It’s been a while since I’ve posted on here, but I’ve been a busy man. Well enough of my chitter-chatter and down to some issues…
Finally the media has picked up on the government’s obsession with targets and how it has degraded our police force. I’m sure many of you out there have been a victim of police zealousness in finding soft targets for their crime figures. Personally I was false accused of speeding, but thanks to a corrupt justice system ended up losing my case. Unlike many who have been on the receiving end of a fixed penalty notice I decided to fight (after all I was innocent), but most people just take the punishment as an occupational hazard of modern living. This sort of thing gives the police yet another tick in the box for their crime solving statistics and a pat on the back from the government.
I’ve also been a victim of crime a few times. I’ve had my car broken into with items stolen. My partner’s flat was broken into an possessions of both mine and hers were stolen. There have been others. All these have something in common: the person committing the crime was not caught in the act by the police with a positive identification at the time. Currently, to be stand a chance of being convicted of a crime, not only do you have to be caught in the act, your actual identification must be made. Speed cameras are a fine example of this. Your number plate gives you away…probably… but that’s enough. If any sort of investigation is required, such as tracking down a criminal after it has happened, then you can guarantee nothing will be done. Why? Because it takes too much time and resources, so will spoil the targets they have to meet. Serious crimes with real victims are now ignored. Those intending on breaking the law know they have little chance of being caught.
Years ago when minor offences occurred a police officer may take someone aside and offer some words of warning or advice and nip the issue in the bud. No paperwork required, and hopefully an escalation of bad behaviour eliminated. These days such offences are seen as the money-pot, and are almost actively encouraged or entrapment is used. Instead of preventing these things happening they now escalate into continuing offences that can easily be added to the monthly targets.
I know a lot of police officers are unhappy with this situation, even the Police Federation of England and Wales say so. Why can’t they just stand up to the government and police the way they should and want to? What happens if police forces fail to meet these targets? There is something very nasty and controlling going when the police force can’t be allowed to police in the way they want to, and how the majority of the public wants to.
Not only has this resulted in the criminalisation of law-abiding citizens (not helped by the introduction of hundreds of new and mostly pointless and petty laws) and the escalation of serious crimes that are ignored; but it has also destroyed the public’s view of the police. They are not trusted anymore. A vicious circle now occurs where serious crime is now not solved because it is not profitable enough of the police to solve, and they get no co-operation from the distrusting public in helping them. My personal experiences with police make me treat them as no more than con-artists at best and corrupt criminals at worst.
I’ve highlighted how the government’s obsession with targets has affected policing and the safety of the public, but it has also destroyed education and the NHS. I fear that all the major parties may follow this method though, for the sake of statistical debate and point scoring.
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