Should we expect so much from the Police?
Watchdog finds half of police forces in UK failed to investigate crime properly
A report by HMIC, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, found that more than half police forces across the UK weren’t doing their jobs properly.
These include failing to answer calls, closing cases without identifying suspects, abandoning investigations, and a general lack in solving crime.
For those who are victims of crime it’s extremely distressing; and as more criminals get away with their crimes, trust in the police is faltering daily.
It doesn’t help that Politicians demand to see where the money has been spent within forces; trying to find a reason why we don’t see our tax dollars at work.
They fail to realise that huge cuts to the force, enforced spending on pointless tick boxes and diversity recruitment, and spreading staff too thin is actually the problem.
Of course, it can’t be denied that the recent scandals; murderers, rapists, misogynistic behaviours, are also adding to the lack of faith in the old bill.
So, how can we get that trust back - because no matter if you hate the force, write ACAB all over the walls, or think every copper is out to get you, it’s highly likely the first call you will make if you are scared, hurt, or worried is the police.
We need to give them a little break and remember that yes - they should be scrutinised - but maybe they are spread too thin and there is too much pressure on them.
When I was in the police we often had orders passed down to us to focus on a particular crime - we would have to bend over backwards for car crime, for example, going to every scene just to show a boost in numbers. Lets say that someone has their window smashed and their bag stolen from the front seat, attending, taking samples, statements and then the follow up paperwork can take over half a day - and unless there is blood or fibres there is no evidence to collect. A waste of services which could be better used elsewhere.
Stop and search, something hated by many, has been one of the pushes from those high above as it has been proved it can actually prevent crime, knife and drug crime predominantly but for those, mainly the black community, who get picked up too often having committed no crimes, it feels extremely divisive and that’s added blame to those in uniform.
Then there is the CPS, who often don’t seem to want to prosecute criminals - I personally have collected evidence that placed criminals at the scene, spending an inordinate of time cataloguing it, only for CPS to drop it. Of course that doesn’t stop you from trying your hardest, but it’s always down to officers and forensics why criminals get away with their actions.
And the laws are also to blame - many crimes, including acts of theft will get you a slap on the wrist, and even if you do go to court (see CPS above) you may get a light sentence or a fine. The laws around domestic violence, an area sadly on the rise, are extremely weak, and don’t give police much power, police can only do so much and can’t be bodyguards 24/7.
Finally - well for now - or this will turn into a dissertation - police are asked to be everything to everyone. Mental health experts, victim support, domestic violence case workers, social workers, psychics - these are some of the areas that need specialists, but police are the first port of call and some time they have no one to pass these people on to, which can be frustrating for everyone and also take a lot of time.
Plus, whenever there is something huge like a murder or a terror act, people pile on with - why didn’t police stop them, they should have known etc… oh yeah, how many people are in the country, how many officers are there? Of course its not feasible to be over every potential criminal.
The officers that we have do their jobs as best they can. They should be scrutinised but we need to consider they way we talk about them too - we want kids to dream about being police officers, we want communities to have trust in their local patrols - so let’s not pile on with the hate when it’s only a few bad seeds (terrible, evil seeds) and an overstretched workforce.