Crime is bad, mmmmmkay?

Unless you happen to be in the Metropolitan police that is.

This story has hardly been reported in the press, and I really am at a loss as to why.

One in three of the 3,533 officers who were issued with the corporate credit cards misued them and at one point £3.7million of public money was missing.

One in three! That's pretty impressive! But to be fair to the Met, they have taken action; 3 out of the 1177 officers whom committed credit card fraud have been prosecuted. Three.

That's quite some clear-up rate.

Maybe it goes some way to explaining why the met did absolutely nothing about the fraud committed by their buddies in parliament.

Throwing caution to the wind

Sorry about the lack of posts of late, I've been really really busy with work - a poor excuse I know, but there you go. (Contrary to the many condecending comments I have received on various police blogs, I do have a job)

Anyway, as most people are now aware, the police are big big fans of cautions; it is the easiest way to to chalk up a conviction, involves next to no work or troublesome evidence gathering etc.

Whilst they often dole these things out for nonsense crimes, they are using them more and more for nasty, violent crime. Crimes such as kicking your way into an old couples' home, smashing their place up, putting their windows through and threatening to 'put you in a wheelchair' for example.

I suppose it is a result in a way, as in many situations like this the police would just ignore it, fobbing the victims off with the usual "there's nothing we can (be asred to) do" line, but in this case poor plod was backed in to a corner and had to do something as the attackers left a trail of blood leading from the scene. They did still manage to trot out another favourite line - "we were only following orders".

“Two males were arrested and questioned as part of this investigation. Under Home Office guidelines that dictate what action can be taken under specific circumstances they were both cautioned for criminal damage."

Once again, justice was done and seen to be done. British style - 2009.

Whatever happened to the bleachy lads?

I was happily proved wrong when West Yorkshire Police (I actually hit a 't' there instead of the 'r' then - is there such thing as a Fruadian Typo?) arrested the perpetrators of a shocking bleach attack.

As I said, the hero police for once did their job and did it well, but all has gone silent with regards to the tough judges. The lad was due before Leeds Mags on the 7th of August, I expect the case to be passed up to the Crown Court, but I can't find ANY reports anywhere of what happened on the 7th or what has happened since.

Does anyone have any info on this case?

Lockerbie bomber released on 'compassionate' grounds

Well, it looks like he's about to be. Sorry for my language; but what the fuck is that about?

Standby for action!

Many people suffer from nuisance crimes such as vandalism. Many people are left waiting and frustrated when the police tell them there's nothing they can (be bothered) to do about it.

However I have a feeling an almighty investigation will be carried out by Greater Manchester Police, as Hazel Blears has had her tyres slashed.

This is of course the very same Hazel Blears who made a killing on the sale of her main/second home (depending on whether she is talking to the tax man or the fees office) and then appeared on telly waving a cheque around whilst overflowing with denial and faux apologies. (Incidentally, does anyone know what happened to that cheque? Did she actually send it and did HMRC accept it?)

So now we will see just what the police can do about nuisance crime. To be fair to the government though, I suppose they expect special treatment from the police, because what's the point in having a paramilitary wing if they don't look after you?

No poop Mr Holmes

Yet another report has found that victims of crime are let down by the Criminal Justice System, the Criminal Justice System that is heavily balanced in favour of criminals.

This report focusses on the third point of the justice triangle, the CPS.

It is well known that the CPS take a similar approach to the police, in that whilst the police concentrate their resources and efforts on easy prey who have 'committed' non-existent crimes to gain easy detections, the CPS charge as the lowest possible level to gain easy convictions.

I think I have been pretty clear with my opinions of the modern police ethos, but when you hear about such depressing charging decisions from the CPS, it becomes slightly more understandable why the police operate as they do.

Maybe I should change the name of the blog to Hero Police, Tough Judges, & Utterly Spineless Despicable Prosecutors...

/sarcasm

A genuine well done and doff of my hat to the police who have acted promptly and arrested the perpetrators of a dispicable bleach attack.

I admit I thought this was going to be yet another of the many serious crimes ignored by the police, but on this occasion the police have done what they are paid to do and what every law-abiding member of the public wants them to do: arrest criminals.

So good work by the police, now it's over to our learned betters at Leeds Magistrates' Court.

I give 3-1 on that both of them will walk out of the court (well they would, if they weren't appearing by video link). They might have some impressive sounding 'community orders' or other such nonsense, but 3-1 on that they will be out on the street ready to attack again.

Appalling, disgraceful, even unbelievable - but not unexpected.

This is such a tragic story of how all three emergency services refused to climb down a 15ft bank and rescue a man from 18in of water, that I'm not going to write anything more about it; lest I belittle the seriousness of it.

When is this kind of shit going to end?