A former senior Metropolitan Police officer has called for stronger measures to be used against criminals who operate on mopeds, even if it results in their deaths./applause
But wait! 'Former'..?
Referring to a daylight knife attack using a moped he witnessed on Friday, Mr Videcette told The Independent: “I don’t care how many of them fall off and kill themselves because they’re not wearing a crash helmet. We cannot allow them to behave like this in the capital city.”
He added: “No police officer wants anyone to die. But you should stop when the police indicate you do so. If you continue on, after that point, whatever happens is down to you, not the police.”
“If the choice is these [pursued] criminals falling off and killing themselves, that the choice we’re going to have to make.”'We'..? You left, remember? That's the only reason you feel free to say this!
Otherwise you'd be toeing the ACPO official line like the rest of your 'brothers in blue'.
But the IPCC rejected accusations of overzealousness, saying guidelines for pursuits were set by the police themselves.
‘Tactical contacts’ – in which rogue riders are knocked off their scooters at lower speeds – are allowed with authorisation.Whether the top brass ever authorise it is another matter entirely! We've seen how they pussyfoot and prevaricate and fret when 'da comoonity' is involved.
Mr Videcette argued the spate of moped crime was a culmination of criminality which had increased since the death of Henry Hicks, 18, who died after losing control of his scooter during a 2014 chase in north London.
Four officers face a misconduct hearing in October. The death of Mr Hicks – who was in possession of drugs and cash – was described by Mr Videcette as a “watershed moment” in the way police officers who pursued suspects on vehicles were treated.Anyone who watched the series 'The Met: Policing London' will remember we were treated to a glimpse of the folk who bred Hicks and how they react to any sign of police trying to enforce the law...
And when the police respond to such open displays of contempt and violence by going 'softly softly' and hands off, and trotting out hackneyed phrases about 'understanding the community's anger', they will continue to act like this. Because there are no consequences any more.
Another Plod moralising theme or an excuse for ineffectiveness? Get on with your f*cking job plod...your duty is to protect the public, remember? High time for a government with backbone to tighten the 61" belts of useless, farting cretins in their food-stained uniforms.
ReplyDeleteIt's an open secret that the only time senior officers speak out like this is when they've already left or have handed their notice in. We find it sickening.
ReplyDeleteWe have internet forums in the Met upon which we can vent our spleen but unfortunately they are not anonymous so we have to be careful but Julia I commented on that exact episode of "Policing London" where the scum Hicks family turned up to a scooter crash. The riders had machetes and over 20 stolen phones on them but the Hicks were heard to shout "leave them alone they ain't done nuffink". I wrote that I hope a senior officer popped round to the Hicks household and told them what they had done. I'm not holding my breath waiting for an answer.
On the subject of moped chases-I've never heard on the radio authorisation being given to bump a rider off. I'm certainly not going to risk my pension or liberty to do it off my own back.
Blogs like this and papers like the Daily Mail have rubbished the police for so long that the inevitable knock-on effect is that criminals can operate without fear of us. Now it's obvious that the pendulum has swung too far it's sickening to see the DM complaining that we are now powerless.
I fully expect to be shouted down by the armchair experts on here but what do I know? I've only been in the Met for 28 years dealing with scum,can't compare that to people that sit at home and read the papers for their information.
Jaded.
I'll ignore the comments of anon at at 11.51 as they come under the heading of 'Idle and silly remarks'. As I have said 'you reap what you sow'. Newspaper commentators and bloggers (of all political colours) really don't like police chasing villains and they most certainly do not like seeing police go hands on with the scrotes.
ReplyDeleteYou relished the cuts didn't you? Some of us said it would take 5-7 years for the effects to work through, they have now worked through and the yobs have eventually worked out they can effectively do what they like with no consequence. Didn't one of your earlier posts refer to someone with 100+ convictions who was still at liberty? Don't you think that people might wonder if it's all worth it?
Policing undergoes 180 degree swings in what it is meant to do, lead by ill informed media attention. If you recall, the police were castigated for being too hard during the 2011 student protests, so the method of policing public order was changed to deal with that and a softer approach was urged, now the police are told to go in hard again. Being a chairborne warrior when you are not accountable for any decisions made is easy. At the moment any officer who uses force, particularly in public order situations, lays themselves open to being pursued through the courts for years. I very much doubt your decision making ability in a fast moving public order situation would withstand forensic examination by Sir Rupert Hugefee QC.
All this came about under a Conservative government. I don't believe that TM's heartfelt plea for inner city youth to be spared stop and search had anything to do with wanting to right wrongs against oppressed inner city youth, it was desperately wanting a chunk of the BME vote. no more, no less.
Retired
I watched that episode about the Met. Fascinating programme, but horrifying that families such as the Hicks think being a drug user/dealer is okay. And at the tender age of 18! What sort of society have we become? If I had a son of that age, nay any age, I'd be wanting so much more out of life for him. Perhaps they're of a similar ilk? My experience of druggies is that they tend to run in families. Mother and father doing the same stuff since their darling son was in nappies.
ReplyDeletePerhaps the police ought to withdraw their help from these communities and say, 'You police yourselves now, we've had enough,' then see how they like it?
God help us all.
:o/
Top form today Melvin. Even more boring, prejudice, repetitive,pompous and arrogant than ever. Had an extra pudding in the mental home for energy?
ReplyDeleteThere's two anti-police posts on here today so quickly scroll up and cut and paste your rubbish onto that one as well.
Jaded.
That community needs a good belt round its collective ear and reminded that in this country we uphold and obey the law. It's what makes us different; a great place to live. There are just too many of this sort in London. The cops need to crack down. Knock them off the scooters and mopeds and prosecute them with extreme prejudice. Oh, you know what I mean. Same with the morons rioting because some low life criminal died in a shop.
ReplyDelete"High time for a government with backbone..."
ReplyDeleteAh, if only we had one...
"I wrote that I hope a senior officer popped round to the Hicks household and told them what they had done. I'm not holding my breath waiting for an answer."
Nor am I!
"Blogs like this and papers like the Daily Mail have rubbished the police for so long..."
The police don't get 'rubbished' on here. They get criticised when they screw up, and praised when they do something right.
I can't help it if the ratio is skewed...
"Newspaper commentators and bloggers (of all political colours) really don't like police chasing villains... "
This one loves it!
"What sort of society have we become?"
Many Tweeting police officers would claim 'the one we deserve'. I don't think we deserve it. Do you?
"That community needs a good belt round its collective ear and reminded that in this country we uphold and obey the law."
ReplyDeleteOr to find another country with laws more to their liking...