Ninety motorists were stopped by volunteer police during a burglary crackdown.Eh..? Why motorists?
The crackdown aimed to target crooks, such as burglars and thieves, travelling into the town on the roads to commit crime.Ah. Right. So, how many did they catch?
Errr… none:
Of those, three motorists were given fines for offences including speeding, driving without a valid MoT certificate and riding a motorbike without L plates.And 83 motorists will now, when Essex Police are whining about the cuts affecting their vital safeguarding of the county, look back at this and (ignoring the fact that these aren’t paid members of the force) think ‘Good!’…
Four motorists were also given notices to rectify faults on their vehicles.
Special Sgt John Wright said: “Criminals often use the road network to come to this area to commit crime, and it simply won’t be tolerated.But you didn’t catch any of them, did you? You just inconvenienced 83 innocent motorists.
“The message we have sent out by mounting this operation is don’t come to Billericay to commit burglary and other crime, as you will be caught and justice will be served on you.”
Indeed the crims use the roads. Didn't the trio who robbed farmer Tony Martin in Norfolk make the long road journey from Newark to get there?
ReplyDeleteGiven that this particular thieving trio had previous form you can only presume they had been there before. And probably got there by road.
So, can we also assume that road blocks by the cops would have prevented the tragedy?
These sorts of exercises always seem to be a 'because we can' sort of thing and don't you forget it.
ReplyDeleteHere in the citys, we are well aware that the Police can stop you at any time and for any reason.
In the countryside contact with the police is less.
So it's just a reminder to the peasents about who's in charge
wv. coupe
IIRC - it was Essex Police that recently set up road blocks so ...
ReplyDeleteCouncil officials could sniff inside the cars and examine the ash-trays - to check if anyone had been smoking in a Company car.
Is it something they add to the water in Essex .. or what ?
ReplyDeleteAnd if I had stopped someone suspicious on thir way into town, what were they going do? Charge him with possession of a crowbar and a balaclava?
ReplyDelete"Special Sgt John Wright said: “Criminals often use the road network to come to this area to commit crime, and it simply won’t be tolerated."
ReplyDeleteLocal Crime for Local People? Essex... surely the traffic is at least as much out of the county.
@jd: it's actually going equipped but as proving the with intent to steal is difficult the CPS usually turn it down. Still, it deters and disrupts crime.
Just to give you beat officers insight...if your interested?
ReplyDeleteSome of these 'operations' hack us off as much as the public but we are forced to by the 'higher-ups'. We have to do as we are told.
I am from a time when we used to police, whereas now we have 'operations'. I make no apology for targetting the lunatic driving minority who speed, cause accidents and act in a downright daft manner. I claim that right as i have to deal with the consequences. I'm not an ogre and if motorists are reasonable, they get words of advice. The cocky arrogant ones get done because i know they will continue to drive like idiots and a lot of loved ones are lost by unnecessary risk taking.
Plus, i carry out regular surveys in my area of residents and they tell me what they want me to deal with in their area. Overwhelmingly it is traffic speed and road safety, kids going to school and people driving too fast. They complain that i dont do enough about it. So when a driver complains that 'we' the police are picking on them, i invite them to the next residents meeting. None so far have turned up.
Saying all that, i do cringe at the words expressed in the article. I have actually caught a burglar when i pulled him over for a traffic offence. Thats once in 25 years, but if i never pulled a motor, i would never catch others who have been wanted. It is not an exact science, we cast a net and sometimes get a bite.
I always thank people for their time, apologise for the inconvenience and state that hopefully i get a 'baddy' next time. Most people are happy enough with being pulled because they know we are out looking for thieves etc.
Mind how you go !!!
Anonymous @ 20:54
ReplyDeleteI really, really liked that story, Mr Plod. Can we have the Very Hungry Caterpillar tomorrow?
Yes, but no real point unless it is targeted.Having an Officer stationed further up the road to spot yobs druggies gives a better result.
ReplyDeleteFor some reason the operation usually works better if the beat Officers do it themselves without any Senior Officer input.
And what Anon said
"These sorts of exercises always seem to be a 'because we can' sort of thing and don't you forget it. "
ReplyDeleteYes, that's rather how it struck me too.
Or, given the 'cuts' threat, perhaps a way to ingratiate yourself and prove your 'usefulness'?
"Is it something they add to the water in Essex..."
Water? To be more effective, they'd have to put it in the Stella & WKD.
"Some of these 'operations' hack us off as much as the public but we are forced to by the 'higher-ups'. "
True, I'm sure, but then 'I'm only obeying orders' isn't much of a defence.
"I'm not an ogre and if motorists are reasonable, they get words of advice. The cocky arrogant ones get done..."
I'm not really comfortable with the idea of an 'attitude test', frankly. What happened to equality under the law?
What happens if the reasonable one is just smarter, and not really contrite?
"But you didn’t catch any of them, did you? You just inconvenienced 83 innocent motorists."
ReplyDeleteThat was the point, Julia. Motorists are fair game when plod gets bored, better to piss off a few motorists than go out and do real police work. Real crime detection takes brains and involves hard work, they couldn't possibly do that.