Leading on from "Traffic Cops" thread.

[RATTER15]

I often watch reality TV about cops chasing drunks and thugs etc, when they are caught they give the police such a load of abuse hassle, resisting arrest and spitting at the police etc and then the next thing we hear is they have been released without charge or got a £40.00 fine!!

Two questions here, do you think the Police are let down by the judicial system?

Are these thugs and dunks and idiots paid by the TV program for using their images are they legally bound to use seek their permission to use the said footage?

[Barmaid]

No, the police are not let down by the judicial system. The police have the power to issue fines for low level public order offences such as s5. Furthermore, at low level the CPS will not be involved and very often the police take the view that a night in the slammer to cool down is enough rather than the expense of a prosecution. Knowing how much a trial costs to get to Court, I reckon low level offence on the spot fines are no bad thing.

I don't know about whether they are legally bound to ask permission to show the footage - I guess in a public place they are not. However, I have no doubt the people in question are not paid.

[RATTER15]

But Barmaid, surely they should be fined £500 and cover the costs, a £40 fine and a night in the cells is no deterrent to anybody, if anything it just gives them a bit of street cred.

[ummmm]

Not always RATTER....that £40/£80 will probably go unpaid....then they'll have the bailiffs banging on the door...

[sara3]

we prosecute people for benefit fraud, and I've had to distance myself from the sentencing. it's out of my control and is sometimes painfully inappropriate.

but Barmaid is right, taking someone to court is really costly (esp when you consider the likely outcome) and everyone has to cut back these days. there's no point in giving someone massive costs when there's no chance of them ever settling up.

[Barmaid]

Difficulty is, that if they are convicted the Mags are obliged to take into account their earnings in fixing the fine. They may not always be ordered to pay full costs. Even if they are, if they have no money, they will be allowed to pay by installments which is often £5 or £10 per fortnight. Not the judiciary's fault, they must do what the legislature tells them.

[RATTER15]

We will never stop this in that case, how dare we impose a fine that may cause financial hardship!!

Let the bailiffs in and take goods to the value of the fine and costs!! confiscating a car or two will help cover costs in many cases!