Policing Priorities

Remember how the police had time to send two officers to interrogate a ten year old for using the word 'gay'? Or how they arrested a white schoolgirl for complaining when she was assigned to work with a group of Asians, only one of whom spoke English? But how they didn't bother to do anything when a BNP activist was assaulted by a gang of thugs? And how they paid absolutely no attention to the complaints of Maureen and Alex Cochrane, who were subjected to a campaign of harassment by a worthless family of low-life scum, by whom they were subsequently murdered? How we all applauded the efficient and appropriate use the police were making of taxpayers' money, in investigating the crimes that really matter. Well, I now present to your, dear readers, the latest demonstration of how well-organised the police are, and of just how accurately they have arranged their priorities:

When Jason Brown returned home to find he had been the victim of a burglary he was somewhat relieved to learn that a neighbour had caught one of the culprits in the act.

But instead of the police arriving to carry out what could have been a significant arrest he had no choice but to let him go after officers insisted they would be unavailable for two hours.

They apologised but claimed that due to manpower issues they were unable to attend until a shift changeover at 10pm - despite being less than 100 yards away from the incident.

Mr Brown's brave neighbour, who overpowered the young thug in a bid to prevent him from escaping, was informed by a police operator after calling for help:

"Sorry, but we're too busy to come out and arrest him."

Last night, Mr Brown, a 34-year-old taxi driver who had returned from visiting his poorly daughter in Great Ormond Street, described the treatment he and his neighbour received as "shameful".

But not, sadly, surprising.

He said: "The whole affair beggars belief. My neighbour caught them red-handed and had one of them by the scruff of the neck but the police said they didn't have anyone to come out and help.

"My neighbour said: 'What are you on about? I've got the culprit here now, what am I supposed to do with him?". The police said they didn't know so he had to let him go. He had no choice.

"What was he going to do? Make him a cup of tea until the police came to take him away for heaven's sake."

Mr Brown added: "What's really annoyed me is those toerags think they've got away with it and will probably go and do the same again. They even tried to break into the shop next door so they're obviously not new to this game.

"The police had a golden chance to catch them and missed. What happens now if next time they have a knife and someone isn't so lucky?"

Exactly. The police are quite prepared to put ordinary members of the public at risk in this manner, but at the same time, if a few law-abiding citizens took the quite reasonable step of giving the criminals a good thrashing, the police would be all over them in a matter of minutes. Just ask Linda Walker.

It is interesting, isn't it, that the police never seem to have an officer available to deal with real crime (i.e. that perpetrated by habitual criminals against people who've never amassed so much as a speeding ticket in their life), but always seem to be able to find one to deal with a law-abiding citizen who does anything to resist the criminals. Or, of course, anyone who says 'gay'.

Update: At the suggestion of Mr Smith, I have cross-posted this at ATW.