wednesday 26 October 2011

When Is An Emergency Not An Emergency?

The attack was witnessed by an ex-Metropolitan Police Officer who called 999 - but police at Gloucestershire Police graded the call a 'Category Two' incident, meaning it only required a response within the next four hours.

The former policeman followed Riddall's car and again phoned 999 less than fifteen minutes later, this time giving the fiend's registration.

But officers still graded the call a Category Two, despite Riddall's registration being linked on police computers to another suspicious incident just four months earlier.
No, before you ask, none of them were sacked for gross incompetence...

The ex-police officer clearly has more integrity than any of the current sorry bunch:
'I left it to the police to do their job. If I'd known this guy had a young girl in the car with him, I'd have forced him off the road without a second's thought. I do feel bad now that I let him go.'
Yup, he actually feels guilty. Even though it's no longer his responsibility.
The woman, now living in London with her daughter, said the findings of the police watchdog the Independent Police Complaints Commission meant nothing to her family.

'The simple fact is the police should have come out when they got that call - they had a witness saying someone was being attacked in a car. How serious does it have to be before they go and check.

'Yes, they've admitted they've made mistakes and they've now made some changes, but that's not good enough. I'm disgusted with the whole system, we feel completely and utterly abandoned.'
You aren't alone. Everyone does.

The IPCC report is rather revealing, though:
The IPCC ruled the 999 calls were not dealt with efficiently and resources were not deployed to the incident, but said the calls made no reference to the victim being a child.
Because that makes all the difference? The age of the victim is a reason for taking it more or less seriously?

Is this possibly due to the poisonous legacy of these cases?

And what of the bumbling incompetents in this case? Did they receive any punishment at all?
'The control room staff were clearly unaware of her age and vulnerability,' said a spokesman, adding that two inspectors, one sergeant and five control room staff were subject to performance advice for their individual inaction in handling the initial 999 call.
*speechless*

9 comments:

Ranter said...

The Police are far too busy with Black History Months and Rainbows to help the wee gay folk report more crime and hosting Traveller days at Force HQ and then maybe they will vishit de proshtitutes and maybe do shome shopping for zem:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_VNzcXW2fQ
Mind you there are some incompetent call handlers as yesterdays headlines about the 58 year old PC at Bow MetCall who just couldn't be arsed. Shame because as well will acknowledge amongst the total tools there are still some 'cops' who want to do 'the job' and many have paid the ultimate price. I'm a bit biased as MTG knows but the job is 'fucked'.

Chuckles said...

"Before 'Lessons have been learned' and 'those responsible have been sent on a suitable training course' I would imagine?"

Tattyfalarr said...

According to:

http://library.npia.police.uk/docs/hopolicersold/fprs13.pdf

this 999 call should have been given Category 1 priority status due to "offender still at the scene". The age of the victim is a secondary consideration.

There's no excuse for what happened. None.

The only lessons being learned are by the public.

SBC said...

"thought. I do feel bad now that I let him go"

Why the fuck is this man, at age 54, no longer on the force? The Met could do worse than to 'unretire' him asap.

SBC said...

"There's no excuse for what happened. None. "

Nope and i expect the few real coppers we have left are still in a state of dazed 'how the FUCK did particular clusterfuck happen?' (so according to one of my mates on the Farce).

dickiebo said...

'..... two inspectors, one sergeant and five control room staff were subject to performance advice...'
Advice, presumably, from the people who decide the priority of calls? Yea, right!

Captain Haddock said...

"When Is An Emergency Not An Emergency?"

When you're an inbred carrot cruncher ?

Did you know that the most popular male christian name in Gloucestershire is "Paul" ?

Apparently, it accounts for some 60% of males in the County ..

MTG said...

Such atrocious conduct is the current fare of today's tabloids but was almost unheard of in the days we respectfully called our Village police, 'Officers'.

So I think now is the time for my Hovis ad, Ranter. The young generation don't believe it but beat police would pop into our homes for a cuppa and a warm. The Sergeant would be offered a 'malt' and pie due to his social standing.

Those days of mutual respect and good service were infinitely happier.

JuliaM said...

"Shame because as well will acknowledge amongst the total tools there are still some 'cops' who want to do 'the job' and many have paid the ultimate price."

I can't help thinking they are getting fewer and fewer..

"The Met could do worse than to 'unretire' him asap."

Indeed... :(

"Those days of mutual respect and good service were infinitely happier."

They call it 'progress'. But it isn't.