Posted by Richard Dewsbery on 09/07/05 13:14

> I think that is the public relations problem the police have with many
folk.
> The balance appears wrong. Plenty of time for traffic offences, little
time
> for crime.

The police have had "statistics" and "targets" foisted on them by the
politicians (a class which includes not only the Government but most Chief
Constables IMO).

So a police force which "detects" the crime of having an illegal number
plate AND "clears" the crime by telling the motorist off scores higher than
the force which responds to a burglary with blue lights blazing - unless
they actually catch the burglar, they'd rather you hadn't reported it in the
first place TBH.

Hence speed cameras are so popular with Chief Constables - they "detect"
every single instance of speeding (except the speeding just before and just
after the camera, but as no-one conclusively saw that happening we'd best
ignore it and pretend that it didn't happen), and the clear-up rate is high
thanks to the DVLAs records. Better to process a fixed penalty ticket,
because then you've "caught a criminal", as opposed to taking down a report
of a car radio theft.

Richard

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