What...?
Malcolm McHaffie, deputy head of CPS Special Crime Division, said: "On the basis of the evidence provided, including CCTV footage and police log record, I have determined that no charges should be brought against the officer.
"The circumstances are unusual because the officer was acting on the basis of erroneous reports from members of the public that the victim was carrying a samurai sword."No-one's really complaining that a taser-equipped officer was despatched, Mr McHaffie. That's only to be expected in these times, where samurai swords are strangely popular amongst the underclass.
But on arriving, where was that cool assessment of the situation we are always told only highly-trained police officers possess?
Where was the realisation that this was no inner city yob or gang member about to get his revenge on for some slight, but in fact a blind man with a white stick?!
"The officer has been informed by the police control room that they had received reports that a man was walking around the streets of Chorley carrying a sword.
"It appears the reflective nature of the stick used as a walking aid by the victim, who is partially sighted, led members of the public to mistake it for a weapon. The officer, who was acting on this misinformation, made the same mistake."So, in effect, despite all the training he's supposedly had, he's really no better than any member of the public? And is clearly expected to behave no smarter?
Hmmm. In that case, where's MY taser? I'm just as equipped to wield one, aren't I?
Mr McHaffie said he had considered all the evidence in the case and there was insufficient evidence to prove the policeman had not been mistaken.No-one really doubts that. The point is: with his training, he shouldn't have been...
13 comments:
But 10/10 for the victim's double-whammy response:-
"Victim Colin Farmer, 63, said he was "stunned" that there would be no prosecution against the officer …..."
In West Yorkshire, vision requirements are rather more stringent. New recruits must spot a barn door at 2 metres and armed plod are expected to hit it more times than not...and without injury to themselves or others.
In Lancashire, a compromise has been reached in the Strange White Stick case. Only the Taser will be subject to charges.
Bunny
Don't you just love the accountability of the public services we pay through the nose for. Mistaking a man with a white stick for a nut case with a samurai sword is a pretty stupid thing to do. The policeman is not fit for duty.
If there is an award for "Most Moronic Plod of the Year" there is going to be some pretty stiff competition. Like removing a gate to allow "travellers" access to a park due to "health & safety" or prosecuting a clearly dangerous Sunday School Teacher for "racist comments" towards the itinerant community...
What I want to know is this,If I was caught with a taser I would be charged as if it were a firearm so seriously do they take them,so how is it that police can go around tasing people at the drop of a hat and face no sanction at all?
If it had been a firearm even an accidental shooting would have repercussions.
This story again.
This is the right decision.The PC made a mistake,it wasn't malicious and he shouldn't be prosecuted.
99.9% of the time tazer is used correctly but those stories don't make the news do they?Police officers are not robots and we do make mistakes fair enough.
What's the worst mistake you can make at work Julia-put the wrong toner in the photo-copier?Put two sugars in the boss's tea instead of one? Would you get sacked for that? Of course not.
The victim will get an apology and a nice pay out-quite rightly.He has suffered no long-term effects which is why tazer is generally a good idea.He has probably become a local celebrity though this incident as well.
There are lots of horrible people out there who do not give a damn about using violence on me (or you).The days of the "honest" criminal being caught and conceding it's fair cop are long gone.On another blog Melvin is still mourning the demise of the "Village Sergeants".Well it's 2013 and things are getting worse not better.
I expect to be a lone voice on here but never mind,it won't be the first time...
Jaded
PS Michael- I saw the story about the travellers and the open gate-the council opened it not the police so I accept your apology on behalf of all the "moronic plod".
The PC made a mistake,it wasn't malicious and he shouldn't be prosecuted.
Yeah right, because if you're close enough to feel threatened and use the taser, then you should be able to tell what the 'weapon' is that is threatening you. My guess would be that the officer just wanted to play with his new toy.
Try acting in this way if you are robbed or mugged. You'd most likely be arrested and charged if you belted a genuine mugger, if you made a mistake and duffed up an entirely innocent person who happened to be wandering by do you think that the Police and CPS would accept that it was a 'mistake'. No, they would not.
The rozzers are writing their own rule book now and it's different to rules applied to us. Don't get in their way.
In other electrical news, comparisons are now being made between Breville sandwich toasters and plod services.
Both are guaranteed to disappoint and prove unnecessary expenses for every British household. Fits of unjustifiable optimism will cause users to afford either a second try.
What utter rubbish from PC Plod, Yes, we damn well would get the sack if our incompetence resulted in harming a member of the public.
Try telling the old bill 'it was just an accident, I didn't mean to do it' if your lack of judgement causes a road traffic accident.
I'm starting think we need to wrap-up the police 'service' and start again. Plod is getting a bit big for his size 13s.
"But 10/10 for the victim's double-whammy response..."
Heh! Best Freudian slip ever!
"Only the Taser will be subject to charges."
LOL!
"Don't you just love the accountability of the public services we pay through the nose for."
Indeed! It's as if they don't really fully understand what they are admitting to, isn't it?
"If it had been a firearm even an accidental shooting would have repercussions."
Well, indeed! And yet...
"What's the worst mistake you can make at work Julia-put the wrong toner in the photo-copier?Put two sugars in the boss's tea instead of one?"
No, if it was an unforeseeable accident, I wouldn't expect the sack.
If, on the other hand, I proceeded with reckless abandon and without recourse to all my (very expensive) training, I'd be out the door. And rightly so!
"There are lots of horrible people out there who do not give a damn about using violence on me (or you)"
So, Taser 'em all, let the hospital sort 'em out?
No, sorry, Jaded, but while Ed McBain's Precinct had The Deaf Man as their nemesis I don't think that gives the UK police the leeway to consider all blind men as automatically criminal masterminds..
"PS Michael- I saw the story about the travellers and the open gate-the council opened it not the police so I accept your apology on behalf of all the "moronic plod"."
Then I guess you missed the but about the police advice to them to do so..?
"Yeah right, because if you're close enough to feel threatened and use the taser, then you should be able to tell what the 'weapon' is that is threatening you."
THIS! 1000 times over.
"I'm starting think we need to wrap-up the police 'service' and start again. Plod is getting a bit big for his size 13s."
I certainly think the Long March of the progressives has been successful in more than just local government & teaching... :(
Post a Comment