Whatever happened to law-enforcement ?

[Scylax]

Five police officers did not pursue 2 thieves who
stole 2 bicycles, in case they fell off the bikes and
hurt themselves.
Beam me up, somebody.

[Whickerman]

where is that story? (If it's a Daily Mail link don't bother btw)

[Scotman84]

Here's another - Grampian Police reported - in the press - that they won't chase anyone on a motorcycle if they are not wearing a helmet - for the same reason !!!!! I think I'll just buy a motorbike and I have clearance to commit any crimes i like !!

[Scylax]

Whickerman; this report was in the 'Sunday Telegraph'
of 25 Feb.'07, p.2, col.5, 'Digest' section.
Verbatim: Five police officers refused to chase two
thieves who stole bicycles in Basingstoke, Hants.
because of fears that the thieves might fall off and
injure themselves. A spokesman said officers had
to do a 'dynamic risk-assessment at every incident to
ensure their safety and the safety of others'.

[WendyS]

What an "Alice in Wonderland" country we now live in !!

Every day I open my newspaper and read another article which beggars belief.

[Scylax]

Today's 'D. Telegraph' carries another example.
A middle-aged lady, with 2 previous commendations,
chases and apprehends a bicycle thief. The police
arrest her and hold her in a cell for 10 hours on
suspicion of assaulting the thief.
The guilt of the thief was never in doubt, since the
lady was accompanied by the victim of the theft, who
directly witnessed the crime.

[Yorkie580]

POLICE FOOT PURSUIT POLICY

A foot pursuit is where 'appropriately trained' Officers in sensible footwear run after a fleeing suspect with the intention of causing him/her to stop safely. If it is in anyway 'slightly risky' to engage in a foot pursuit and an officer makes the decision to commence a pursuit, he or she must accept responsibility for their actions.

The Chief Officer will not accept responsibility for anything (and don't say he didn't tell you, because he did).

If anything goes wrong during a foot pursuit and somebody gets injured (especially the suspect), the chasing Officer will incur disciplinary action, be breathalysed and suspended from Foot Patrol duties until it can be proven that the Chief Officer was not to blame in any way.

* - The term 'slightly risky' is open to interpretation and honest belief of the Officer at the time of the foot pursuit. This decision, no matter how reasonable at the time, will count for nothing at a disciplinary hearing in retrospect and with the benefit of hindsight.

If an Officer does not commence a foot pursuit and at a later date it is found that on the balance of probabilities it may have been safe to do so, he/she will be found guilty of neglect of duty for failing to prevent or detect crime.

In the interests of safety, supervisors have a responsibility to ensure that a foot pursuit is professionally managed and should instruct a pursuit to be abandoned if any of the following criteria apply:

1. The Officer is a basic or standard grade Foot Patrol Officer and is not qualified to chase pedestrians.
2. The Officer is not a clearly marked Police Officer (High-Viz jacket to be worn) capable of performance at high speed and equipped with fully operational accoutrements.
3. The Officer runs like a distressed Giraffe
4. The Officer is not wearing his/her hat.