Tuesday, 1 November 2011

Coming At This The Wrong Way Round, Surely?


WTF?

Police had been gathering evidence about rowdy groups of drunks who meet in Southchurch Hall Gardens.

They had hoped this would help them secure a designated public place order to help them stamp out the problem.

But they have only received ten complaints so far this year, and a meagre six in 2010.
Well, stop gathering it then! Surely, it’s not a problem after all?
A meeting of the Kursaal Neighbourhood Action Panel heard this had not been nearly enough to secure a ban.
When did people start working backwards from the end point to…

Oh. Right.
This is despite almost 500 people signing a petition in January to back the initiative.
I guess signing a bit of paper shoved under your nose is easier than picking up the phone and making a complaint, then?
Don Johnson, 64, who lives in nearby Southchurch Hall Close…
Blimey! His career crashed in spectacular style, didn’t it!?
… said people were drinking in the park, but the problem the police have is finding whether or not crimes are being committed.
He added: “I’ve seen them sitting there with a can in their hand. I can’t say that’s a crime – if they were committing a crime or if they got up and they were drunk and disorderly, that’s different.”
Precisely. What a shame you seem to know the law so much better than the police…
Officers say they need the public to report incidents. PC Dan Hedges, neighbourhood specialist officer for Kursaal ward, said: “Sixteen calls in two years isn’t going to get anything we want, so if the calls come in we can do something.”
And if the calls don’t come in, there’s no problem and you can go do something else, can’t you?
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8 comments:

  1. Dr Evil1 November 2011 at 12:35

    This is almost Minority Report territory!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous1 November 2011 at 14:54

    Here in Scotland the cooncil cunts have Drink free zones where no alcohol is allowed.
    Even here in my village where there is a distillary. Alcohol is not allowed in the street.

    ReplyDelete
  3. KenS1 November 2011 at 15:34

    I don't get it. If something is a crime it is still a crime whether or not people complain about it. And if it isn't a crime then it doesn't matter how many people complain about it. So where does this "not enough people have complained" come from? How many does there have to be?

    (And dare I suggest that the reason people can't be bothered to complain is that, based on previous experience, they doubt that anything will be done?)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Angry Exile1 November 2011 at 16:08

    WRT Don Johnson, they've got Law & Order: UK now so how about more remakes of US formats. I've always harboured a secret wish for there to be a show called CSI: Norwich but I'd settle for Clacton-on-Sea Vice.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hill Street Blue1 November 2011 at 16:27

    Angry Exile: I recall a cop show from the sixties called "The Naked City"

    In the spirit of this I'd settle for our very own "The Partly-clothed Town"

    ReplyDelete
  6. Angry Exile1 November 2011 at 16:39

    Or Homicide: Life on the Chester-le-Streets?

    ReplyDelete
  7. James Higham1 November 2011 at 19:24

    Someone will organize a "disturbance" over several nights.

    ReplyDelete
  8. JuliaM2 November 2011 at 05:45

    "... Drink free zones where no alcohol is allowed.

    Even here in my village where there is a distillary. "

    Gah! The insanity is just too much!

    "I don't get it. If something is a crime it is still a crime whether or not people complain about it."

    You'd think so, wouldn't you? I'm guessing the clue is in Officer Dan's title, though...

    " I've always harboured a secret wish for there to be a show called CSI: Norwich but I'd settle for Clacton-on-Sea Vice."

    Heh! Wouldn't work in Norfolk, though, they'd keep finding exactly the same DNA all over the place, no matter where they went...

    "Someone will organize a "disturbance" over several nights."

    I doubt it, I really think the locals just can't be bothered.

    ReplyDelete